NHTSA Complaint #10992904 — 2013 RAM 3500

ON JUNE 1, 2013, I WAS DRIVING THE DODGE RAM 3500 AT HIGHWAY SPEED (APPROX. 60 MPH) WHEN THE STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND 4-WAY EMERGENCY FLASHERS FAILED. I DRIFTED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND CAME TO A STOP. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. MY PHONE LOG SHOWS THIS CALL STARTED AT 8:40AM AND LASTED 9 MINUTES. DURING THE CALL, WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION INCIDENT RESPONSE STOPPED AT THE SCENE AND NEITHER OF US REALIZED THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM AND WA DOT LEFT THE SCENE. NEAR THE END OF THE CALL, I NOTICED SMOKE POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. AT THAT TIME, I NOTICED BURNING MATERIAL ON THE GROUND UNDER THE TRUCK'S ENGINE. I HUNG UP WITH ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND CALLED 911 AT 8:49AM. AT THAT TIME, AT LEAST 4 LAW ENFORCEMENT, 2 FIRE ENGINES, AND WA DOT ARRIVED ON SCENE AND SHUT DOWN THE ENTIRE STATE HIGHWAY DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE FIRE. ONE LANE OF THE HIGHWAY WAS REOPENED JUST BEFORE 9:20AM. WHEN I LEFT THE SCENE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS STILL ACTIVELY WORKING TO CONTROL THE BLAZE AND HAD CUT OPEN THE TRUCK'S HOOD TO BETTER ACCESS THE FIRE. AFTER THE FIRE, I RE-READ THE RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE'S ALTERNATOR AND BELIEVE THIS PROBABLY CAUSED THE NEAR-CRASH AND FIRE.