A wiring fault behind the rear lamps is behind a recall of 13,330 Dodge Durangos from the 2026 model year, according to NHTSA’s record for campaign 26V701. Chrysler, which reports as FCA US LLC, says the terminals in the tail light wiring harness may be damaged and cause the tail lights to fail. Dealers will inspect the SUVs and replace the tail light assemblies, as necessary, free of charge.
Owners of a 2026 Durango can find out where they stand before any letter reaches them. NHTSA’s record says affected VINs became searchable on NHTSA.gov on Oct. 29, 2026, and the NHTSA recall search takes the 17-character VIN from the lower left of the windshield. Chrysler customer service handles the recall under number A2D at 800-853-1403.
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What happens to the lamps when the harness terminals are damaged?
The filing says tail lights that do not light properly reduce the vehicle’s visibility to other drivers, which raises the risk of a crash. A driver in the front seat has no easy way to see a dead rear lamp, so the failure is one other drivers notice first.
The defect also puts the Durango out of line with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, the federal rule for lamps and reflective devices. NHTSA logged the report on Oct. 22, 2026, and the campaign number it carries is 26V701.
Does every Durango get new tail light assemblies?
Not automatically. The remedy says dealers will inspect and replace the tail light assemblies “as necessary,” so a Durango whose assemblies check out is not due for a new part. When a dealer does find damage, the replacement carries no charge to the owner.
The 13,330 count is NHTSA’s potential-units figure for the campaign, and only the 2026 model year is named. Older Durangos and models other than the Durango are not part of this recall.
What if a Durango owner already paid for a tail light repair?
Mopar’s recall page says recall repairs are done at no cost, even if the vehicle is out of warranty and the owner is not the original one. It adds that anyone who already paid for a similar recall-related repair can request reimbursement through fcarecallreimbursement.com.
Whether a particular earlier tail light repair counts as recall-related is a question for the dealer and Chrysler, not one the filing answers. Owners should keep the repair order and receipt before they ask, and note the date and mileage on each.
Why does the Dec. 3 letter matter less than a VIN search?
NHTSA’s record says owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Dec. 3, 2026. That is a month after today, and it is a date the manufacturer expects, not one that is guaranteed.
A Durango driver who sees one tail lamp out, or flickering lamps, does not need to wait for the mailbox. The dealer can check the VIN against the recall and, if the assemblies are bad, replace them under the recall instead of billing for the part.
How reliable is a VIN search on a brand-new SUV?
NHTSA says its search does not show recalls that have already been repaired, and it may not show newly announced recalls whose VINs have not been added. Because this recall was filed Oct. 22 and the VINs went live Oct. 29, a Durango delivered after that date should still be checked, and checked again later.
Mopar says owners can also sign in to a Mopar account to see recall information for the vehicle, and that the VIN is on the driver’s side of the dashboard near the windshield, on the driver-side doorframe label and on the registration and insurance papers. NHTSA’s SaferCar app sends an alert when a recall is found for a saved vehicle.
Durango in the driveway and the rest of the house costs piling up?
The tail light fix costs the owner nothing, but a household that owns a new SUV usually also carries a property-tax bill, insurance and repair costs that no recall letter will reduce. A dealer visit with no bill does nothing about those.
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This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.
Warren Cohen is a finance writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, covering personal finance topics including credit, banking, and beginner investing. He earned his degree in business administration from Arizona State University and began his career working in consumer finance, where he gained direct experience with lending and credit systems. He now writes for personal finance websites and fintech platforms, focusing on clear, practical content that helps readers make informed financial decisions.
