NHTSA Complaint #10189986 — 2001 DODGE RAM 1500

TL-CALLER OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 NEW ENGLAND LIMITED EDITION. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 66,200. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,150. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL AT 30 MPH THE HOOD FLEW UP AND PUT A LINE ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF WINDSHIELD. THE VISIBILITY WAS ZERO. HE SLAMMED ON BRAKES AND STOPPED VEHICLE. HE GOT ON TOP OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO FORCE THE HOOD BACK DOWN. IT WOULD NOT STAY CLOSED ON ITS OWN SO HE HAD TO BUNGEE IT DOWN. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE HOOD DAMAGE HE DROVE HOME ABOUT FOUR BLOCKS AWAY. CALLED DEALER NEXT MORNING AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THAT YEAR AND MODEL THE HOOD RECALL WAS ONLY FOR 1994-1999. KTF THE CONSUMER STATED RECEIVED A LETTER FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER STATING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 1994-1999 DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE HOOD LATCH HAD FAILED AND WAS RUSTED IN THE OPEN POSITION THAT WAS WHY THE RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE YEARS PREVIOUSLY STATED. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER STATED THERE IS A 2 LINE BLURB IN THE OWNERS MANUAL ON PAGE 312 THAT STATES WHEN PERFORMING MAINTENANCE SERVICES PLEASE USE MULTIPURPOSE GREASE NGLI GRADE 2EP. THEY DON'T BELIEVE IN THE LETTER THAT IT WAS DONE DURING THE OIL CHANGE. THE CONSUMER STATED WILL CONTACT PLACES WHERE HE HAD OIL CHANGE. UPDATED 07/10/07 *TR