Dodge Durango daytime running lights are a known problem. Running lights commonly stop working on 2020+ Dodge Durango’s. It is not a replaceable bulb, the entire headlight assembly must be replaced. This is a safety concern as many people do not turn their lights on while driving in fog. Dodge needs to be held responsible for this faulty part.
Dodge Durango headlights problems
299 of the 13,793 owner complaints about the Dodge Durango describe headlights failing or too dim, most of them for the 2021 model year.
- owner complaints
- 299
- worst model year
- 2021
- typical repair cost reported
- $1,200
- typical mileage
- 70,000
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Wipers 45Stalling 20Check engine light 13Warning lights 12Door locks 9Loss of power 8Key fob 6Power steering loss 5
Trouble codes mentioned
P0440 1
What owners say
The rear license plate light burned out and I was pulled over. I ordered 2 new lights and installed them. Neither worked. I put the old lights back in and then both stopped working. Then the race track light failed. Additionally, the front headlight race track also failed. This is a know manufacturing defect in these cars and nothing is being done about it. Took the vehicle to a repair shop and they said the entire rear race track needs replaced. The part is 1800 and back ordered until 2027. The labor is an additional 1500. This is totally unacceptable and the car should be repaired at no cost. There is literally a class action law suit going on over this well documented issue.
Daytime driving lights on drivers side went out and passenger is still on that is the lights yhat run in the daytime and when I took it to the dealership I was told they was aware of the situation but they said they was not responsible for it, but it also comes on at night with my head lights, and my local police said to me if the light is on the vehicle it must work, so this shoukd be considered a safety issue the drl can't just be replaced the whole headlight assembly has to be chaged which is 1000.00 why should all the people be reasonable for replacement of a design flaw and also us being responable a safety situation by state and federal guidelines.
The daytime running light and blinker went out way sooner than it should have and cost a fortune to replace just for it to fail again in another year. I had only owned the car for 8 months before they went out. It is unsafe and absolutely should be fixed when this is a well known issue with this year, make, and model vehicle. So many people have the exact same issue and it should be fixed. It’s just going to happen again. I have 4 kids and it is unsafe to be driving with no blinker but cost almost $2000 to replace and I cannot do that. When so many people have the exact same issue, there should absolutely be a recall on the headlight assembly and it should be fixed. You can’t replace just the running light or blinker, you have to replace the entire headlight assembly.
My drivers side led headlight has only lasted 2 years. One bulb goes out and the whole assembly needs to be replaced. These led lights are supposed to last 5-10 years. I have both headlights with a single light out. Passenger side turn signal and drivers side running day time lights. The headlights mopar makes are not in par with the cost of 1,200 to replace the entire assembly for just one headlight
The driver side daytime running lamp no longer works after 55000 miles. The daytime running lamp (DRL) is an led light strip that requires the entire headlamp to be replaced. Anyone can inspect the issue at any time. The issue presents a risk to oncoming traffic who cannot see my entire vehicle especially at dawn / dusk and foggy days. The daytime running lamp is utilized to alert oncoming traffic and pedestrians that a car is approaching. The dodge dealership that I purchased the car from is aware of the issue and has neglected to resolve the issue. An independent auto mechanic has confirmed that the DRL is malfunctioning. There weren't any warning signs or messages. The light just shut off and has not turned back on. A new running lamp is $1200 and requires approximately $500 in labor to install. This is not an issue that is simply solved by changing out a $20 light bulb. The issue began about 2 months ago.
My vehicle is 5 years old with 54,000 miles on its and my driver's side headlight has failed. The headlamps are LED and in order to repair them, the entire housing needs a replacement, not just a bulb. My headlights need to be operational in order to drive safely at night. I have an appointment with the dealership to confirm the issue. There were not any warnings or failure symptoms.
The driver side headlight is malfunctioning causing the daytime running light to not work.
Dodge Durangos have a known issue with the rear taillights going out for no reason also the headlights and turn signals. This is a safety issue that isn’t easily remedied.
I am submitting this complaint regarding an ongoing headlight/turn signal failure on my 2021 Dodge Durango involving the factory LED turn signals that are sealed/encased within the headlight assemblies. The driver-side front LED turn signal failed first, and now the passenger-side front LED turn signal has also failed. Because these LED turn signals are integrated into the sealed headlight assemblies, this is not a simple situation where a standard turn signal bulb can be replaced. The failure can require replacement of the headlight assembly, making what should normally be a basic safety-related lighting repair significantly more expensive. I am concerned that this may be a widespread defect affecting Dodge vehicles equipped with this style of LED headlight/turn signal assembly, rather than normal wear. Both sides failing on the same vehicle raises concerns regarding the durability and expected service life of the integrated LED turn signal components. Turn signals are an important vehicle safety feature used to communicate a driver's intentions to other motorists and pedestrians. When an integrated LED turn signal fails, other drivers may not be able to clearly see that the vehicle is turning or changing lanes, increasing the potential for an accident. I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate complaints involving premature failure of the integrated/encased LED turn signals and headlight assemblies on the 2021 Dodge Durango and other similarly equipped Dodge vehicles. If these failures are determined to be caused by a common defect in the LED components, wiring, electronics, or headlight assembly design, I believe the manufacturer should be required to provide an appropriate remedy rather than requiring vehicle owners to bear the expense of replacing complete headlight assemblies for failed safety lighting components.
Related recalls
Exterior lighting: tail lights
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2026 Dodge Durango vehicles. The terminals in the tail light wiring harness may be damaged and cause the tail lights to fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Risk
- Tail lights that fail to illuminate properly reduce the vehicle's visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the tail light assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 3, 2026. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is A2D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on beginning October 29, 2026.
Recall number 26V701000 · Recall details
Interior lighting
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles manufactured December 3, 2009, to September 1, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the wiring for the vanity lamp in the sun visor may short circuit, after having been remedied for a prior recall for the vanity lamp wiring. This recall is also addressing certain vehicles that have not been remedied under that prior recall.
- Risk
- The vanity lamp wiring may short, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealer will install clearance for sun visor wiring, protection from sharp edges, and replace the sun visor, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R71.
Recall number 15V879000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch
- What is wrong
- On certain pickup trucks, the central timer module (ctm) has an improperly sized circuit board trace that could potentially cause the right headlamp low beam to become inoperative.
- Risk
- If the lights fail, a visibility problem could occur, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the ctm. Owner notification began december 23, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1‑800‑853‑1403.
Recall number 02V322000 · Recall details
Questions about the Dodge Durango headlights
Which Dodge Durango years have headlights failing or too dim problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2021 (47 complaints), 2003 (43 complaints) and 2001 (22 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix headlights failing or too dim on the Dodge Durango?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,200 (median of 44 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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