NHTSA Complaint #10577741 — 2014 RAM 1500

THERE IS A CONTINUOUS UNKNOWN ELECTRICAL DRAW CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN TO THE POINT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. AN ELECTRICAL SURGE WILL CAUSE THE ELECTRIC SUSPENSION TO ACTIVATE ALONG WITH THE CONSOLE CLUSTER AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 6 TIMES AND NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP OR CHRYSLER HAS A FIX. THE CONDITION IS GETTING WORSE AND NOW THERE IS A NEW ISSUE AFFECTING THE ELECTRICAL CLUTCHES IN THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE REQUESTED A LOANER VEHICLE UNTIL I CAN PURCHASE A DIFFERENT VEHICLE I FEEL IS SAFER. ON APRIL 3, 2014, THE DISTRICT CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVE DENIED THE REQUEST. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE FOR MULTIPLE POSSIBLE REASONS BUT ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT HE ALTERNATOR. THE ALTERNATOR'S FUNCTION IS TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY ONCE IT'S BEEN USED TO START THE ENGINE. AND TO KEEP THE BATTERY CHARGED WHEN VARIOUS ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ARE USED IN THE VEHICLE. THE ALTERNATOR DETERMINES HOW MUCH TO CHARGE THE BATTERY BY MEASURING THE REFERENCE VOLTAGE FROM THE BATTERY. IF THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY WHERE THE REFERENCE VOLTAGE IS VERY LOW, THE ALTERNATOR WILL TRY TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY. THE ALTERNATOR ISN'T DESIGNED TO RECHARGE A DEAD BATTERY. IT'S INTENDED TO MAINTAIN THE CHARGE ON A GOOD BATTERY. WHEN THIS DOES HAPPEN, THE ALTERNATOR BEGINS TO RUN HOT, AND THIS IS WHAT KILLS THE ALTERNATOR. A DEAD BATTERY WHILE DRIVING MEANS NO ELECTRIC STEERING, NO ANTILOCK BRAKES, NO AIR BAGS, ECT. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR