NHTSA Complaint #10247425 — 2006 DODGE RAM 3500

PUTTING ON THE LEFT DIRECTIONAL WILL SOMETIMES CAUSE THE RIGHT DIRECTIONAL BLINKER TO BLINK. OTHER TIMES, IT WILL START TO BLINK LEFT AND THEN GO BACK AND FORTH I.E. LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT ETC. I FIRST NOTICED IT WHEN A TRACTOR TRAILER CAME WITHIN INCHES OF PUSHING ME OFF THE ROAD . AFTER TAKING A MINUTE TO COLLECT MYSELF FROM A NEAR DISASTROUS COLLISION ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY, I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY HE DID NOT UNDERSTAND MY INTENTION. AFTER THIS INCIDENT, I BEGAN HEARING AN ODD CLICK WHEN I WOULD PUT ON MY DIRECTIONAL. SHORTLY AFTER THIS, WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT, I WAS WAITING TO TAKE A LEFT TURN. I HAPPENED TO LOOK DOWN AND NOTICE THAT MY RIGHT DIRECTIONAL WAS BLINKING. I IMMEDIATELY CHECK MY DIRECTIONAL LEVER AND VERIFIED THAT I DID IN FACT HAVE THE LEFT DIRECTIONAL ON AND THE RIGHT ONE WAS BLINKING. I HAVE HAD POLICE CARS FLASH THEIR LIGHTS AT ME BECAUSE I HAVE THE WRONG BLINKER ON. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME TO CHECK THE 4 PRONG TRAILER HITCH FOR CORROSION. I DID THIS. IT IN FACT WAS CORRODED. I CLEANED IT UP AND STILL HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED REPLACING. I ASKED IF CHRYSLER WAS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE REPAIR VIA RECALL. I WAS TOLD "NO" AND IT WOULD BE ABOUT $250 TO FIX IT. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT I FEEL A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE SHOULD WARRANT THEM PAYING FOR IT. AGAIN THEY SAID NOPE. NO MATTER THE REASON BOTH OF THESE COMPONENTS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. I HAVE YET TO FIX IT DUE TO THE COST AND A FEELING THEY SHOULD PAY FOR IT. I ONLY REGRET THAT SOMEONE MAY GET INTO A FATAL ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND NEVER HAVE THE CHANCE TO SAY " I DID HAVE MY LEFT DIRECTIONAL ON", AND THE OTHER PARTY NOT BEING BLAMED FOR SUCH AN ACCIDENT...I AM SURE YOU UNDERSTAND. I HAVE SINCE WATCHED MY DASHBOARD EVERY TIME I USE MY BLINKER. I WAS ABLE TO CAPTURE THIS ON MY CAMERA ON ONE OCCASION IN A PARKING LOT WITH NARRATION. *TR