NHTSA Complaint #10572957 — 2012 DODGE RAM 2500

I AM A MARINE STATIONED ABOARD MCAS NEW RIVER IN JACKSONVILLE NC. I HAD JUST DROPPED MY SON OFF AT HIS BABYSITTER. I ARRIVED AT WORK AND AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPOT I NOTICED THAT MY TRUCK WOULD NOT TURN. I CAME TO A STOP JUST BEFORE I HIT THE TRUCK NEXT TO ME. I PUT THE TRUCK IN REVERSE AND I NOTICED A DRAGGING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF MY TRUCK. I GOT OUT OF THE CAB AND CHECKED IT OUT. THAT IS WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE LEFT TIE BAR HAD SHEARED FROM THE UJOINT. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHILE MY SON WAS IN THE TRUCK WHEN THIS HAPPENED. TO SURVIVE 4 DEPLOYMENTS TO IRAQ BUT TO ONLY GET KILLED BY A BROKEN BOLT. WHEN I DROPPED IT OFF I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD GET FIXED WITH THE SAME HARDWARE THAT FAILED IN THE FIRST PLACE BECAUSE THEY NEW PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. I AM A HELICOPTERS MECHANIC AND I AM NOT NEW TO SAFETY AND QUALITY MAINTENANCE SO THE IDEA OF PUTTING THE SAME PART ON THAT FAILED BEFORE DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT TO ME. IF IT WERE SOMETHING IN THE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM OR MAYBE THE COMFORT CONTROL, I COULD SEE SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEING DONE. NOT THE STEERING!!! WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE COURTESY VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER BECAUSE THEY DON'T OFFER THEM BECAUSE OF RECALLS. SO THEY TELL ME THAT THEY WILL FIX MY TRUCK WITH RECALLED PARTS AND GIVE IT BACK TO ME TO DRIVE UNTIL PARTS COME IN. REALLY!! SO I RISK THE LIVES OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS CAUSE DODGE WANTS TO SAFE A BUCK. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS AND DODGE SHOULD STAND BEHIND THE PRODUCT IT PRODUCES. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. IT LEAVES ME AND OTHER FAMILIES NO CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE A DANGEROUS VEHICLE. *TR