2001 Dodge RAM 1500

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB. UPON DECELERATION THE CONSUMER HEARD A ROARING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE ACCELERATED THE ROARING SOUND WENT AWAY. WHEN THE CONSUMER LET OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR THE SECOND TIME HE HEARD AN EXPLOSION SOUND, AND THE REAR END LOCKED. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE NUT ON THE PINION GEAR HAD COME ALOOSE AND CAUSED THE REAR END TO COME APART. THE DRIVE SHAFT PUNCTURED THE QUAD CAB'S INTERIOR FLOORBOARD. THE SERVICE DEALER REFERRED HIM TO THE MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THIS WAS A MECHANICAL FAILURE AND NOT A DEFECT WITHIN THE VEHICLE. *AK (11/22/05) COMPONENTS AFFECTED ARE: REAR DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY, TRANSMISSION, TRANSFER CASE AND DRIVESHAFT. *SC

DT: 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 EXTENDED CAB PICK UP TRUCK. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO. DRIVER OF OTHER VEHICLE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AT 60 MPH ON A WET SURFACE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND PUSHED THE BRAKES DOWN AND AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, THE CONSUMER FELT SOMETHING HIT HIM IN THE CHEST. DID NOT KNOW WHAT HIT HIM, BUT ONCE THE CONSUMER LOOKED HE DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET SHEARED OFF DURING THE IMPACT ,AND THE STEERING WHEEL WENT UNDER THE AIR BAG HITTING THE CONSUMER'S LOWER RIGHT RIB CAGE. THE INSURANCE INSPECTOR DID NOT REALLY PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO THE STEERING WHEEL BRACKET THAT SHEARED OFF DURING THE CRASH. THE CONSUMER HAS PHOTOS OF THE CRASH, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. *AK *NM WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED THE CONSUMERS UPPER BRIDGE IN HIS MOUTH BECAME LOOSE AND ALSO THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED BRUISES ON HIS UPPER CHEST. UPDATED 11/02/05 *JB

I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL ON THE VEHICLE AND CLOSED THE HOOD. I THEN TRIED TO LIFT THE HOOD AFTER IT WAS CLOSED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT WAS WELL CLOSED. I COULD NOT. I THEN PROCEEDED TO DRIVE ON THE STREET AT 30-40 MILES PER HOUR AND 5 MINUTES AFTER CHECKING THE OIL, THE HOOD POPPED UP, BENT BACKWARDS, AND SMASHED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED BUT IT OCCURRED AT 10:30 AM IN FRONT OF THE EAST GREENBUSH, NY WALMART, AND AN EAST GREENBUSH POLICE OFFICER DID STOP TO HELP ME REATTACH THE BENT HOOD AND SECURE IT SO I COULD DRIVE HOME TO ARRANGE REPAIRS. I HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE HOOD POPPED UP. IT SHOULD HAVE STAYED CLOSED. I WONDER WHY EVEN THE HOOD SAFETY LATCH APPEARED TO HAVE FAILED. THE FRONT HOOD HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, THE SAFETY LATCH, AND THE HOOD BRACKETS ($1800). I KEPT THE OLD PARTS AFTER THEY WERE REPLACED. I NOTICED THAT THE HOOD SAFETY LATCH HAD BEEN RECALLED ON THE DODGE RAM 1994-1999. THE 2001 DODGE RAM HAS THE SAME BODY. IS THE LATCH STILL DEFECTIVE? *NM

I WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH ON 8-26-05 / GOING WEST BOUND, AND AN EAST BOUND VEHICLE OVER CORRECTED ON A CURVE AND HIT MY PICK UP AT 30-35 MPH IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AREA, THROWING US OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A TELEPHONE POLE - AND NEITHER OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THIS CAUSED INJURY TO MYSELF, AND MY DAUGHTER LUCKILY JUST BUSTED HER LIP ON THE DASH. *NM

THE LEFT REAR MAIN LEAF SPRING FAILED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. AT THE TIME OF FAILURE THE TRUCK HAD APPROXIMATELY 35000 MILES ON IT AND THE REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. WITH APPROXIMATELY 70000 MILES ON THE TRUCK THE RIGHT REAR MAIN LEAF FAILED AS WELL. THIS REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED AND I WAS INFORMED BY THE "CERTIFIED CHRYSLER REPAIR FACILITY" THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR BULLETINS CONCERNING THIS FAILURE. THIS TRUCK HAS NEVER CARRIED A LOAD AND HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED. BOTH SPRINGS BROKE IN THE SAME PLACE (WHERE THE STEEL IS ROLLED TO ACCOMMODATE THE SHACKLE BOLT). THIS IS A CLEAN STRAIGHT BREAK AND APPEARS TO BE THE RESULT OF EXCESSIVE HEAT IN THE MANUFACTURE PROCESS. THIS IS MOST DEFINITELY A "MANUFACTURER DEFECT" AND AS SUCH SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION. *NM