2003 Dodge Ram 2500 Exterior lighting Problems

After driving in heavy rain. During the following day started having electrical issues the parking lights would stay on even when the switch was turned off the driver's side headlight would also come on. and the parking lights would either turn off or flash when the high beams were turned on this happened with front and back parking lights the only way to fully get them to stay off was to pull the relay or disconnect the battery. The problem is with the power distribution center and front control module the poor design allows them to corrode damaging the copper tracing and causing shorts in the system this is a common problem as there are several online forums dedicated to these problems with a lot of people having the same issues so I'm not sure why there hasn't been a recall for this since it is a major safety problem when it affects lights, windshield wipers and several other things that could cause accidents. my brother's truck is also having sign's of the pdc and fcm being bad. and at over $1000 to replace both for a manufacturing defect it's not right that dodge customer's should have to pay that bill. I'll be attaching a picture of another board but the damage is the same and in the same spot

NHTSA ID

11516199

Incident

Apr 4, 2023

WHILE SEARCHING FOR A FIX FOR MY DASH WHICH JUST CRACKED I FOUND SEVERAL REPORTS OF AFTER THE DASH CRACKED WHERE ELECTRICAL ISSUES ARISE. AS IN HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING AT ALL OR WHEN SWITCHING TO HI BEAM. I ALSO SAW A VIDEO ON THIS ISSUE FROM A NEWS BROADCAST AND WHEN CHRYSLER WAS QUESTIONED ABOUT THIS THERE WAS NEVER ANY RESPONSE WHILE THE PUBLIC WAS REQUESTING A RECALL. FROM WHAT I CAN FIND OUT JUST IN THE HOUR I WAS LOOKING THIS UP THIS WOULD APPLY TO JUST ABOUT EVERY DODGE RAM MADE BETWEEN 1996 AND 2006. MY TRUCK IS GARAGE KEPT AND I KEEP IT IN EXCELLENT CONDITION SO FOR THIS TO HAPPEN DUE TO SITTING IN THE SUN IT'S ENTIRE LIFE I MIGHT UNDERSTAND BUT THERE IS NO WAY THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MINE. MY FATHER WAS A MECHANIC FOR CHRYSLER FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND THIS IS JUST PLAIN CHEAP MADE PRODUCTS. WHICH FROM WHAT I CAN FIND OUT COULD AND MOST LIKELY WILL LEAD TO SOME SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. SINCE I CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING MORE OUT WITH REGARDS TO WHAT THE NHTSA IS DOING ONLY MONITORING THE ISSUE?? THE BROADCAST I SAW WAS FROM 2012, I WOULD THINK SOMETHING WOULD HAVE BECOME OF THIS BY NOW FOR SURE AFTER SEEING THAT VIDEO. YET AT THAT TIME THE NEWS CHANNEL STATED YOUR DOING NOTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641633

Incident

Oct 3, 2014

Mileage

142,311 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED THAT THE BACK UP LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE AND THE TRAILER BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUSES WERE BLOWN. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID

10627601

Incident

Oct 15, 2005

Mileage

40,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING AND CAVING IN ON ITSELF AS A RESULT THE LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. SEVERAL OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE HAPENING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10503375

Incident

Oct 23, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

WHEN I TURN SIGNAL TO LEFT MAKES RIGHT SIGNAL COMES ON, WHEN YOU TURN RIGHT SIGNAL ON MAKES LEFT SIGNAL COMES ON. THE LAMP OUT LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND GOING OFF WHEN YOU TURN THE LEFT SIGNAL ON THEN OFF AGAIN. I CHECKED NONE OF THE LAMPS ARE OUT. HAS BEEN TOOK TO DEALER TWICE AND HAD THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN FIXED, IT QUIT FOR A WHILE AND THEN STARTS THE SAME THING AGAIN.THE DEALER CLAIMS USING THE TILT ON THE STEERING WHEEL IS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. I THINK THE PROBLEM IS IN THE TURN SIGNAL ARM BECAUSE IT AFFECTS THE SIGNALS AND THE WIPERS. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER DODGE OWNERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON IT BECAUSE IT COULD TURN INTO A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10473671

Incident

Sep 30, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNALS HAVE FAILED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. WHENEVER THE LEFT SIGNAL WAS TURNED ON THE RIGHT ONE WOULD COME ON AND VICE VERSA FOR THE RIGHT SIGNAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. UPDATED 03/17/11*LJ UPDATED 12/30/11*CN

NHTSA ID

10379834

Incident

Jan 10, 2011

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, ALL OF THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED EXCEPT FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER HEADLIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTER HAD COMPLETELY CORRODED AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10350768

Incident

Jun 30, 2010

Mileage

170,000 mi

THE OPPOSITE TURN INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE REAR OF THE TRUCK WILL COME ON WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL STALK IS OPERATED, IE. LEFT SIGNAL WHEN TURNING RIGHT. NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE DRIVERS BEHIND THE VEHICLE ARE ANTICIPATING A TURN INDICATED BY THE LIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10348959

Incident

Aug 10, 2010

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE DEFROSTER AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. WHILE UTILIZING THE DRIVER'S SIDE TURN SIGNAL, THE PASSENGER SIDE TURN SIGNAL WOULD ILLUMINATE INSTEAD. THIS FAILURE WAS ALSO REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS EXPERIENCING VERY HARD VIBRATIONS FORM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. HE STRUCK A SQUIRREL IN THE ROAD AND NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE VIBRATIONS. A LOCAL SERVICE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING LINKAGES IN THE VEHICLE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. HE LATER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE SUSPENSION AND EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS (STEERING LINKAGES). THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10277608

Incident

Jun 1, 2009

Mileage

120,000 mi

MY TURN SIGNAL STALK DOESN'T SIGNAL PROPERLY WHEN ACTUATED. I PUSH UP FOR A RIGHT SIGNAL, SOMETIMES I GET A RIGHT SIGNAL SOMETIMES I GET THE TOTAL OPPOSITE (LEFT SIGNAL). THIS IS DANGEROUS. ALSO ON THE SAME LEVER MY WIPERS DON'T ALWAYS TURN ON PROPERLY OR THE HIGH BEAMS DON'T ACTIVATE OR DON'T TURN OFF. HOWEVER, I STRONGLY FEEL THIS IS A CHRYSLER ISSUE BECAUSE HAVING TO DO SOME RESEARCH ON A TDR DISCUSSION BOARD IT HAS BEEN REALIZED THAT THERE IS TOO MUCH STRESS ON THE WIRING HARNESS THAT TERMINATES AT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TILTED DOWN THIS HARNESS SEPARATES FROM THE SWITCH DUE TO NO SLACK CAUSING IT TO BECOME ERRATIC, THEN IF YOU TILT THE WHEEL UP IT MAKES A FULL CONNECTION AND WORKS PROPERLY. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BEFORE THIS CAUSES AN ACCIDENT!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10264194

Incident

Apr 4, 2009

Mileage

116,000 mi

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING HIS VEHICLE, HIS HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON. THE CONTACT HAS TO WAIT FOR HIS INTAKE HEATER TO TURN ON IN ORDER FOR HIS HEADLIGHTS TO WORK. THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED THIS INCIDENT SINCE HE BOUGHT HIS VEHICLE AND HIS DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THERE ISN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO IS EXPERIENCING HIS HEADLIGHTS TURNING OFF AND HIS FOG LIGHTS TURNING ON. THE CONTACT STATES THAT HE HAS BEEN ON TURBODIESELREGISTER.COM AND SEES THAT OTHER CONSUMERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES.

NHTSA ID

10176764

Incident

Dec 21, 2006

Mileage

1 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. A LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH INDICATING THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS. THE CONTACT REPLACED EVERY BULB. THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE DASH CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT INSTALLED ANOTHER DASH CLUSTER. THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DASH CLUSTER, THE LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL AND LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT WILL NOT WORK.

NHTSA ID

10153834

Incident

Mar 27, 2006

Mileage

87,630 mi