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 ↗2019 Dodge Durango lighting problems
moderate Owners of the 2019 Dodge Durango have filed 31 NHTSA complaints about the lighting at roughly $250 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See lighting across all vehicles →
Complaints
31
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Durango | 147 |
| 2016 Durango | 40 |
| 2017 Durango | 60 |
| 2018 Durango | 41 |
| 2019 Durango (this page) | 31 |
| 2020 Durango | 19 |
| 2021 Durango | 61 |
| 2022 Durango | 20 |
| 2023 Durango | 8 |
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 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 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, License Plate / LAMP, Liftgate If the license plate lamps have moisture or are inop, please replace the full liftgate lamp and/or the license plate lamp as one unit using care not to touch the licence plate lamp.
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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant complaint on this Durango is the center racetrack light on the tailgate. Owners consistently report water entering the assembly through a defective seal or gasket, filling the housing and burning out LED bulbs. Failures occur across a wide mileage range—17,000 miles to 130,000+—and many happen after warranty expires. Replacement of the entire assembly runs $1,500–$2,000 because individual bulbs cannot be serviced. Owners say Chrysler customer care denies coverage and dealers classify it as a "bulb" issue to dodge warranty claims, despite the seal failure being manufacturing defect. Multiple owners note Dodge is aware of the problem across 2014–2024 model years but refuses to recall it. License plate lights integrated into the same assembly also fail as a result.
Secondary issues include front turn signal bulbs burning out prematurely with damaged connector prongs, headlights that activate in the off position or shut off during night driving, a rear spoiler that detached at highway speed, and one power loss event after hitting a bump. The headlight issue in one case traced to aftermarket remote start wiring; dealer replacement of factory remote start resolved it.
Same Dodge Durango lighting reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2020 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Racetrack tailgate light water intrusion and LED failure
Water enters the center racetrack light assembly on the tailgate through a defective seal or gasket, causing LED bulbs to burn out or dim. Owners report the entire assembly fills with moisture over time. Some also report the license plate lights integrated into this assembly fail as a result.
When: Occurs during the warranty period and after; failures reported at 17,000 miles, 28,000 miles, 75,000 miles, and 130,000+ miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Condensation and water visible inside the light housing; LED bulbs spotting out or burning out; Entire light assembly going out intermittently or completely; License plate illumination failing; Dimming of rear lighting
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of entire racetrack light assembly required; owners cite repair costs of $1,500–$2,000. One owner drained water but found license plate light still inoperable. Dealer quoted $1,800 for assembly replacement. Some repairs performed under warranty initially, but second failures after warranty expiration were not covered.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners report Chrysler customer care indicated nothing could be done. Dealers denied coverage under Mopar extended warranty, claiming the issue is a 'bulb' problem rather than a mechanical defect. Manufacturer made aware in at least one case (narrative #3) but no recall issued. Owners report Dodge/Mopar is aware of the problem across multiple model years (2014–2024 Durangos) but will not remedy it.
Headlight malfunction – automatic/intermittent failure
Headlights turn on without input when the switch is in the off position, or turn off intermittently while driving in the on position. One case resolved after dealer replacement of an aftermarket remote start that was wired incorrectly by a third party.
When: During night-time driving; one case reported immediately after purchase on September 30, 2019.
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights illuminate when switch is in off position while parked and while in motion; Headlights turn off intermittently during night-time driving despite switch being in on position; Lights do not respond to auto mode function as intended
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer attempted multiple repairs without success until root cause was identified as aftermarket remote start wired incorrectly. Factory remote start installation resolved the issue in that case.
Rear spoiler detachment
Rear spoiler detached from vehicle while driving at highway speed, causing the third brake light wire to strike the rear glass window.
When: Reported at approximately 130,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Spoiler detached completely while vehicle in motion; Third brake light wire came loose and struck rear glass; No warning lights illuminated before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic advised that a new spoiler was needed. Vehicle was not repaired at time of complaint.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was made aware of the failure; no recall or remedy documented in the narrative.
Front turn signal bulb failure with burned connector prongs
Front turn signal bulbs fail prematurely; bulb filaments break and connector prongs show burn damage where bulbs plug into sockets.
When: Within less than one year of ownership; bulb replacement required twice in that timeframe.
Symptoms owners cite: Right side turn signal bulb filament broken; Burned connector prongs on both bulbs at the base; Turn signals require frequent bulb replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Owner replaced both bulbs twice in less than one year. Photos were taken of burned prongs but damage to sockets was not inspected. Replacement bulbs working at time of complaint.
Dashboard and headlight power loss on impact
Dashboard and headlights shut off when vehicle hits a bump in the road shortly after purchase, with lights in auto mode.
When: Reported September 30, 2019, immediately after driving off the lot.
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard went dark after hitting bump; Headlights shut off (vehicle was in auto mode); Manual switch to on position restored headlights; Engine knock also reported
Repairs/costs cited: No specific repair details provided. Dealer noted one airbag trip indicator.
Synthesized from 31 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Racetrack lighting seems to be defective and water has entered and lighting has stopped working and has become a problem driving without it.
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.