NHTSA Complaint #10501299 — 2006 DODGE RAM 2500

I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL AND A TRAIL OF WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM MY VEHICLE. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AT THE NEXT EXIT AND I LOST ALL POWER. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO PULL OVER AND STOP BECAUSE I LOST MY POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. IT TOOK A LOT OF EFFORT JUST TO GET STOPPED AND I WAS LUCKY I WAS PULLING OFF THE HIGHWAY IN S STRAIGHT LINE AND I WAS NOT ON A HILL OR A CURVY ROAD. ONCE I GOT PULLED OVER AND STOPPED I NOTICED AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF DIESEL FUEL DRIPPING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE WHOLE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE TRUCK. THE FIREWALL INSULATION WAS COMPLETELY SATURATED WITH FUEL. THE NUMBER 4 FUEL LINE HAD RUPTURED A LEAK AT THE SEAM BEHIND THE COUPLING NUT AND SPEWED DIESEL FUEL ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, PROBABLY TWO TO THREE GALLONS WORTH. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF THIS VEHICLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE NUMBER 4 FUEL LINE BUT NO OTHER FUEL LINES ON THIS MODEL. I FEEL I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT THE FUEL DID NOT IGNITE OR THE WHOLE VEHICLE WOULD DEFINITELY OF CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THE OUT COME WOULD OF BEEN CATASTROPHIC FOR MY FAMILY THAT WAS IN THE VEHICLE. *TR