NHTSA Complaint #747424 — 1996 DODGE RAM

HEADLIGHTS FAILED AT NIGHT. CYCLED SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. REPAIRED AT DEALER ON 06/08/01. DEALER FOUND SOME BURNT WIRES FROM HEADLIGHT SWITCH, THRU PLASTIC MULTIPIN CONNECTOR, TO FIREWALL. 1ST REPORT TO DODGE VIA INTERNET ON 06/05/01, REF # 8723405; TICKET # 369336. DODGE RESPONSE ON 06/06/01, TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR EVALUATION. ON 06/08/01 DEALER HAD TO REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND SOME OF THE WIRING HARNESS BECAUSE OF BURNT WIRES, GOING THRU CONNECTOR TO THE DASH. ON 06/11/01, RE-NOTIFIED DODGE VIA INTERNET OF THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY/FIRE ISSUE SINCE NO FUSE "OPENED" TO PREVENT THE BURNT WIRES UNDER THE DASH. AND THE FACT THAT DEALER PERSONNEL (MECHANIC) SAID THEY'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE BUT HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH REPLACEMENT SWITCHES. NO RESPONSE FROM DODGE. CALLED 1-800 NUMBER 06/26/01 AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS ONLY ONE MESSAGE IN FILE, CUSTOMER SERVICE REP (DEREK) WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE 2ND MSG INSPITE OF FACT I HAVE AUTOMATED RESPONSE CONFIRMATION OF RECEIPT ON 6/11/01. DEREK? SAID IF ITS PART OF A RECALL, I AM CONTACTING THE WRONG DEPARTMENT AND IF ITS NOT PART OF RECALL, "ITS A FIVE YEAR OLD TRUCK, ITS CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITY". THERE IS A RECALL (#819) ON DODGE RAM 3500 FOR EXACTLY THE FAILURE I EXPERIENCED (EG OVERHEAT HEADLAMP SWITCH CAN CAUSE FIRE AND OR CAUSE SUDDEN LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS...). CUST OMER SERVICE REP (DEREK) REFUSED TO DISCUSS FURTHER...ITS A CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITY..HELP