NHTSA Complaint #10412191 — 2004 DODGE RAM 3500

IN DECEMBER 2009 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN MY 2004 3500 DODGE RAM WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK. IT WAS HIT IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE WHICH CAUSED FRONT SUSPENSION DAMAGE. THE TRUCK WAS NOT DRIVABLE. I CALLED AAA AND HAD IT TOWED TO TELEGRAPH CHRYSLER JEEP AND THAT'S WHERE I HAD THE REPAIRS DONE. THE DAMAGE WAS QUITE EXTENSIVE AND MOST (IF NOT ALL) OF THE FRONT STEERING COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED. THE TRUCK ONLY HAD 63,285 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. ON MONDAY, MAY 30TH 2011(MEMORIAL DAY) MY WIFE WAS BACKING MY TRUCK INTO THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD BROKE AND LEFT THE TRUCK BLOCKING THE STREET. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE TRUCK INTO MY DRIVEWAY BY JACKING IT UP AND STRAIGHTENING THE TIRE AND CONTINUING TO DO SO EVERY FEW FEET UNTIL IT WAS CLEAR OF THE ROAD. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED LESS THAN 24 HRS EARLIER IT WOULD HAVE BROKE WHILE I WAS TOWING A FRIENDS CHEVY VAN DOWN I-75 AT 70 MPH! I HAD IT TOWED TO TELEGRAPH CHRYSLER JEEP BECAUSE I KNEW THAT THEY HAD REPLACED THAT TIE ROD LESS THAN 3000 MILES AGO FROM THE ACCIDENT CLAIM. THEY TOLD ME THE PART WAS OUT OF WARRANTY TO CALL CHRYSLER DIRECTLY. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T SELL ME THE PART BECAUSE CHRYSLER'S POLICY ON THIS WAS THEY HAD TO SELL ME THE ENTIRE FRONT STEERING COMPONENT PACKAGE AND IT WOULD COST ME OVER $600.00! AFTER A DOZEN OR TWO PHONE CALLS BACK AND FORTH TO MY EMPLOYER (YES I WORK FOR THESE INGRATES!) THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. AFTER NOT BEING ABLE TO PURCHASE THE PART I NEEDED FROM THE DEALER AND NOT ABLE TO FIND THE PART AT A LOCAL PARTS STORE I DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THEY REPLACED THE 2004 STEERING PARTS WITH 2008 COMPONENTS AND THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN UPGRADE!? I FINALLY FOUND THE PART I NEEDED AND SINCE AAA WOULDN'T TOW IT BACK HOME I HAD TO FIX IT MYSELF IN THEIR PARKING LOT! MY TRUCKS EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED THE WEEK BEFORE THE TIE ROD BROKE AND THEY PRETTY MUCH SAID TOUGH[XXX]! THAT'S HOW NOT TO GET YOUR EMPLOYEES TO' BUY WHAT YOU BUILD"! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM