NHTSA Complaint #10235599 — 1999 DODGE RAM 1500

VEHICLE'S BRAKING SYSTEM SEEMED NOT TO BE WORKING PROPERLY, TAKING LONGER DISTANCES TO STOP. A CHECK OF EQUIPMENT SHOWED ALL MECHANICAL PARTS TO BE FIT, AND ADJUSTED CORRECTLY. CONTINUED TO DRIVE VEHICLE BUT THEN HAD SMALL ACCIDENT INVOLVING BRAKING WHILE GOING DOWNHILL. AT THIS TIME IT WAS DETERMINED I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. DIAGNOSTICS OF THE BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM DETERMINED THE COMBINATION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS THE CULPRIT AND HAD FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE LIGHTS AND FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION TO GO INTO COAST MODE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THIS ALSO RESULTS IN THE CRUISE FUNCTION TO NOT CANCEL WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THERE IS NO INDICATION OF FAILURE THROUGH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOR THIS FAULT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A REGULAR PROBLEM, AS THIS PART IS BACK ORDERED AT THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS FAULT I FEEL IT SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE IS NO FACTORY PART AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE CONDITION. MY VEHICLE IS STILL NOT REPAIRED. *TR