NHTSA Complaint #10457709 — 2008 DODGE RAM 3500

OWNER OF 2008 DODGE 3500 DUALLY WAS DRIVING DOWN ROAD WHEN FUSE BOX CAUGHT FIRE. WINDSHIELD WIPERS STARTED CONTINUOUSLY SQUIRTING AND SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD. GOING 75MPH WITH HORSETRAILER IN TOW, VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING, SHUT OFF LEAVING OWNER WITHOUT POWER, LIGHTS, STEERING OR BRAKES WHILE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STILL SQUIRTING CONTINUOUSLY AND WIPER BLADES NOT WORKING. IF THIS HAPPENED 1 HOUR LATER OWNER WOULD BE DEAD AS NEXT PART OF ROAD HAS EXTREME DOWNGRADE WITH CURVES. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NEAREST DODGE DEALER WHERE FUSE BOX WAS REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. TOOK VEHICLE HOME 6 HOURS LATER NEW FUSE BOX FUSE BLOWN AND WIRES STARTING TO MELT AGAIN. TOOK VEHICLE INTO LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND TRADED IN FOR DIFFERENT TRUCK. WHEN DODGE/CHRYSLER ENGINEER FLEW IN TO EXAMINE OLD FUSE BOX THE BOX WAS BURNT TO A CRISP. BOTH LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND DODGE/CHRYSLER ENGINEER WERE TOLD VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS UNSAFE AND WILL KILL SOMEONE. OWNER WAS TOLD TRUCK WILL BE SOLD AT AUCTION "AS IS" AND SENT OUT OF THE LOCAL AREA. OWNER STILL HAS OLD FUSE BOX FOR EVIDENCE. *TR