License Plate LED Light Inoperative - Moisture Visible Within the Lens The customer may experience the following: ? There is a potential for water intrusion which over time could lead to an inoperable license plate lamp. Customers may comment on one or more of the following: ? License plate LED light is inoperable. ? Moisture in the license plate lamp housing. This bulletin involves inspecting the license plate LED lamp for being inoperative or visible signs of moisture within the LED lamp housing and if necessary replacing the LED and installing a additional O-ring and foam gasket to the license plate applique
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Dodge Durango lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2018 Dodge Durango have filed 41 NHTSA complaints about the lighting, typically surfacing around 41,000 miles at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
41
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Durango | 217 |
| 2015 Durango | 147 |
| 2016 Durango | 40 |
| 2017 Durango | 60 |
| 2018 Durango (this page) | 41 |
| 2019 Durango | 31 |
| 2020 Durango | 19 |
| 2021 Durango | 61 |
| 2022 Durango | 20 |
When does it fail?
Of the 41 lighting complaints filed for the 2018 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 41 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.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering lighting on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
License Plate LED Light Inoperative - Moisture Visible Within the Lens This bulletin involves inspecting the license plate LED lamp for being inoperative or visible signs of moisture within the LED lamp housing and if necessary replacing the LED and installing a foam gasket to the license plate applique. Customers may comment on one or more of the following: License plate LED light is inoperable. Moisture in the license plate lamp housing.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗License Plate LED Light Inoperative - Moisture Visible Within the Lens This bulletin involves inspecting the license plate LED lamp for being inoperative or visible signs of moisture within the LED lamp housing and if necessary replacing the LED and installing a foam gasket to the license plate applique. Customers may comment on one or more of the following: License plate LED light is inoperable. Moisture in the license plate lamp housing.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗LAMP, Liftgate If you have a tail lamp assembly with moisture and/or water in the assembly, please do the following: 1.) Call FCA Redacted Content (If no answer, leave a message) 2.) Photograph the defect on the vehicle 3.) Provide the VIN 4.) Please send an email containing the VIN(s) and defect images to FCA Redacted Content and FCA Redacted Content If no response in 15 minutes, proceed with repair.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SOCKET (Park/Turn Signal) For concern of turn signal bulb out, inoperative, not working or dim, please contact Sandeep Tummuri at (248) 425-3419.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners consistently describe water leaking into the rear liftgate racetrack LED light assembly on 2018 Durangos, starting as early as 24,000 miles. Water accumulates in the bottom of the housing after car washes, rain exposure, or normal driving—then corrodes connections, shorts electronics, and kills the lights. The assembly also houses the license plate light and backup camera, so failure takes all three out. Dealership replacement quotes run $1,200–$2,000 per unit, and many owners report the exact same water problem returning within months of a new light. Dodge corporate and dealers refuse warranty coverage and cite no recall, despite owners documenting this across online forums and describing it as the top complaint in Durango owner groups.
One owner also reported an auto high-beam headlight malfunction where the system dims and won't restore high beams after spotting road signs, requiring manual knob cycling—a dealer acknowledged it as a known unfixed issue on multiple brands. A single report mentions a headlight bulb falling out at 38,000 miles, which the dealership refused to cover under warranty.
Same Dodge Durango lighting reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Water intrusion into tailgate racetrack LED light assembly
Water leaks into the rear liftgate racetrack-style LED light assembly through inadequate seals or gaskets, accumulating inside and causing corrosion, electrical shorts, dimming, and complete light failure. The design has no proper drainage or protective seal.
When: As early as 24,000 miles; reported across 30,000–83,000 miles range; occurs within months of purchase on used vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Water visible inside light assembly; Condensation or moisture pooling in bottom of light; Lights dimming or flickering intermittently; Complete taillight outage; License plate light inoperative (integrated into assembly); Backup camera inoperative (integrated into assembly); Abnormal burning odor detected (one report); Lights cycling on and off
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement light assembly costs $1,200–$2,000+ at dealership; repair requires complete unit replacement—not serviceable. Temporary owner workarounds include removing drain screw at bottom or applying silicone caulk along seams.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge refuses warranty coverage; corporate states issue is not under warranty or recall; dealership notes no recall exists; no manufacturer fix or design update provided despite widespread complaints. Class action lawsuits mentioned by owners.
Automatic headlight high-beam malfunction
Auto high-beam system dims headlights and fails to restore high beams when triggered by road signs or night driving conditions. Requires manual intervention (cycling knob) to restore functionality.
When: Ongoing issue over couple of years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights dim unexpectedly; High beams fail to engage automatically after seeing yellow road signs; Manual knob cycle required to restore lights
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer acknowledged as known issue on many brands with no available fix.
Headlight bulb dropout
Headlight bulb falls out of socket at low mileage, affecting visibility.
When: 38,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Headlight bulb falls out of socket
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership refused warranty replacement; required owner to pay full cost for replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership stated warranty did not cover bulb failure.
Synthesized from 41 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Vehicle tail light housings (3ea) are not adequately sealed and protected from the elements and allow water/debris to intrude. Water accumulation has caused dimming and shorting of lights. Dodge customer service was contacted and stated they are not currently and will not warranty repair.
Center tail light failure in the lift gate. On further inspection all tail lights have water intrusion. Obviously tail/brake light failure is a safety hazard, especially at night. Dodge not owning the problem and the repair parts are extremely hard to find.
My tailgate lamp also known as the race track lamp it's collecting water every time I take it into the car wash which it now cost part of my life to burn out which can be a safety issue if all of it completely goes out
Just bought this car in august. I didn't notice the entire rear red lights weren't working until I got pulled over. I'm guessing they didn't work at all and I just didn't notice it.
Had lighting trouble with your 2018 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 2018 Dodge Durango?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 41 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 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most lighting failures cluster between 30,000 and 62,000 miles, with the median around 41,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 62,000. 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/2018/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.