NHTSA Complaint #10147400 — 2002 DODGE RAM VAN

ON 11/07/05 I WAS DRIVING NORTH BOUND ON WESTERN AVE AT APPROX 4:30 PM,TRAVELING AT 40 MPH APPROACHING A RED LIGHT IN THE RIGHT LANE WITH 4 CARS IN FRONT OF ME ALL READY STOPPED,UPON MY DE PRESSING OF THE BRAKE PEDAL THERE WAS NO BRAKES, I TRIED AGAIN ,I DOWN SHIFTED ,AT THE LAST SECOND I SWERVED VIOLENTLY TO MISS THE CARS IN THE FIRST TWO RIGHT LANES,THEN COUNTERED CORRECTED TO MISS THE LEFT TURN LANE CARS ,FINALLY STRIKING A PICK UP TRUCK ,THAT WAS STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT,THAT WAS OCCUPIED BY A FATHER, AND HIS TWO CHILDREN. A SHERIFFS OFFICER ALSO CHECKED THE BRAKES AND STATED IT WAS A MECHANICAL FAILURE ,HE ALSO STATED THAT WITH SUCH AN IMPACT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. MY VEHICLE IS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1 TON MAXI CARGO VAN WITH ONLY 36600. MILES . THE VERY NEXT DAY MY PASSENGER AND I LOOKED AT THE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END AND TOOK PICTURES AND VIDEO TAPED THE DASH BOARD, THAT DID NOT INDICATE ANY SIGNS OF BRAKE, NOR AIR BAG FAILURE. THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN RUBBING AGAINST THE UPPER FRAME CAUSING THE LINE TO RUB THROUGH. I HAVE PICTURES OF BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT BRAKE LINES TOUCHING CHASSIS AND BOTH SHOW SIGNS OF WEAR IN THE SAME PLACE BOTH HOSE AND CHASSIS. I HAVE ALL PARTS AND PICTURES. THERE IS MUCH MORE TO EXPLAIN . I HAVE JUST RECEIVED THE VAN BACK ON 01,10,06 AND STILL NOTICE SOME SORT OF BRAKING PROBLEM. I ALSO HAD LOOKED TO SEE NEW BRAKE LINES AND NOTICED THE UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THAT THE LINES MOVE UNDER PRESSURE AND THAT JUST MAYBE AFTER 36000 MILES THAT THIS PROBLEM MIGHT,CAUSE THE METAL BRAKE TUBE TO BEND TOWARDS THE FRAME. AS TO THE AIR BAG SENSORS I HAVE ASKED THE DEALER ,AUTO BODY SHOP, AND INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR WERE ARE THEY NO ONE COULD ANSWER THIS NOR DID IT CONCERN THEM. *JB