NHTSA Complaint #10318340 — 2004 PETERBILT 378

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) LOW ENGINE HEAT AND COOLANT LEAKING FROM OIL COOLER, STARTED ON COLD DAY BACK DECEMBER 14TH 2009, TOOK TRUCK TO DEALERSHIP. WANTED OIL COOLER RESEALED AND TWO THERMOSTATS REPLACED. VEHICLE HAS THIRD PARTY WARRANTY. DEALER ASKED PERMISSION TO TEAR DOWN, WE DENIED ACTION, SAID TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM ACCORDING TO WARRANTY PROTOCOL. DEALER COMPLETELY DISMANTLES MOTOR INCORRECTLY CAUSING IRREPARABLE DAMAGE. NOW DEALER IS HOLDING VEHICLE HOSTAGE SINCE WE WILL NOT SIGN RELEASE OF LAW SUIT FOR DAMAGE. DEALER NEVER TOLD US THEY WERE DOING THIS. AS AN ALTERER OF MANUFACTURED VEHICLES MY SELF, I DO REMEMBER THAT A REPAIR SHOP HAS NO AUTHORITY TO PLACE A VEHICLE IN AN UNSAFE OR INOPERABLE CONDITION. AFTER THE FACT OF THIS, I HAVE SEEN VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN MODIFIED FROM THE ORIGINAL DESIGN, THAT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY DONE OR EVEN HAVE AN ALTERERS DECAL SHOWING CHANGES TO SUSPENSION, DRILLING AND CUTTING OF FRAMES AND SO ON. I AM WRITING YOU ON THIS FOR A POSSIBLE INVESTIGATION OF THE DEALER. I HAVE ALSO SINCE FOUND THIS IS A NORMAL PRACTICE WITH THIS DEALER. I HAVE CONTACTED THE BBB AND THEY HAVE AN F RATING FOR THIS COMPANY ON COMPLAINTS. THE DEALER NEVER RESPONDS. I DO HAVE AN ATTORNEY INVOLVED, AND WOULD ALSO LIKE SOME ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, I FEEL THIS COMPANY COULD BE PLACING PEOPLE IN HARMS WAY FOR FAULTY REPAIRS, AND MODIFICATIONS. [XXX] *TR