NHTSA Complaint #10091062 — 2002 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB

PURCHASED 2002 QUAD CAB WITH 23 MILES FORM TURLOCK AUTO PLAZA IN APRIL 2002, STARTED NOTICING PROBLEMS RIGHT AWAY, DOOR LOCKS NOT UNLOCKING, WINDOWS NOT OPERATING, ENGINE STALLING, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, RADIO INTERMITTANTLY WORKING, ETC... VISITED 3 LOCAL DEALERSHIPS. FINAL DIAGNOSIS "GREMLINS" ??? CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM . EVEN THOUGH THEY THEMSELVES NOTED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. ON AUGUST 27, 2004 ENGINE "BLEW UP", ON A MAJOR MOUNTAINOUS HIGHWAY IN THE SLOW LANE, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TURLOCK DODGE. SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS LONG AS THERE WERE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE VEHICLE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IT WAS STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD BE COVERED AND PARTS WERE ORDERED. HOWEVER WHEN THE REGIONAL REP FOR DAIMLER CHRYSLER WENT TO SEE THE VEHICLE. HE DENIED ON GROUNDS THAT OIL SLUDGE WAS PRESENT AND STATED AN ENGINE CAN'T DO THAT ACCORDING TO TURLOCK DODGE MECHANIC?, EVENTHOUGH THE TRUCK WAS SITTING IN A PUDDLE OF NORMAL LOOKING OIL. AND THE SLUDGE WAS ONLY IN THE PAN. REP REFUSES TO CONTACT US, TO TELL US WHY HES REFUSING ON GROUNDS OF SLUDGE. CONSIDERING THIS CAN HAPPEN WHEN CRANK BEARINGS GO OUT. WE HAVE BEEN REFUSED BY DAIMLER CHRYSLER,AND THE DEALERSHIP TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE NOT REACHED OUR WARRANTY LIMIT. ALSO BE AWARE AS OF 2002 DAIMLER CHRSYLER IS NO LONGER PARTICIPATING IN THE LEMON LAW PROGRAM.*AK