1999 Dodge RAM 3500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING 30 MPH, SHE TURNED A CORNER AND CRASHED INTO A BAND OF TREES THAT WERE COVERING THE ROAD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT CALLED GOSS DODGE CHRYSLER AT (802) 658-0120 (LOCATED AT 1485 SHELBURNE RD, SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT 05403), BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,000.

A PART ON THE AIR BAG IN STEERING WHEEL, WHICH I BELIEVE IS CALLED THE "CLOCK SPRING", HAS BEEN RECALLED ON THE 1998 DODGE RAM 3500, AS WELL AS, THE 2001. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I OWNED BOTH OF THESE VEHICLES AN DHAD THE RECALLS PERFORMED WHILE I OWNED THEM. I HAVE A 1999 DODGE RAM 3500 AS WELL AND IT IS MAKING THE SAME NOISE THAT THE OTHER TWO DID, BEFORE RECALLS WERE PERFORMED, YET THERE IS NO SUCH RECALL. I HAVE ALSO OBSERVED SOME OTHER PROBLEMS WHICH I FEEL ARE RELATED THAT WILL MOST LIKELY CAUSE A CRASH IN THE FUTURE. THE CRUISE CONTROL SPEEDS UP AFTER IT IS SET EVERY TIME GOING DOWN A HILL OR WHEN THERE IS LITTLE OR NO RESISTANCE AGAINST THE TRUCK. THE TURN SIGNAL ALSO BLINKS OCCASIONALLY (WHETHER CRUISE IS SET OR NOT). THE ABOVE RECALLS ON THE 1998 AND 2001 TRUCKS ARE NO LONGER LISTED HERE IN YOUR DATA, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE AT ONE TIME. I FEEL THE 1999 SHOULD BE A RECALL, SINCE THE OTHERS MADE THE SAME NOISE BEFORE THEY WERE REPAIRED. THE NOISE IN REFERENCE IS A SPRING BEING TWISTED OR STRETCHED SOUND. AHEM, "CLOCK SPRING".

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON A COUNTRY ROAD AND FELL ASLEEP AT WHEEL, AND VEHICLE RAN OFF ROAD. VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING WHEN HE WOKE UP, AND HOOD CAME OFF AND TORE OFF PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW. ALSO, HEADLIGHTS CAME OFF, AND PASSENGER'S FRONT WAS BANGED UP AND TORE OFF. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK