NHTSA Complaint #10199960 — 2004 DODGE RAM 1500

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 45MPH THE THROTTLE STUCK AND THE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR. HE WAS ABLE PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL; HOWEVER, AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE IT ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A CRACKED BATTERY. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM WITH DOWNLOADING THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSIS TO THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF ON 2 OCCASIONS WHEN THEY ATTEMPTED TO START IT. THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY ACID LEAKING FROM THE BATTERY. THEY STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR COULD HAVE CAUSED THE CRACK IN THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR 2 MONTHS. THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL; HOWEVER, THE WOULD NEED TO REMOVE AS MANY COMPONENTS AS POSSIBLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WAS APPROXIMATELY $6,000. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO MAKE THE REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE WAS UP TO DATE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THROTTLE MODULE, PCM UNIT, THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS, THE BATTERY AND THE BATTERY TRAY WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WORSEEND. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,235 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,229.