NHTSA Complaint #10850125 — 2014 RAM 3500

THE FACTORY INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE MODULE (ITBM) ON MY 2014 RAM 3500 MEGACAB 4X4 CUMMINS DIESEL TRUCK DOES NOT SUPPLY PROPER VOLTAGE TO ACTIVATE THE ELECTRIC BRAKES ON A TOWED TRAILER. THE VOLTAGE SUPPLIED TO THE TRAILER BRAKES IS 7 VOLTS DC WITH THE GAIN SET AT MAX, CHECKED BY A TRAILER DEALER THAT DOES PA STATE INSPECTIONS, WHERE A TRAILER REQUIRES OVER 10 VOLTS DC TO PROPERLY ACTIVATE THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE TRAILER BEING TOWED TO SAFELY AID IN STOPPING BOTH THE TRAILER AND TOW VEHICLE. I RECENTLY HAD A NOTICE APPEAR IN THE ELECTRONIC DASH (EVIC) THAT THERE WAS A TRAILER BRAKE PROBLEM AND A NOTIFICATION THAT THE TRAILER WAS NOT CONNECTED WHEN IT WAS STILL CONNECTED TO THE TRUCK. THIS PROMPTED THE FIRST VISIT TO THE DEALER WHERE I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRAILER. I HAVE HAD MY TRUCK TO THE DEALER TWO TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THE SECOND TIME THEY CHECKED THE VOLTAGE OF ANOTHER TRUCK THAT WAS 7 VOLTS DC AND SAID IT WAS OK. I HAVE A 35 FOOT 5TH WHEEL RV TRAILER AND A 18FT FLAT TRAILER THAT DO NOT BRAKE PROPERLY WHEN ATTACHED TO THIS TRUCK. THE 18 FT TRAILER BRAKES WORK PROPERLY WHEN ATTACHED TO A DIFFERENT TRUCK. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THAT ON MANY OF THE FORUMS DEALING WITH CUMMINS DIESEL AND RAM TRUCKS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WIDE SPREAD OVER MANY MODEL YEARS. ON THE DODGE RAM FORUM (WWW.RAMFORUM.COM - SEARCH BRAKE CONTROLLER) AN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER EVEN DOCUMENTED THE LACK OF OUTPUT OF HIS 2015 RAM 3500 TRUCK. AT 100% INPUT THERE WAS ONLY 66% OUTPUT TO THE TRAILER BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD 6 SAFETY RECALLS FOR THIS TRUCK SO FAR. THIS PROBLEM MAY NOT RECEIVE AS MUCH ATTENTION AS OTHER PROBLEMS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS A MUCH SMALLER NUMBER OF VEHICLES USED FOR TOWING. PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED BEFORE INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR REVIEWING MY SUBMISSION. *TR