NHTSA Complaint #10215831 — 2000 DODGE RAM 3500

2000 DODGE RAM 3500 QUAD CAB/ELECTRIC SEAT WIRING HARNESS FIRE. SAFETY FUSE FAILED, THUS RESULTING IN SMOLDERING FIRE BETWEEN SEAT FOAM AND ALONG CARPET BELOW THE SEAT. HARNESS WAS INSTALLED OVER METAL FRAME, AND COMPROMISED WHEN ANYONE WOULD SET ON THE SET. OVER TIME THE PROTECTIVE COATING WORE OFF AND THE WIRING GROUNDED OUT ON SEAT FRAME. WE GOT UP ONE MORNING ONLY TO FIND THE TRUCK FILLED WITH SMOKE, AND WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE REASON. I CONTINUED TO USE THE TRUCK OCCASIONALLY, EVEN THOUGH I HAD NO DASH LIGHTS, RADIO, DOME LIGHTS, ETC... FINALLY ONE DAY ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS LATER I HAPPENED TO LEAN ON THE SIDE OF THE SEAT AND SAW A BURNED PLACE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I WAS ABLE TRACE A FIRE TRAIL. I DROVE THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT, AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. THAT I WOULD HAVE TO FIX IT MYSELF. I RETURNED HOME WITH THE TRUCK AND CONTACTED AN ELECTRICIAN TO COME LOOK AT THE TRUCK FOR ME. HE TOOK ONE LOOK AT THE DAMAGE AND SAID THAT IT WAS A FAULTY WIRING JOB FROM THE FACTORY, AND HE WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP ME. HE SUGGESTED I CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP. SO I RETURNED WITH THE TRUCK AND CONTACTED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH THE 800 NUMBER I WAS GIVEN. BOTH CHRYSLER AND MY STATE FARM AGENT SAID THE TRUCK WAS UNSAFE AND NOT TO DRIVE IT UNTIL A REPRESENTATIVE FROM CHRYSLER INSPECTED THE TRUCK. STATE FARM'S ADJUSTER WAS NOT ALLOWED TO SEE THE TRUCK UNTIL AFTER CHRYSLER FINISHED THEIR 'INVESTIGATION'. I RECEIVED A LETTER 1/18/2008 FROM CHRYSLER ABSOLVING THEM OF ANY LIABILITY, OR DEFECT. I FEEL THAT SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG HERE AND WOULD APPRECIATE SOMEONE CHECKING INTO THIS. BEFORE SOME IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR