NHTSA Complaint #11193081 — 2018 RAM 3500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 RAM 3500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, IT AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND COLLIDED WITH A FENCE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED REAR END DAMAGE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR INJURES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300. *DT *DT*JB *DT *DT *DT *DT*JB WE RAN THE TESTS AS REQUESTED. WITH THE FIRST 2 TESTS, THE SHIFT LEVER WOULD NOT MOVE FROM PARK WITHOUT HAVING YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE 3RD TEST DETERMINED THERE IS NO INDICATOR CHIME OR MESSAGE IF YOU LEAVE THE VEHICLE WITH IT RUNNING WHETHER THE PARKING BRAKE IS ON OR NOT. WE ALSO TESTED TO SEE WHAT THE TRUCK WOULD DO IF WE PUT IT IN NEUTRAL IN THE POSITION HE HAD THE TRUCK AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, IT IMMEDIATELY WENT FORWARD. LASTLY WE TESTED FOR THE IN BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE PROBABILITY. WE FOUND THERE IS DEFINITELY A POSITION BETWEEN P AND R WHERE THE SHIFT LEVER WILL GO INTO AND YOU ARE ABLE TO EXIT THE TRUCK. NO INDICATOR/WARNING GIVEN AT THIS POINT BUT THE P WAS FLASHING. WHILE SITTING IN THE TRUCK AND IT BEING IN THIS IN BETWEEN POSITION THE TRUCK DID NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACK. SO IN THIS POSITION THE TRUCK ACTS AS IF IT'S IN PARK NOT NEUTRAL AS IT DOES NOT ROLL FORWARD. ALSO WHILE IN THIS IN BETWEEN POSITION YOU CAN DROP THE LEVER DOWN INTO REVERSE WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE. AS YOU STATED, THERE IS NO WAY FOR US TO SAFELY CHECK TO SEE HOW LONG THE TRUCK WOULD STAY IN THIS IN BETWEEN POSITION ONCE LEAVING THE TRUCK. WE DO KNOW IT WILL STAY FOR SOME AMOUNT OF TIME AS WE TESTED THAT WITHOUT LEAVING THE TRUCK. THE LEVER DOES SLIDE DOWN INTO REVERSE VERY EASILY FROM THIS IN BETWEEN POSITION. SOME WITH A LEVEL TO SHOW THE SLOPE AND DAMAGES. *JB *DT *DT THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE NO MORE OCCURRENCES DUE TO THE FACT THEY ARE CONSCIENTIOUSLY USING THE PARKING BRAKE*TR *DT*DT 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDE