2004 Dodge Dakota: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Sep 2, 2022 · Electrical · OH

While driving my 2004 dodge Dakota all the gauges, including the speedometer and the tachometer stopped working. Everything went off although the truck was still running. I had headlights turn signals an emergency flashers nothing else. I don’t know how fast I was going how much fuel I had or if my engine was running hot nothing. This is something that could spook a driver to a point where he/she would be distracted of their surroundings. Possibly causing a serious crash and hurting or killing someone.

Filed Jun 8, 2017 · Electrical, Lights · 134,000 miles · OR

The driver headlight quit working. I went to the store to replace it thinking it had burnt out. When I replaced the light it did not work still and the old headlight still had both filaments proving it was still good. I took the truck to the dealership after both headlights quit working on me when I was out at night driving less than a 10th of a mile from home. I managed to not get in an accident. The dealership told me that the ctm and head light switch were bad however the ctm was a "obsolete" part and they were unable to get me one. After they released my truck back to me to drive as I please, I was able to purchase an older ctm from a 2003 4x4 automatic dakota 4.7l. Now my lights work and I have a "guarantee" from the ebay seller that it will work for 6 months. I have a seriously dangerous vehicle and I can not trust my headlights will not go out at any time so I can not drive it at night in good confidence or moral conscience. The dealership lilithia dodge of roseburg oregon has record of my truck being in their possession for multiple days before releasing it back into my possession without doing anything but a diagnostics test.

Filed Mar 24, 2017 · Lights · 63,173 miles · NC

Driving on a rainy night and headlights and wipers quit working all at once. Central timer module failed and shut the lights and wipers off as well as interior lights and door locks. Almost didn't get vehicle stopped without wrecking. Left vehicle and came back during daylight and drove to repair shop. Where located the issue was a failed central timer module. Contacted dodge and said its out of warranty? Its not about warranty or not it could have the potential for a fatality. Still have the old ctm if anyone is interested in looking into the matter. Why would headlights be ran through a module like this just asking for trouble.

Filed Nov 22, 2016 · Electrical, Lights · 196,000 miles · UT

I started my vehicle and could not get my headlights to turn on. All connections and bulbs were checked by a mechanic and the problem has been traced to the ctm (central timing module). These units are on nationwide back order. This is a serious safety issue and a serious replacement issue if people are losing their headlights and the part is on an unknown back order situation.

Filed Nov 16, 2009 · Lights, Visibility · 115,000 miles · WV

My son was on his way to the doctor for an injection in his 2004 dodge dakota. While driving at about 45 MPH, he turned on the parking lights and the windshield wipers came on all by themselves. He had not turned on the windshield wiper switch. He stopped the truck and turned off the ignition. Assuming that it was a temporary glitch in the system he started the engine again and turned on the air conditioning system. At that time the entire lighting system went crazy. The headlights began flashing on and off, the emergency warning system began to work and the directional lights began to blink on their own. Between flashes of the emergency lights a directional light would eliminate. Again the windshield wipers began to operate on their own again. This could have been a very dangerous situation if this had happened on a busy highway after dark. We are waiting to get a dealer to look at the problem at this time. Again this could have had a disastrous ending if he had been driving after dark and on a busy highway or street.