IllustrationCRACK IN PASSENGER SIDE DASH, 7" LONG, WINDSHIELD TOWARD SEAT, IN THE LOW SPOT ON TOP OF DASH AND SPREADING. SENT DEALER AN EMAIL ASKING ABOUT ANY RECALLS, OF COURSE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. *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 reportsI BOUGHT MY 2003 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB 1500 IN JANUARY 2007 WITH ABOUT 38,000 MILES ON IT. AT THE TIME THE PAINT JOB ON THE TRUCK WAS FINE BUT STARTING AROUND APRIL OR MAY THE CLEAR COAT ON THE TRUCK STARTED TO DELAMINATE. I CALLED UP DODGE AND EVEN WENT BY MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PAINT JOB BUT I WAS TOLD BECAUS…
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I BOUGHT MY 2003 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB 1500 IN JANUARY 2007 WITH ABOUT 38,000 MILES ON IT. AT THE TIME THE PAINT JOB ON THE TRUCK WAS FINE BUT STARTING AROUND APRIL OR MAY THE CLEAR COAT ON THE TRUCK STARTED TO DELAMINATE. I CALLED UP DODGE AND EVEN WENT BY MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PAINT JOB BUT I WAS TOLD BECAUSE I'M NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THAT THE TRUCKS 3 YEAR 36,000 MILE WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT NO ONE WILL FIX MY TRUCK. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER THAT IT IS A FACTORY PROBLEM WITH MY PAINT BUT I'M OUT OF LUCK WHEN IT COMES TO DODGE REPAINTING MY TRUCK. *TR
WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THIS TRUCK I HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS RESURFACED TWICE AND WITHIN THE FIRST 18 MONTHS HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS REPLACED. DEALER DENIED WARRANTY COMPLETELY (NOT COVERED) CALLED CHRYSLER SOMEONE NAMED MIKE SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. IT WAS PROBABLY THE WAY I DRIVE. *TR
2003 DODGE RAM 1500-CRACKED MAIN DASH PANEL. *TR
THE REAR END IN MY 2003 DODGE RAM BURNED UP. I FIRST NOTICED A BURNING SMELL LIKE PROPANE GAS WHICH STARTED TO MAKE ME AND THE FAMILY SICK. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOUND NOTHING. THEN AFTER DRIVING 20 MINUTES LONGER THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. NEXT I OBSERVED ORANGE SPARKS COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. PULLED OVER AG…
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THE REAR END IN MY 2003 DODGE RAM BURNED UP. I FIRST NOTICED A BURNING SMELL LIKE PROPANE GAS WHICH STARTED TO MAKE ME AND THE FAMILY SICK. PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOUND NOTHING. THEN AFTER DRIVING 20 MINUTES LONGER THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. NEXT I OBSERVED ORANGE SPARKS COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE TRUCK. PULLED OVER AGAIN AND CLIMBED UNDER TRUCK AND BURNT MY ARM INSTANTLY WHEN TOUCHING THE REAR PUMPKIN. SAT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 3 HOURS TO LET COOL DOWN. THEN DROVE TO THE DEALER 30 MILES AWAY. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SPEEDOMETER GAUGE WAS JUMPING ALL OVER THE PLACE. TRUCK WAS ALSO SHIFTING IMPROPERLY. DEALER SAID THE REAR GOT SO HOT THAT IT MELTED THE REAR ABS SENSOR AND THE SPEEDOMETER SENSOR. *JB
THE DASHBOARD ON THE 2003 RAM QUAD CAB WAS CRACKED AFTER I GOT IN IT TO HEAD HOME FROM WORK. THE TRUCK HAS 31000 MILES, AND HAS BEEN BABIED FROM DAY ONE BY ME. CRACK IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN FLAW, AND WAS NOT CAUSED BY SUN OR ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE.*AK
I BOUGHT THE 04 NISSAN MAXIMA IN DECEMBER 2004, AND IN SEPTEMBER . 2005 I TOOK THE CAR TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED. I WAS INFORMED BY THE LOCAL GOODYEAR TIRE DEALER THAT TWO OF THE TIRES HAD CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALLS. BECAUSE THE CAR HAD ONLY 10,000 MILES GOODYEAR REPLACED THESE TWO TIRES UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. NOW, IN 2…
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I BOUGHT THE 04 NISSAN MAXIMA IN DECEMBER 2004, AND IN SEPTEMBER . 2005 I TOOK THE CAR TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED. I WAS INFORMED BY THE LOCAL GOODYEAR TIRE DEALER THAT TWO OF THE TIRES HAD CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALLS. BECAUSE THE CAR HAD ONLY 10,000 MILES GOODYEAR REPLACED THESE TWO TIRES UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. NOW, IN 2007 WITH 40,000 MILES ON THE CAR THE OTHER TWO ORIGINAL TIRES HAVE SIDEWALL CRACKS. OF COURSE GOODYEAR WILL ONLY GIVE ME CREDIT FOR THE WEAR LEFT ON THE TIRES , AND A NEW TIRE COST $300. WE HAVE DECIDED FOR SAFETY REASONS WE WERE NOT GOING TO REPLACE THESE TIRES WITH THE GOODYEAR EAGLE SIZE 245/45R18V. THIS SEEMED TO BE A SIMILAR PROBLEM AS FORD AND FIRESTONE HAD WITH THE EXPLORER SEVERAL YEARS AGO. WHY HAS THE PUBLIC NOT BEEN INFORMED ABOUT THE NISSAN/GOODYEAR TIRE PROBLEM. MY CONCLUSION WAS FEWER OF US OWN MISSING THAN FORDS. SO, IF THE TIRES CAUSE A COUPLE OF US TO HAVE WRECKS THAT WAS JUST THE PRICE OF DOING BIG BUSINESS. *AK
A CRACK IN THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOTICED BACK IN JANUARY BUT WE ARE UNCERTAIN EXACTLY HOW LONG IT HAD BEEN THERE. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, THE CRACK AGGRESSIVELY SPREAD THROUGH THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO CAUSE THE CRACK AT ANY TIME. THE DASHBOARD HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINE…
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A CRACK IN THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOTICED BACK IN JANUARY BUT WE ARE UNCERTAIN EXACTLY HOW LONG IT HAD BEEN THERE. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS, THE CRACK AGGRESSIVELY SPREAD THROUGH THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO CAUSE THE CRACK AT ANY TIME. THE DASHBOARD HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED WITH CONDITIONERS, AND THERE WERE NO OTHER AREAS WITH PROBLEMS.*AK
8 INCH CRACK ON PASSENGER SIDE OF DASHBOARD IN A 2003 DODGE RAM TRUCK. LOCAL NEWS REPORT DONE INVOLVING DODGE TRUCK DASHBOARDS COLLASPING, FALLING IN LIKE A SINKHOLE. STARTED WITH JUST CRACKS LIKE ON MY DODGE. *AK
NOT SURE WHAT LEAD TO THE FAILURE, BUT MY 03 DODGE RAM PICK UP DASH IS CRACK FROM NEAR WINDSHIELD SIDE TO NEAR THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT ON THE OTHER SIDE IT HAS NOT GOTTEN TO BE DANGEROUS YET OR CAUSE OTHER FAILURES YET THAT I KNOW OF. DODGE DEALER SAID THAT SINCE IT IS SIMPLY COSMETIC THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT AND IF THEY DO IT WIL…
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NOT SURE WHAT LEAD TO THE FAILURE, BUT MY 03 DODGE RAM PICK UP DASH IS CRACK FROM NEAR WINDSHIELD SIDE TO NEAR THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT ON THE OTHER SIDE IT HAS NOT GOTTEN TO BE DANGEROUS YET OR CAUSE OTHER FAILURES YET THAT I KNOW OF. DODGE DEALER SAID THAT SINCE IT IS SIMPLY COSMETIC THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT AND IF THEY DO IT WILL COST OVER 1,000.00. *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.