Headlight complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 11 | 3% | 59,000 miles |
| 2011 | 1 | 0% | 14,000 miles |
| 2009 | 3 | 3% | 85,000 miles |
| 2008 | 5 | 3% | 95,000 miles |
| 2007 | 2 | 1% | 161,000 miles |
| 2006 | 44 | 17% | 71,000 miles |
| 2005 | 7 | 4% | 94,000 miles |
| 2004 | 7 | 3% | 102,000 miles |
| 2003 | 6 | 2% | 95,000 miles |
| 2001 | 3 | 2% | 71,000 miles |
| 1999 | 3 | 3% | 292,000 miles |
| 1998 | 15 | 14% | 80,000 miles |
| 1997 | 25 | 20% | 100,000 miles |
| 1996 | 9 | 7% | 200,000 miles |
| 1995 | 5 | 5% | 64,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
While pulling a trailer, integrated trailer brake controller stopped working and disabled the trailer brakes. All trailer lights worked, just no brakes. Showed red warning in dash and "CF" on brake controller after failure. No warning before failure. Checked connections and tested with another trailer. Even with no trailer, warning is on and trailer brakes are not functional. Created hazard to driver and other motorists by spontaneous loss of brakes. Online forums indicate this is not an isolated incident. More recently, now the trailer running lights have failed. Brake and turn signal lights work, but no running lights. No police report of inspections. Not yet repaired. Available for inspection.
Purchased vehicle new in February, 2012. In February, 2012, passenger headlight would blink and go off, intermittently. Dealer tested and replaced TIPM (totally integrated power module) computer. Appeared to be working correctly. In March, 2016, passenger low beam headlight began working intermittently, and is now non-functional. Works on high beam. I have replaced the bulb with a known good bulb. Same problem. TIPM is out again. Repair is hundreds of dollars for a part that is clearly defective. Anecdotal reports of same problem by hundreds of owners. This is a serious safety problem and makes operator of vehicle in violation of traffic laws. Contacted manufacturer, but they refused to cover the repair.
High beam and or low beam lights quit or go off from time to time. Dealer said its a "TIPM" computer. At a cost of over $800.00 to replace or $100.00 to flash the computer to repair? Can only be flashed 3 - 4 times before it has to be replaced. All the wiring and connections are good. Dealer said it was probably because of a faulty bulb and burned out the "TIPM" ? I dont know, but sounds like a problem that Dodge needs to address. If left unchecked / repaired it will slowly disable all the head lights high and low, plus the day time and fog lights. Not for sure when it started as I had just bought it from a individual, and only noticed it when switching from high to low beams. The truck has 130,000 miles. They say this can happen when trailer wires were incorrectly added? Again this is suppose to be dodges pulling truck but with no $2.00 fuses to replace, just an $ 800.00 fix? …
When using the left turn signal, both signal lights would become active on the tail lights, but only show left turn on the dash. When using the right turn, no light would work at all. Turned out to be the turn signal multifunction switch, which after searching also can affect the head lights working or not, and windshield wipers. I have checked on the internet forums and have found this happening on many dodges, mostly 2006 and newer.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500. While driving, the instrument panel and exterior lighting illuminated brightly and the vehicle stalled. The contact pulled over and discovered that the TIPM was smoking and caused six unknown fuses to become inoperable. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and restarted. After the vehicle was restarted, it caught on fire. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 245,000.
I purchased headlights from carid for my 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 in December 2019. The headlights have shadows causing dark spots and a hazard. In the interim, I purchased LED bulbs from the same company to rectify the problem, but the LED bulbs will go dark periodically. Carid will not exchange the headlights for another brand, nor return my money, so I can purchase safer headlights.
Steering wheel not center dealer wont fixed ask three times also turn signals the right comes on when you turn on the left one they fixed after fighting with them the wipers stop some times and then go slow then fast then stop the TIPM is bad it runs all the electrical on truck had lots of concerns that it will stall because some time the head lights go bright then dim then bright the trailer light some time come on both then one goes out had trailer check out they said was the truck I drive in daylight hours if I can just had TIPM replaced at dealer had to fight with them it cost me 1500.00 dollars they said their no recall it a safety thing I just think they should pay not me.
I was driving down a two lane road at 70mph when approaching my road. I turned on my left blinker to signal my upcoming turn and when I began to turn the car behind me went to pass thinking that I was turning right. To avoid hitting me he went off the road into the ditch. When I talked to him about what happened he said that my right blinker was on. I have noticed this problem before on my truck and have noticed it since so I know he was telling the truth. There needs to be a recall on this before someone gets hurt. I also have trouble switching my high beams off or on causing problems with oncoming traffic on a daily basis.
Related recalls (2)
Exterior lighting
Certain trucks equipped with dual rear wheels fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment." the trucks May have been inadvertently manufactured without the roof mounted cab clearance lamps.
Remedy: Dealers will install cab clearance lights free of charge. The recall began on March 20, 2006. Owners May contact daimlerchrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Exterior lighting › Headlights › Switch
Vehicle description: model 3500 light duty trucks only. Operation of the headlamps over an extended period of time can result in headlamp switch failure, causing the headlamps or park lamps to go out.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the headlamp switch including a relay in the park lamp wiring circuit.
NHTSA investigations
Headlight circuit failure
There is no summary currently available
Headlight circuit
The headlamp switch in the subject vehicles can over-heat and fail resulting in loss of head lamps and possibly other lights.daimlerchrysler conducted a series of tests and determined that the 3500 series is prone to generating head lamp switch temperatures in excess of the switch lubricant threshold of 100 degrees centigrade.when this occurs, the lubricant solidifies and adheres to the switch contach surfaces…
Turn signal malfunction
Odi has closed this investigation based on a review of the complaints, other field data and technical data submitted by Chrysler to the agency.Chrysler reports that the multifunction switch is hard wired into the instrument cluster (ic) and the cluster decides which direction has been selected based on an electrical signal from the multifunction switch.the ic sends a signal to the vehicle's totally integrated power…
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge Ram 3500 years have headlight problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2006 (44), 1997 (25), 1998 (15), 2012 (11) and 1996 (9) model years. Headlight complaints make up 17% of all complaints for the 2006.
Is there a recall for Dodge Ram 3500 headlight problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 06V-073 (exterior lighting, Mar 9, 2006); 99V-024 (switch, Feb 5, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Dodge Ram 3500 headlight problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles; 24% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the headlights › switch (32 mentions), followed by the headlights (16).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.