REF: 2005 SRT6 Roadster

My drivers side brake light does not illuminate properly. Problem has been verified and several bulb changes tried, bulb is fine as I can swap with right side and everything works fine on the right. (Details: With headlights & parking lights off, left break light illuminates dimly when brake is depressed, with headlight on, tail lamp goes dark when you step on the brake. Note Right side functions properly.)

Once I verified the bulb was not the problem I took to the dealer (Marietta Georgia Chrysler) and asked them to repair it today. After troubleshooting they say the tail light assembly must be replaced and provided a estimate for $596 to replace it (parts + labor + tax). It is in the shop tonight waiting on the part delivery tomorrow. (I questioned this and asked if they were sure it was not the illumination control module or relay and service guy said power is getting to the tail light connector so it must be the lamp assembly.... On the phone that sounded possible...)

But when I got home I thought through this and smell a rat. From looking at the assembly when I replaced the bulb I seem to recall that there are NO WIRES OR CIRCUIT BOARDS OR ELECTRONICS in the tail light assembly!!! Wire harness plugs directly to the bulb and you just put bulb into plastic tail light assembly. The tail light assembly simply holds the bulb. So how could it be a bad tail light assembly? I can see a bad bulb socket but I shouldn't have to buy a whole tail light assembly to replace the socket.

Thoughts? Help please, as I need to call the dealer back 1st thing in the AM to discuss this with the service dude.