NHTSA Complaint #11100380 — 2016 RAM 3500

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH THE MANUAL SINGLE ZONE HEATING VENTILATION AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM (HVAC). THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY DEFAULTS TO RECIRCULATE AIR MODE REGARDLESS OF THE RECIRCULATE MODE BEING TURNED OFF. YOU CAN TELL THE SYSTEM IS IN RECIRC MODE WITH THE RECIRC LIGHT OFF BY THE INCREASED FAN NOISE. THE SYSTEM ALSO DEFAULTS TO RECIRC MODE WHEN THE SYSTEM IS OFF. I HAVE DUPLICATED THE DEFECT TO DEALERSHIP PERSONNEL ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WHO ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE SYSTEM TO NO AVAIL. THEY THEN DUPLICATED THE EVENT IN A 2018 MODEL RAM PICKUP WITH THE SAME MANUAL HVAC SYSTEM. AFTER THIS I WAS ADVISED IT WAS A DESIGN DEFECT AND THERE WAS NOTHING FURTHER THEY COULD DO. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT WHICH COULD UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES ALLOW A DANGEROUS BUILDUP OF CARBON MONOXIDE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE OPERATOR HAS NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT THEY ARE NOT GETTING FRESH OUTSIDE AIR INTO THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE RECIRC LIGHT IS OFF WHEN THIS OCCURS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BOTH STATIONARY OR MOVING.