NHTSA Complaint #10248318 — 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN

MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL FAILURES. BACKUP LIGHTS, DOOR LOCKS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, RIGHT SIDE POWER WINDOW, AND SLIDING SIDE DOORS. THE ITEMS DO NOT FUNCTION ON OUR VAN. UPON PULLING THE BATTERY TERMINAL THESE ITEMS WILL WORK FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN CEASE TO FUNCTION AGAIN. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLAR IN DEALER "REPAIRS" I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS DUE TO A SOFTWARE PROBLEM WITH THE BODY CONTROL MODULE ON THE 2005 DODGE GRAND CARAVANS. THE FIX IS SUPPOSED TO BE A FIRMWARE UPDATE TO THE BCM PROVIDED BY DODGE. THE ISSUE I HAVE IS THAT IF THIS IS A SOFTWARE/FIRMWARE UPDATE TO THE VAN'S COMPUTER WHY SHOULD THE DEALER EXPECT ME TO PAY $70 SO MY VEHICLE WILL FUNCTION PROPERLY THE SAME AS IT DID WHEN PURCHASED. NO MODIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE VAN AND IT CURRENTLY HAS JUST OVER 60K MILEAGE. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN AROUND PRIOR THE END OF THE 3/36K WARRANTY BUT SINCE SUCH A LONG TIME HAS PASSED THE DEALER WILL NO LONGER HONOR ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY ON THIS VEHICLE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT IF THIS IS A KNOWN SOFTWARE ISSUE/FAULT WITH THE VAN'S SOFTWARE THEN DODGE SHOULD UPGRADE THEM FOR FREE. IT'S NOT AS IF THIS IS A WEAR AND TEAR OR CUSTOMER INDUCED FAILURE. THIS IS A FAULT IN THE CORE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. *TR