NHTSA Complaint #10227505 — 2003 DODGE DAKOTA

2003 DAKOTA LIGHTS QUIT WORKING, I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. ALSO DOORS WOULDN'T LOCK OR UNLOCK ELECTRICALLY. WIFE TOOK TRUCK TO LOCAL DEALER WHO SAID THEY COULDN'T TOUCH IT FOR TWO WEEKS. I COULD NOT DRIVE THE TRUCK WITHOUT LIGHTS. I CHECKED ALL FUSES AND SEARCHED INTERNET AND DEDUCED THE CENTRAL TIMER MODULE (CTM) (56047092AI WITH DATE CODE 12/22/2002) WAS THE PROBLEM AND THERE WAS A RECALL #02V322000. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER WHO SAID THE RECALL DIDN'T APPLY TO MY TRUCK VIN #. I CALLED ANOTHER DEALER WHO WANTED $400+ TO FIX IT. I FOUND ANOTHER DEALER WILLING TO SELL ME THE PART). THEY SOLD ME A NEWER VERSION AND I INSTALLED IT IN THEIR PARKING LOT IN ABOUT TEN MINUTES. ALL THE LIGHTS AND ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS WORKED AGAIN EXCEPT THE FOR THE KEY FOBS WHICH HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED. TOTAL REPAIR WAS $260.21. THEN I CONTACTED CHRYSLER TO GET MY TRUCK INCLUDED WITHIN THE RECALL AND ASKED FOR A REFUND OF THE REPAIR COST. THEY ASKED FOR ALL ORIGINAL RECEIPTS AND A FORM FILLED OUT. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER CHRYSLERS CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFICE IN INDIA CALLED AND THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE KEPT TELLING ME THE RECALL DIDN'T APPLY TO MY TRUCK AND THEY WERE NOT GOING TO REFUND THE MONEY. THEY WOULD NOT GIVE ME ANY OTHER CONTACT PEOPLE OR PHONE NUMBERS. TO MY TRUCK. BUT THE $260.21 I PAID TO HAVE THE CTM #56047092AL INSTALLED REPLACING THE ORIGINAL ONE THAT FAILED WITH A DATE CODE OF 12/22/2002 FIXED THE PROBLEM AND WAS ONE DAY PRIOR TO THE RECALL STARTING. PLEASE REFUND THE $260.21. *TR