NHTSA Complaint #10455817 — 2006 DODGE RAM 3500

WHILE STARTING MY VEHICLE I PUSHED ON THE CLUTCH AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ROD CONNECTED TO THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH DIAPHRAGM BROKE APART. THE PLASTIC PIECES WERE DISCOLORED AND BRITTLE. I BELIEVE THE CLUTCH FLUID STARTED LEAKING PAST THE DIAPHRAGM AND CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE PLASTIC CLIP THAT CONNECTS THE ROD TO THE DIAPHRAGM. BECAUSE THIS PLASTIC CLIP IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE BRAKE FLUID IT BECAME BRITTLE AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DODGE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND QUOTE FOR REPAIR. UNIT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH A DODGE SERVICE CONSUMER REPRESENTATIVE. DODGE COVERED THE REPAIRS EXCEPT THE FIRST $100.00. I AM THANKFUL THIS PART FAILED IN THE PARKING LOT AND NOT MOMENTS LATER WHEN I WOULD HAVE BEEN ENGULFED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. IF THIS PART FAILED WHILE DRIVING, BRAKING DISTANCE WOULD HAVE DRAMATICALLY INCREASED WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT LEADING TO INJURY OR POSSIBLY A FATALITY. ESSENTIALLY, THIS FAILURE IN SAFETY QUALITY BY CHRYSLER CORPORATION COULD HAVE LED TO DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES HAD IT NOT SIMPLY BEEN FOR LUCK. *JS