IllustrationTHE DASH IN MY 2003 DODGE RAM IS CRACKED AND CRUMBLING. YOU CAN BREAK OFF CHUNKS WITH 2 FINGERS. ITS THAT BRITTLE. NOW THAT I SEARCHED FOR THE PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
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 reportsTHE FACTORY EQUIPPED HEATING AND DEFROSTING SYSTEM FAILS TO REGULATE FROM DASH BOARD HEAT TO THE DEFROSTERS THAT DIRECTS THE HEAT TO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, THUS CAUSING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO FOG UP AND IN MOST CASES OF THE WINTER MONTHS BUILD UP WITH ICE TO CAUSE UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. IN NOT WINTER MONTHS WHERE THE WEATHE…
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THE FACTORY EQUIPPED HEATING AND DEFROSTING SYSTEM FAILS TO REGULATE FROM DASH BOARD HEAT TO THE DEFROSTERS THAT DIRECTS THE HEAT TO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, THUS CAUSING THE FRONT WINDSHIELD TO FOG UP AND IN MOST CASES OF THE WINTER MONTHS BUILD UP WITH ICE TO CAUSE UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. IN NOT WINTER MONTHS WHERE THE WEATHER IS COOL OR RAINY FOG FORMS ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD BLOCKING VISIBILITY. WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN OR UP THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE ACCIDENTS WERE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BEING FROZEN AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SEEN THROUGH. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HEADED INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. THE EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE WOULD BE NORMAL DAILY DRIVING. THE FAILURE OCCURS %100 OF THE TIME. AT THIS TIME NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
I TOOK MY 03 RAM IN FOR SERVICE AND THE SERVICE ADVISER FOUND A CLIP THAT HAD BROKEN IN THE REAR END. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR UP TO $2000.00. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE RAM. SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE HAS A REAR END TO LOCK UP AND CAUSE A ACCIDENT. *TR …
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I TOOK MY 03 RAM IN FOR SERVICE AND THE SERVICE ADVISER FOUND A CLIP THAT HAD BROKEN IN THE REAR END. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR UP TO $2000.00. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE RAM. SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE HAS A REAR END TO LOCK UP AND CAUSE A ACCIDENT. *TR
DASHBOARD HAS LARGE CRACKS IN IT WHICH HAVE EXPOSED WIRES AND CAUSED ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN MY TRUCK. *TR
2003 DODGE RAM 1500, THE DASH STARTED CRACKING IN 2007. I FIGURED IT WAS DUE TO THE HIGH HEAT IN VEGAS, THE CRACKS HAVE CONTINUED AND ARE GETTING BIGGER. STARTED LOOKING INTO GETTING A REPLACEMENT AND CAME ACROSS THOUSANDS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST PRODUCT FROM THIS COMPANY. THE PAINT HAS FADED COMPLE…
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2003 DODGE RAM 1500, THE DASH STARTED CRACKING IN 2007. I FIGURED IT WAS DUE TO THE HIGH HEAT IN VEGAS, THE CRACKS HAVE CONTINUED AND ARE GETTING BIGGER. STARTED LOOKING INTO GETTING A REPLACEMENT AND CAME ACROSS THOUSANDS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST PRODUCT FROM THIS COMPANY. THE PAINT HAS FADED COMPLETELY ON THE ROOF AND HOOD. IT IS NOW FADING ON THE DOORS AND BED OF THE TRUCK. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. BUT THAT'S ANOTHER LONG STORY. *TR
FOR 2 YEARS MY TRUCK HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD TURNING ON AND OFF FOR NO REASON. NOW THE LAMP OUT, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ARE ON ALL THE TIME. LEAVING MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL UNABLE TO WORK. WHEN THE DASHBOARD DIES, NOTHING WILL WORK. THIS INCLUDES THE LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, SPEEDOMETER, AND ALL OTHER GAUGES …
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FOR 2 YEARS MY TRUCK HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD TURNING ON AND OFF FOR NO REASON. NOW THE LAMP OUT, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT ARE ON ALL THE TIME. LEAVING MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL UNABLE TO WORK. WHEN THE DASHBOARD DIES, NOTHING WILL WORK. THIS INCLUDES THE LIGHTS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, SPEEDOMETER, AND ALL OTHER GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN ON A FEW OCCASIONS TO BE FIXED AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT'S CAUSING IT. IF DRIVING THE TRUCK AT NIGHT OR ON A RAINY DAY, THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE FOR THE SAME THING. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED! *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD VEHICLE VIOLENTLY STARTED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND BECAME HARD TO CONTROL. DROVE TRUCK OFF TO THE SIDE OF ROAD TO GET STOPPED. REPLACED TIRE WITH A SPARE AND DROVE HOME. THIS SAME THING HAPPENED TO DRIVERS SIDE 350 MILES LATER AND PASSENGERS SIDE REAR 250 MILES AFTER THAT. THE FINAL TIME IT HAPPENED W…
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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD VEHICLE VIOLENTLY STARTED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND BECAME HARD TO CONTROL. DROVE TRUCK OFF TO THE SIDE OF ROAD TO GET STOPPED. REPLACED TIRE WITH A SPARE AND DROVE HOME. THIS SAME THING HAPPENED TO DRIVERS SIDE 350 MILES LATER AND PASSENGERS SIDE REAR 250 MILES AFTER THAT. THE FINAL TIME IT HAPPENED WAS THIS WEEK ON 4/8/08 APPROXIMATELY 2000 MILES LATER. *TR
MY 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB HAS A DEFECT IN THE UNDER DASH CONTROL UNIT ATTACHED TO THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEFECT HAS CAUSED A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT HAS CAUSED SEVERAL WIRES TO BURN. THE DEFECT IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS ISSUE 03V078000 (RECALL FOR DODGE RAM 2002). THIS RESULTS IN 1. FAN INOPERABLE 2. FAN TURNS ON AFTER THE KEY I…
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MY 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB HAS A DEFECT IN THE UNDER DASH CONTROL UNIT ATTACHED TO THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEFECT HAS CAUSED A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT HAS CAUSED SEVERAL WIRES TO BURN. THE DEFECT IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS ISSUE 03V078000 (RECALL FOR DODGE RAM 2002). THIS RESULTS IN 1. FAN INOPERABLE 2. FAN TURNS ON AFTER THE KEY IS REMOVED AND CONTINUES TO RUN DRAINING THE BATTERY 3. THE WIRES BURNING IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD 4. TILTING THE WHEEL RESULTS IN SPARKING OF THE WIRING ASSEMBLY. MY VEHICLE HAS MANUFACTURED IN THE US AND SOME OF THE PARTS ARE ONLY LISTED FOR 2002 MODELS. WHEN I PURCHASED 2003 ROTORS, THEY DID NOT FIT BUT THE 2002 ROTORS WHERE AN EXACT MATCH. I BELIEVE MY 2003 DODGE TRUCK IS A 2002 IN DISGUISE. I CALLED DODGE TO GET ANSWERS AND THEY HAVE NOT CALLED ME BACK. *TR
MY 2003 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB, LARAMIE DASH STARTED CRACKING AND NOW HAS 3 CRACKS. I THOUGHT I WAS ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM UNTIL TODAY. ONE SIGHT ALONE HAD 103 REPORTS OF THE SAME CRACKS WHERE THEY STARTED AND IN THE SAME ORDER AS HOW MINE STARTED. DODGE RECOGNIZES THIS AS A DEFECT BUT ARE NOT WILLING TO RECALL. AT THIS POINT IT…
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MY 2003 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB, LARAMIE DASH STARTED CRACKING AND NOW HAS 3 CRACKS. I THOUGHT I WAS ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM UNTIL TODAY. ONE SIGHT ALONE HAD 103 REPORTS OF THE SAME CRACKS WHERE THEY STARTED AND IN THE SAME ORDER AS HOW MINE STARTED. DODGE RECOGNIZES THIS AS A DEFECT BUT ARE NOT WILLING TO RECALL. AT THIS POINT IT IS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ISSUE AS WELL AS SAFETY ISSUE. WITH THE AIRBAGS INSTALLED IN THE DASH, WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CRACKS CONTINUE AND CAUSE AN AIRBAG TO DEPLOY WITHOUT A CRASH. IS IT GOING TO TAKE SOMEONE GETTING KILLED BEFORE THE COMPANY RECOGNIZES THEY NEED TO RECALL SUCH AS FORD DID SEVERAL YEARS AGO WITH THE DEFECTIVE TIRES, THEY WAITED UNTIL PEOPLE DIED, I JUST DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY A COMPANY WOULD REPRESENT THEMSELVES FALSELY, DODGE PROMOTES THEIR PRODUCTS AS QUALITY AND TOP OF THE LINE. I BEG TO DIFFER, ANY ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER WILL HELP THOSE FAMILIES DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN THESE UNSAFE VEHICLES. *TR
2003 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB 4X4 POWER STEERING RACK BEGAN LEAKING AT 35MONTHS/31,000 MILES. REPLACED BY DEALER, PART NOT AVAIL. NO NOTICEABLE EFFECT AS FLUID WAS KEPT UP. BEGAN LEAKING AGAIN AT 47MONTHS/36,000MILES. REPLACED AGAIN, PART NOT AVAIL. NO NOTICEABLE EFFECT AS FLUID WAS KEPT UP BEGAN LEAKING AGAIN AT 56 MONTHS/44,0…
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2003 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB 4X4 POWER STEERING RACK BEGAN LEAKING AT 35MONTHS/31,000 MILES. REPLACED BY DEALER, PART NOT AVAIL. NO NOTICEABLE EFFECT AS FLUID WAS KEPT UP. BEGAN LEAKING AGAIN AT 47MONTHS/36,000MILES. REPLACED AGAIN, PART NOT AVAIL. NO NOTICEABLE EFFECT AS FLUID WAS KEPT UP BEGAN LEAKING AGAIN AT 56 MONTHS/44,000 MILES. DEALER ISN'T HELPING. *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.