Problem initially started when a Progressive Insurance Snapshot device was installed on the vehicle in July of 2017. First problem was one idiot light on the dash indicated the emergency brake was on (and it wasn't). But since the operation of the truck was not an issue, I continued driving for two more months while more and more idiot lights came on each time the vehicle was used, electronically reporting a problem with the vehicle when there wasn't one.

Finally two months later, in the second week of October, the truck would not start at all or even turn over. When the key was turned to start the vehicle, the engine wouldn't even crank. Yet all the idiot lights came on which indicated to me it was an electronic problem and not a mechanical one like a bad ignition or bad battery. After repeated attempts, opening and closing the doors with the key fob on and off repeatedly, disconnecting and reconnecting the battery, locking and unlocking the doors manually, and even jiggling the steering wheel, eventually the vehicle would start up completely normally, but with all the idiot lights on. This was erratic and there was no rhyme or reason why it was happening or what caused the problem.

The situation continued like this about a week until the engine would not even shut down when the key was turned to the off position. Not only that, several times the engine continued running when the key was removed and the only way to stop the engine from running was to sit in the vehicle and wait for it to sputter to a stop, which was a colossal waste of time and money and a potentially dangerous situation.

After a subsequent appointment at the local Dodge dealer here in Albuquerque (Larry H Miller Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge on Lomas Avenue NE) where the vehicle sat in the service bay for a week while the issue was being evaluated, resulting in the issue eventually being diagnosed as a bad TIPM, which needed to be urgently replaced at a cost of $1600.

Couple problems with this:

1. After wasting a week of my time and a week of a rental car while the vehicle sat in their service bay without anything being done with it, why was it suddenly an "urgent" situation that the TIPM unit be replaced? Was it really that urgent or did the service manager just need a new swimming pool?

2. What is the point of making an appointment if they were not able to get it in even for evaluation until 4 days later?

3. There have been multiple recalls on defective TIPMs in Dodge/Chrysler vehicles in the past several years. Why was this Dodge dealer in Albuquerque not aware of this and why did it take them that long to diagnose the problem?

4. Grossly overpriced repair cost. A new or remanufactured TIPM unit for my vehicle can be had for anywhere from $250 to $350. That implies the remaining $1,250 is all labor, which is grossly overpriced

5. I really don't appreciate the shoddy customer service being condescended to by the initial service rep who did not appear to even be listening to what I told him about why I brought the vehicle in, instead drawing his own off-the-cuff conclusions, based on zero input from me, the customer.

6. I don't doubt that the problem is the TIPM unit in my vehicle, and that it started with the installation of the Progressive insurance Snapshot device because that is when the all the problems first surfaced. I had been driving the vehicle for three years prior to that without an issue. But my CS rep at Larry Miller Dodge insisted otherwise profusely and definitively on the phone, suggesting to me that he gets more business from Progressive than from a single lowly customer like myself, so it he had no choice but to get them off the hook.

7. Has the old adage "The customer is always right" gone away for good, or is it just at this particular Dodge dealer?

8. Just for the record, for all the reasons above, I will NOT buy or own a Dodge/Chrysler product ever again.

Evidently the design of the TIPM is flawed. It has caused one headlight low beam to quit working, high beam still works. New bulbs don't work and now tail lights are affected too, top one on one side bottom on other. Replaced all 4 same results. Dodge dealer wants over $1000 to fix. The part looks easy enough to do but you can't find any. Prices anywhere from $299-$785, with a $200 core. Is there a recall? Or a fix short of bastardizing the current board and possibly creating a bigger mess? It should NOT COST hundreds or even thousands to fix a simple light.

The Left the low beam does not work. The right the high beam does not work. Turn signal goes from side to side.

Update from Jul 14, 2015: Got recall for turn signal. Got it fixed but 6 months later it stopped working. I took it to Clay Cooley Dodge to get the recall fixed again. I got it back. The lights worked but no brake light. A part under the airbag fell apart. I would have to paid $300 to get it fixed. This was not part of the recall. They had to take this part off to fix the turn signal and broke it.

Although there was never a Crash or anyone getting injured, I am pretty sure that if Dodge doesn't do anything to fix this issue it will eventually lead to a major incident which involves people getting hurt or worst death. I've had several close calls myself due to my truck's Turn signal malfunction even after taking it to the dealer couple of times which they've claimed fixing it by re-flashing it's TIPM which was always a temporary fix until it re occurs again later.

I've done my own research online and there's a lot of unhappy Dodge ram truck owners with the same problem and we are all left either to spend close to a $1,000 just to have Dodge replace the TIPM unit which totally resolves the issue. Now for the ones that can't afford to cough up that amount, like myself are all left with dire situation and an unsafe truck. Please help us so we can have Dodge and Chrysler take responsibility for this matter so that there are no innocent lives taken or lost. Thanks and God bless!