NHTSA Complaint #10854598 — 2009 DODGE RAM 1500

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT, WHEN IT TURNED GREEN AND I ACCELERATED, THE TRUCK POWER FELT AS IF THE TRUCK WAS PULLING A HEAVY LOAD. I NOTICE THE SHIFTER INDICATOR ON THE (-/+ ) INSTEAD ON (D). I TRY TO SHIFT TO (D) BUT INSTEAD IT WENT TO REVERSE.THE TIRES SQUEALED AND THE TRUCK DIED. IT STARTED BACK UP BY THE RADIO WAS NOT OPERABLE. I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND TURN IT ON AND THE RADIO WORK. THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE WITH THE RADIO HAS OCCURRED A TOTAL OF 2 TIMES. SINCE THE FIRST OCCURRENCE I HAVE AN ENGINE LIGHT ON. NOW WHEN THE TRUCK IS IN (-/+) MODE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IT INDICATE MY TRUCK IS 4TH GEAR. THERE IS ANOTHER (-/+) AS WELL ON THE SHIFTER WERE YOU CAN INCREASE OR DECREASE THE GEAR YOU ARE IN. I HAVE TRIED TO CHANGE THAT GEAR. BY PRESSING THE + AND HOLDING IT, IT WILL SHOW THAT IT CHANGES FROM 4 TO D BUT AS SOON AS YOU STOP PRESSING THE BUTTON ON THE SHIFTER IT GOES RIGHT BACK TO 4TH GEAR. THE WAY I CAN GET IT BACK TO D, I HAVE TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AFTER PUTTING IT PARK OF COURSE, AND STARTED UP, THEN IT SHIFTS TO D, EVENTUALLY IT GOES BACK TO THE MANUAL MODE. I JUST PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE FROM CARMAX IN WOODBRIDGE. I WAS TOLD THAT THEIR VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION WAS BY FAR THE BETTER. I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLES COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM BY THE HUNDREDS. TO BAD I DIDN'T SEE IT BEFORE BUYING. NICE TRUCK AND ALL, BUT IN THE MEANTIME OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS OR WORSE ARE STILL DRIVING THESE VEHICLES WITH THEIR FAMILIES ON BOARD, AND WHAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE FOR A FAMILY TO END UP DEAD ON THE ROAD BECAUSE DODGE INSTEAD OF TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR MANUFACTURING A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, POSSIBLY WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM AND NOW THEY WILL CONTINUE CHARGING PEOPLE THAT PURCHASED THEIR DEFECTIVE VEHICLES UNTIL IT BECOMES EVENTUALLY A RECALL. A VEHICLE OPERATING IN THAT CONDITION WOULD FAIL ANY STATE DMV INSPECTION.