NHTSA Complaint #10265550 — 2006 DODGE RAM 2500

UPON CONNECTING A TRAILER WITH A WIRING FAULT TO THE 2006 DODGE RAM DIESEL 4X2 , THE TIPM ON THE TRUCK CUTS OFF THE CIRCUIT. TESTING INDICATES A MINOR FAULT WITH THE TRAILER WIRING, WHICH ALLOWS TRAILER LIGHTS TO OPERATE ON NON-DODGE VEHICLES. ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER THE TIPM HAS FAILED AND MUST BE REPLACED. THE DODGE RAM DOES NOT HAVE A FUSE FOR TRAILER TURN SIGNAL CIRCUITS NOR ANY OTHER MEANS TO ALLOW FOR THE CONSUMER TO ADDRESS WIRING FAULTS ON TRAILERS, REGARDLESS THE DODGE RAM IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW TOWING. THIS PRESENTS A CONSIDERABLE SAFETY RISK AS THE CONSUMER HAS ZERO MEANS TO ADDRESS FAULTS WITH THE DODGE TPIM AFTER NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS OR IN AREAS WITHOUT A DODGE DEALER. THE HIGH COST OF THE TPIM ALSO DISCOURAGES THE AVERAGE CONSUMER FROM MAINTAINING PROPER AND SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE UPON A SIMPLE TRAILER FAULT. A SIMPLE INEXPENSIVE FUSE AS ON PRE-2005 DODGE RAM VEHICLES FOR TRAILER CIRCUITS WILL GREATLY IMPROVE SAFETY AS THE CONSUMER CAN ADDRESS ISSUES WITH THE DODGE RAM FROM INDUCED BY SIMPLE TRAILER WIRING FAULTS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DODGE DEALER AND CHRYSLER LLC ABOUT THE ISSUE AND NEITHER PROVIDES INFORMATION THAT THERE IS A FIX TO THE TIPM THAT ENABLES THE CONSUMER TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY ISSUE INDUCED BY REPLACING THE MODULE WITH A NEW ONE. DODGE NOR CHRYSLER LLC PROVIDED ANY INSTRUCTIONS OR DOCUMENTATION ON HOW TO ADVERT TIPM FAILURES AND SAFETY ISSUE RESULTING FROM THEIR PRODUCT NOT SENDING POWER TO TRAILER LIGHTS. FURTHER TIPM DOCUMENTATION HERE HTTP://DODGERAM.INFO/TSB/2006/08-021-06.HTM I STRONGLY URGE THE NTSB TO MAKE THE DODGE SAFE BY MAKING THEM REINSTATE USE OF SIMPLE AFFORDABLE FUSES TO PROTECT TRAILER CIRCUITS ON THE VEHICLE, ENABLE GREATER SAFETY WHEN TOWING AND ADDRESSING TRAILER TOW FAULTS WHEN ACCESS TO A DODGE DEALER IS NOT POSSIBLE. *TR