IllustrationWE BOUGHT A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB TRUCK AND THE DASH BOARD HAS CRACKED IN 6 DIFFERENT PLACES AND I TALKED WITH OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM SO IT'S A FACTORY DEFECT DODGE IS AT FAULT AND SHOULD HAVE TO RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM. *KB
2003 Dodge RAM Quad Cab
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAM Quad Cab years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
290–25K
1725–50K
2050–75K
1175–100K
14100–150K
5150K+
96 reports with mileage · 26 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 45 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports2 fire reports14 injury reports
What owners actually said
122 reportsMY WIFE WAS GETTING INTO MY 2003 DODGE 2500 RAM PICK-UP USING THE GRAB BAR LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE TRUCK. GRAB BAR IS LOCATED ON THE INTERIOR OF THE A-PILLAR OF THE TRUCK. GRAB BAR FAILED. THE GRAB BAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE FAILED 4 YEARS AGO, SO I USE THE STEERING WHEE TO GET INTO THE TRUCK. SHE FELL OUT OF THE TR…
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MY WIFE WAS GETTING INTO MY 2003 DODGE 2500 RAM PICK-UP USING THE GRAB BAR LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE TRUCK. GRAB BAR IS LOCATED ON THE INTERIOR OF THE A-PILLAR OF THE TRUCK. GRAB BAR FAILED. THE GRAB BAR ON THE DRIVER SIDE FAILED 4 YEARS AGO, SO I USE THE STEERING WHEE TO GET INTO THE TRUCK. SHE FELL OUT OF THE TRUCK ONTO THE PAVEMENT INJURING HER KNEES. UPON INSPECTION OF THE MOLDED PLASTIC GRAB BAR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE GRAB BAR INTERIOR TRIM PIECE TEARING AT WERE THE BOLT INTERFACES WITH THE TRIM PIECE. THE BOLTS REMAINED IN THE METAL THREAD HOLES IN THE METAL PART OF THE A-PILLAR. THE MOLDED GRAB HANDLE BOLT TO TRIM INTERFACE IS NOT ADEQUATE TO SUPPORT ANY LOAD. *TR
2003 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD-CAB PICKUP PROBLEM: CRACKED DASH DASH CRACKED SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE PREVALENT IN ALL DODGE RAM TRUCKS OF THIS VINTAGE. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 DODGE RAM AND THE DASH HAS 2 CRACKS IN IT. I AM AFRAID THAT THE CRACKS COULD SOMEHOW CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. *KB
DASH HAS SEVERAL CRACKS IN IT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE ROLLED BOTH REAR WINDOWS DOWN, THE NOISE LEVEL WAS VERY HIGH. THE HEADLINGER IN THE CEILING SHOOK AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY AND IT COU…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE ROLLED BOTH REAR WINDOWS DOWN, THE NOISE LEVEL WAS VERY HIGH. THE HEADLINGER IN THE CEILING SHOOK AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY AND IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,962.
JUST FOUND A CRACKED DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE CLOSE TO THE AIR BAG IN MY 2003 DODGE RAM. SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY 1999 RAM AND GOT WORSE. I AM CONCERNED THIS COULD BE A SAFETY PROBLEM WITH ELECTRONICS AND AIRBAGS. *TR
WENT TO TURN ON MY LEFT DIRECTIONAL AND HAD A LOSS OF DIRECTIONALS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, WINDSHIELD WASHER AND FOUR WAY FLASHER. CHECKED PROBLEM THOROUGHLY AND FOUND IT TO BE A FAULTY MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH INSTALLED BEHIND STEERING WHEEL. *TR
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 IS CRACKED AND CONTINUES TO CRACK MORE AND MORE EACH DAY. I AM AFRAID THAT PIECES THAT MAY FALL INSIDE THE AIRBAG COMPARTMENT WHICH MAY LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY IF THEY BECOME DEPLOYED. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. *TR
ON AUGUST 2, 2010, IN THE EARLY EVENING, MY SPOUSE, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, FELL ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING OUR 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 SLT QUAD CAB AND HIT A STANDARD SIZE STEEL STREET SIGN, A STANDARD GAUGE GUIDE WIRE FOR A TELEPHONE/POWER POLE, AND FINALLY THE TELEPHONE/POWER POLE ITSELF. THE IMPACT OF THIS CRASH DESTROYED THE TRUCK. TH…
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ON AUGUST 2, 2010, IN THE EARLY EVENING, MY SPOUSE, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, FELL ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING OUR 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 SLT QUAD CAB AND HIT A STANDARD SIZE STEEL STREET SIGN, A STANDARD GAUGE GUIDE WIRE FOR A TELEPHONE/POWER POLE, AND FINALLY THE TELEPHONE/POWER POLE ITSELF. THE IMPACT OF THIS CRASH DESTROYED THE TRUCK. THANKFULLY, MY WIFE WAS WEARING HER SAFETY BELT, AND SUFFERED ONLY MINOR INJURIES. THE GUIDE/SUPPORT WIRE HAD EMBEDDED ITSELF INTO THE FRONT BUMPER AND HOOD AND HAD TO BE CUT OUT. AMAZINGLY, NEITHER THE DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THIS INCIDENT. AS THE POWER POLE HAD BROKEN IN TWO, THERE WERE LIVE ELECTRICAL WIRES AT THE SCENE. EMERGENCY CREWS TOOK NEARLY 7 HOURS TO CLEAR THE SCENE AND RESTORE POWER AND CABLE TO A LOCALIZED AREA. SHE HAD BEEN TRAVELING IN A SSE DIRECTION ON HESPERIA AVENUE IN VICTORVILLE, CA AT APPROX. 45 MPH. THE WEATHER WAS IDEAL FOR ROAD TRAVEL: CLEAR, DRY, WINDLESS, WITH TEMPERATURE AROUND 95 F. THE VEHICLE WAS WELL-MAINTAINED AND HAD APPROX. 42,200 MILES ON IT. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH INTO THIS MATTER AND FOUND PRIOR INSTANCES OF SIMILAR AIRBAG NON-DEPLOYMENTS IN CHRYSLER VEHICLES. IN MY OPINION, IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE TOO FEW, AND'OR POORLY LOCATED, AND'OR DEFECTIVE AIRBAG SENSORS ON THIS AND OTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCTS. THIS IS NOT A TOTAL CONDEMNATION OF CHRYSLER OR THE DODGE RAM. WE ENJOYED THIS TRUCK VERY MUCH FOR OVER 7 YEARS. WE ASSOCIATE MANY HAPPY MEMORIES WITH THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THIS IS A GLARING PROBLEM THAT MUST BE RECTIFIED. THE LIKELIHOOD OF OTHER CATASTROPHIC CRASHES RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH IS HIGH. THE AIM OF SAFETY AIRBAGS IS TO REDUCE INJURIES AND DEATH. AN AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURE FROM THIS HIGH SPEED AND HIGH IMPACT CRASH SCENARIO SHOULD NEVER OCCUR. PLEASE EXERCISE ALL LEGAL AND ETHICAL DUE DILIGENCE IN ALL MEANS AND MANNER AVAILABLE TO PERSUADE/DEMAND/FORCE CHRYSLER CORP. TO RECALL THIS AND OTHER PRODUCTS IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM FUNCTIONAL AND SAFE FOR THE PUBLIC. *TR
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA04025 · False Park
Opened Aug 26, 2004 · Closed Dec 22, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE HEAVY DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS WITH DIESEL ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS COMMONLY USED FOR COMMERCIAL AND WORK PURPOSES.A COLUMN MOUNTED SHIFT LEVER IS USED FOR GEAR SELECTION AND AN ELECTRONIC PRNDL ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PROVIDES GEAR POSITION INFORMATION TO THE DRIVER.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE ALSO EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK THAT PREVENTS THE SHIFT LEVER FROM BEING MOVED FROM THE PARK POSITION (WHEN THE ENGINE IS ON) UNLESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AND AN IGNITION-SHIFT INTERLOCK THAT PREVENTS KEY REMOVAL UNLESS THE TRANSMISSION IS IN THE PARK POSITION.COMPLAINANTS GENERALLY REPORT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED IN A FORWARD GEAR AND BROUGHT TO A STOP THROUGH BRAKE APPLICATION ON ALEVEL SURFACE, AT WHICH TIME THE OPERATOR MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER TO ENGAGE THE PARK POSITION.THE OPERATOR THEN OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND, WITHOUT VERIFYING PARK ENGAGEMENT (E.G., PRNDL GEAR INDICATION), SECURING THE PARK BRAKE, OR TURNING THE ENGINE OFF, EXITED THE VEHICLE.INITIALLY, NO VEHICLE MOVEMENT WAS APPARENT, HOWEVER, A SHORT TIME LATER, TYPICALLY REPORTED AS 10 TO 30 SECONDS, THE VEHICLE MOVED REARWARD UNDER ENGINE POWER.THE INCIDENT OFTEN ENDED IN A VEHICLE CRASH, AND SOMETIMES INVOLVED SERIOUS INJURY.TWO FATALITIES ARE ALLEGED.ODI?S ANALYSIS OF TEST VEHICLES AND SOME INCIDENT VEHICLES FOUND NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT A SHIFT LEVER PROPERLY PLACED IN PARK COULD UNINTENTIONALLY (I.E., WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT) DISENGAGE FROM THAT POSITION.HOWEVER, ODI DID FIND THAT THE SHIFT LEVER COULD BE INADVERTENTLY PLACED, AND REMAIN AT REST, WITHIN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION BETWEEN THE PARK AND REVERSE GEAR POSITIONS.WHEN PLACED IN SUCH AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION, THE VEHICLE CAN EXPERIENCE A DELAYED PRESSURIZATION OF THE REVERSE HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT THAT IS SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL REARWARD UNDER POWER.THE DELAY PERIOD ALLOWS SUFFICIENT TIME FOR OPERATORS TO EXIT THE STATIONARY VEHICLE WITHOUT PERCEIVING THAT THE SHIFTER IS NOT IN PARK.THE SUMMARY REPORT DISCUSSES THE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF THIS ISSUE IN GREATER DETAIL AND COMPARES THE FREQUENCY OF THESE INCIDENTS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO OTHER PEER VEHICLES THAT ODI EXAMINED.AS DESCRIBED IN THEIR OCTOBER 4, 2005 LETTER TO NHTSA, DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V-462, DCC NO. E17) TO INSTALL AN OUT-OF-PARK ALARM SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE ALARM WILL PROVIDE AUDIBLE AND VISUAL FEEDBACK TO ALERT THE DRIVER, AND OTHERS, IF THE DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND THE SHIFT LEVER IS NOT IN THE PARK POSITION.THE TIMING OF DCC?S ACTION HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Power Train:automatic Transmission
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE HEAVY DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS WITH DIESEL ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS COMMONLY USED FOR COMMERCIAL AND WORK PURPOSES.A COLUMN MOUNTED SHIFT LEVER IS USED FOR GEAR SELECTION AND AN ELECTRONIC PRNDL ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PROVIDES GEAR POSITION INFORMATION TO THE DRIVER.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE ALSO EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK THAT PREVENTS THE SHIFT LEVER FROM BEING MOVED FROM THE PARK POSITION (WHEN THE ENGINE IS ON) UNLESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AND AN IGNITION-SHIFT INTERLOCK THAT PREVENTS KEY REMOVAL UNLESS THE TRANSMISSION IS IN THE PARK POSITION.COMPLAINANTS GENERALLY REPORT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED IN A FORWARD GEAR AND BROUGHT TO A STOP THROUGH BRAKE APPLICATION ON ALEVEL SURFACE, AT WHICH TIME THE OPERATOR MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER TO ENGAGE THE PARK POSITION.THE OPERATOR THEN OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND, WITHOUT VERIFYING PARK ENGAGEMENT (E.G., PRNDL GEAR INDICATION), SECURING THE PARK BRAKE, OR TURNING THE ENGINE OFF, EXITED THE VEHICLE.INITIALLY, NO VEHICLE MOVEMENT WAS APPARENT, HOWEVER, A SHORT TIME LATER, TYPICALLY REPORTED AS 10 TO 30 SECONDS, THE VEHICLE MOVED REARWARD UNDER ENGINE POWER.THE INCIDENT OFTEN ENDED IN A VEHICLE CRASH, AND SOMETIMES INVOLVED SERIOUS INJURY.TWO FATALITIES ARE ALLEGED.ODI?S ANALYSIS OF TEST VEHICLES AND SOME INCIDENT VEHICLES FOUND NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT A SHIFT LEVER PROPERLY PLACED IN PARK COULD UNINTENTIONALLY (I.E., WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT) DISENGAGE FROM THAT POSITION.HOWEVER, ODI DID FIND THAT THE SHIFT LEVER COULD BE INADVERTENTLY PLACED, AND REMAIN AT REST, WITHIN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION BETWEEN THE PARK AND REVERSE GEAR POSITIONS.WHEN PLACED IN SUCH AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION, THE VEHICLE CAN EXPERIENCE A DELAYED PRESSURIZATION OF THE REVERSE HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT THAT IS SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL REARWARD UNDER POWER.THE DELAY PERIOD ALLOWS SUFFICIENT TIME FOR OPERATORS TO EXIT THE STATIONARY VEHICLE WITHOUT PERCEIVING THAT THE SHIFTER IS NOT IN PARK.THE SUMMARY REPORT DISCUSSES THE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF THIS ISSUE IN GREATER DETAIL AND COMPARES THE FREQUENCY OF THESE INCIDENTS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO OTHER PEER VEHICLES THAT ODI EXAMINED.AS DESCRIBED IN THEIR OCTOBER 4, 2005 LETTER TO NHTSA, DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V-462, DCC NO. E17) TO INSTALL AN OUT-OF-PARK ALARM SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE ALARM WILL PROVIDE AUDIBLE AND VISUAL FEEDBACK TO ALERT THE DRIVER, AND OTHERS, IF THE DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND THE SHIFT LEVER IS NOT IN THE PARK POSITION.THE TIMING OF DCC?S ACTION HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE HEAVY DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS WITH DIESEL ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS COMMONLY USED FOR COMMERCIAL AND WORK PURPOSES.A COLUMN MOUNTED SHIFT LEVER IS USED FOR GEAR SELECTION AND AN ELECTRONIC PRNDL ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PROVIDES GEAR POSITION INFORMATION TO THE DRIVER.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE ALSO EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK THAT PREVENTS THE SHIFT LEVER FROM BEING MOVED FROM THE PARK POSITION (WHEN THE ENGINE IS ON) UNLESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AND AN IGNITION-SHIFT INTERLOCK THAT PREVENTS KEY REMOVAL UNLESS THE TRANSMISSION IS IN THE PARK POSITION.COMPLAINANTS GENERALLY REPORT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED IN A FORWARD GEAR AND BROUGHT TO A STOP THROUGH BRAKE APPLICATION ON ALEVEL SURFACE, AT WHICH TIME THE OPERATOR MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER TO ENGAGE THE PARK POSITION.THE OPERATOR THEN OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND, WITHOUT VERIFYING PARK ENGAGEMENT (E.G., PRNDL GEAR INDICATION), SECURING THE PARK BRAKE, OR TURNING THE ENGINE OFF, EXITED THE VEHICLE.INITIALLY, NO VEHICLE MOVEMENT WAS APPARENT, HOWEVER, A SHORT TIME LATER, TYPICALLY REPORTED AS 10 TO 30 SECONDS, THE VEHICLE MOVED REARWARD UNDER ENGINE POWER.THE INCIDENT OFTEN ENDED IN A VEHICLE CRASH, AND SOMETIMES INVOLVED SERIOUS INJURY.TWO FATALITIES ARE ALLEGED.ODI?S ANALYSIS OF TEST VEHICLES AND SOME INCIDENT VEHICLES FOUND NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT A SHIFT LEVER PROPERLY PLACED IN PARK COULD UNINTENTIONALLY (I.E., WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT) DISENGAGE FROM THAT POSITION.HOWEVER, ODI DID FIND THAT THE SHIFT LEVER COULD BE INADVERTENTLY PLACED, AND REMAIN AT REST, WITHIN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION BETWEEN THE PARK AND REVERSE GEAR POSITIONS.WHEN PLACED IN SUCH AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION, THE VEHICLE CAN EXPERIENCE A DELAYED PRESSURIZATION OF THE REVERSE HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT THAT IS SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL REARWARD UNDER POWER.THE DELAY PERIOD ALLOWS SUFFICIENT TIME FOR OPERATORS TO EXIT THE STATIONARY VEHICLE WITHOUT PERCEIVING THAT THE SHIFTER IS NOT IN PARK.THE SUMMARY REPORT DISCUSSES THE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF THIS ISSUE IN GREATER DETAIL AND COMPARES THE FREQUENCY OF THESE INCIDENTS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO OTHER PEER VEHICLES THAT ODI EXAMINED.AS DESCRIBED IN THEIR OCTOBER 4, 2005 LETTER TO NHTSA, DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V-462, DCC NO. E17) TO INSTALL AN OUT-OF-PARK ALARM SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE ALARM WILL PROVIDE AUDIBLE AND VISUAL FEEDBACK TO ALERT THE DRIVER, AND OTHERS, IF THE DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND THE SHIFT LEVER IS NOT IN THE PARK POSITION.THE TIMING OF DCC?S ACTION HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE HEAVY DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS WITH DIESEL ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS COMMONLY USED FOR COMMERCIAL AND WORK PURPOSES.A COLUMN MOUNTED SHIFT LEVER IS USED FOR GEAR SELECTION AND AN ELECTRONIC PRNDL ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PROVIDES GEAR POSITION INFORMATION TO THE DRIVER.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE ALSO EQUIPPED WITH A BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK THAT PREVENTS THE SHIFT LEVER FROM BEING MOVED FROM THE PARK POSITION (WHEN THE ENGINE IS ON) UNLESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AND AN IGNITION-SHIFT INTERLOCK THAT PREVENTS KEY REMOVAL UNLESS THE TRANSMISSION IS IN THE PARK POSITION.COMPLAINANTS GENERALLY REPORT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED IN A FORWARD GEAR AND BROUGHT TO A STOP THROUGH BRAKE APPLICATION ON ALEVEL SURFACE, AT WHICH TIME THE OPERATOR MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER TO ENGAGE THE PARK POSITION.THE OPERATOR THEN OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND, WITHOUT VERIFYING PARK ENGAGEMENT (E.G., PRNDL GEAR INDICATION), SECURING THE PARK BRAKE, OR TURNING THE ENGINE OFF, EXITED THE VEHICLE.INITIALLY, NO VEHICLE MOVEMENT WAS APPARENT, HOWEVER, A SHORT TIME LATER, TYPICALLY REPORTED AS 10 TO 30 SECONDS, THE VEHICLE MOVED REARWARD UNDER ENGINE POWER.THE INCIDENT OFTEN ENDED IN A VEHICLE CRASH, AND SOMETIMES INVOLVED SERIOUS INJURY.TWO FATALITIES ARE ALLEGED.ODI?S ANALYSIS OF TEST VEHICLES AND SOME INCIDENT VEHICLES FOUND NO EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT A SHIFT LEVER PROPERLY PLACED IN PARK COULD UNINTENTIONALLY (I.E., WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT) DISENGAGE FROM THAT POSITION.HOWEVER, ODI DID FIND THAT THE SHIFT LEVER COULD BE INADVERTENTLY PLACED, AND REMAIN AT REST, WITHIN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION BETWEEN THE PARK AND REVERSE GEAR POSITIONS.WHEN PLACED IN SUCH AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION, THE VEHICLE CAN EXPERIENCE A DELAYED PRESSURIZATION OF THE REVERSE HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT THAT IS SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ROLL REARWARD UNDER POWER.THE DELAY PERIOD ALLOWS SUFFICIENT TIME FOR OPERATORS TO EXIT THE STATIONARY VEHICLE WITHOUT PERCEIVING THAT THE SHIFTER IS NOT IN PARK.THE SUMMARY REPORT DISCUSSES THE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF THIS ISSUE IN GREATER DETAIL AND COMPARES THE FREQUENCY OF THESE INCIDENTS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES TO OTHER PEER VEHICLES THAT ODI EXAMINED.AS DESCRIBED IN THEIR OCTOBER 4, 2005 LETTER TO NHTSA, DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V-462, DCC NO. E17) TO INSTALL AN OUT-OF-PARK ALARM SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THE ALARM WILL PROVIDE AUDIBLE AND VISUAL FEEDBACK TO ALERT THE DRIVER, AND OTHERS, IF THE DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND THE SHIFT LEVER IS NOT IN THE PARK POSITION.THE TIMING OF DCC?S ACTION HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED.