Racetrack lighting seems to be defective and water has entered and lighting has stopped working and has become a problem driving without it.
2019 Dodge Durango lighting problems
moderate 31 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Complaints
31
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
When does it fail?
Of the 31 lighting complaints filed for the 2019 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 31 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 23% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 8 categories tracked.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
The whole center section of lighting, located on the tailgate (liftgate) is burned out, including the license plate illumination. Apparently water gets into the "racetrack light" which I learned is what Dodge calls this center section of lighting. I have noticed there is a significant amount of water inside this section of lighting, and now it intermittently does not work. More times than not, it…
The rear race track light assembly lights went out. I know there is a known issue with this light assembly.
Headlights would come on when the headlight switch is in the off position while in park and while in motion, and stay on; during night time driving headlights would intermittently go off in the on position while in motion. Several attempts by dealer repair personnel to find a remedy were unsuccessful. It was later discovered that the aftermarket remote start installed by a third party was wired…
Water gets in the rear middle racetrack tailgate light and caused the partial burnout of the LED tailgate lights. This is a 2019 Dodge Durango VIN [XXX] with only 17,000 miles. This is a safety issue and from what I read online it will lead to other lighting/electrical issue in the future. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The rear race track light and license plate lights failed to work due to a faulty gasket or seal on the light. Faulty in the manufacturing process and now to repair this issue is $1500 or more. The vehicle can not be inspected and used do to the lights not working.
Had lighting 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 lighting problem on the 2019 Dodge Durango?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 31 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?
Based on the 31 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 56,374 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 $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/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.