NHTSA Complaint #10336035 — 2005 DODGE RAM 3500

2005 DODGE RAM 3500 4X4 DIESEL 48RE AUTOMATIC TRANS # [XXX]. TRUCK IS FOR PERSONAL USE AND HAS 117,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. TRUCK WAS DRIVEN TO STORE AND TORQUE CONVERTER BOLTS AND TORQUE CONVERTER STUDS WELDED ON CONVERTER SHEARED OFF CAUSING TORQUE CONVERTER TO EVACUATE TRANS FLUID ALL OVER UNDERSIDE OF TRUCK AND ALL OVER TIRES AND BRAKES. THIS DID NOT CAUSE ANY ACCIDENTS BUT COULD HAVE DAMAGED PROPERTY AND WOULD HAVE CAUSED BODILY INJURY IF OCCURRED DURING DAILY COMMUTE ON INTERSTATE. THIS INCIDENT HAS BEEN THE FIRST FOR ME WITH AN EXCEPTIONAL REPAIR BILL DUE TO THE DAMAGE THAT THIS CREATED TO THE TRANS AND FLYWHEEL AND TORQUE CONVERTER. DODGE WILL NOT WARRANTY ANY OF THIS BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE AND DODGE'S BANKRUPTCY. I HAVE READ VARIOUS THREADS PERTAINING DEFECTIVE OR WEAK TORQUE CONVERTERS AND BREAKING OF FLYWHEELS DUE TO THESE ISSUES BUT NO RECALLS AS OF YET. THE DODGE DEALER STATED MY TRUCK WAS THE SECOND ONE THIS WEEK WITH SIMILAR ISSUES BUT THEY WILL NOT COVER ANY OF THE DAMAGE TO MINE AND MUST BE PAID OUT OF POCKET. THERE IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE WITH THE WEAK PARTS BEING USED ON THESE VEH THAT CAUSE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE AFTER MARKET MANUFACTURES ARE PRODUCING DIFFERENT DESIGNED PARTS FOR THIS APPL. THIS PROBLEM IS THE FIRST FOR ME BUT NUMEROUS TRANS SHOPS HAVE REPAIRED THE SAME SYMPTOMS FOR WHAT I HAVE FOUND OUT. MY REPAIR BILL FOR THE FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER MOUNTING BOLTS IS OVER $2500.00 AND INCREASING BEFORE MY TRUCK WILL BE REPAIRED LESS THE MONEY FOR TOWING AND RENTAL VEH BEING NEEDED. I HAVE TOLD THE DEALER I NEED ALL BROKEN PARTS FOR MY REVIEW AND I AM WAITING FOR THEIR REPLY. THE DEALERSHIP IS BEING HELPFUL BUT THE HAVE SAID THAT THEIR HANDS ARE TIED DUE TO THEIR BANKRUPTCY AND THAT IF THEIR WAS A RECALL THAT IT WOULD CREATE A MAJOR PANIC WITH IN THE DODGE NAME. I AM CERT. MECHANIC WITH OVER 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND I AM SEEING MORE AND MORE PROBLEMS OF THIS NATURE . PLEASE ASSIST,AND THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR