NHTSA Complaint #10639764 — 2008 DODGE RAM 3500

APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS (AND 2637 MILES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING) AFTER HAVING SAFETY RECALL N62 / NHTSA 13V-528 WORK ACCOMPLISHED BY LANDERS MCLARTY DEALERSHIP IN HUNTSVILLE ALABAMA, THE DRAG LINK DISCONNECTED DISCONNECTED FROM THE RIGHT TIE ROD AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THIS RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING AND CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO CROSS OPPOSING TRAFFIC LANES AND ENTER A DITCH BEFORE I COULD STOP THE VEHICLE. THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT CONDUCTED PER DEALER SERVICE INSTRUCTIONS. LANDERS MCLARTY DODGE SERVICE MANAGER HAD PROVIDED ME AN E-MAIL INDICATING "I HAVE TALKED TO ALL 3 OF THE TECHNICIANS THAT PERFORM THIS RECALL, AND THEY ALL STATED THAT THEY USE AN IMPACT GUN TO ACTUALLY INSTALL THAT NUT, DUE TO THE TEFLON THAT IS ON THE INSIDE OF IT TO KEEP IT FROM BACKING OFF AFTER IT IS INSTALLED. IT IS VERY TOUGH AND IS VERY TIME CONSUMING TO INSTALL WITH HAND TOOLS." THE DEALER SERVICE INSTRUCTION STATE AT STEP #16. CONNECT THE DRAG LINK TO THE RIGHT TIE ROD END (FIGURE 8). TIGHTEN THE NEW DRAG LINK RETAINING NUT TO 96 FT. LBS. (130 NM). THE ASSOCIATED FIGURE 8 CLEARLY INDICATES THE USE OF A TORQUE WRENCH AND IS LABELED AS SUCH. BEING AN ENGINEER AND FAMILIAR WITH LOCK NUTS AND BOLTED JOINT DESIGN, I BELIEVE THE USE OF AN IMPACT GUN FOR INSTALLATION COULD RESULT IN A BROKEN/CRACKED NUT, OR LOSS OF THE TEFLON LOCKING FEATURE DUE TO HEATING OR MECHANICAL ABUSE DURING INSTALLATION. LANDERS MCLARTY SHOULD RE-ACCOMPLISH RECALL WORK FOR ALL VEHICLES THAT USED IMPACT GUN TO ACCOMPLISH THE REPAIR. *TR