2017 Dodge Durango · symptom sheet
Tail lights or brake lights fail
- 46owner reports
- 41,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Mar 11, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
80 of the 212 complaints on this car are about the exterior lighting. 46 of those describe tail light failure, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2017 Durango.
Tick what matches of 46 reports
Tail light failure on other Durango years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2019, 2021, 2026.
What this problem usually is
These owners find a tail light or brake light dead, and then learn the fix is a whole lamp assembly rather than a bulb. Water inside the lens comes up again and again.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the LED module (24 reports) and the tail light assembly (11 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the exterior lighting covers the 2017 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 22,000 and 60,000 miles, from the 23 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2017 Dodge Durango that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
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.
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 ...
What owners wrote
“Race light tail lights went out. Water can get in around light . Known issue in class action lawsuit”
Filed Mar 11, 2026
“Rear liftgate taillight assembly seal has failed allowing water to get in. As a result, the led lighting element has failed which dramatically reduces rear visibility by other vehicles.”
Filed May 5, 2025
“Tracktail lights water go inside and cost repairs is over 1,500 all cables got burned out fire can happen soon if they don't. Make a safety recall for its 2017 dodge durango rt racetrack tail lights”
Filed Feb 11, 2024
“The rear center tail light, âRacetrack lightâ has water in it and is defective now for the second time, this is a well known issue, but continues to fail. Dodge will not cover the repair even with a maximum care warranty, pushing a well documented issue back to the consumer.”
Filed Dec 26, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 46 reports involved a crash and 2 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found