NHTSA Complaint #10170212 — 2002 DODGE DAKOTA

TIMING CONTROL MODULE, TCM IS PULSING INTERIOR/EXTERIOR LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, ETC. TO AN OFF STATE AT ONCE PER SECOND CONTINUOUSLY. WHEN TRUCK IS PARKED, HEADLAMP RELAY CAN BE HEARD PULSING. THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN AT NIGHT DUE TO VISUAL CONFUSION AND SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH OTHER TRAFFIC. NO APPARENT CAUSE OF FAILURE. TRUCK HAS 18K MILES AND IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. OTHER COMPLAINTS INDICATE THAT TCM WAS REPLACED TO FIX PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE MAY NOT BE INTERNAL TO TCM AND REPLACING IT WILL BE AN ONGOING EVENT. HAS DODGE DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THIS MODULE FAILURE? IS THIS NOT A DESIGN FLAW SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM? *NM