NHTSA Complaint #10146713 — 1999 DODGE RAM 2500

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A CITY STREET IN HEAVY MID-DAY TRAFFIC, MY 1999 DODGE RAM 2500 4X4 PICK-UP TRUCK STOPPED RUNNING. I HAD NO WARNING. ONE SECOND THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE AND THE NEXT SECOND IT WAS DEAD. SINCE IT IS A CUMMINS TURBO DIESEL EQUIPPED TRUCK, I LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKE ASSIST. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO WRESTLE THE STEERING WHEEL AND GUIDE THE TRUCK INTO A MOSTLY EMPTY PARKING LOT WITH THE VEHICLE'S MOMENTUM. I HAD TO APPLY GREAT FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS, IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING INSTEAD OF ME, THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKE ASSIST WOULD HAVE GREATLY ENHANCED THE CHANCE OF A CRASH AND/OR PERSONAL INJURY. THE PROBLEM WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING TURNED OUT TO BE THE INOPERATIVE BOSCH VP-44 INJECTION PUMP. A RE-MANUFACTURED PUMP IS THE ONLY FORM OF REPAIR AVAILABLE FOR THESE VEHICLES. AFTER MUCH INTERNET RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT THE VP-44 INJECTION PUMP IS NOTORIOUSLY UNRELIABLE AND EXTREMELY FAILURE-PRONE. I FEEL THAT DAIMLER-CHRYSLER SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING THESE VEHICLES WITH A MORE RELIABLE INJECTION PUMP AND/OR REFUNDING MONEY SPENT BY OWNERS ON REPAIRING THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE NHTSA SHOULD BECOME INVOLVED IN. *JB