NHTSA Complaint #10596437 — 2009 DODGE RAM 3500

8-10-10 3500 RAM E/B HWY 47 AT 55 MPH PASSING FRUIT STAND HEARD LOUD POP AND VEHICLE VEERED RIGHT JUMPING CURB HEADED TOWARD GUARDRAIL. I PULLED AS HARD AS I COULD TO AVOID RAMMING THE GUARDRAIL AND IMMINENT INJURY TO BOTH MYSELF AND SON IN RIGHT FRONT SEAT. DROPPED ABOUT 20 DOWN INTO RAVINE IN 4 FOOT GRASS AND STRUCK PILE OF 4 FOOT LOGS THROWN THERE BY ROAD .CREW. FRONT END INCLUDING STEERING TIE ROD HAD TO BE REPLACED. 10-8-10 WHILE DRIVING ON MOUNTAIN BLM ROAD IN FOUR WHEEL LOW. I STOPPED TO BACKUP AND LEFT FRONT TIRE TURNED SIDEWAYS. THE TIE ROD LOCK NUT HAD COME UNDONE FELL OFF (UNKNOWN LOCATION) TIE ROD DROPPED TO GROUND. HAD TO USE HAY TWINE TO TIE UP AND HOLD TOGETHER IN ORDER TO GET BACK TO RANCH OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS. IT TOOK 4 HOURS TO CREEP HOME WITH MY SON WALKING THE VEHICLE AROUND EVERY CORNER TO ASSURE THE TIE ROD STAYED TOGETHER. VEHICLE TOWED TO AND REPAIRED BY ROSEBURG LITHIA DODGE. I FILED SAFETY COMPLAINT ABOUT TIE ROD SAFETY HAZARD. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, NOTED LOUD SNAPPING WHEN TURNING FRONT END. TIRE SHOP COULD HEAR AND FEEL, BUT WE WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE PROBLEM. RECALL CAME OUT AND RECALL PARTS HAD TO BE RECALLED. NO REPAIR. JUST NOTIFIED AGAIN OF RECALL AND HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO CONFIRM RECALL PARTS NEEDED. 6-4-14 WIFE TOOK TRUCK INTO ROSEBURG LITHIA DODGE FOR THE INSPECTION TO GET THE RECALL PARTS ORDERED. SHE BROUGHT THE LOUD SNAPPING TO SERVICE WRITERS ATTENTION. HE ADVISED APPROXIMATELY 70 CUSTOMERS AHEAD OF US AND IT WOULD BE ABOUT 4 MONTHS TILL REPAIR COULD BE MAKE. SHE ADVISED PROBLEM GETTING WORSE AND POSSED AN IMMINENT SAFETY HAZARD. SERVICE WRITER SHOWED NO CONCERN FOR SAFETY AND ADVISED THE PROBLEM WAS BETWEEN US AND CHRYSLER. SHOULD ANOTHER ACCIDENT OR TIE ROD FAILURE BE PROXIMATE CAUSE, BOTH ROSEBURG LITHIA DODGE AND CHRYSLER WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR GROSS NEGLIGENCE. *TR