1998 Dodge RAM 2500

DEAR SIRS: I AM CONTACTING YOU ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND ALL OWNERS OF 1998.5-2002 DODGE RAM PICKUPS EQUIPPED WITH 5.9L 24 VALVE CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A FAULTY FUEL LIFT PUMP THAT IS SUBJECT TO PREMATURE FAILURE. THIS CAN CAUSE SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE TO THE INJECTOR PUMP RESULTING IN UNEXPECTED ENGINE FAILURE. THIS FACT IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE WEB AMONG OWNERS, AS WELL AS DIESEL EXPERTS. THE LIFT PUMP FAILS WHEN IT IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE FUEL TO THE INJECTOR PUMP. ITS FAILURE RATE IS SIGNIFICANT IN THE CUMMINS DIESEL APPLICATIONS BECAUSE THE PUMP IS DEFECTIVE AND THE REMOTE LOCATION FROM THE FUEL TANK PLACES ADDITIONAL STRESS ON THE DEFECTIVE PUMP, THEREBY CAUSING PUMP FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THERE IS NO WARNING TO THE CUSTOMER WHEN THE LIFT PUMP PRESSURE FALLS BELOW THE MINIMUM 48 OZ. IN 30 SECONDS, THEREBY CAUSING IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE INJECTOR PUMP. REPAIR OF THE DAMAGED INJECTOR PUMP IS IN EXCESS OF $2000. SOME OWNERS HAVE REPLACED THE OEM LIFT PUMP AS MANY AS FOUR TIMES. EVEN CUMMINS, WHO MANUFACTURES THE ENGINE FOR DAIMLER CHRYSLER, HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEFECTIVE PUMP (EMAIL EVIDENCE CAN BE SUBMITTED UPON REQUEST). DAIMLER CHRYSLER TOOK NO STEPS TO NOTIFY OWNERS OF THIS DEFECT AND THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY REFUSED REQUESTS BY OWNERS TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PUMP WITH THE MORE RELIABLE ONE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH ADDING THE FUEL PRESSURE WARNING LAMP. THEY WILL ONLY PROVIDE SUCH RETROFIT IF THE OWNER IS WILLING TO PAY THE PARTS AND LABOR COST OF WELL OVER $1000. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH DAIMLER CHRYSLER HAS ALLOWED CORPORATE GREED TO ECLIPSE THE SAFETY OF ITS CUSTOMERS. I HAVE NOT PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED LIFT PUMP FAILURE, SINCE MY VEHICLE IS A 1998.5 WITH ONLY 5000 MILES. I DO, HOWEVER, FEEL THAT DAIMLER CHRYSLER SHOULD REPLACE THE PUMP WITH THE MORE RELIABLE PUMP AND FUEL PRESSURE WARNING LAMP. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM SINCE ANY UNANTICIPATED ENGINE FAILURE CAN JEOPARDIZE THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS. *JB

I HAVE CONTACTED DAIMLERCHRYSLER ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS BY EMAIL AND WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING A DEFECT IN THE LIFT PUMP OF THE 1998-2002 DODGE RAMS WITH THE 5.9 LITER CUMMINS 24 VALVE DIESELS. THE LIFT PUMPS EXPERIENCE PREMATURE FAILURE LEADING TO COSTLY REPAIR OF THE INJECTOR PUMP. BY CUMMINS OWN ADMISSION TO ME BY EMAIL ON JANUARY 9, 2007, DODGE HAS BEEN PROVIDED WITH A MORE RELIABLE REPLACEMENT LIFT PUMP TO BE INSTALLED IN THE GAS TANK IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN INDICATOR LIGHT THAT ILLUMINATES WHEN FUEL PRESSURE DROPS TO A LEVEL TO HARM THE INJECTOR PUMP. EVEN THOUGH DAIMLERCHRYSLER IS FULLY AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND THE REMEDY, THEY ARE REFUSING TO CONDUCT A RECALL ON THE VEHICLES AND HAVE REFUSED TO ANSWER MY LATEST CORRESPONDENCE ON JANUARY 17, 2007. THEY HAVE REFERRED ME TO MY LOCAL DEALER,WHICH I CONTACTED AND RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER. *NM

TRAVELING NORTH ON INTERSTATE 75 IN MANATEE COUNTY. PICK-UP TRUCK BEGAN TO FISH TAIL, CAUSING SEVERAL VEHICLES TO SWERVE TO AVOID ACCIDENT, FOLLOWED BY LOUD BANGING NOISES AT LEFT REAR OF TRUCK. PULLED OVER TO SKIRT OF INTERSTATE AND OBSERVED A GREAT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL; AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DEVOID OF ITS TREAD BUT STILL FULLY INFLATED. DROVE TRUCK WITH TIRE TREAD MISSING OF INTERSTATE (APPROX. 5 MILES) AND REPLACED TIRE WITH TREAD SEPARATION WITH SPARE TIRE. WAITING FOR RESPONSE FROM PRO COMP/COOPER TIRE COMPANY TO RECTIFY DAMAGE. *JB