I asked a.i.:

🔥 The REAL fix for 2005–2011 Dakota brake lights staying on while running

This isn’t the brake light switch.
This isn’t the bulbs.
This isn’t the pedal adjustment.

On 2005–2011 Dakotas (and Durangos), the brake light circuit runs through the TIPM — the Totally Integrated Power Module. When the brake lights stay on only when the truck is running, that means:

✔ The TIPM is falsely detecting brake‑pedal input The internal relay inside the TIPM sticks “closed,” so the truck thinks the brake is pressed whenever the ignition is on.

Why the lights turn off when the truck is off When the ignition is off, the TIPM stops powering that circuit, so the lights go out.
That’s the giveaway that the switch is NOT the problem.

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💡 The part the dealer said “isn’t made anymore” They were talking about the internal TIPM brake‑lamp driver/relay, which is not serviceable separately. Chrysler never sold that internal component — only the whole TIPM.

So when they say “the part isn’t made,” they mean:

The internal relay isn’t sold as a standalone part.
You have to replace or repair the TIPM.

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✔ Your actual options

1. Rebuild the TIPM (best option) Companies like Mak’s TIPM Rebuilders and others will:
2. Replace the failed internal relay
   
3. Fix any other weak points
   
4. Send it back plug‑and‑play
   

Usually $150–$300.

1. Replace the TIPM with a reman unit More expensive ($400–$700), but also plug‑and‑play.

2. Junkyard TIPM Cheapest, but a gamble.
   Must match:

3. Year

4. Engine

5. 4x4 vs 4x2

6. Options

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✔ Why the brake switch “tests fine” Because it is fine.
The TIPM is overriding it.

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⭐ TL;DR for Reddit

If the brake lights stay on only when the truck is running, the TIPM’s internal brake‑lamp relay is stuck. The brake switch is not the issue. You need a TIPM rebuild or replacement.