2008 DODGE RAM 1500 Complaints

MY COMPLAINT REGARDS THE UNREASONABLE LENGTH OF TIME IT IS TAKING CHRYSLER TO RESOLVE RECALL N49. THIS IS A TIE ROD ISSUE. PRETTY IMPORTANT, CONSIDERING THE BALL STUD COULD FRACTURE AND CAUSE THE LOSS OF STEERING WHILE CUSTOMERS ARE ON THE ROAD. AS INSTRUCTED BY THE NOTICE, I CALLED OUR LOCAL DEALER JANUARY 6, 2014 TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. I WAS TOLD TO CALL BACK THE FOLLOWING WEEK. I DID SO PROMPTLY AND WAS TOLD I WOULD BE PUT ON A LIST FOR REPAIR. I WAS #130 AND PARTS WERE EXPECTED TO BE SHIPPED BY CHRYSLER JUST ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS. I CALLED AGAIN APRIL 30. I AM NOW #120. I'M TOLD THAT, EVEN IF THE PARTS WERE COMING IN AT A FASTER PACE, THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT ADEQUATELY STAFFED. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THIS SAFETY ISSUE - ONE THAT CAN, AND PROBABLY WILL, RESULT IN LOSS OF LIVES -- IS NOT AN URGENT MATTER TO CHRYSLER. IF IT WERE, IT WOULD BE SENDING THE REPLACEMENT PARTS TO THE DEALERS IN A TIMELY MANNER AND FOOTING THE BILL TO TEMPORARILY STAFF THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THIS RESOLVED. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIE ROD WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V529000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FILLED COMPLETELY WITH FUEL, THE ENGINE WILL DIE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SLOWED DOWN TO STOP OF TURN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WITH FORCE WHEN THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO BECOME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V529000 (STEERING) OR 13V528000 (STEERING) BUT THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE AS STATED IN BOTH RECALLS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90000. KMJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE TIRES REPLACED, SHE WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V529000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

I GOT THE RECALL NOTICES FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR BACK IN 2011 AND HAD IT REPLACED EVEN THOUGH I HAD NO ISSUE WITH THAT MOTOR. THE NEW MOTOR MODULE ASSEMBLIES HAD COMPLETE LOSS OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CAPABILITY (A YEAR AFTER I HAD THE MOTOR REPLACED). I WAS DRIVING THAT DAY IN AUSTIN,TX WITH MY ONE YEAR OLD BABY GIRL. IT WAS POURING DOWN HEAVY RAIN WHEN THE WIPERS COMPLETE JUST STOPPED OUT OF THE BLUE. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER AND WAIT FOR THE RAIN TO STOP BECAUSE I HAD NO ADVISABLE WHAT SO EVER. ( WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH! ) I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE 08 DODGE RAM TO A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM TO REPLACE IT FOR ME. THEY TOLD ME THAT I ALREADY HAD IT DONE. I TOLD THEM "TO REPLACE IT AGAIN BECAUSE A YEAR OLD MOTOR SHOULDN'T OF JUST STOPPED WORKING." THEY SAID, "THEY COULD MAKE A APPOINTMENT AT A LATER DATE TO BRING IT IN SO THEY CAN LOOK AT IT FOR A DAY OR TWO (( AND THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST."))) I SAID, "THERE IS HEAVY RAIN IN THE WEATHER FORECAST ALL WEEK. I HAVE A BABY THAT I HAVE TO DROP OFF AT DAYCARE EVERY DAY BECAUSE I AM A FULL TIME STUDENT, AND YOUR GOING TO LET ME DRIVE THIS TRUCK KNOW MY WIPERS DON'T WORK SO Y'ALL CAN ONE DAY TAKE A LOOK AT IT FOR TWO DAYS AND I'LL HAVE TO PAY FOR IT ! NO!" THEY SAID, "WE CAN'T REPLACE YOUR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR BECAUSE YOU ALREADY HAD IT DONE." *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V529000 (STEERING) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT THE DEALER WAS ONLY RECEIVING ONE PART PER WEEK. THE CONTACT FELT THAT SINCE THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED IN NOVEMBER OF 2013, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A REMEDY AVAILABLE BEFORE MARCH OF 2014. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V529000 (STEERING) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT FELT THAT SINCE THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED IN NOVEMBER OF 2013, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A REMEDY AVAILABLE BEFORE MARCH OF 2014. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT PROPERLY SHIFT. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY PUMP THE BRAKES BEFORE THE SHIFTER WOULD RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. MY WIFE WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, TRIED TO UNLATCH THE SEAT BELT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE BUCKLE WOULD NOT UNLATCH TO LET HER OUT OF THE SEAT. AS SHE TRIED TO " SQUIGGLE" OUT OF THE SEAT BELT, THE RETRACTOR LOCKED AND SHE WAS TRAPPED IN THE SEAT. I ATTEMPTED TO OPERATE RELEASE BUTTON AND IT FAILED TO RELEASE BELT BUCKLE. I TRIED TO GET THE RETRACTOR TO UNLATCH AND IT GOT TIGHTER AND TIGHTER. I WOULD HAVE CUT THE BELT IN AN EMERGENCY, BUT WERE ONLY A FEW MILES FROM HOME. I REMOVED A PLASTIC TRIM PIECE ON THE OUTBOARD PART OF THE SEAT TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE BELT ATTACHMENT BOLT. LUCKILY I HAD THE SPECIAL TOOL REQUIRED TO REMOVE THE BOLT. A TORX 45 STAR SOCKET AND RATCHET WRENCH. I REMOVED THE BOLT AND FREED HER BY FREEING THE END OF THE SEAT BELT THAT ATTACHES TO THE OUTBOARD PASSENGER SEAT BASE. CALLED LOCAL DEALER BAY DODGE - PANAMA CITY, FL. THEY WOULD REPAIR FOR NORMAL PARTS AND LABOR. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE 800-992-1997. TALKED TO REP (TERRY LYNN) SHE SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. I TOLD HERE I WANTED TO FORMALLY REPORT A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. SHE GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER 24486512, SHE SAID CHRYSLER REVIEWS THE COMPLAINTS, BUT I WOULD NOT RECEIVE A REPLY. I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT, NOT A MALFUNCTION. IF YOU GO INTO THE WATER OR HAVE FIRE, OR ARE IN A FREEWAY PILE UP IN THE FOG, THE OCCUPANT WOULD BE TRAPPED AND PROBABLY BE KILLED IF THEY DID NOT HAVE AN INSTRUMENT TO CUT THE SEAT BELT. CHRYSLER ACTED AS IF I WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT SOMETHING INSIGNIFICANT LIKE A RADIO KNOB FALLING OFF. I CONTACTED THE FTC CONSUMER COMPLAINTS DIVISION AND FILED SAME COMPLAINT CASE [XXX]. I STUMBLED ONTO TO YOUR WEBSITE ON MY OWN THROUGH NTSB LINK. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR