NHTSA Complaint #10863477 — 2013 RAM 1500

2013 RAM 1500 WITH 26,500 MILES ON IT, HAD FLAT TIRE AND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER TRIED TO RELEASE THE SPARE TIRE. THE MECHANISM WOULD NOT RELEASE, HAD TO CRAWL UNDER THE JACKED UP VEHICLE AND MANUALLY TURN THE MECHANISM TO RELEASE SPARE. TOOK VEHICLE TO RAM DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY STATED THE MECHANISM WAS STRIPPED AND WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER THE 3 YEAR, 36,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AND THEY ARE STATED THAT THIS IS NOT A DEFECT IT IS FROM MISUSE. THE RELEASE HAD NEVER BEEN USED PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT AND FAILED. THEY WERE WILLING TO FIX IT FOR A LARGE FEE, BUT NOT UNDER WARRANTY. CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE TO BACK THE DEALERSHIP ON THIS AND THAT THE REPAIR CANNOT BE MADE UNDER WARRANTY. POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND POOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND COMPLETE DISREGARD TO CUSTOMER SAFETY. HAVING TO CRAWL UNDER A VEHICLE BESIDE THE ROAD WITH ONLY A FACTORY JACK TO RELEASE THE SPARE TIRE IS A MAJOR HAZARD.