Dodge Durango rear tail light water cause and removal 

I love the “world is coming to an end music” because that is exactly how I feel when I discovered water in my tail light.

Just bought one of these today and noticed the water when I got home. Easy fix thank you!

its very soothing to watch it flow out. nice taste in music too!

I was driving at night & my headlights went out. I thought it was the bulb. Replaced it and did it again. Weeks later went to my trunk & I seen the water. Remembered this video. I bought rubber gaskets for the bolts and bought a roll of rubber online and gorilla glued the sheet panel... havent had a problem since

Same thing happened to my durango, and i noticed because the whole center light was off, and the license plate, next day they turned back on, and thats when i saw the water inside, great video, ill do the same to mine, this was really helpful

I had my light replaced under warranty also. After watching several videos, seeing people use sealant to keep the water out, I asked the dealership to please seal it. And they did not after one car wash. I had water in the light again! If you leave the two bottom screws on each side of the light out do not install them it acts as a drain so far that’s been working for me. It’s very frustrating.

Thank you for the help. My 2018 just did this.

Great video just wish it was more step by step because I'm trying to fix this problem on mine also my gas tank

I needed this video. Thank you, thank you, thank you

Video reminded me I am overdue replacing my blinker fluid. Didn't think about the drain plug with mine. I just drilled a micro hole in the very bottom corner. Figure it should drain itself as it needs too. Was a surprising find on a new car and on both sides.

Excellent video!! I will try this on my Durango.

I have this issue right now. Wow thanks for this solution

This has been an on going issue with that Durango track tail light for years. I had mine replace 2 times. The issue is the cheap big sponge gaskets on each side. Eventually heavy rain will begin penetrating through the upper part of it. I have a well documented open case with FCA about it . They said they were investigating it but they have not gotten back to me. I have been so fed up with the issue that on the last new replacement that was put in I sprayed it with plasti-dip. Plasti-dip is a rubber waterproof removable paint like material that has been used by car enthusiasts to cover up and paint parts of vehicles. I use it to coat those stupid gaskets that should have been made by solid rubber to begin with. I choose plasti-dip over a caulk because it is removable, incase you ever have to remove the track light. Only thing is you have to spray some in the creases between the body and the light fixture around the gasket at least once or twice a year so it can continue its protectant seal. Hope this can help everyone with this issue. It doesn't matter if you get a brand new track light this issue will happen again unless it is coated. Thanks FCA for making such a cheap bullshit gasket. They have a 95K version Durango Hellcat with this same crap on it. They should be ashamed. I wish I could work for them and design a real rubber gasket for this issue since all the idiot designers there did not do a good job.

Did you happen to do a video demonstrating how you removed the interior panel on the tailgate? I don't want to break anything, and there are obviously additional fasteners behind that interior panel that must be taken off before removing the light assembly. Thanks!

I have the same issue with my 2017 Durango...the light on bottom, red part just on the right side is out. I had the SAME issue with my 2012 Durango but luckily the lights weren't one piece so all i had to do was pop it out and change bulb. UGH! i knew there was a reason I didn't like the back tail lights on the newer Durangos. What a frickin' catastrophe! thanks for informative vid....haha...the music...so melancholy!

would love to know how you got the trim off without breaking it. I am having real difficulty. Thanks

Thank you

Does anyone know if the 2011-13 tail lights also leak? Or is the redesign racetrack lights from 2014 and on only leak?

Thanks for the video. I’ve had the light replaces once, luckily it was still under warranty or it would have cost $1,000! However, the problem still exists. I love my Durango, but this problem and the from blinker problem are driving me nuts! It’s frustrating when you see so many people having the same issue, yet Dodge has yet to creat a recall. Is there a place that I can complain to to help make these issues a recall?

Do you know the part number for the bolt you removed? It was the one holding the racetrack 4 black bolts at the corner. I'm missing mine. Thank you

Two 👍👍

Just priced the lift gate lamp it’s now $813. Needless to say I’m grabbing my 10mm and removing a screw in a few.

After you drain it… how do you get the leftover condensation bubbles out?

Well a little to late for me. I have 2011 dodge challenger and I just drilled a little whole in my tail light and let drain that way

Just did this to our 2017 durango. Same amount of water came out. And we have a dead fly inside it so that's nice.

The sad melancholy music is perfect.

What size socket did u use brother?

I drilled weep holes through the plastic so it never traps water again.

I’ve had two lights replaced under warranty, and the third is filling up. This among other things guarantees that I won’t buy a dodge or any Chrysler ever again.

You can also just drill a hole in the side of both tail lights. Takes 5 seconds.

Can you buy new gaskets?

and FCA acts like this isnt a problem

Im going to leave the screw out in mine so the water won't collect dodge has a 2 year warranty on a new one they made it to be defective

Will it work after Drain the water