NHTSA Complaint #10157095 — 2005 DODGE RAM 2500

ON APRIL 30, 2006, WHILE PARKING MY CAMPER IN MY DRIVEWAY I SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION IN TO (PARK); SET THE EMERGENCY BRAKE; LEFT THE ENGINE RUNNING; GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK TO GO SET A CHOCK ON THE CAMPER TIRES AND LEFT THE DOOR OPEN (NOTE THAT I HAVE HAD THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED WHICH ACTIVATES THE ALARM SHOULD THE DOOR BE OPEN, THE ENGINE RUNNING, AND THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED IN REVERSE). IT TOOK ME APPROXIMATELY FOUR TO FIVE SECONDS TO GET TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAMPER TO SET THE CHOCKS WHEN THE ALARM ACTIVATED INDICATING THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD SLIPPED INTO REVERSE. THEREFORE; NOT ONLY DID THE TRANSMISSION FAIL TO PROPERLY STAY ENGAGED IN THE PARK POSITION BUT THE ALARM FEATURE ALSO FAILED TO WARN ME WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK. LET ME ELABORATE ON EXACTLY HOW THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED AND CONTINUES TO OCCUR WITH MY SPECIFIC TRUCK: FIRST OF ALL; IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME BUT WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN; THE POSITION INDICATOR (THE SQUARE MARQUEE THAT ENCIRCLES THE CURRENT GEAR POSITION) IS NOT ILLUMINATED AROUND ANY GEAR POSITION, PRNDL, BUT SPECIFICALLY NOT AROUND PARK OR REVERSE. AS THE OPERATOR, I HAVE TO MAKE A VERY DELIBERATE ACTION TO PUSH THE SHIFT LEVER IN TO THE PARK POSITION AND VISUALLY CONFIRM THAT IN FACT THE TRANSMISSION IS IN PARK, AS INDICATED BY THE MARQUEE. HOWEVER, GIVEN THE SITUATION I MENTIONED ABOVE WHILE PARKING MY CAMPER '' I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL STAY IN THE PARK POSITION. DCC''S SOLUTION OF INSTALLING AN ALARM TO WARN YOU OF DANGEROUS SITUATION; DOES NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. AND, AS I MENTIONED ABOVE, THIS ALARM DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK EITHER. DCC NEEDS TO IMMEDIATELY FIND A SOLUTION TO THEIR DESIGN DEFECT BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE IS EITHER INJURED OR KILLED. *JB