Thanks so much. That's exactly the sort of insight we were hoping to get. No one knows their vehicle quite like its owner. Our firm is gathering information to determine whether there may be a basis for legal action. The format and public nature of this board is somewhat limiting in terms of an extended discussion but we'd certainly welcome having a brief chat with you or any other Durango owners who may have information that could assist in our investigation. Thanks again.

 

Same issue! F-ing pissed! mine is a 2017 and I had the same issue with my 2012. (glutton for punishment???) I figured the race track light was better design but f- me! I too, went to the car wash last weekend and all hell broke loose. only noticed it last night because i went to get groceries and noticed it when putting them in the back. You're correct...its a money maker almost $2000 to repair. Sick of being screwed over....I was considering a Hellcat but will certainly do plenty or research before I bend over.....a 3rd time!!!!!

 

68453659AA does not fit my 2021 as it is for 2014 to 2020.

2021 lists the following part numbers. Not sure what the difference is and would love to know. Anyone?


Fits 2021 only 68530336aa
Fits 2020 and 2021 68530337aa
Fits 2014 to 2021 68156575AG

 

@Vice-White Where did you get that information? That is something really interesting

 

Logged into Mopar.com and did a parts lookup for my VIN and they all showed up listed as I wrote them. Is the part number on the tailight exterior or viewable if the tailgate inner panel is removed?

 

AT least it is only $600 and change if I need tro replace it one day. LOL

 

These part numbers will drive you nuts. LOL

 

I may join techauthority for a day or 3 to get more data.

 

It makes me smile to see there's a part number that only fit 2021 model. The only things to know is what is the difference. Maybe it's something related to the seal or the rear camera that might now be integrated idk. My lack on english makes it harder to me to find good information. and there's not much data info in french so... Will need you @Vice-White

 

Be interesting to see what the difference is between 68530336AB & 68530337AB, as they both supposedly fit a 2021. Can't be the difference between having or not having a back-up camera, as all do in 2021. All of the Mopar dealer parts web sites just show similar descriptions and fitment. Also interesting to see if either/both maybe now come with a sensible seal on the backside that actually keeps out water??? Just seems absurdly ridiculous from a design and engineering perspective that this is still an issue after so many years, and it being 2021. Think I will look for a spare tube of clear silicone RTV and do a little caulking by this next weekend just to be safe.

 

After reading some many threads about this issue and looking at how the taillight is actually designed, I ran some clear RTV (Dowsil 737) all the way over the top in my brand new DD. I did it right between the the light assembly and the sheetmetal. I don't want to be worrying about this and have it in the back of my mind every time it rains or I decide to power wash it. If I was to do this again I would use black color RTV instead of clear. Clear isn't exactly clear and it's more whiteish. I might also go back and do the sides too since I have plenty of leftover.

 

@GT_Plus Maybe the difference is related to the DODGE letter being either BLACK or SILVER?

 

I think you are correct! 😁

 

FUSE F80 ITS SAYS "cargo and something else " IF YOUR TRUNK LIGHT LED BAR STOP WORKING TRY THAT FIRST I JUST DID IT AND IT WORKED I KNOW THIS AINT REALLY WHAT YOU TALKING ABOUT BUT THEY WERE CHARGING ME 150 just to check for the problem and i couldnt find anything online i have a 2017 RT

 

Thanks for removing the caps lock for at least part of your post.

 

My ugly repair of my wife's "backing up by Braille" trick had lasted almost a year when I noticed condensation last week. Examining for the source of the leak I discover this new crack close to the center, near and above the second D in DODGE. Not sure how that happened, but can tell you its enough to piss off the Good Humor man. Plus I just priced the new center light assemble, the best price I can find now is about $100 more than it was 12 months ago, Ouch!! Makes me just want to drill some drain holes in the bottom of the assemble to allow the condensation to drip out. And yes she needs a bath.

 

After reading all of the horror stories on here about the leaky racetrack lights, the numerous repairs/replacements, and many out of warranty, I applied a thin bead of the Clear GE Silicone 2 product on the top and sides of the wife's new 2021 a few months ago. About $7.50 from Home Depot. So far, so good! Until reading this... My wife is also not the most coordinated, so hoping the backup camera will help there, but... it'd be just like her to smack something into the light while loading/unloading. For those interested, I found the properties (below) of the GE product well suited in case you want to pre-emptively seal it, or fix a crack after the fact. If that doesn't work, out comes the DRILL!

GE Advanced Silicone 2 Kitchen and Bath sealant is a high-performance, 100% silicone and 100% waterproof sealant ideal for areas prone to water exposure. GE Advanced Silicone 2 Kitchen and Bath sealant is permanently flexible with 40% more flexibility than Class 25 sealants and has 5X stronger adhesion than our Silicone 1 sealant. It will not discolor most high-end metal finishes such as chrome, bronze, and nickel. This sealant also has a low odor while curing thanks to its neutral-cure formula. Its 30-minute water-ready formula offers 10-year mold-free product protection to protect against mold and mildew growth. Use our silicone kitchen and bathroom sealant on a variety of common surfaces, including most metals, plastics, and woods; glass, drywall, plaster, granite, and more.

• 100% silicone sealant with strong adhesive properties
• 100% waterproof for use in moisture-rich environments; 30-minute water-ready formula
• 10-year mold-free product protection
• Meets ASTM C-920, Class 35
• 5X stronger adhesion; 40% more flexibility than Class 25 sealants
• Durable sealant is both shrink- and crack-proof
• Won’t blemish most high-end metal finishes such as chrome, bronze, and nickel
• Adheres to: most metals, plastics, and woods; glass, drywall, plaster, granite, cultured marble, ceramic and porcelain tile, and more
• Won't blemish most high-end metal finishes such as chrome, bronze and nickel
• Lifetime guarantee
• Neutral curing with low odor
• Non-paintable
• Adheres to: most metals, plastics and woods, glass, drywall, plaster, granite, cultured marble, ceramic and porcelain tile, natural stone, cement board, composites, Formica, fiberglass, aluminum and painted surfaces

 

Drill away! You can't make it any worse.

 

My friend has a 2021 GT she leased. 5,600 miles on it and already water in the usual spot on racetrack light. So add another failure to the list.
If they ever decide to deliver my SRT i'll be removing that centerpiece and sealing TF out of it.

 

I imagine they've spent more money trying to figure out if they really need to fix it based on legality, safety, and customer sentiment, then they ever would have to simply fix it.

I really like the Durango, enough to be driving my second. But Dodge seems interested in testing my loyalty for some reason. From a piss poor tail light design, to a Uconnect5 system that apparently cannot accept a firmware update, to a drivetrain with some sort of gremlins that cause rev hangs and a 40% reduction in power... Dodge keeps saying "operates as designed", or "unable to replicate", or "no response from the factory". I'd really love to get Kuniskis on here for an AMA-like session. I can't imagine what sort of plan he has (if any) for customer retention.

 

Weird is I only hear about the Durango having this issue...but is not the only Dodge vehicle with LED tail lights.
Challenger, Charger and even the Journey had LED tails but I don't see or hear of them having water ingress issues...same with JGC or Ram.
However, my 2014 is still dry...so I don't buy that there is a design flaw when they don't all leak.

 

I think they all will fail... eventually. It is a matter of how often you wash it, how you wash it, and whether it is garaged or left outside. More exposure to water - especially high pressure water - increases the risk. Keep your eyes peeled for other Durango's at night. You will be amazed by how many of them have segments of the race track burnt out. Find me another vehicle with LED lamps that has a similar failure rate. It doesn't have to happen to you personally to make it a stupid design that is prone, if not destined, for failure.

 

If mine burns out because of water infiltration, it will get fixed by the dealer then I will sell it.

 

The fact is that if you look closely there was never any intent to seal the housings. They are designed to let moisture out thru literally wide open edges. Those same open edges are the ones that tend to catch people by the shirt, pull hair and skin off, etc. We have a bunch of threads on the forums about that too. The problem as it relates to light failure is that when moisture gets to just the right (wrong?) parts of the internals, it causes corrosion to start and eventually the LED strips short out. So it isn't about installation. It's about time. Eventually it will happen to all of us. Its just a poor design.

 

Well maybe that's why mine seems to leak water out for a long while after washing???
If that's what its suppose to do, then something is not right with those that don't drain..maybe dirt buildup?
Anyhow, I'm testing your theory...as I'm over 8 yrs since build date and no leaks...and will probably keep this one another 7 yrs min.

 

The fix from dodge is so incredibly simple add a thicker gasket the 10 or so bolts that hold the light in place will easily mash the gasket against the paint for a good seal. Car washes will help destroy the seal and if the area is not cleaned up really well the new seal will fail allowing water in. The silicone bead at the top will prevent this as noted above. I like the durango and my new one should be in any day but its pretty sad that the new 55K plus vehicle will need a bead of silicone applied 😕 to prevent failure of the signature race track light !

 

its pretty sad that the new 55K plus vehicle will need a bead of silicone applied 😕 to prevent failure of the signature race track light !

Something that easily could (and should) be done at the factory if they're unwilling to improve the design. I honestly cannot understand why they haven't addressed this problem in production. We all know it's not rare because we've either experienced it ourselves or seen it on countless other Durangos on the road (or both). To me this is just blatant disregard for the quality of your own product and for your customer.

 

Okay, I decided enough is enough. Over 1" of water had pooled in the right (passenger) side of the race track. Surprisingly the lights are still functioning. The weather warmed up yesterday and today, so I got out my drill with a 1/32" drill bit and decided to drill a couple weep holes (shown by yellow circles). I figured the bottom of the cavity inside had to be around where the plastic color changes to black. I could not believe how much water came out.

I understand you can also remove a lower attachment screws to drain the unit as well, or drill drain holes in another location on the side to the assembly near the attachment screws - lots of videos on YouTube that show those methods. If I needed, I can seal these up with RTV and drill weep holes on the side near the attachment screws.

As always YMMV.

 

Okay, I decided enough is enough. Over 1" of water had pooled in the right (passenger) side of the race track. Surprisingly the lights are still functioning.

Not for long. Once those bottom lights get wet, they're toast. It's just a matter of time before the connections have corroded and failed.

 

I can’t believe I’m posting this yet again, but my FOURTH taillight is now full of water and burned out.

 

Im not surprised It has a large hole to let water in the gasket is to thin and fails . Same design with nothing changed will yield the same result. Forums are great we collectively post things with solutions to prevent issues and improve manufactured products the recommendation was a bead of silicone... $7 silicone or $1,000.00+ tail light I opted for the $7 fix for my 2021 I did go very small on the bead but the lens seems to move and the bead popped loose in the middle. Not a big deal just made the bead larger, it surprised me how much it moves the movement probabley assists with dirt, salt , road grime all combined to get behind the gasket

Look at the rust on the bolts that sit within the gasket

 

Im not surprised It has a large hole to let water in the gasket is to thin and fails . Same design with nothing changed will yield the same result. Forums are great we collectively post things with solutions to prevent issues and improve manufactured products the recommendation was a bead of silicone... $7 silicone or $1,000.00+ tail light I opted for the $7 fix for my 2021 I did go very small on the bead but the lens seems to move and the bead popped loose in the middle. Not a big deal just made the bead larger, it surprised me how much it moves the movement probabley assists with dirt, salt , road grime all combined to get behind the gasket

Look at the rust on the bolts that sit within the gasket


View attachment 119882

That's a Yuge Hole !

 

I found that even after replacing the old gaskets water was still getting in along the top edge of the light. Easy to silicone that up with the light off and problem solved so far. I go to gigg pressure car washes regularly so I check it every time. No leaks so far.

 

A serious design flaw FCA REFUSES to address. Another reason this is my 1st, and last FCA vehicle.

 

Well you can't buy an FCA vehicle any longer...new owner is Stellantis...which is a merger with the PSA group. Headed by Carlos Tavares who is an Engineer.
But from what he's said, it seems clear to me their focus is on new EV platforms and PHEV's. The current Durango is on an old platform that will probably be discontinued by '23/'24 so don't expect any more money thrown its way. I'm sure the focus is more on the current Jeep platforms and the Uconnect 5 issues than the much smaller number of leaking Durango tail lights.