[JC Hemi]

Yeah after my negative run-ins with my local Dodge dealerships on simple warranty covered repairs, I decide to buy private sector vehicle warranty.

I went with Phoenix America platinum which is under written by Nationwide Insurance. I can go to the Dodge dealership and/or private repair facility. Also, I have a family member who is a VIP at their corporate HQ so I don’t expect any issues.

I haven’t used it yet but it’s there just in case… lol

 

[DDC]

@Durango El Diablo yeah, that's absolutely nuts. good for you though.

 

[Remi15]

not going to lie guys, I'm becoming pretty perturbed with the failing DRL's (usually driver side first) on the 2021 and up Durango's and Mopar's refusal to cover under the Maximum Care warranties.

maybe I'm just venting, maybe I'm looking for the appropriate next steps for this issue. if Mopar is going to refuse to cover us having to replace the entire headlight assembly for this, there will be significant costs to replace both the front head lamp assemblies as they go out and then the rear 'race track' light.

if I could purchase a "bulb, sealed beams or lens", as lights are defined in my MaxCare Warranty, I would totally do so. but $1,000 + labor for an entire head lamp assembly just to fix a failed DRL, is a real slap in the face to someone that paid good money for a MaxCare Warranty.

I've talked with my local dealership, which seemed genuinely surprised when the repair was not covered by the warranty, I've talked to the Mopar customer service line multiple times, which is in another country and I've reached out to Dodge Cares on this site.

my driver side DRL lasted til about 50k miles




View attachment 136770

Go straight to your attorney generals' office and file a formal complaint telling them Stellantis REFUSES to warranty a defective headlamp assembly (which is considered a safety feature) AGs are having a field day with Stellantis these days.

 

[Mable614]

not going to lie guys, I'm becoming pretty perturbed with the failing DRL's (usually driver side first) on the 2021 and up Durango's and Mopar's refusal to cover under the Maximum Care warranties.

maybe I'm just venting, maybe I'm looking for the appropriate next steps for this issue. if Mopar is going to refuse to cover us having to replace the entire headlight assembly for this, there will be significant costs to replace both the front head lamp assemblies as they go out and then the rear 'race track' light.

if I could purchase a "bulb, sealed beams or lens", as lights are defined in my MaxCare Warranty, I would totally do so. but $1,000 + labor for an entire head lamp assembly just to fix a failed DRL, is a real slap in the face to someone that paid good money for a MaxCare Warranty.

I've talked with my local dealership, which seemed genuinely surprised when the repair was not covered by the warranty, I've talked to the Mopar customer service line multiple times, which is in another country and I've reached out to Dodge Cares on this site.

my driver side DRL lasted til about 50k miles




View attachment 136770

I have found that extended warranties are almost worthless. I recommend you go into vehicle setting and turn off your DRLs. I did. If local law requires DRLs, you can simply use your parking lamps! If in the event of a collision, it will likely be replaced by insurance! Problem solved! Unfortunately. That is the biggest problem with LED lights.

 

[Methodites]

Except that by it being encased in a plastic lens and said lens would need to be replaced with the LED lights, that is probably what they would stand on, sheisters that they are.

@Don, Thanks for the clarification "Plastic Lenses and Light Bulbs"

@ TF......"being encased in a plastic lens and said lens"
I also caught onto that little sentence in the warranty as well. Assuming the "led" strip is encased into the plastic lens, and there isn't a part number for the led, as the part number is for the entire plastic globe.

 

[Don Fox]

All of this nonsense has to be from when Steallantis took over the company. I've had 3 MVP plans, and no complaint on any of them. The needed repairs were done without question or BS. In one instance the dealer ended up comping the rental which was a nice bonus!

Don

 

[Methodites]

@ Don
Yes, all this nonsense began with them for sure. It is nice when they covers the rental. Speaking of rental, the wife is in a loaner from the dealer now. My dealer had 75 loaner cars, and now they are down to 15.

 

[FischRT]

Last year I had my serpentine belt replaced with the alternator both covered by my Lifetime maxcare. It's at the dealership right now for a starter, TPMS sensor, and motor mounts. Just had the motor mounts replaced about 15k miles ago. They said they were bad again. I really haven't had any problems with maxcare. Except sometimes it takes longer then expected to approve a claim.

After the starter is replaced, every accessory has been replaced under the hood with Maxcare including trans, transfer case, lifters, and exhaust manifolds.

 

[Vice-White]

I have found that extended warranties are almost worthless. I recommend you go into vehicle setting and turn off your DRLs. I did. If local law requires DRLs, you can simply use your parking lamps! If in the event of a collision, it will likely be replaced by insurance! Problem solved! Unfortunately. That is the biggest problem with LED lights.

Not true about extended warranties.
Such a smart thing to say, if/when you crash your car, you'll then get a new light.

 

[GMAN1964]

My Maximum Care warranty definitely says "lights (bulb, sealed beams, lenses); " under Not Covered. Best bet is for a rock to fly up and shatter it and just pay the insurance deductible which is probably less than the light plus labor.

 

[Shelbyguy]

I did get the racetrack tail light replaced under maxcare about five years ago.

 

[Methodites]

I did get the racetrack tail light replaced under maxcare about five years ago.

I've been wondering if it could have been possible for Maxcare to replace ours as well back then if we were having the same problems. Just recently we started having the blackout problems. If there ever was a time when Max care did replace them I think that ship has sailed.

From this day forward, if anyone know a person, man or woman who has a Maxcare replacement of the racetrac light, please elaborate how? We need answers.👍

 

[Shelbyguy]

I've been wondering if it could have been possible for Maxcare to replace ours as well back then if we were having the same problems. Just recently we started having the blackout problems. If there ever was a time when Max care did replace them I think that ship has sailed.

From this day forward, if anyone know a person, man or woman who has a Maxcare replacement of the racetrac light, please elaborate how? We need answers.👍

I would tend to agree with you about getting it covered today. I sealed mine with exterior black caulking a few years ago and removed the two screws inside the hatch for drainage. Has been good so far. If it fails again, I'd disconnect the whole thing. When I was looking for an SUV, the only thing I really didn't like about the Durango was the racetrack light lol.

 

[galager]

Has anyone tried the aftermarket versions that I’m seeing on Amazon and eBay for a couple of hundred bucks?

 

[viper74656]

Has anyone tried the aftermarket versions that I’m seeing on Amazon and eBay for a couple of hundred bucks?

If you can find one cheap I'd definitely try it. For $600-700 (what I see) I'd probably just spring for a new OEM one at $1000 and seal it up tight beforr installing it.

Actually, I'd just live with annoyance for $1000, but for a couple hundred I'd buy a new one!

 

[viper74656]

Looks like there is a class action lawsuit for the rear racetrack light that is proceeding:

Dodge Durango's Racetrack Taillights Spark Lawsuit | Carscoops

The taillights of 2014-2023 Dodge Durango models are claimed to be defective and prone to water damage

www.carscoops.com

Edit: guess this is an an old case....nothing new

 

[Tin Foil Hat]

Yes, we know.

 

[viper74656]

Yes, we know.

Oops, sorry didn't realize it was old news.

 

[Tin Foil Hat]

This report actually came out this week or at the very end of last week so it was mentioned on the forum a couple of times already.

 

[BC Clark]

Well my L/H DRL just quit. 63K, no extended warranty and certainly this would be beyond the 3yr/36K. Other posts I have read indicate it is the ballast that fails not the actual LED array. Interesting it's usually the L/H (drivers side). Switch back amber turn signal still works. Does make you wonder if something is going on there. I would hate to spend the money only to have that happen again in a short time. The T&G's have self leveling head lights. I have only seen one aftermarket unit that indicates that is supported. I noticed Dodge Cares jumped into the forum thread on the backup camera OTA recall update not working. Wonder if they are watching this?