NHTSA Complaint #10256570 — 1996 DODGE RAM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CHEMICAL ODOR COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD AND THE HEATER. THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING SUDDENLY DIMMED. THE HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY DIM. THE CONTACT TURNED EVERYTHING BACK ON, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS ONLY ILLUMINATED FOR A FEW MINUTES. AFTER DRIVING WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS, HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. HE PULLED INTO HIS RESIDENCE AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SMOKE FILLED THE VEHICLE AND PRODUCED AN AWFUL ODOR. HE REMOVED THE LAMP FUSE, BUT THE BUZZING NOISE STILL INDICATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. HE REINSERTED THE FUSE AND THE BUZZING SOUND CONTINUED. HE NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND IS PARKED AT HIS RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 180,000.