The rear center tail light, “Racetrack light” has water in it and is defective now for the second time, this is a well known issue, but continues to fail. Dodge will not cover the repair even with a maximum care warranty, pushing a well documented issue back to the consumer.
2017 Dodge Durango lighting problems
moderate 60 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
60
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 60 lighting complaints filed for the 2017 Dodge Durango, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 60 lighting complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Lighting accounts for 29% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 10 categories tracked.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
Water collects in the rear tail light assembly (the one across the tailgate with the back-up camera). So bad, some lamps have blown out on the lower right of the assembly. It only drains out when removing a.bolt on each side, but within a few weeks, the water returns.
My 2017 Dodge durango had water intrusion in the lift-gate tail light. I had one replaced under warranty after I noticed that the lights had failed and could see the water pooling in the light. The replace tail light also has water pooling in the bottom part of the light. The dealer won't replace this one for free because the warranty had expired.
Water collecting in lift gate racetrack tail light.
My vehicle has below 11,000 miles and has water pooled in the backup lamp assembly (racetrack light) in the rear of the vehicle. This is causing the LED's to flicker and short out at random. This assembly is also the center brake light for the vehicle. Without being corrected this issue will lead to the entire assembly to fail.
All of my lights on the back of my vehicle are out due to water damage. This is a known problem with these vehicles. The vehicle has less than 50,000 miles. The cost for a replacement is $1500. Dodge has known of this issue for many years has done nothing to correct it. It will not pass the state safety inspection with the lights out. It is a safety issue because I have no rear lights. We…
Water enters the rear tail light track lighting system, causing shorts in the LED lights. I have had it replaced 2 times now because of this defect. The new track light hasn't been installed for 1 year yet and water has gotten back into the tail lights cause shortages and outages. This is a hazard that needs to be addressed by Dodge
Had lighting trouble with your 2017 Dodge Durango?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2017 Dodge Durango?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 60 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Across the 34 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 33,500 and 60,000 miles, with the median around 42,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 33,500; a quarter make it past 60,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/Dodge/Durango.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.