NHTSA Complaint #10036917 — 1996 DODGE RAM 1500

I TOOK MY 1996 DODGE RAM TO THE DEALER FOR AN IGNITION SWITCH WIRING RECALL. AFTER THE RECALL PARTS WERE REPLACED, MY TRUCK WAS NOT FIXED. THE WIRING HARNESS HAD OVERHEATED AND DAMAGED MY IGNITION SWITCH. THIS COST MORE MONEY. THERE WAS ALSO A SPECIAL TOOL THAT MY HUSBAND HAD TO PURCHASE TO CHANGE THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE PLASTIC COVER ON MY STEERING COLUMN HAD ASLO MELTED. I WOULD SAY MY TRUCK WAS VERY CLOSE TO GOING UP IN FLAMES. THIS IS VERY UPSETTING TO ME BECAUSE I FEEL THIS PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED ALONG WITH THE HARNESS SINCE THE DEFECTIVE WIRING CAUSED THIS PART TO BE DAMAGED. I THINK DODGE SHOULD ADD THIS PART TO THE LIST OF PARTS CHANGED WHEN THEY SERVICE VEHICLES FROM THIS RECALL. I ALSO BELIEVE THEY SHOULD REIMBURSE ME AND ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. THERE WAS ALMOST A FIRE, I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I HAVE THE OLD IGNITION SWITCH AND THE PLASTIC PART ON MY STEERING COLUMN HAS A HOLE WHERE IT WAS HOT, SINCE I DID NOT SEE A FIRE (MY HUSBAND DID SMELL SOMETHING BURNING), I CANNOT ANSWER YES TO THE QUESTION BELOW THAT ASKED "WAS THERE A FIRE?". ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I THINK SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. SOMETHING SIMILAR HAPPENED TO A FRIEND OF MINE WHO HAD A DIFFERENT MAKE CAR, HER SON BURNED TO DEATH IN A CAR. I SHIVER TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD NOT FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK