NHTSA Complaint #10419755 — 2002 DODGE RAM 1500

OUR DODGE RAM 1500 WAS WORKING FINE ONE DAY THE NEXT DAY THE HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. WE CHECKED FUSES AND ANYTHING ELSE OBVIOUS. THE NEXT DAY WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, AFTER HALF A DAY OF CHECKING HE FOUND THAT THE FUSE AND RELAY CENTER (INTEGRATED POWER MODULE) WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE HOOD WAS CORRODED. THIS BOX IS NOT AIR TIGHT AND ALLOWS WATER TO GET INSIDE AND CORRODE THE INSIDES. DODGE DEALER ADVISED THEY REPLACE THE FUSE AND RELAY CENTER AND FCM (FRONT CONTROL MODULE) TOGETHER. THE FCM IS CONNECTED TO THE IPM (INTEGRATED POWER MODULE). COME TO FIND OUT THE IPM IS NOT SEALED FROM THE ELEMENTS. THE CIRCUIT BOARD IS EXPOSED FROM THE BOTTOM WHICH ALLOWS WATER TO SPLASH INTO THE MODULE THEREBY SHORTING THE FCM. I BELIEVED DODGE KNOWS THIS IS A POOR DESIGN AND IS UNSAFE BECAUSE THE NEW PARTS HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED WHICH IS SEALED FROM THE ELEMENTS. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF OBVIOUS REASONS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE THE WIRING SYSTEM PROBLEMS RESULT IN LOSS OF LIGHTING. FOR IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THIS WAY. PER NHTSA INFO: WHEN IS A RECALL NECESSARY? WHEN A MOTOR VEHICLE OR ITEM OF MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT (INCLUDING TIRES) DOES NOT COMPLY WITH A FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD. WHEN THERE IS A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE OR EQUIPMENT. WHAT IS A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT? THE UNITED STATES CODE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY (TITLE 49, CHAPTER 301). EXAMPLES OF DEFECTS CONSIDERED SAFETY-RELATED--WIRING SYSTEM PROBLEMS THAT RESULT IN A FIRE OR LOSS OF LIGHTING. *KB