2006 Dodge RAM

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN DENT ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE HEATER BOX FAILURE IN DODGE TRUCKS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE INITIAL PROBLEM WITH THE FRESH AIR/RECIRCULATION DOOR STARTED 2-3 YEARS AGO. SHORTLY, AFTER REPLACING THE FRESH AIR/RECIRCULATION DOOR, THE HEAT AND DEFROSTER STOPPED WORKING. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO REPLACE THE CONTROL SWITCH IN THE DASH, THINKING IT WAS BAD AND NOT WORKING THE INTERNAL DOORS PROPERLY, BUT AFTER THE REPLACEMENT, THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME. HE THEN REPLACED THE MODE DOOR ACTUATORS, AND THE MOTOR CONTROL THAT CONTROLLED THE DOORS. HOWEVER, THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM EITHER. THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THE ENTIRE DASH WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED, BECAUSE THE DOORS FAILED AND A NEW HEATER BOX WAS NEEDED. *JB..UPDATED 04/19/12 *BF UPDATED 04/23/12

THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE IN MY VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE FOLLOWING SAFETY CONCERNS WITH THE VEHICLE: 1) THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK, 2) THE TURN SIGNALS DID NOT WORK, AND 3) THE HAZZARD LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. I HAVE TWO PROBLEMS WITH THE SITUATION: 1) WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DURING A RAIN STORM ON 9/26/2011, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. THIS CAUSED A SAFETY CONCERN AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT AND 2) WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE TURN SIGNALS DID NOT WORK. THIS CAUSED A SAFETY CONCERN AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH WAS ON BACK ORDER. TO BE EXACT, FOUR THOUSAND MULTI FUNCTION SWITCHES WERE ON BACK ORDER PER THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND CHRYSLER GROUP CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. NEITHER THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP OR THE CHRYSLER GROUP CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE HAD ANY IDEA WHEN THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE. I ASKED BOTH PARTIES WHY THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER SINCE THIS IS A MATTER OF SAFETY. NO ANSWER WAS GIVEN. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH VIA THE INTERNET, IT WAS DETERMINE THAT OTHER DODGE RAM TRUCK OWNERS HAD THE SAME TYPE ISSUE WITH THEIR MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH BEING DEFECTIVE. IT WOULD BE GREAT IF DODGE WOULD NOTIFY ALL OWNERS OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH AND HAVE THEM REVIEWED AND/OR REPLACED IF NEEDED. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY SAVE SOMEONE FROM SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH FROM THE THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH BEING DEFECTIVE WHILE DRIVING. MY HOPE AND PRAYER IS TO HAVE OTHER DODGE RAM TRUCK OWNERS UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PROBLEM. IT COULD POTENTIALLY SAVE THEIR LIFE. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLAP UNDER THE DASH BOARD WHICH OPERATED THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE FRACTURED, CAUSING EXCESS AIR TO RELEASE INTO THE VEHICLE. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT A HINGE WAS FRACTURED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THE PLASTIC FLAP WAS DISCONTINUED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH A METAL FLAP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,200. MALFUNCTION OF PLASTIC SPONGE FLAP THAT ALLOWS COOLED AIR TO ENTER THE PUCALS. THE DODGE MECHANICAL DEPT. SAID THIS DEFECTIVE OR BROKEN PART HAS NOW BEEN REPLACED BY ONE MADE OF METAL. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND REPLACED AT THE EXPENSE OF DODGE. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST IS ABOUT. UPDATED 10/12/2011 *LN *TR