NHTSA Complaint #10125743 — 2004 DODGE RAM 1500

DODGE RAM 1500 W/5.7 HEMI STALLS. THIS INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED DOZENS OF TIMES, AND APPEARS TO OCCUR MOST FREQUENTLY DURING NO OR LIGHT THROTTLE CONDITIONS SUCH AS DRIVING THROUGH INTERSECTIONS OR DOWN A LONG GRADE. STALLS HAVE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN SWITCHING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE (IN PARKING LOTS) AND DURING THE FIRST START-UP OF THE DAY IF THE VEHICLE IS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING. NINETY-FIVE PERCENT OF THE TIME, THERE IS NO WARNING (IE, STUMBE) THAT THE ENGINE IS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM. WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AT MANY DEALERSHIPS, NONE OF WHOM WERE ABLE TO RETRIEVE ANY CODES. DUE TO OUR PERSISTENCE AND CONCERN, TWO LOCAL DEALERSHIPS HAVE SINCE REFUSED TO WORK ON OUR TRUCK. THUS FAR, DODGE DEALERS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO BLAME THIS PROBLEM ON A POORLY CONNECTED BATTERY AND HAVE SUPPOSEDLY "ADJUSTED THE THROTTLE BODY BLADE" TO ALLOW MORE AIR INTO THE ENGINE DURING LIGHT/NO THROTTLE CONDITIONS. I AM QUITE FAMILIAR WITH ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROLS AND FIND THIS REPAIR RATHER DISTURBING. IT IS NOT YET KNOWN IF THIS "REPAIR" HAS AFFECTED VEHICLE EMISSIONS. IN LIGHT OF PE05-027, I WILL BE FORWARDING RELEVANT PAPERWORK AND CORRESPONDENCE TO THE ATTENTION OF STEPHEN SPETH.