Problems · by component

2003 Dodge Durango exterior lighting problems

39 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Dodge Durango cite exterior lighting, 12% of all 339 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
39
12% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The obd reader on my 2003 Durango brings up code for central timing module and eeprm checksum error were the safety recall is in order but the vin number is not in the list of recall. It has all the specification of recall but vin number isn't in the list of recalls. I'm driving around in a unsafe vehicle due to manufacturing error that my vin number is the only thing why they won't fix it. Why do they not care if I kill myself or others from this that the recall is”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 14, 2025Exterior lighting, Structure, EngineODI 11673302
“I WAS DRIVING ALONG WHEN ALL LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUT STARTED TO FLASH ON AND OFF AT A VERY FAST RAT. THE CAR CONTINUED TO DRIVE OK. EVER SINCE THESE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO FLASH. I HAVE TALKED TO A FEW MECHANICS AND HAVE HAD DIFFERENT IDEAS. I CAN'T INVEST A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS ON MAYBE S. PLEASE HELP. MILLAGE IS 126000”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 20, 2019Exterior lightingODI 11281410
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING FLICKERED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DESERT 215 SUPERSTORE (8030 RAFAEL RIVERA WAY, LAS VEGAS, NV, (702) 963-8000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BODY MODULE COMPARTMENT NEEDED REPLACEMENT; HOWEVER, THE PART WAS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART COULD BE PURCHASED ONLINE AND THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 29, 2018Exterior lighting, Electrical systemODI 11104724
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE HEADLAMP FLICKERED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V322000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 16, 2016Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10865080
“SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE NEW IT HAS HAD MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE SAD PART, NOBODY AT DODGE CARED. IT WOULD SHIFT INTO 4WD LOW AT DANGEROUS SPEEDS. AFTER TAKING TO SEVERAL DODGE DEALERS NONE COULD OR WOULD FIX IT. DODGE THEMSELVES BASICALLY LAUGHED AT RIPPING OFF YET ANOTHER CUSTOMER. NHTSB HAS TOTALLY IGNORED THE THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS WITH ISSUES ON THESE VEHICLES. OURS IS ANOTHER THAT HAVE THE PULSATING LIGHTS PROBLEM THAT APPARENTLY NHTSA AND DODGE FEEL IT ISN'T AN ISSUE TO HAVE YOUR LIGHTS TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT 70 MPH. APPARENTLY IN THE AUTOMOTIVE/GOVT. RELATIONSHIP AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE HASN'T KILLED ALL OF US YET EVERYTHING IS OKAY. AT LEAST THE DODGE DEALERS ARE DOING WELL. THEY'VE RAKED IN MORE CASH BY DENYING THE ISSUE AND THROWING EXPENSIVE PARTS AT THESE LEMONS. MY QUESTION IS THIS: IF THESE VEHICLES HAVE HAD A RECALL ON :"SPECIFIC" VIN'S YET THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE HOW DOES THE NHTSA JUSTIFY LEAVING THOSE CONSUMERS WITHOUT HELP OR PROTECTION?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 23, 2015Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 10785710
“THE PROBLEM ORIGINALLY STARTED ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. WHEN I SWITCHED ON THE REAR FAN (HEAT OR AC DID NOT MATTER), THE ENTIRE CENTER CONSOLE (RADIO, BLOWER SWITCHES, AND ELECTRONIC 4WD SWITCH) WOULD GO COMPLETELY DEAD, AND THE "SERVICE 4WD" LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THEN THIS STARTED HAPPENING WHEN I TURNED ON THE FRONT BLOWER OR THE REAR BLOWER. THEN IT STARTED HAPPENING WITH BOTH BLOWERS OFF AND THE HEADLIGHTS ON HIGH. NOW IT DOES IT SPONTANEOUSLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON WITH ALL EXTRA ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS (THE HEADLIGHTS, RADIO, AND BLOWERS) ALL OFF. I'M THINKING THERE IS A SHORT SOMEWHERE, BUT CANNOT IDENTIFY IT. SO FAR, I HAVE REPLACED THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR, THE TCCM, AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH NO APPARENT IMPROVEMENT. I'VE ALSO HAD THE DASH APART AND CHECKED EVERY ELECTRICAL WIRE I COULD GET TO FOR OBVIOUS SHORTS. NO LUCK. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I TALKED TO THE MECHANIC AT THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER, AND HE SAID HE THINKS IT'S THE TIPM (MAIN FUSE BOX) IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE SAID HE SEES THEM SHORT OUT "ALL THE TIME, SOME OF THEM SO BAD THEY ACTUALLY CATCH FIRE!" (DIRECT QUOTE FROM HIM.) I AM NOW TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MY DURANGO, BUT I…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2015Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Unknown or otherODI 10748940

Showing 6 of 39 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Exterior lighting: switch

Free remedy

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.

Exterior lightingReported Dec 2, 2002NHTSA 02V322000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.