NHTSA Complaint #10341008 — 2009 DODGE RAM 3500

DODGE 3500 RECALL #09V00500 STEERING LINKAGES/TIE ROD ASSEMBLY. SWIFT DODGE, 4318 CHILE ROAD, DAVIS CA INFORMED ME IN AUGUST 09 THAT MY TRUCK WAS SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL. IN DECEMBER 09 THEY PURPORTED TO HAVE COMPLETED THE RECALL WORK AS SPECIFIED IN INVOICE #25289. THIS WAS VERBALLY DESCRIBED AS NECESSITATING COMPLETE DISASSEMBLY/REASSEMBLY OF THE FRONT END/STEERING. IN JUNE 2010 THE STEERING TRACK BAR BOLT FAILED AND LODGED BETWEEN THE DRAG LINK AND TIE ROD END CAUSING PARTIAL LOSS OF STEERING. THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND SPRING BLOCKS WERE ALSO FOUND TO BE LOOSE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STEAD CHRYSLER IN WALNUT CREEK. THEY ATTRIBUTED THE FAILURE TO THE INSTALLATION OF AFTERMARKET LEVELING KIT (INSTALLED JUNE 09.) WHEN I INSISTED THAT SWIFT DODGE HAD THE FRONT END APART IN DECEMBER 09, THEY RESEARCHED THE INVOICE AND STATED THAT IT SHOWED ONLY AN INSPECTION WAS DONE. I CONTACTED SWIFT DODGE TO CLARIFY- THEY ADMITTED THIS WAS A DISCREPANCY AND SAID THEY WOULD RESEARCH IT. THEY HAVE CEASED ALL COMMUNICATION WITH ME AS OF JULY 1- PHONE CALLS AND VOICE MAILS NOT RETURNED. EITHER THEY FAILED TO COMPLETE THE RECALL WORK OR THEY COMPLETED IT IN A SLIPSHOD FASHION. NEITHER IS ACCEPTABLE. NHTSA SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS DEALER'S AND CHRYSLERS CAVALIER APPROACH TO SAFETY RELATED RECALLS AND POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. *TR