NHTSA Complaint #10714149 — 2015 RAM 1500

THE INNER FENDER MADE OUT OF METAL WITH A HARD PLASTIC SHROUD ON PREVIOUS YEARS, HAS BEEN ELIMINATED. IN ITS PLACE THERE IS NOW A FLIMSY THIN PLASTIC SHROUD THAT CAN BE BENT AND DEFORMED BY HAND AND REMOVED BY HAND WITH A COUPLE OF HEALTHY TUGS. THIS MEMBRANE IS THE ONLY PROTECTION PROVIDED FOR ABS COMPONENTS, A/C AND POWER STEERING HOSES, AND NUMEROUS OTHER COMPONENTS FOUND UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN DRIVING ESPECIALLY DRIVING OFF ROAD, THERE ARE NUMEROUS HAZARDS AND ITEMS THAT CAN BE PICKED UP BY THE TIRES AND FLUNG INSIDE THE WHEEL WELL. ON PREVIOUS YEAR MODELS THERE HAS BEEN A FORMED METAL INNER FENDER THAT WAS STOUT ENOUGH TO RESIST NUMEROUS ITEMS THAT MAY BE TOSSED INTO THE WHEEL WELL OR INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS ALSO A THICK PLASTIC SHROUD THAT COVERED THE METAL OF THE INNER FENDER, PERHAPS AS AN ADDITIONAL PROTECTION AGAINST RUST. NONE OF THAT EXISTS IN THE CURRENT 2015 RAM 1500 MODEL. THIS IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS SINCE A LIGHT ITEM, STICK, OR ROCK CAN BE THROWN INTO THE WHEEL WELL AND WILL PUNCH EASILY THRU THE THIN PLASTIC MEMBRANE. ADDITIONALLY A HEAVIER OR LONGER ITEM CAN BE THROWN INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR STEERING COMPONENTS CAUSING SOMETHING TO JAM AND LIMITING THE ABILITY TO STEER SAFELY. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS, THE POTENTIAL FOR COSTLY REPAIRS OR CATASTROPHE IS REAL. *TR