NHTSA Complaint #10747834 — 2009 DODGE RAM 1500

TEAM: I WAS REPLACING THE REAR SHOCKS WHEN I NOTICED A WEIRD RUST PATTERN ON THE CROSS MEMBER NEAR THE RIGHT FRAME & CATALYTIC CONVERTOR. IT LOOKED LIKE ORANGE PEEL OR A ROSE BLOOMING. I CHECKED THE REST OF THE FRAME WHILE I WAS UNDER THERE. I HAVE DONE COSMETIC RUST PREVENTION IN THE PAST. SINCE I'M A DIYER & PROACTIVE, I GRABBED A PAINT TOOL TO SCRAPE THE RUST TO GET TO BARE METAL SO I COULD TREAT/PRIME IT. LOL NOT ONLY DID THE TOP LAYER OF METAL COME OFF, THE ENTIRE CROSS MEMBER DISINTEGRATED INTO BRITTLE METAL CHUNKS WHICH I SAVED/DOCUMENTED. THERE'S A 4" SQUARE SECTION THAT'S GONE. SINCE THIS IS A 400 HP VEHICLE, I'M SURE THE FRAME WILL TEAR ITSELF APART EVENTUALLY EVEN THOUGH I BABY THE TRUCK. E.G. NO DENTS I SURMISE THAT WATER HAS BEEN TRAPPED UP THERE SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN FRAME FAILURE. THE METAL HAS NO STRENGTH. LOL I DON'T WANT ANYBODY GETTTING HURT, SO PLEASE ADVISE OTHERS.