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 ↗2020 Dodge Durango lighting problems
severe Owners of the 2020 Dodge Durango have filed 19 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
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
| Model year | lighting complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Durango | 40 |
| 2017 Durango | 60 |
| 2018 Durango | 41 |
| 2019 Durango | 31 |
| 2020 Durango (this page) | 19 |
| 2021 Durango | 61 |
| 2022 Durango | 20 |
| 2023 Durango | 8 |
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What stands out
Lighting accounts for 36% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 6 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.
Flash: Body Control Module (BCM) Updates This bulletin involves reprogramming the BCM with the latest available software. The customer may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon further investigation the technician may find the following Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC). When the ambient air temperature sensor voltage goes to 0 volts (shorted to ground), the BCM sets a P0073 - Ambient Air Temperature Sensor Circuit High for this condition. The BCM should display P0072 - Ambient Air Temperature Sensor Circuit Low instead.
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 ↗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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Water intrusion into the rear taillight assemblies is the dominant complaint across these 2020 Durango narratives. Owners describe water pooling and accumulating inside both the center liftgate "racetrack" LED light bar and the outer brake light housings. The water causes LED segments to dim gradually, burn out in sections, or fail completely. Factory wiring appears to interfere with the weather seal, and the sealed, non-serviceable assemblies must be replaced entirely—a $1,200 to $1,600 job. Owners report the problem reoccurs in replacement units because the underlying design flaw remains unfixed.
License plate lights fail as secondary casualties of the same water intrusion, leaving plates unlit at night. One owner notes the center light stopped working entirely at 41K miles, eliminating rear illumination except brake lights and creating a serious nighttime safety hazard.
A separate but equally serious defect: a sharp, beak-shaped edge where the liftgate taillight connects has lacerated the arms of multiple owners and household members, leaving permanent scars. Chrysler opened an investigation after receiving a report, acknowledging the safety concern, but no recall has been issued.
Owners emphasize that 2021 and later Durangos received recalls for the water intrusion problem, but 2020 and earlier model years were left out, leaving them without manufacturer remedy outside the warranty period.
Same Dodge Durango lighting reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2021 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Racetrack center taillight water intrusion and LED failure
Water enters the sealed center liftgate 'racetrack' LED light assembly through manufacturing defects in the weather seal. Water pools in the lower sections, causing LED segments to dim, fail progressively, or short out completely. The assembly is non-serviceable and requires full replacement.
When: 41K–45K miles; some failures earlier, some later; progresses over time
Symptoms owners cite: Water visible pooling or accumulating inside the light housing; LED segments dimming or going dark progressively; Entire racetrack light bar failing suddenly or gradually; No warning light on dashboard; Associated license plate light and backup lights also failing
Repairs/costs cited: $1,200–$1,600 for full assembly replacement; not user-serviceable; dealers replace assembly but problem persists in new units due to design flaw; some owners attempt temporary fixes with silicone caulk or drain bolts
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued for 2021 and later models; 2020 and earlier years not recalled; replacements covered under Basic Limited Warranty during warranty period; no fix or recall offered outside warranty; Chrysler investigating sharp edge injuries but no recall issued
Rear taillight assembly water intrusion and LED corrosion
Water intrusion into outer rear brake light housings (not the center racetrack) causes corrosion and LED burnout. Factory wiring may impede the weather seal, allowing moisture ingress. Lights fail in patches or sections, gradually spreading.
When: Occurs across vehicle lifespan; progresses over months to years after water entry begins
Symptoms owners cite: One or more LED sections in brake light going dark; Progressive dimming across multiple sections; Water and corrosion visible inside housing; Sections fading then completely burning out; Entire rear brake light eventually non-functional
Repairs/costs cited: Full assembly replacement required; cost not specified in narratives; not user-serviceable; problem persists after dealer replacement due to unchanged design
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall for 2020 model; owners report Dodge acknowledges issue is widespread but offers no remedy outside warranty; no TSBs mentioned
License plate light failure secondary to taillight water intrusion
License plate lights fail as a secondary consequence of water intrusion affecting the taillight assembly wiring and power distribution. Failure leaves license plate unlit, creating potential for traffic tickets and security/surveillance issues.
When: Occurs simultaneously or shortly after main taillight water intrusion begins
Symptoms owners cite: License plate light goes out without separate warning; Plate cannot be illuminated at night; Potential for police stop and citation
Repairs/costs cited: Repaired as part of taillight assembly replacement; no separate part cost cited
Sharp rear edge on liftgate taillight assembly causing lacerations
A beak-shaped, sharp edge on the rear of the liftgate taillight assembly at the connection point cuts skin and clothing during normal contact (loading cargo, brushing against vehicle). Multiple owners and family members report deep cuts and permanent scarring.
When: Ongoing; inherent to vehicle design from manufacture
Symptoms owners cite: Sharp edge slices skin on arm or leg with minimal contact; Laceration of clothing; Deep cuts causing permanent scarring; Affects multiple people in same household
Repairs/costs cited: No repair mentioned; design flaw requiring physical modification or replacement assembly
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler received report and opened investigation; representative acknowledged safety concern; no recall issued as of complaint dates
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The tail light burned out because of water intrusion. I understand there is a leaky gasket that lets water in and, in time, this moisture ruins the LED taillight. Mine gave way at 45k miles. One section on the left started fading, then the whole taillight burned out. I was reading on the Internet a lot of people report the same issue for a number of years, how is this still happening, can you…
The rear tail lights have a sharp edge that is beak shaped and if you brush up against it on accident it slices into your skin or clothes. I was loading groceries and my arm skimmed over it and sliced a whole piece of skin off. I have researched the incident to see if others have had the same experience looking for a recall or solution after it happened to me and my husband multiple times most…
Rear racetrack taillight collects water and the leds short out making the taillight not work
Had lighting trouble with your 2020 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 2020 Dodge Durango?
It's a meaningful issue. 19 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $250.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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/2020/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.