NHTSA Complaint #10166823 — 1998 DODGE RAM 2500

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE 2500 QUAD CAB WITH THE CUMMINGS DIESEL. I TOW A ENCLOSED LAWN TRAILER THAT WEIGHS ABOUT 500 LBS. HITCH IS RATED AT 10'000 LBS. ABOUT A MONTH AGO I STARTED HAVING TROUBLE UNHITCHING MY TRAILER. HAD TO PUT REAR WHEELS ON A 2X4 TO GET THE DOLLY DOWN. I CHECKED THE HITCH AND FOUND THE 2 REAR BOLTHOLES HAT TORE OUTAND THE 2 MIDDLE HOLES WERE CRACKED ALLOWING THE HITCH TO DROP ABOUT 1 1/4 INCHES. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER THE STATED NO RECALL SO NO REPAIR. I CONTACTED THE MFG. AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. SO ABOUT A MONTH LATER I TRIED AGAIN NO HITCH. I FOUND A RECALL ON LINE #872 CALLED AGAIN THE STATED NO RECALL ON MY TRUCK. I PURCHAED A NEW HITCH FROM DODGE WHICH HAS 4 BOLS ON EACH SIDE NOT 3. INFO I FOUND STATES INFERRIOR MATERIAL IN HITCH IF CRACKED OR TORN UNIT MUST BE REPLACED. A FRIEND OF MINE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM ON A 97 2500 BUT HE HAD A RECALL AND THEY REPLACED THE HITCH. I STILL HAVE THE HITCH AND IF YOU NEED PICTURES I CAN SEND THEM. *NM