NHTSA Complaint #10129176 — 2003 DODGE RAM 1500

I PURCHASED A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB IN 10/2003. THE TEMP GAUGE ALWAYS SHOWED THE TEMP AT ABOVE THE NORMAL RANGE. TOLD BY THE SALESPERSON THAT WAS NORMALAT. AT APPROXIMATELY 44K MILES THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND BROKE DOWN. MECHANIC REPLACED THERMOSTAT - NO HELP. TOOK VEHICLE TO BATTISON'S DEALERSHIP IN DUNCAN OK WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS ACCUSED OF INSTALLING THE THERMOSTAT BACKWARD. THE DEALERSHIP ACCUSED US OF PUTTING "STOP LEAK" IN THE RADIATOR AND USING NON RED COOLANT. COOLANT WAS CLEAR BECAUSE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND WATER WAS ONLY SOURCE. STOP LEAK WAS NEVER USED - THE DEALERSHIP'S CONTRACTOR FOR RADIATOR REPAIR IT LOOKED LIKE STOP LEAK COULD HAVE BEEN USED - BUT COULDN'T TELL FOR SURE. THE PARTS MANAGER TOLD US THAT AT THE SAME TIME OUR 2003 WAS IN THE SHOP A 2005 WITH 31K WAS IN THE SHOP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DIFFERENCE - THE 2005 WAS UNDER WARRANTY. MY THOUGHT - IF DODGE ISN'T GOING TO STAND BEHIND PRODUCT AFTER 36K MILES THEN WE WON'T PURCHASE PRODUCTS FROM THIS LINE - FORD IS LOOKING BETTER.