NHTSA Complaint #11478731 — 2012 DODGE RAM 1500

Failure of fuel pump relay on above listed 2012 Ram 1500 at 69,999 miles. Current repair requires replacement of entire TIPM module (at a cost of $1,000 to 2,000) as this relay is soldered to the circuit board deep inside the module, making it nearly impossible to cost effectively replace this critical $10.00 part. Of note, the TIPM installed in this vehicle has 10 slots (9 relays installed and 1 open slots) for "replaceable" relays under the cover. Of these replaceable relays at least 2 (blower motor and park lamp) are less critical with one empty slot available. Further a safety recall was issued in December of 2014 (Safety Recall P54/14V530 Fuel Pump Relay) for 2011 models of the Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee, but no other models despite that the same or very similar designed TIPM's are used in virtually all Chrysler, Dodge, Ram and Jeep vehicles along with many VW models. If this was a SAFETY ISSUE for select 2011 models, why not the other vehicles using the same or similar TIPM's. Further experience has shown that the Chrysler fix tends to have a high failure rate also. Suggestion: Recall all vehicles with TIPM's which have soldered in Relays, for replacement with a re-designed part which allows for all the relays that can be readily replaced. Further consideration in the design of a new part should include the minimization or elimination of multiple points of failure (is a relay really necessary on a circuit?).