NHTSA Complaint #10166649 — 2003 DODGE CARAVAN

2003 DODGE CARAVAN HEADLIGHTS - UNWANTED SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH MINIMAL ELECTRICAL LOAD. DANGEROUS FOR MOM & KIDS ON HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. PRECEDED BY OTHER, PROBABLY ASSOCIATED, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WIFE AT WAL MART RETURNED TO VEHICLE. GAUGES FLICKERED, DASHBOARD CRAZY, CLICKING SOUND FROM DRIVER'S SIDE/RELAY(S) BUZZING, POWER LOCKS WOULDN'T FUNCTION (GREAT IF SHE WAS TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM MUGGER). WOULDN'T START. THIS EVENT PRECEDED BY HEADLIGHTS CYCLING OFF AND ON RIGHT AFTER STARTUP, BUT AFTER RUNNING A FEW MINUTES STAYED ON DURING THAT OPERATION CYCLE. BACK TO THE WAL MART EVENT. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP - REPLACED BATTERY. BACK TO THE FUTURE. CHECKED FUSES, CONNECTIONS, HARNESS, BATTERY CABLES FOR FAULT/CORROSION - NOTHING. NO CODES. COSTLY FIXES MAY INCLUDE:1) FUSES AND BOXES, 2) BATTERY CABLES AND TERMINALS CORRODED, LOOSE OR NOT GROUNDED/BATTERY,3) HEADLIGHT SWITCH,4) MULTI-FUNCTION WAND ON STEERING COLUMN (THERE WAS A 2003 VIPER RECALL FOR LAMP CONTACTS CORRODING - 20031010 - THIS COULD BE IT FOR THE CARAVAN TOO...DEALERS WERE SUPPOSED TO REFLASH THE BCM SOFTWARE),5) FCM,6) BCM,7) ALTERNATOR (CHARGING ISSUE AS OPPOSED TO CONTROL/REGULATION ISSUE...MAYBE SHORTED DIODES),8) GOD DARNED ELECTRICAL HARNESS,MIGHT THROW IN IGNITION SWITCH TOO. NOTED THAT DODGE HAS A TSB FOR OLDER MODELS WITH A SOFTWARE ALGORITHM ADJUSTMENT FOR FCM, BUT NOT IN EFFECT FOR 2003 MODELS?CAN THIS WORK FOR THE 2003?THIS WILL BE THE LAST DODGE WE EVER PURCHASE, OR THAT EXTENDED FAMILY EVER IS ASSOCIATED WITH, IF THIS IS NOT RESOLVED TO OUR SATISFACTION PROMPTLY. DR.Z AND/OR NHTSA - IF YOU WANT TO FLY SOMEONE DOWN HERE ASAP TO SEE THESE RESULTS REPRODUCED - WE GET THEM NIGHTLY - SO QUIT THE LIABILITY MITIGATION GAME AND GET THIS RESOLVED. FACTORY CAR. *JB