NHTSA Complaint #10379994 — 2007 DODGE RAM 2500

2007 DODGE 2500 4WD PICKUP TRUCK. VEHICLE HAS INTERNAL ANTITHEFT SYSTEM THAT INCLUDES A MICOR CHIP IN EACH IGNITION KEY AND A WIRELESS CONTROL MODULE (WCM) IN THE STEERING COLUMN. FAILURE TO USE AN IGNITION KEY WITH A PROPERLY CODED CHIP RESULTS IN VEHICLE NOT STARTING. PROBLEM IS WITH THE WCM IN THE STEERING COLUMN. WITHOUT WARNING OR ANY INDICATION OR PREVIOUS PROBLEMS, THE WCM FAILS WHICH PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. IN MY CASE THE TRUCK WAS PARKED IN PARKING LOT FOR 5 MINUTES AND UPON RETURN SIMPLY WOULD NOT START. TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THE WCM WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE WCM IN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT CHRYSLER VEHICLES HAS BEEN REPORTED BY THOUSANDS OF OWNERS TO HAVE FAULTED REQUIRING REPAIR. ALTHOUGH WCM IS REPLACED IT OFTEN FAILS AGAIN. CHRYSLER SERVICE BULLETIN STATES THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE IS THE RESULT IF A STATIC ELECTRIC DISCHARGE THAT OCCURS WHEN THE DRIVER INSERTS THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION AND OFTEN OCCURS DURING COLD DRY DAYS WHEN STATIC BUILDUP IS PREVALENT. THE STATIC CHARGE CAUSES THE WCM TO PERMANENTLY FAIL AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. FAILURES HAVE ALSO BEEN REPORTED WITH NEW WCM WITHIN DAYS OF REPLACEMENT. ALTHOUGH CHRYSLER MAKES REPAIRS, IF THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY THE OWNER MUST PAY FOR PARTS LABOR AND OFTEN TOWING. SINCE THE WCM HAS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM AND COMMONLY FAILS AS A RESULT OF A NATURAL OCCURRENCE, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE WCM COMPONENT IS OF FAULTY DESIGN AND SHOULD BE REDESIGNED AND HARDENED AGAINST FAILURE. ALTHOUGH CHRYSLER CLEARLY STATES THEY ARE AWARE OF PROBLEM AND KNOW THE CAUSE THEY REFUSE TO MAKE DESIGN CORRECTIONS AND THEREBY MAKE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BY PROVIDING THOUSANDS OF REPAIRS ANNUALLY FOR A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE FIXED THROUGH USES OF A REDESIGNED PART. RESEARCH ALSO REVEALS THAT THE FAILURE OF THE WCM CAN OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ON MOTION CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN. THIS RESULTS IN LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. *TR