NHTSA Complaint #10750312 — 2012 DODGE RAM 1500

I WENT TO START THE TRUCK WHILE IN PARK AFTER HAVING ALREADY DRIVEN THE TRUCK APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR PRIOR. UPON TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION OF SOME KIND. SMOKE BEGAN APPEARING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE TRUCK DID NOT HAVE ANY POWER. I OPENED THE HOOD OF THE TRUCK, AND FOUND THAT THE BATTERY HAD CATASTROPHICALLY EXPLODED. TWO OF THE PLASTIC SIDEWALLS WERE COMPLETELY BLOWN OUT AND RIPPED OPEN. ON ONE SIDE THE LEAD INTERIOR COULD BE SEEN MISSHAPEN AND LEANING OUT TOWARDS THE EXPOSED SIDE. BOTH TOP CAPS WERE BLOWN CLEAR OF THE BATTERY. BATTERY ACID COVERED THE GENERAL VICINITY OF THE EXPLOSION. THE ACID ALSO RAN DOWN THROUGH THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND ONTO THE PAVEMENT.