2006 Dodge Ram 3500 Visibility Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER WITH THE AIR OR HEATER ACTIVATED DURING WINTER OR DURING RAIN FALL, THE WINDSHIELD BECAME EXTREMELY FOGGY. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND MANUALLY CLEANED THE WINDSHIELD IN ORDER TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL UNKNOWN DEALERS WERE CONTACTED AND HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE BLEND DOOR IN THE HVAC SYSTEM CEASING IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF HIMSELF AND OTHER VEHICLE OPERATORS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 45,000.

NHTSA ID

11360277

Incident

Feb 20, 2011

Mileage

45,000 mi

WIPER BLADE ELECTRONICS WILL STOP INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY ESPECIALLY IN SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES DESPITE USE OF APPROPRIATE DE-ICER WINTER FORMULA WIPER FLUID, REPLACEMENT OF THE WIPER MOTOR, AND MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH ASSEMBLY. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE OVERLOAD OF THE CIRCUIT WHEN THERE IS MILD TO MODERATE AMOUNT OF ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD OR WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS READJUSTED DOWNWARD CAUSING THE WIRING HARNESS TO COME LOOSE. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED MAJOR ACCIDENTS AT LEAST 2 AND MAYBE EVEN 3 TIMES DUE TO THIS ISSUE. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT AT SLOW SPEED OF ABOUT 20 MPH DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER AND I WAS FORCED TO STOP WHEN THE WIPERS WOULD STOP WORKING.

NHTSA ID

11088989

Incident

Mar 28, 2018

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER FAILED AND DECREASED VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEATER FLAP FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 23,000.

NHTSA ID

10747006

Incident

Nov 8, 2009

Mileage

23,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT WHEN RELEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V528000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000. UPDATED 05/28/14 MA UPDATED 05/30/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID

10574890

Incident

Sep 12, 2012

Mileage

169,000 mi

NOTICED THE PROBLEM IN THE WARMER MONTHS, NOW THAT COLDER WEATHER HAS SET IN I AM UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING MAKING THE VISIBILITY LOW. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH THE HEATER DOORS ON THE PICKUPS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10548843

Incident

May 31, 2013

Mileage

109,792 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOTH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

NHTSA ID

10492147

Incident

Jan 8, 2013

Mileage

157,000 mi

THE WIPER STOPPED WORKING EXCEPT FOR A VERY SLOW SPEED WHEN THE SELECTOR WAS IN THE "HIGH" POSITION. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, THIS ALSO STOPPED WORKING. THE TURN SIGNAL BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION AT THE SAME TIME LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THE COLUMN MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH WAS AT FAULT. WHEN ACTIVATING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL, THE RIGHT SIGNAL WOULD OFTEN TURN ON INSTEAD OF THE LEFT. AUTO PARTS STORES INFORMED ME THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT ANY PRICE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10477000

Incident

Sep 19, 2012

Mileage

78,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHILE IT WAS RAINING AND WINDSHIELD WIPER JUST STOP WORKING HAD 30 MILE TO GET HOME WITHOUT WINDSHIELD WIPERS . HAD TWO KIDS IN THE CAR . I WORK FOR THE FIRE DEPT AND NEED MY TRUCK . TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO FIND OUT IT WAS THE TIPM AND THERE WAS NO QUICK FIX AND THAT THEY FAIL ALL THE TIME . COST IS OVER A 1000. BUCKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10475868

Incident

Sep 2, 2012

Mileage

1,004,018 mi

MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES OF MODE DOOR/BLEND DOOR/ RECIRCULATION DOOR FAILURE. DIVERTS AIR TO FLOOR AND WILL NOT ALLOW FOR DEFROSTING/ DE-ICING OF WINDSHIELD. WINSHIELD WILL ACCUMULATE ICE AND CAUSE WIPERS TO CEASE FUNCTION OR FOG WITHOUT ABILITY TO REMOVE OR WITHOUT WARNING. CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS A "REVISED BLEND DOOR" DESIGN THAT ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER, RETROFIT IS NOTY COVERED BY RECALL AND EARLY REPLACEMENTS SIS NOT UTILIZED REVISED DOOR DESIGN. DOOR FOR RECIRCULATION WILL FALL OFF AND OBSTRUCT FAN MOTOR. IF FAN MOTOR IS ON, OBSTRUCTION CAN CAUSE FAN OVERHEAT AND POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FIRE/ OR MELTING OF HOUSING CAUSING SMOKE AND NOXIOUS FUMES. MODE DOOR FAILURE PROHIBITS USE OF DEFROST/ DEFOG OF WINDSHIEL AND CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA ID

10453349

Incident

Feb 4, 2008

Mileage

36,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,300.

NHTSA ID

10444952

Incident

Nov 15, 2011

Mileage

74,300 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET JUST ABOUT TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN SO I TURNED ON MY LEFT SIGNAL WHEN I DID THAT MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING PLUS WITH MY LEFT SIGNAL ON IT WASN'T BLINKING TO THE LEFT IT WAS BLINKING TO THE RIGHT. SO WITHOUT MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS I HAD TO PULLOVER BECAUSE I COULDN'T SEE. I TURNED THE TRUCK OFF THEN BACK ON AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED WORKING AGAIN. BUT EVERYTIME I USE MY LEFT SIGNAL MY RIGHT ONE BLINKS AND MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10437275

Incident

Nov 22, 2011

Mileage

93,877 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09E009000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. SM.

NHTSA ID

10437249

Incident

Nov 16, 2011

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHEN USING THE TURN INDICATOR, EITHER THE OPPOSITE INDICATOR COMES ON, OR NEITHER WORK. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK PROPERLY. THEY SEEM TO OPERATE RANDOMLY (E.G., WORK AT HIGH SPEED WITH THE SWITCH IN THE OFF POSITION, OR DON'T WORK AT ALL WITH THE SWITCH IN ANY POSITION). IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE. THIS PROBLEM NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60 MPH)DURING A RAINSTORM AND THE WIPERS WOULDN'T OPERATE. I HAD TO DRIVE TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND SHUT OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER MAY HAVE HAD MORE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10435382

Incident

Nov 1, 2010

Mileage

67,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AND THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS NOT OPERABLE. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 184,000.

NHTSA ID

10433068

Incident

Sep 6, 2011

Mileage

182,000 mi

PUT LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON AND TRUCK SIGNALS ALTERNATES BETWEEN LEFT AND RIGHT TURN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10424158

Incident

Sep 2, 2011

Mileage

62,406 mi

2006 DODGE RAM 3500 WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING UNTIL LEFT TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED. THIS HAPPENS REPEATEDLY CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN. *KB

NHTSA ID

10416498

Incident

Jul 9, 2011

Mileage

43,261 mi

THE RECIRCULATING DOOR BREAKS WITHOUT WARNING AND OCCLUDES THE AIRFLOW TO THE DEFROSTER. THIS IS HAPPENING ON DODGE TRUCKS AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR QUITE AWHILE. MINE IS A 2006 3500 WHEN THE DOOR BREAKS PIECES OF IT GET INTO THE BLOWER AND CAUSES A MAJOR VIBRATION WHEN TURNED ON HIGH, SINCE YOUR DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK IT IS A DRIVING HAZARD DODGE SHOULD BE MADE TO FIX THIS ISSUE FREE OF CHARGE INSTEAD OF CHARGING PEOPLE $500.00 + TO FIX A KNOWN DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10373726

Incident

Nov 26, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER DID NOT MOVE TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL WHEN USING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10370483

Incident

Nov 13, 2010

Mileage

40,000 mi

WHEN I USE THE SWITCH TO BRIGHTEN OR DIM THE HEADLIGHTS THE WINDSHIELD WASHER TURNS ON AND STAYS ON FOR 3 TO 5 SECONDS. LATELY WHEN I TRY TO USE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS THEY WORK ONLY SPORADICALLY. WHEN I PULL A TRAILER THE LEFT BLINKER OR BRAKE LIGHT WILL NOT WORK. I DRIVE A 2006 DODGE RAM DUALLY WITH THE CUMMINS ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10367818

Incident

Oct 15, 2009

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. THE CONTACT STATED THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FOR THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED UNDER "AS IS" CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAUSE IT'S DIFFICULT TO SEE IN THE RAIN AND SNOW WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE LACK OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH IN RAINY CONDITIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ID

10356976

Incident

Sep 18, 2010

Mileage

104,000 mi

THE FLAP THAT CONTROLS FRESH AIR VS. RE-CIRCULATED AIR BREAKS AND FALLS OFF. EVEN IF REPLACED IT QUICKLY BREAKS AGAIN. DODGE CHARGES $800 TO FIX THIS CHEAP PLASTIC PART ONLY FOR IT TO QUICKLY BREAK AGAIN. I FOUND THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS REPORTS FOUND ON THE WEB ABOUT DODGE AC LOW AIR FLOW. WHEN BROKE, THE FLAP FALLS ON TOP OF THE FAN MOTOR AND BLOCKS AIR CIRCULATION. MY CHILDREN HAVE BAD ALLERGIES AND I HAVE NO WAY OF TURNING OFF THE OUTSIDE AIR BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN IN THE FLAP. AFTER IT BREAKS IT BLOCKS THE AIR FLOW OF THE FAN MOTOR. I HAVE 3 CO-WORKERS WITH THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE. THEY HAVE ALL SINCE CHECKED THEIR FRESH AIR/RE-CIRCULATE AIR FLAPS AND THEY WERE ALL BROKE. THIS OBVIOUSLY IS A DESIGN FLAW NOT BEING ACKNOWLEDGED BY DODGE. IT'S HAZARDOUS TO MY CHILDREN HEALTH (AND MINE) NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN OFF THE OUTSIDE AIR WHEN TRAVELING THROUGH AREAS WITH BAD AIR OUTSIDE, EXHAUST FUMES FROM OTHER CARS, ETC.... THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10326966

Incident

Apr 30, 2007

Mileage

12,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK SOMETIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10300356

Incident

Jan 17, 2010

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND ENGAGING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL IT ACTIVATED THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL INSTEAD. OCCASIONALLY, THE LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNALS COMPLETELY FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALSO SHUT OFF WHEN THE WIPER SWITCH WAS ENGAGED FROM HIGH TO MEDIUM SPEED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 194000.

NHTSA ID

10298692

Incident

Aug 9, 2009

Mileage

192,000 mi

SEVERAL DAYS AGO MY TURN-SIGNAL, WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH STARTED MALFUNCTIONING AT TIMES. FOR EXAMPLE I WOULD ACTIVATE THE SIGNAL SWITCH FOR A LEFT TURN AND THE RIGHT TURN INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD GO ON. OR, WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK OR DID NOT PERFORM THE SELECTED FUNCTION. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR OBVIOUS REASONS AND BECAUSE THIS IS THE SECOND SWITCH I HAD IN THIS TRUCK. A YEAR OR SO AGO I HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED BY DODGE FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT AND NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10274722

Incident

Jun 20, 2009

Mileage

54,400 mi

ERRATIC WINDSHIELD WIPER PERFORMANCE FOLLOWED BY COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE WIPERS. WIPERS STALLED IN THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD IN A THUNDERSTORM WHILE TOWING A 24,000 LB TRAILER ON INTERSTATE 65 WITH SEMI TRUCK/TRAILERS ON 3 SIDES. THIS WAS THE 2ND INCIDENT OF WIPER FAILURE. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED ABOUT 6 MONTHS EARLIER. AFTER LEAVING THE TRUCK PARKED OVERNITE, THE WIPER OPERATION RETURNED TO NORMAL. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER AFTER BOTH OCCURRENCES. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE WIPERS AFTER THE 1ST OCCURRENCE WHILE THE TRUCK WAS UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER THE 2ND OCCURRENCE I WAS TOLD THAT THE TOTAL INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM)HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. I HAVE NOT YET REPLACED THE TIPM. DURING BOTH WIPER FAILURES, THE DRIVING SITUATION WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE ROAD SPRAY COVERED THE WINDSHIELD AND SEVERELY CUT DOWN VISIBILITY. *TR PHONE INTERVIEW UPDATE (10/01/09): OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS AFTER TIPM (TOTAL INTEGRATED POWER MODULE )WAS DIAGNOSED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE WIPER FAILURE MODE. OWNER STATES THAT THE TIPM WAS REPLACED AND HAD MULTIPLE FAILURE MODES OCCUR INCLUDING : INOPERABLE WIPERS, FLIPPED TURN SIGNALS, AND INOPERABLE CRUISE CONTROL. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK FOR REPAIRS AND THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITHC WAS REPLACED. OWNER STATES NO FURTHER PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

10267193

Incident

Apr 26, 2009

Mileage

37,000 mi