NHTSA Complaint #10777948 — 2008 DODGE RAM 3500

ARRIVED AT LOWES, LEFT THE TRUCK RUNNING OUT FRONT OF THE STORE WHILE UNDLOADING RIDING MOWER TO RETURN. WHEN WE CAME BACK OUT VEHICLE HAD SHUT OFF AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. LIFTED THE HOOD AND NOTED FUSE BOX SMOKING. JUMPED BACK IN TRUCK AND MADE SURE ENGINE TURNED OFF AND KEY OUT OF INGNITION. WHILE WAITING FOR FRIENDS TO TOWE THE TRUCK, WIPERS STARTED HORN AND ALARM STARTED THEN CAR STARTED UP AND TOOK OFF ACROSS THE PARKING LOT. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO VEHICLE OR PERSONS IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND WAS GOOD THING WE WAITED OUTSIDE FOR FRIENDS INSTEAD OF RETURNING INSIDE THE STORE. MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO JUMP IN THE TRUCK, BUT WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION HE WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE THE TRUCK OR STEER THE TRUCK, SO BECAUSE IT WAS A MANUAL HE WAS ABLE TO GET IT OUT OF GEAR AND APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKE. SADLY AFTER THIS OCCURRED I HAVE DISCOVERED EVEN MORE HORRIFIC INCIDENCES WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO PEOPLE WHILE DRIVING LEAVING THEM WITHOUT STEERING OR BRAKES. DODGE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND STILL NO RECALL. I'VE EVEN SEEN THIS DESCRIBED AS A "COMMON OCCURANCE".......REALLY ! NO CRASH OR FATALITIES THIS TIME, BUT BY THE SOUND TOO MANY NEAR MISSES AND WHO KNOWS HOW MANY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS PROBLEM.