1999 Dodge RAM 1500

DRIVING 30 MPH SUDDEN STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE THEN VISIBLE WHITE FOG OF VAPOR ROSE FROM DEFROST VENTS (DEFROSTER/FAN NOT ON) PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY BUT BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITH NO ACTIVATION OF BRAKES. ALL THIS HAPPENED QUICKLY, WITHIN 10 SECONDS USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE TO EVACUATE 10 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND SELF BARELY IN TIME. BYSTANDER SHOUTING THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. FIRE ERUPTED FROM UNDER HOOD AND SPREAD INTO CAB. FIRE DEPT. CALLED BY BYSTANDER AS WE USED FIRE EXTINGUISHERS UNSUCCESSFULLY. TRUCK WAS ENGULFED AND DESTROYED. RECALLS WERE ADDRESSED SPRING OF 2003. A LATER RECALL NOT REALIZED BY US INCLUDES FIX FOR ANTILOCK BRAKE CONTROLLER CORROSION THAT COULD CAUSE FIRE. GEICO CLAIM # 0480694490101028 BUT NO COMPENSATION, AS NOT COVERED FOR FIRE. FIRE DEPT. TOOK A REPORT, POLICE SAID NO COLLISION SO THEY DIDN'T. I DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE THE FIRE DEPT. REPORT BUT MAY BE ABLE TO OBTAIN IT.

THE REAR HARD BRAKE LINE MOUNTED ON THE FRAME RAIL BEHIND THE FUEL TANK WAS SEVERELY RUSTED IN AN AREA ABOUT 4 INCHES LONG THAT COULD NOT EASILY BE VISUALLY INSPECTED (HIDDEN BEHIND THE FUEL TANK). THE HARD BRAKE LINE RUPTURED AT THE RUSTED AREA WHICH COMPROMISED 100% OF THE BRAKING POWER FROM THE PEDAL. SOME QUICK RESEARCH HAS REVEALED THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. MANY SUGGEST THIS WARRANTS A PRODUCT RECALL DUE TO THE DANGEROUS AND CRITICAL NATURE OF THE VEHICLE SUBSYSTEM IN QUESTION: BRAKES. I'M LUCKY TO BE ALIVE ... I HAD JUST RETURNED FROM A TRIP THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS IN TENNESSEE WITH A FULL LOAD IN THE TRUCK BED AND PULLING A MOTORCYCLE TRAILER. THE RUPTURE OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHILE I WAS AT A FULL STOP!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY DIM AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT FAILED CAUSING THE BULB TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD SOMETIMES JERK FORWARD AND A SECTION OF THE DASHBOARD WOULD DETACH AND FALL TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,859.