Problems · by component

2021 Dodge Durango exterior lighting problems

94 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2021 Dodge Durango cite exterior lighting, 45% of all 208 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
94
45% of all complaints
Crashes
1
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
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 2026Exterior lightingODI 11773942
“I am filing a safety complaint regarding the defective rear liftgate LED taillamp assembly (“racetrack” lighting) on my 2021 Dodge Durango GT. Sections of the LED lighting have burned out and no longer illuminate, reducing rear visibility and creating a potential collision hazard, particularly at night or during poor weather conditions. No dashboard warning lights or messages appeared to alert me to the failure. This failure is consistent with the manufacturing defect addressed by Stellantis in its recently announced warranty extension for certain 2018–2024 Dodge Durango vehicles. On October 27, 2026, I brought my vehicle to an authorized Dodge dealership and presented the applicable service bulletin. Despite the visibly failed LEDs and the documented warranty extension, dealership personnel stated that no warranty extension applied to my vehicle. Following an approximately 45-minute telephone conversation with Dodge Customer Care, I was informed that coverage is VIN-specific and that my vehicle was not included in the affected population. This is concerning because my vehicle falls within the specified model-year range and exhibits the same reported failure.…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 2026Exterior lightingODI 11774115
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 22, 2026Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11773101
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2026Exterior lightingODI 11761144
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 25, 2026Exterior lightingODI 11759301
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 24, 2026Exterior lightingODI 11759145

Showing 6 of 94 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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

Other 2021 Durango problem areas