NHTSA Complaint #10438502 — 1998 DODGE RAM 3500

THIS INCIDENT INVOLVED FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AS DESCRIBED IN SAFETY RECALL #819 FOR 1995-1997 MODEL VEHICLES, RESULTING IN SMOKE AND MELTING OF CONNECTOR AND WIRES. INACTION BY DODGE AND A COPY OF THE COMPLAINT FOLLOWS: THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING THE RAM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER IN REGARDS TO YOUR 1998 RAM 3500. YOUR CONCERNS, PARTICULARLY IN VIEW OF THE EXPENSE AND INCONVENIENCE INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE, ARE UNDERSTANDABLE. HOWEVER, YOUR REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER MUST BE DECLINED, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION HAS EXCEEDED THE TIME OR MILEAGE LIMITATIONS OF THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY AT THE TIME THE EXPENSE WAS INCURRED. ALTHOUGH A MORE FAVORABLE REPLY COULD NOT BE PROVIDED, SHARING YOUR CONCERN WITH US IS APPRECIATED. THANKS AGAIN FOR YOUR EMAIL. [XXX] CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE RAM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER FOR ANY FUTURE COMMUNICATIONS RELATED TO THIS EMAIL, PLEASE REFER TO THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: REFERENCE NUMBER: [XXX] EMAIL CASE NUMBER:[XXX] REPLY LINK: HTTP://WWW.CHRYSLER.COM/WCCS/BRAND_FORMS/US/REPLY.JSP?TRK_ID=KMM7555581V19546L0KM& ORIGINAL MESSAGE FOLLOWS: ------------------------ US CUSTOMER SERVICE - DODGE BRAND SITE BRIEF DESCRIPTION: RECALL #819 HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILURE COMMENTS: ALTHOUGH MY DEALER REP SAID THAT RECALL #819 DID NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE, I EXPERIENCED AN IDENTICAL FAILURE ON NOVEMBER 23, 2011 AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR 16 HOURS WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CONNECTOR AND SEVERAL WIRES WERE BURNT. BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS ISSUE WAS NOT RESOLVED FOR MY VEHICLE (I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER), I BELIEVE THAT DODGE SHOULD PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE REPAIR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR