NHTSA Complaint #10267193 — 2006 DODGE RAM 3500

ERRATIC WINDSHIELD WIPER PERFORMANCE FOLLOWED BY COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE WIPERS. WIPERS STALLED IN THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD IN A THUNDERSTORM WHILE TOWING A 24,000 LB TRAILER ON INTERSTATE 65 WITH SEMI TRUCK/TRAILERS ON 3 SIDES. THIS WAS THE 2ND INCIDENT OF WIPER FAILURE. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED ABOUT 6 MONTHS EARLIER. AFTER LEAVING THE TRUCK PARKED OVERNITE, THE WIPER OPERATION RETURNED TO NORMAL. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER AFTER BOTH OCCURRENCES. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE WIPERS AFTER THE 1ST OCCURRENCE WHILE THE TRUCK WAS UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER THE 2ND OCCURRENCE I WAS TOLD THAT THE TOTAL INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM)HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. I HAVE NOT YET REPLACED THE TIPM. DURING BOTH WIPER FAILURES, THE DRIVING SITUATION WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE ROAD SPRAY COVERED THE WINDSHIELD AND SEVERELY CUT DOWN VISIBILITY. *TR PHONE INTERVIEW UPDATE (10/01/09): OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS AFTER TIPM (TOTAL INTEGRATED POWER MODULE )WAS DIAGNOSED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE WIPER FAILURE MODE. OWNER STATES THAT THE TIPM WAS REPLACED AND HAD MULTIPLE FAILURE MODES OCCUR INCLUDING : INOPERABLE WIPERS, FLIPPED TURN SIGNALS, AND INOPERABLE CRUISE CONTROL. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK FOR REPAIRS AND THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITHC WAS REPLACED. OWNER STATES NO FURTHER PROBLEMS.