NHTSA Complaint #10110047 — 2000 DODGE RAM 2500

I HAVE A 2000 DODGE RAM 2500 4X4 AUTO WITH A CUMMINS DIESEL. FOR THE PRODUCTION YEARS 1998 TO 2001, SOME OF THESE ENGINES WHERE PRODUCED WITH AN INFERIOR ENGINE BLOCK (IDENTIFIED WITH A BLOCK CASTING NUMBER OF "53"). MORE SPECIFICALLY THESE BLOCKS HAVE THINNER WATER JACKET WALLS THAN OTHER BLOCKS SO WITH COOLANT CAVITATION, CORROSION, COOLANT PRESSURE IN THE BLOCK, AND TORQUE, THEY MAY CRACK, SPILLING YOUR COOLANT. WHEN THE CRACK OCCURS, AND THERE ARE VERY MANY DOCUMENTED CASES, IT IS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE, THE SAME SIDE AS THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY FIRES, ETC. BUT I KNOW THAT ENGINE COOLANT DOES CONTAIN FLAMMABLE INGREDIENTS AND THE EXHAUST CAN GET VERY HOT, ESPECIALLY WHEN TOWING. ALSO, THIS ENGINE WITH A 53 BLOCK HAS BEEN USED IN OTHER APPLICATIONS, INCLUDING: MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS FROM DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS, MOBILE HOMES, PUBLIC SCHOOL BUSES AND MASS TRANSPORTATION BUSES. I SEARCHED THE NHTSA SITE FOR INFO REGARDING THE CUMMINS 53 BLOCK, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN PROVIDED WOULD BE OF GREAT USE. ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK IN MY TRUCK HAS NOT CRACKED, I'M MORE INTERESTED IN PREVENTING A PROBLEM THAN EXPERIENCING IT. VERY MANY THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT.*JB