NHTSA Complaint #11097543 — 2008 DODGE RAM 1500

DISCOVERED MANUFACTURING DEFECT AT ELECTRICAL PLUG THAT SITS ABOVE LEFT BANK WHERE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD MEETS THE EXHAUST PIPE. FURTHERMORE, THE CONNECTOR SITS RIGHT BETWEEN THE BLOCK AND THE FIREWALL. THE CONNECTOR AND IT'S WIRING HAVE AN EXTREME TURN OFF OF THE PLUG AND CREATED SUCH TENSION THAT THE PLASTIC CONVOLUTED TUBING WAS PULLED BACK FROM THE WIRING. ALL OF THE WIRING TO APPROXIMATELY 6' BACK FROM THE CONNECTOR IS BARE AND THE WIRES ARE TOUCHING ONE ANOTHER. I FEEL THAT IF THE ROUTE OF THE WIRING HAD LESS OF AN EXTREME BEND AND THERE WAS SOMETHING TO SECURE THE WIRING WAS IN PLACE, THERE WOULDN'T BE THIS CONCERNING ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THE FCA AND THEY REFUSE TO LOOK AT IT WITHOUT CHARGING ME MONEY. I AM AN ELECTRICIAN BY TRADE AND I FEAR THAT THIS COULD AFFECT A MULTITUDE OF VEHICLES. THE TRUCK WILL RANDOMLY SHUTDOWN WHILE DRIVING REGARDLESS OF SPEED,, AND WHEN SITTING IDLE AT TIMES. ALSO, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO REACT TO THE COMMANDS GIVEN WITH THE GEAR SELECTOR. I'M UNSURE WHETHER THIS IS RELATED OR NOT.