NHTSA Complaint #10479615 — 2007 DODGE RAM 3500

MY 2007 DODGE RAM 3500 SUDDENLY LOST ALL ELECTRICAL AND ENGINE POWER WHEN SLOWING FOR A RED LIGHT ON US27 4LANE AT SOMERSET, KY. I WAS TOWING A EQUIPMENT TRAILER AND WAS ABLE TO STEER AROUND TRAFFIC AND GET STOPPED ON SHOULDER. I NOTICE SMOKE AND SMELL OF BURNT PLASTIC FROM UNDER HOOD AS SOON AS I GOT STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO JERK THE BATTERY CABLE OFF WITH PLIERS AND PUT FIRE OUT AT FUSE BOX NEXT TO BATTERY. I HAD TRUCK TOWED TO SOMERSET DODGE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE TIPM MODULE (UNDER HOOD FUSE BLOCK) . WHEN I PICKED UP TRUCK NEXT THE NEXT DAY I ASKED WHY DID IT BURN WITH NO FUSES BLOWN? I WAS TOLD THEY FOUND NOTHING ELSE WRONG WITH TRUCK, I MAY NEED TO CHECK MY TRAILER. THIS WOULD NOT EXPLAIN THE FUSE NOT BLOWN. I PURCHASED TRUCK NEW IN 2007 AND USE IT TOWING CATTLE OR FARM EQUIPMENT WITH NEVER A FUSE BLOWN IN TRUCK IN 49,000 MILES OR 5 YEARS. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT DEALER SERVICE ADVISOR COULD NOT EXPLAIN AND THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO FUSE BLOCK. I CHECKED BOTH MY TRAILERS AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS, WHICH IF THERE HAD BEEN THAT'S WHAT FUSES ARE FOR. I FEEL MY DEALER HAS DONE ALL THEY CAN BUT I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THE FAILURE OF THIS FUSE BLOCK. THE INCIDENT ON SEPT. 24, 2012 WOULD HAVE HAD A DIFFERENT END HAD I BEEN IN LEFT LANE BEHIND TRAFFIC AT 55MPH AND TOWING FIVE TON WITH LIMITED BRAKING ON TRUCK AND NONE ON TRAILER DUE TO THEM BEING ELECTRIC, ALSO HAD IT BEEN NIGHT AND THE LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS COULD HAVE MADE STEERING AROUND TRAFFIC IMPOSSIBLE. THE FACT THAT THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER DRIVERS/OWNERS TO THIS SOMERSET DEALERSHIP MAKES ME THINK THERE IS A NEED FOR DODGE TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *TR