NHTSA Complaint #10748940 — 2003 DODGE DURANGO

THE PROBLEM ORIGINALLY STARTED ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. WHEN I SWITCHED ON THE REAR FAN (HEAT OR AC DID NOT MATTER), THE ENTIRE CENTER CONSOLE (RADIO, BLOWER SWITCHES, AND ELECTRONIC 4WD SWITCH) WOULD GO COMPLETELY DEAD, AND THE "SERVICE 4WD" LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THEN THIS STARTED HAPPENING WHEN I TURNED ON THE FRONT BLOWER OR THE REAR BLOWER. THEN IT STARTED HAPPENING WITH BOTH BLOWERS OFF AND THE HEADLIGHTS ON HIGH. NOW IT DOES IT SPONTANEOUSLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON WITH ALL EXTRA ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS (THE HEADLIGHTS, RADIO, AND BLOWERS) ALL OFF. I'M THINKING THERE IS A SHORT SOMEWHERE, BUT CANNOT IDENTIFY IT. SO FAR, I HAVE REPLACED THE BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR, THE TCCM, AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH NO APPARENT IMPROVEMENT. I'VE ALSO HAD THE DASH APART AND CHECKED EVERY ELECTRICAL WIRE I COULD GET TO FOR OBVIOUS SHORTS. NO LUCK. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I TALKED TO THE MECHANIC AT THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER, AND HE SAID HE THINKS IT'S THE TIPM (MAIN FUSE BOX) IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HE SAID HE SEES THEM SHORT OUT "ALL THE TIME, SOME OF THEM SO BAD THEY ACTUALLY CATCH FIRE!" (DIRECT QUOTE FROM HIM.) I AM NOW TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MY DURANGO, BUT I CANNOT AFFORD THE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, OF DOLLARS IT'S GOING TO COST TO FIX THE TIPM, IF THAT'S WHAT IT REALLY IS. BUT I DO NOT WANT DRIVE IT WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A VEHICLE FIRE. I'VE DONE ALL KINDS OF INTERNET RESEARCH ON THIS, AND IT SEEMS LIKE A REALLY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE DURANGOS. ALSO, MY FRIEND WHO WORKS AT A SALVAGE YARD SAYS THESE FUSE BOXES ARE ONE OF THEIR MOST SOUGHT AFTER PARTS. SURELY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT IS THIS COMMON AND OF SUCH A CATASTROPHIC MAGNITUDE SHOULD BE A RECALL!