NHTSA Complaint #10993997 — 2009 DODGE RAM 1500

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY. I WAS IN THE HOUSE WITH THE KEYS IN MY POCKET. I INSTRUCTED MY CHILDREN TO GET IN THE TRUCK. AS THEY CLIMBED IN, ONE CHILD LOST HER BALANCE AND HIT THE GEAR SHIFT. THE GEAR SHIFT INTERLOCK FAILED, ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO CHANGE GEARS FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL. THE TRUCK THEN PROCEEDED TO ROLL DOWN MY DRIVEWAY, WITH TWO OF MY KIDS IN THE CAB, AND MY THIRD CHILD HANGING ON THE DOOR BEING DRUG ACROSS THE GROUND. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS INJURED, BUT MY TRUCK PLOWED THROUGH MY DITCH, DESTROYED MY MAILBOX CAUSING $7,800 DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER, WHO PERFORMED A SPECIAL INVESTIGATION. HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH THEY CONCLUDED THE GEAR SHIFT INTERLOCK DID INDEED FAIL, THEY REFUSED RESPONSIBILITY STATING THAT "MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OWNER." I DID NOT KNOW THAT THE SHIFT INTERLOCK WAS FAILED. IN FACT, THE ENGINEER THAT DID THE INVESTIGATION STATED THAT IT EXHIBITED INTERMITTENT FAILURE. SO THERE WAS NO WAY FOR ME TO KNOW IT WAS FAILED UNTIL I EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. AFTER MY TRUCK ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, I REALIZED SOMETHING HAD FAILED. FURTHERMORE, THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT SPECIFY ANY RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE FOR THE SHIFT INTERLOCK. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, BUT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT SET.....UPDATED 06/21/17 *BF *TR