NHTSA Complaint #10598247 — 2008 DODGE RAM 3500

I UNLOCKED MY 2008 DODGE 3500 DIESEL 4X4 4DR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. I OPENED THE DOOR AND STEPPED ON THE RUNNING BOARD AND WENT TO SIT ON THE SEAT SIMULTANEOUSLY USING THE ROOF DRIVERS SIDE PILLAR (GRAB HANDLE OR SUPPORT HANDLE) AND IT SLIPPED OUT OF THE ROOF PILLAR ABOUT 3 INCHES WHEREBY I LOST MY BALANCE FALLING BACKWARDS HOWEVER , I RECOVERED AND HIT THE GROUND ON MY FEET. IF I FELL (NOT RECOVERING) AND HIT MY BACK OR HEAD IT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTEROUS. THE SUPPORT, MADE OF PLASTIC WITH A CENTER BOLT PULLED AWAY FROM THE CENTER BOLT SPLITTING THE PLASTIC. THE CENTER BOLT REMAINED IN ITS ORIGINAL POSITION. I HAVE SINCE USED A PIECE OF METAL BRACE RUNNING HORIZONTAL TO THE SUPPORT WITH A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE TO SUPPORT THE GRAB HANDLE. I MODIFIED BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT GRAB HANDLES. IT IS EXTREMELY STRONG NOW BUT I TEND TO REFRAIN FROM USING IT. PLEASE NOTE: THE INSIDE TEMPERATURE IN THE TRUCK WAS VERY HOT. A BLACK TRUCK IN THE SUN AND TEMPERATURE ABOUT 85F OUTSIDE. I DID NOT SEE ANY VEHICLE GRAB HANDLE WARNINGS IN THE USER'S GUIDE OR ON THE VEHICLE. IF I CAN BE OF FURTHER ASSISTANCE PLEASE LET ME KNOW. *JS