NHTSA Complaint #11024697 — 1999 DODGE RAM 1500

OUR SEAT BELTS LOCKED UP ON OUR 1999 DODGE RAM 1500. TOOK OUR DODGE TRUCK TO DODGE DEALERSHIP 06/05/2017 WHO SAID OUR SEAT BELT CONTROL MODULE HAD GONE OUT. WE PAID $400 TO REPLACE. PICKUP ON 06/26/2017. 3 DAYS LATER 06/29/2017 WHILE TOWING OUR 20 FT NORTH RIVER BOAT ACROSS CHARLESTON HARBOR BRIDGE ON THE DOWN HILL SIDE TO PORT LAUNCH RAMP OUR VEHICLE POWER SHUT DOWN, SEAT BELTS LOCKED UP AGAIN AND OUR BOAT WEIGHT PUSHED HITCH INTO OUR TRUCK DESTROYING THE HITCH AND WHEEL JACK. THE BOAT HAD TO BE TOWED ( $399) TO BE REPAIRED AND $150. IN HITCH REPAIRS. THE TRUCK ITSELF WOULD NOT START UNTIL THE BATTERY NEGATIVE WIRE WAS REMOVED. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN DIRECTLY TO DEALERSHIP ABOUT 5 MILES AWAY. A LOCAL POLICE OFFICER WAS FOLLOWING BEHIND OUR VEHICLE AND STOPPED TO HELP; CALLING A TOW TRUCK. NO REPORT WAS FILED OR REQUIRED. AFTER A 2 WK DELAY THEY COULD NOT FIND A REPLACEMENT MODULE SAYING THEY WERE DISCONTINUED. ADMITTED THEY HAD INSTALLED A MODULE ( NOT A SEAT BELT MODULE SUPPOSEDLY BY MECHANICS ERROR) REQUESTED OUR MONEY BACK WHICH THEY DID 07/14/2017. WE HAVE BEEN SEARCHING UNSUCCESSFULLY ONLINE AND OTHER SOURCES WHICH SAY THEY ARE DISCONTINUED, NOT AVAILABLE. OUR STATE AND CITY LAW CARRIES A $250 DOLLAR FINE FOR NO SEAT BELT USE MORE IMPORTANTLY WE OUR NOW SUBJECT TO EXTREME POSSIBILITY OF DEATH OR MAIMING IN AN ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO SOME INFORMATION THIS ALSO AFFECTS OUR AIR BAGS WHICH MAY CAUSE FAILURE OF THEM. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD OUR INSURANCE IS NULL AND VOID IF WE DON'T HAVE SEAT BELTS AND EVEN IF WE COULD GET A MECHANIC TO DO A WORK AROUND ( WHICH THEY REFUSED DUE TO THE LIABILITY ISSUES) INSURANCE STILL VOID. IN CASE OF OUR DEATH OR INJURY THERE WILL BE A LAWSUIT AGAINST DODGE. IT WON'T DO US MUCH GOOD! THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. DODGE SHOULD BE FORCED TO PROVIDE A LAW REQUIRED SEAT BELT MODULE REPAIR. HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL DIE BEFORE THEY FIX THE PROBLEM?