THIS EFFING TAIL LIGHT!!!
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640 Posts
Did the repair myself
Repair the race track light and how it works
This failure by Dodge to supply the correct gasket thickness and material has created issues with the tail light partially failing . If it completely failed there is a good chance the the NHTSA would force a recall but for most its just sections that burn out. Not knowing how it was made I...
www.dodgedurango.net
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204 Posts
Sucks that this tail light keeps going out. It's probably my favorite part of this truck and the reason I bought it in 12/2013. I'm on my 5th tail light at 95K miles. I had it replaced in 2021 with supposedly a new part to prevent common issue. It's going out again and Maxcare wont cover it this time. Strange because they have at least 2 times. I'm going to try and give them a call tomorrow. Are these race track lights the same for all years and models?
Yes
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352 Posts
Literally the same day someone gets one of these replaced you should go out and put a small bead to clear RTV across the top of it with the liftgate and then down each side where it meets the painted surface. You will not even see the clear bead and you will never have a problem again with water intrusion. You don't have to take it off or anything. See pics earlier in this forum. Its clear Dodge hasn't changed the design, so replacing it and expecting it to work better, not sure how that will ever work out. I absolutely love the racetrack and want it fully lit, I put the clear bead on and my 18 is bone dry.
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640 Posts
I did silicone mine I put a bead along the entire top edge to the metal body the problem is that when the light is exposed to heat from the sun it bows out almost a 1/4'' at the middle breaking the bead . Its amazing with the 10 bolts that hold it in it can still bow out but when it cools it settles back into place. The left and right beads stay in place and those seem to be the most important.
@shadash made the best video so far of how to remove the light and new info about the price increase of the light. He shows how to bead the top of the light but the gasket also fails so both areas need to be addressed.
The Racetrack Light dilemma
I have about a 6 inch spot on my Racetrack light that is out. Is there no way to fix it or I have to replace the entire light? It's not too bad but it bugs me.
www.dodgedurango.net
I started this thread to try to get support from Dodge to show all the failures any time Im driving at night 70% of the durangos that I see have a partial light failure. there must be at least 30 different threads here about this issue @DodgeCares may be able to help out. This is purely a design defect causing the failure no other vehicle on the road has this amount of issues with a light fixture. This is a signature detail of the Durango "The race track light" and I feel the aesthetic look is one of the best out there its a shame they did not update this design flaw to keep water out of the electronics the warranty replacement seems to be spotty with nost being turned down and only a few have been successful my guess is the dealer is absorbing the cost.
Now that its getting darker during commuting time snap pics of failed lights and post them here
Post pictures of failed race track lights
If yours has failed or you see one driving take a picture and post it . If anyone on long island has an old one that they replaced reach out to me I did a repair but now I understand better how it works and would like to try a different way that makes it look like new and post how to repair it...
www.dodgedurango.net
Well, it would seem I procrastinated on the preventative sealing too long. Noticed water pooled on passenger side this AM. Drilled a #50 hole in each side to drain. Was snowing today, but should be back in mid-70's by Saturday. So I will take it off, dry fully, seal up, and silicone my drain holes.
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11 Posts
After reading all of the posts about water getting into the racetrack I took off the assembly from my 2017 R/T to see the condition of the gaskets. Fortunately the foam gasket surrounding both openings are in good shape as evidenced by the clean areas. Do not see any other path for water infiltration. Guess I have been lucky so far.
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2,930 Posts
Now that you removed the unit I would suggest adding addtional gasket material since your orignal gasket was compressed for 5 years and I highly doubt it will seal properly once reinstalled.
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400 Posts
Yes, now that it is off 'Cambo' did a very nice diagram of the issue and the small channel to cut in the lower gasket to allow to drain....
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4 Posts
Hello All,
Just piling-on here; I've got a 2014 Citadel that I've treated with kid-gloves since I bought it new (only 55K miles on it so far in October of 2022). Not only have I repeatedly gotten actual puddles of water in the center rear racetrack light, BOTH of my front headlights have now started to collect water after the slightest weather event or quick automatic car wash.
With the headlights (in colder weather, like it is now), the heat from the lights and engine bay don't dry the water out at all.
I eventually had to resort to temporarily removing the adjustable vent caps from the back of the headlights (there are 3 per headlight) to help with evaporation. After removing the vent caps, I use a hair dryer, a small hose, and a hose adapter, in attempts to dry-out the puddles of water in each headlight (takes forever and only sometimes works).
I'm not sure that this is as much of an issue with other brands, but to me, it is abundantly clear that Dodge/MOPAR doesn't much care about these FACTORY DEFECTS. Multiple Dodge dealers and customer service reps in my area have told me that none of these problems are covered under warranty due to them being considered to be "like light bulbs" which are not covered, or "not essential for the safe operation of the vehicle," for the rear light.
Conveniently for Dodge, the headlight water issues started becoming noticable about a month - to the day - after my factory warranty expired. The rear racetrack light was denied for warranty repairs previous to that.
The cost for EACH headlight is over $700, last I was quoted, PLUS the labor to remove the old and install the new headlights at $120 per hour. The rear center racetrack was quoted to me at about $1200, plus labor. No bueno!
With as simple as the fixes/modifications are to correct these major issues to these part designs, it is immensely frustrating to see model year after model year persist with the same problems. The Durango is an exceptionally good vehicle for many purposes, and it's even fun to drive, but Dodge has really sullied the good will the overall vehicle design earns with a few particularly bad component designs, sub-par warranty support, and (in my experience) very poor customer service overall (at least in my area).
...And don't get me started on that rear windshield wiper and spray nozzle. I swear, most vehicle manufacturers must put their absolute worst warm-weather-hometown engineering rejects in the windshield wiper design departments. In particular, the rear-window wiper and nozzle is absolutely insufficient for purpose.
Anyway... Take care, all!
Just piling-on here; I've got a 2014 Citadel that I've treated with kid-gloves since I bought it new (only 55K miles on it so far in October of 2022). Not only have I repeatedly gotten actual puddles of water in the center rear racetrack light, BOTH of my front headlights have now started to collect water after the slightest weather event or quick automatic car wash.
With the headlights (in colder weather, like it is now), the heat from the lights and engine bay don't dry the water out at all.
I eventually had to resort to temporarily removing the adjustable vent caps from the back of the headlights (there are 3 per headlight) to help with evaporation. After removing the vent caps, I use a hair dryer, a small hose, and a hose adapter, in attempts to dry-out the puddles of water in each headlight (takes forever and only sometimes works).
I'm not sure that this is as much of an issue with other brands, but to me, it is abundantly clear that Dodge/MOPAR doesn't much care about these FACTORY DEFECTS. Multiple Dodge dealers and customer service reps in my area have told me that none of these problems are covered under warranty due to them being considered to be "like light bulbs" which are not covered, or "not essential for the safe operation of the vehicle," for the rear light.
Conveniently for Dodge, the headlight water issues started becoming noticable about a month - to the day - after my factory warranty expired. The rear racetrack light was denied for warranty repairs previous to that.
The cost for EACH headlight is over $700, last I was quoted, PLUS the labor to remove the old and install the new headlights at $120 per hour. The rear center racetrack was quoted to me at about $1200, plus labor. No bueno!
With as simple as the fixes/modifications are to correct these major issues to these part designs, it is immensely frustrating to see model year after model year persist with the same problems. The Durango is an exceptionally good vehicle for many purposes, and it's even fun to drive, but Dodge has really sullied the good will the overall vehicle design earns with a few particularly bad component designs, sub-par warranty support, and (in my experience) very poor customer service overall (at least in my area).
...And don't get me started on that rear windshield wiper and spray nozzle. I swear, most vehicle manufacturers must put their absolute worst warm-weather-hometown engineering rejects in the windshield wiper design departments. In particular, the rear-window wiper and nozzle is absolutely insufficient for purpose.
Anyway... Take care, all!
I removed mine, managing to break the trim panel on the inside of the hatch. Great...
Anyways, I cleaned the gasket surface real well, gooped the top and sides with a bead of silicone caulk, and caulked the sheetmetal at the top of the lens. Once reinstalled, I added another bead at the top of the lens.
Note that I left the center of the racetrack un-caulked to allow thermal expansion and contraction. We'll see how it goes.
Pics are out of order, but you get the drift...
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Anyways, I cleaned the gasket surface real well, gooped the top and sides with a bead of silicone caulk, and caulked the sheetmetal at the top of the lens. Once reinstalled, I added another bead at the top of the lens.
Note that I left the center of the racetrack un-caulked to allow thermal expansion and contraction. We'll see how it goes.
Pics are out of order, but you get the drift...
Good luck getting it loose if you need to replace it or fix it.
If I need to replace it, I will tear it off with my bare hands and smash it into tiny pieces out of spite. Plus since it is bonded to the original gasket, the gasket should give way.
I got my racetrack light replaced under the extended warranty that I bought from Dodge. It is a 2021 certified preowned bought in October 2022. The warranty is the highest tier, Platinum, and it is called “My Mechanic” it is from the umbrella company Assurant but it is serviced by different providers depending on where you live. Here in Illinois it is administered by Automotive Warranty Services, Inc. $100 deductible for like 6 warranty fixes including the racetrack. Now I have to re-tint the racetrack light like my other one was.
Warranty:
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Warranty:
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477 Posts
Hello all!
Reaching out to again remind users that if you are experiencing related headlight concerns and are seeking support in combination with your dealer appointment we're here to help! We would like to review your vehicle information and work together with you and your dealer technician to find a solution. Hope to connect with some of you via private message!
Hannah
Dodge Cares
Reaching out to again remind users that if you are experiencing related headlight concerns and are seeking support in combination with your dealer appointment we're here to help! We would like to review your vehicle information and work together with you and your dealer technician to find a solution. Hope to connect with some of you via private message!
Hannah
Dodge Cares
Thanks for chiming in Hannah. This thread pertains to the racetrack tail light, not a headlight.
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