NHTSA Complaint #10253113 — 1997 DODGE DODGE TRUCK

FOR SEVERAL YEARS I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A SUDDEN LOSS OF MY HEADLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 WITH 82000 MILES ON IT. I NOTICED THAT I EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM MUCH MORE OFTEN WHEN OPERATING THE HIGH BEAMS FOR 10-15 MINUTES. I TOOK IT IN TO A SERVICE SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS BUT THEY COULD NEVER DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. ON 12/28/08, I BEGAN SMELLING AN ELECTRICAL SMELL IN THE CAB AND THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED THE TRUCK OFF. AFTER 10-15 MINUTES, THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED AGAIN. THE NEXT DAY I DISCOVERED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ISSUED (#819) FOR 1994-1997 DODGE RAM 3500 SERIES FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. HOWEVER, BECAUSE MY TRUCK IS A 1997 RAM 1500, THE DEALER SAYS THE RECALL DOESN'T APPLY AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT. THE RECALL NOTICE DESCRIBES THE EXACT PROBLEM AND THE FACT THAT IT IS SAFETY AND FIRE HAZARD. THE DEALER SAYS THAT SINCE IT IS NOT IN THERE RECALL DATABASE THEY ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO REPAIR IT AND THAT I MUST FIX IT AND THEY WILL NOTIFY ME LATER IF IT DOES GET RECALLED. THEY TOLD ME TO KEEP MY RECEIPTS. THE COST IS ONE THING BUT WHAT REALLY UPSETS ME IS THE HAZARD THIS PROBLEM CREATES AND THEIR RESPONSE TO IT! *TR