NHTSA Complaint #10667477 — 2004 DODGE RAM 1500

I WAS DRIVING AND MY 2004 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 SPUTTERED AND DIED WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE, AND IT WAS ALL I COULD DO TO PULL IT TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD AS IT LOST POWER. I WAS HEADED UPHILL, SO I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND LET IT ROLL BACK BECAUSE I WAS BLOCKING AN ENTRANCE RAMP TO THE INTERSTATE. IT WAS 5 PM AND I WAS WESTBOUND, SO PEOPLE HAD DIFFICULTY SEEING MY HAZARD LIGHTS WHILE LOOKING INTO THE SUN. IT WAS SCARY! WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND GARAGE KEPT, THIS TRUCK BROKE AN ENGINE VALVE SPRING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE ENGINE FAILS IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THERE IS NO LONGER COMPRESSION IN THAT CYLINDER. I WAS LUCKY, THE SPRING HELD IN PLACE AND DID NOT ALLOW THE VALVE TO DROP INTO THE CYLINDER, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC AND IRREPARABLE. AFTER RESEARCH, I FOUND DODGE KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN THE 2004 HEMI ENGINE. IN FACT, THEY REDESIGNED THE VALVE SPRINGS IN THE 2005 MODELS. SEVERAL SITES & BLOGS SHOWED OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT DODGE NEVER STARTED A CAMPAIGN OR ISSUED A RECALL. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER (DODGE) AND THEY REFUSE TO ASSIST OR ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED ON A BUSY INTERSTATE, I COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED, I LOST POWER STEERING AND ANY ABILITY TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. IF NEEDED, I HAVE ALL DOCUMENTATION, AND I ALSO HAVE THE BROKEN VALVE SPRING IN MY POSSESSION. *TR