Power Liftgate Intermittently Inoperative. Will Not Open/ Close. Liftgate/Hatch Ajar Message Displayed. Rev A
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Dodge Durango electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2019 Dodge Durango have filed 30 NHTSA complaints about the electrical at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
30
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Durango | 86 |
| 2016 Durango | 32 |
| 2017 Durango | 54 |
| 2018 Durango | 77 |
| 2019 Durango (this page) | 30 |
| 2020 Durango | 7 |
| 2021 Durango | 39 |
| 2022 Durango | 9 |
| 2023 Durango | 6 |
2fires
What stands out
Owners have filed 30 electrical 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.
Electrical accounts for 22% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 8 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical 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.
Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot. Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Prior to replacing an inoperative passive entry door handle, perform Star Online S2623000040.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Power Liftgate Intermittently Inoperative. Will Not Open/ Close. Liftgate/Hatch Ajar Message Displayed.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Passive Entry Exterior Door Handle Inoperative When Touched To Lock And Or Unlock.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a litany of electrical failures that range from annoying to catastrophic. Total power loss while driving is the most dangerous: vehicles go completely dead—no steering, no brakes, no lights—at 35+ mph, only regaining power after shift lever manipulation or key cycles. This happened to drivers on busy roads and highways where it created life-threatening situations.
Water intrusion is endemic. A faulty antenna gasket lets rainwater run into the dash, causing random failures of the LED panel, instrument cluster, backup camera, and other systems. Dealers replaced antennas but water damage persisted, sometimes taking 70 days of failed diagnostic attempts.
The rear 'racetrack' LED tail light assembly is a known weak point across thousands of Durangos. Poor gasket design lets rain pool inside the lens, burning out LEDs and the license plate light. Repair costs run $1,200–$2,746 with no recall in place. Dodge offered only partial reimbursement on one claim.
Headlights dim to unsafe levels on long drives, outputting 12.2–12.3 volts instead of the designed 13.8 volts, yet dealers say it meets spec. Start/stop systems drain batteries repeatedly, causing dangerous restart lag and complete shutdowns. Two parked vehicles caught fire with minimal mileage. Dealers often cite missing diagnostic codes or service bulletins when unable to fix problems, then tell owners the vehicle must fail completely before repair is possible.
Same Dodge Durango electrical reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Total electrical shutdown while driving
Vehicle loses all electrical power and goes dead while in motion, with no dash lights, power steering, power brakes, or turn signals. Power returns only after manual shift lever manipulation or key reinsertion.
When: 35–40 mph; also reported at various speeds including on highways
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of all electrical power; No dashboard lights; No power steering; No power brakes; No turn signal flashers; Vehicle becomes uncontrollable; Power returns after shift lever manipulation or key reinsertion
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall mentioned (#2) but no remedy available as of early 2025
Water intrusion into antenna gasket and electrical components
Faulty antenna gasket allows water to enter vehicle, causing water to reach dash and electrical components. Leads to intermittent electrical failures, dashboard malfunctions, and multiple system errors. Dealer replaced only antenna but did not address underlying water damage.
When: Diagnosed 2019–2021 on vehicles purchased as new in 2019; issue present from day of purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerating by itself; LED panel malfunctioning repeatedly; Highlights coming on by themselves; Instrument panel going out multiple times; Backup camera not engaging; Electrical problems recurring and unresolved
Repairs/costs cited: Antenna replaced; water damage not fully addressed. Vehicle returned as 'unable to duplicate' after ~70 days in shop.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge refused lemon buyback despite water intrusion discovery; later bought back vehicle as lemon but only listed 'radio problems' in paperwork
Water pooling in rear racetrack LED tail light assembly
Poor gasket design in rear 'racetrack' LED lighting assembly allows rainwater to pool inside the lens, causing LED burnout and short circuits. Also disables license plate light and rear running lights. Widespread issue affecting thousands of owners.
When: Can occur early in ownership; reported on vehicles from 4+ years old
Symptoms owners cite: Rear running lights inoperative at night; License plate light out; LED lights burned out or shorted; Water visibly pooling inside light assembly; No warning lights before failure
Repairs/costs cited: $1,200–$2,746 for complete racetrack light assembly replacement; dealer diagnosed for $254. Manufacturer offered partial assistance of $712.85 on one claim.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No active recall; manufacturer told dealer 'no remedy yet available.' Class action suit reported as underway for 2017–2025 models.
Dimming headlights and low charging voltage
Headlights become very dim during night driving, requiring fog lights to see. Vehicle electrical system outputs 12.2–12.3 volts instead of designed 13.8 volts for halogen headlights. No warning light or codes displayed.
When: On long drives; can come on quickly
Symptoms owners cite: Headlight output very dim; Low voltage reading on digital display (12.2–12.3V); Unsafe night driving conditions; No dashboard warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: Two dealers said it's within specification per Dodge Star Online Publication #S2008000031. One dealer previously fixed similar complaint by upgrading to LED headlights at $1,700–$2,000 cost.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler case #80419497 filed; owner told 'You will not hear back from Chrysler.'
Start/stop system battery drain and performance lag
Start/stop warning light activates repeatedly; both batteries replaced and warning returns. Lag when restarting creates safety hazard for turns and merges. Vehicle jerks wheel abruptly upon restart. Complete shutdown occurred after battery drained from start/stop strain.
When: 18,500 miles; warning appeared second time after first battery replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Start/stop warning light comes on; Lag when restarting from stop; Abrupt wheel jerk upon restart; Complete vehicle shutdown; All dash lights and alarms go 'berzerk'; Vehicle won't start; requires tow
Repairs/costs cited: Both batteries replaced on first occurrence; replaced again at 18,500 miles.
Parasitic battery drain from headlight delay settings
Vehicle battery fails testing while connected but passes when disconnected, indicating parasitic drain. Owner identified that engine-off and headlight delay settings set to non-zero values cause the drain.
When: After long drives; vehicle won't start without jump
Symptoms owners cite: Auto start error message on dash; Battery fails load test while connected; Vehicle won't start after long drive; Battery passes test when disconnected from vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Changed engine-off and headlight delay settings to 0; battery then passed test while connected.
Intermittent start crank stutter without diagnostic codes
Vehicle stutters for up to 5 seconds when push button is pressed before engine turns over. Happens intermittently but always eventually cranks. Dealership duplicated issue twice but found no diagnostic codes and no service bulletins.
When: Since September 2022; at 56.5K and 56.7K miles
Symptoms owners cite: 5-second stutter when push button pressed; Intermittent but recurring; Always eventually cranks
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership says vehicle must fully fail before it can be repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No service bulletins found; told repair not possible until complete failure occurs
Check engine light and ESIM replacement failures
Check engine light appeared 13 days after purchase. Dealer replaced ESIM and turned off light but light reappeared 9 days later. Dealer claims no fault found but previously turned light off without repair.
When: 13 days after purchase; reappeared 9 days after initial service
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light on; Light turns off after dealer service but returns
Codes mentioned: P0452
Repairs/costs cited: ESIM replaced; check engine light reset but reappeared.
Dashboard and headlight loss on impact
Dashboard lights and headlights go out when vehicle hits a bump or is washed. Problem recurs in different states. Root cause was faulty antenna gasket allowing water into dash.
When: From purchase in September 2019; persisted for two years across multiple locations
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights and dashboard lights go out; Triggers when hitting bumps or after washing; Intermittent recurrence
Repairs/costs cited: Antenna gasket replaced; vehicle later bought back as lemon.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle eventually bought back as lemon; paperwork only cited 'radio problems'
Dashboard flickering and unintended acceleration
Dashboard flickers rapidly (15–20 times) after hitting a bump on highway. Vehicle then accelerates on its own and continues quick accelerating. Headlights also went out during same incident.
When: On I-95 highway; triggered by bumps
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard flickers rapidly; Unintended acceleration; Headlights go out; Occurs after hitting bumps
Service shifter light and multiple system failures
Service shifter light comes on; windshield wipers activate on their own; cruise control disabled when light is on. Vehicle won't shift into drive when message appears. Issue occurs frequently and recurs every time vehicle is started.
When: On every startup; also during driving
Symptoms owners cite: Service shifter light comes on; Windshield wipers activate automatically; Cruise control disabled; Won't shift into drive; Message reappears every startup
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Note: Complaint states this happens on 'a lot of Chrysler vehicles'
Fire in driver seat and interior
Vehicle caught fire 2 minutes after starting and exiting. Driver side seat warmer reported as cause. Vehicle fully engulfed in interior flames, with glass breaking and paint peeling.
When: Morning of 10/09/2024
Symptoms owners cite: Entire interior engulfed in flames; Glass breaking; Paint peeling; Interior burning
Vehicle fire parked in carport
Vehicle caught fire while parked and unattended. Hood fully engulfed; fire spread to owner's house and neighbor's home. Vehicle had only 9,012 miles.
When: Parked at 8:30 PM; fire discovered at 12:20 AM with 9,012 miles on odometer
Symptoms owners cite: Loud popping noises; Smoke smell; Hood fully engulfed in flames; Fire spread to adjacent homes
Anti-theft code request and repeated battery failures
Vehicle requests anti-theft code every 2,000 miles. Serviced 7+ times in less than one year. Dealers keep replacing battery and battery cell; issue recurs after one month.
When: Every 2,000 miles; customer owned less than one year
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle won't start; Anti-theft code requested; Recurring every 2,000 miles; Issue returns after one month of dealer service
Repairs/costs cited: Battery and battery cell replaced repeatedly without resolving root cause.
Engine, starter, and manifold failure
Vehicle smoking from rear; starter died, oil leak present, manifold leak. Occurred at 83,000 miles. Owner took to independent mechanic rather than dealer; Dodge refused escalation or assistance.
When: 83,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Smoking from rear; Won't start; Oil leak; Manifold leak
Repairs/costs cited: $2,200 repair cost at independent shop (oil leak, manifold leak, starter replacement).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge flat out refused help and escalation because owner did not bring to Dodge dealer; stated 'could not help' and 'would not have a conversation'
Synthesized from 30 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Started receiving an auto start error message on the dash. Then after long drives vehicle would not start up without a jump. Went to test battery and it failed while connected to vehicle. I bought a new battery, I installed it, and then tested it and failed the test. I then checked the old battery (not connected) and it past. Which means there a parasitic battery drain. I then changed the engine…
When attempting to start and the push button is pressed, the vehicle stutters for up to 5 seconds before turning over. This is happening intermittently, but will always turn over. Vehicle has been taken to the dealership on 2 occasions (10/28/22 @ 56.5K miles and 12/09/22 @ 56.7K miles) where they were able to duplicate the start crank issue, but there isn't a code appearing to provide an area…
I HAVE A 2019 DODGE DURANGO Which has a faulty brake light that stays on. after doing some extensive research there was a recall on the durango. (Recall 21A, NHTSA 23E-019) This recall is for defective Hydraulic Control Unit. Now the recall letter issues a suspected range on the units based on the Julian date of Manufacturing. for this recall is numbers 8166-9106. my unit is8355. The…
Had electrical trouble with your 2019 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 electrical problem on the 2019 Dodge Durango?
It's a meaningful issue. 30 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 30 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 32,028 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2019/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.