NHTSA Complaint #10892194 — 2013 RAM 2500

2013 RAM 2500 - ON JUNE 1, 2016 I WAS PLACING CAR SEATS INTO THE TRUCK. THE KEYS WERE IN MY POCKET AND NOT RUNNING. MY 3 YEAR SON WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT WHILE I SECURED THE CAR SEATS. MY SON GRABBED THE GEAR SHIFTER AND THE TRUCK WENT INTO GEAR ROLLING DOWN A 25' EMBANKMENT AND STRIKING A TREE AT THE BOTTOM. UPON A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF PARK WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION AND WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. THE INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER AS THEY HAD CONDUCTED 2 SAFETY RECALLS IN THE WEEKS PREVIOUS, ONE OF WHICH INVOLVED WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I WAS INFORMED BY THE LOCAL DEALER THAT THE SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM THAT IS DESIGNED TO KEEP A VEHICLE FROM GOING INTO GEAR WITHOUT THE BRAKE DEPRESSED HAD FAILED AND THAT THE RECALLS THEY HAD CONDUCTED DID NOT INVOLVE THE SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM. I WAS ADVISED BY THE LOCAL DEALER TO CONTACT FIAT CHRYSLER (FCA). FCA SENT OUT A SAFETY INSPECTOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. ON 6-7-2016 MARIA PADEA WITH A 3RD PARTY INSPECTION FIRM HIRED BY FCA INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AT MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER. I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO BE PRESENT DURING THE INSPECTION. ON JUNE 15, 2016 I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FCA STATING "..WE ARE NOT LEAD TO BELIEVE THAT THE INCIDENT WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING RESPONSIBILITY" AND "...THEREFORE WE MUST RESPECTFULLY DECLINE ANY ASSISTANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS INCIDENT. UPON RECEIVING THE LETTER, I CONTACTED FCA AND REQUESTED A COPY OF THE INSPECTION REPORT. I RECEIVED AN EMAIL ON 07-11-2016 STATING "THE INSPECTION REPORT AND DOCUMENTATION YOU HAVE REQUESTED ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND PROPRIETARY. AS SUCH, WE ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE THEM. SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT OUR HANDLING, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO ENGAGE YOUR OWN INVESTIGATOR TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER. THE INCIDENT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO MY INSURANCE CARRIER.