NHTSA Complaint #11083462 — 2011 DODGE RAM 1500

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I AM THE OWNER OF A 2011 DODGE RAM 1500 SPORT EDITION WITH 70,000 MILES. THE OTHER DAY, A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON AND I GOT A MISFIRE ON CYLINDER 2 CODE (P0302). THE VEHICLE WOULD JOLT AT LOW RPM'S WHICH IS A COMMON SYMPTOM OF A MISFIRE AND/OR LOW COMPRESSION IN ONE OR MORE CYLINDERS. AFTER EXPENSIVE DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES HAD BEEN ADMINISTERED, THE MECHANICS FOUND THAT ONE OF THE LIFTER ARMS HAD SEIZED. THE SEIZED LIFTER ARM CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO OTHER PARTS OF THE ENGINE INCLUDING THE CAMSHAFT LOBE ON CYLINDER 2, AND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ONLINE, I FOUND THAT LIFTERS FAILING CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CAMSHAFT IS A COMMON ISSUE ONLY ON THE 2011 RAM 1500 TRUCKS. MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE ON 2011 RAM 1500 TRUCKS, AND EACH ONE HAS HAD A LIFTER SEIZURE CAUSE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE CAMSHAFT. AT THIS POINT, MY ONLY OPTION IS TO REPLACE ALL THE LIFTERS, VALVE SPRINGS, CAMSHAFT, AND HAVE EACH HEADER INSPECTED TO ENSURE NO FURTHER DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED. IN TOTAL THIS WILL COST ANYWHERE FROM $2000 TO $3000 OUT OF POCKET FOR PARTS AND MECHANICAL SERVICES. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR A LIFTER TO SEIZE ON A TRUCK WITH 70,000 MILES THAT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED REGULARLY. IN ADDITION, THERE IS NO REASON FOR MORE THAN 50 OWNERS OF THE SAME TRUCK TO HAVE THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS KIND OF ISSUE TO REPLACE BAD LIFTERS WHICH CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE CAMSHAFT AT FAIRLY LOW MILEAGE. I CANNOT FULLY EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT AND FRUSTRATION IN DODGE AS A COMPANY FOR IGNORING THE COMPLAINTS OF THEIR HARDWORKING CUSTOMERS. THE ONLY OPTION I SEE IS A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION REGARDING A BAD BATCH OF LIFTERS IN 2011 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCKS, AND A REFUND/COMPENSATION TO THEIR CUSTOMERS FOR LOSSES THEY MAY HAVE HAD WHEN REPLACING LIFTERS, CAMSHAFTS, ETC.