NHTSA Complaint #11040197 — 2005 DODGE RAM 3500

ON JULY 20, 2017 FAMILY AND I WERE RIDING IN OUR METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED 2005 RAM 3500 AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN THE CAPE COD REGION OF MASSACHUSETTS. AFTER AN HOUR TRUCK RUNNING GREAT, OUTSIDE TEMP 92 DEGREES. 30 SECONDS LATER WE HAD A CATASTROPHIC EVENT WHICH PUT US ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.12 QUARTS OF OIL ON THE GROUND, FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD, AND A HOLE IN BLOCK. REMOVED WIFE AND DAUGHTER FROM VEHICLE, EXTINGUISHED FIRE THANKS TO A STATE TROOPER, FIRE AND POLICE APPARATUS. GIVEN THIS IS MY DAILY DRIVER AND A BUSINESS VEHICLE I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE MOTOR COSTING $18K. CUMMINS AND CHRYSLER INSPECTED VEHICLE. DID NOT INVESTIGATE CAUSE. REFUSED COPIES OF INSPECTION REPORTS. CUMMINS TIED UP VEHICLE FOR A MONTH. DELAYED REPAIR AND USE AS DAILY DRIVER AND CRITICAL BUSINESS NEED. ATTACHED CHRYSLER/CUMMINS RESPONSES SHOW NEGLIGENCE. RESEARCH HAS EXPOSED LATENT DEFECT WHEREBY DODGE APPLICATION OF CUMMINS DOES NOT USE ADEQUATE FUEL FILTRATION. RESULTS IN OVER FUELING OF THE INJECTORS THAT MELT OR HYDRO LOCK PISTONS, OVERLOADING RODS, DESTROYING BLOCK, SPILLING OF OIL, RESULTING IN FIRE. MANY ON LINE EXAMPLES OF SEVERELY DAMAGED ENGINES WELL BEFORE B50 LIFE OF 350K MILES. REPEATED REQUESTS TO ADDRESS SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH IGNORED. PERSONAL ENGINE INSPECTION SHOWED PUDDLED FUEL ON CRACKED PISTON 3 AND PISTON 4, INDICATING THE HYDRO LOCKED PISTON CAUSED THE ROD AND BLOCK FAILURE. REFER TO YOUTU LINK HTTPS://M.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=_BKDZXO6UNO THAT DEMONSTRATES CONSEQUENCES OF OVER FUELING. SUDDEN FAILURE ON WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE RESULTING IN FIRE ON HIGHWAY WARRANTS ROOT CAUSE INVESTIGATION. CAUSE IS LIKELY INADEQUATE FUEL FILTRATION LATENT DEFECT.7 MICRON INSTEAD OF 3.THERE ARE NO CHRYSLER DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS OR MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES TO PROTECT THE CUSTOMER. LATENT DEFECT LIABILITY IS NOT LIMITED BY WARRANTY PERIOD. MUST ADDRESS SAFETY!