NHTSA Complaint #10473865 — 2005 DODGE RAM 3500

EXPERIENCED PUFF PUFF SOUND FROM UNDERSIDE OF MOTOR. UPON INSPECTION ONE OF THE MANIFOLD BOLTS TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS BROKEN OFF. NO ACCIDENT/INCIDENCE CAUSED THIS. UPON REPAIR, MECHANIC FOUND 3 AND 4 GASKETS ON EACH PORT (TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM) NOT ONE GASKET AS IT SHOULD BE. THE MANIFOLD HAD WARPED AND BOLT HOLES BETWEEN THE MANIFOLD PORTS AND EXHAUST NO LONGER LINED UP. SINCE THE MANIFOLD HAD NEVER BEEN TOUCHED BEFORE THIS, IT WAS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED AND/OR MANUFACTURED WITH MULTIPLE GASKETS TO FORCE THE BOLTS TO INCORRECTLY LINE WITH THE EXHAUST. WHEN HEATED THE MANIFOLD THEN WARPED AND THE FIRST BOLT BROKE OFF. UPON CONTACTING DODGE CUSTOMER CARE, THEY CLAIMED THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED (BASIC IF 5 YRS OR 150,000 KM) AND SINCE IT WAS NOW 7YRS WITH ONLY 120,000KM THEY WOULD NOT COVER REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. CLEARLY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. CUSTOMER CARE INQUIRED WHY THIS HAD NOT BEEN DISCOVERED EARLIER; THEIR IGNORANT ATTITUDE REFLECTED THAT THEY BELIEVED CUSTOMERS SHOULD CHECK THE BOLTS AS OFTEN AS THEY CHECKED THEIR OIL! SUCH AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT SHOULD BE COVERED BY DODGE, AS IT CONTRADICTS CURRENT VEHICLE EMISSION REGULATIONS. *TR