NHTSA Complaint #10102381 — 2001 DODGE RAM 2500

AT 41,857 MILES, MY 2001 DODGE CUMMINS DIESEL 3/4 TON 4X4 PICKUP TRUCK BEGAN TO LOSE POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW ON MAY 24, 2000 AND HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY WITH THE STIFF, RIGID GEARS AND CLUTCH EVER SINCE. I COMPLAINED BUT TO NO AVAIL. I WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO THE TORQUE, IT WAS "NORMAL". THEN, THE CLUTCH FAILED AND I BARELY MADE IT TO TOWN AND TO THE DEALERS GARAGE. THIS TRUCK WAS BOUGHT N FROM THE LOCAL DEALER, RIDGEWOOD MOTORS AND HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED EVER SINCE. IT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. SINCE RIDGEWOOD MECHANICS REPLACED THE CLUTCH, IT DRIVES LIKE A DIFFERENT TRUCK, SMOOTH AND EFFICIENT. I CALLED AND EMAILED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID IT WASN'T COVERED BY WARRANTY AND IT WAS MY TOUGH LUCK. I'M OUT $898.26 AND NOW WONDER WHAT ELSE WILL FAIL IN A TRUCK THAT DODGE CALLS "RAM TOUGH"! I'M FURIOUS ABOUT THIS INCIDENT AND DAIMLER-CHRYSLER'S CONDESCENDING ATTITUDE. I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED MY COSTS TO REPLACE THIS CLUTCH, PROBLEMATIC FROM DAY ONE. *JB