NHTSA Complaint #11193579 — 2018 RAM 2500

THE FCA RECALL V06 CONCERNING DRAG LINK SEPARATION PRESCRIBES A SPOT WELD REPAIR THAT I FEEL WILL EVENTUALLY FAIL BECAUSE OF FUTURE ALIGNMENT SERVICE. SPOT WELDING THE JAM NUTS TO THE ADJUSTER SLEEVE WORKS ONLY UNTIL THE NUT AND ADJUSTMENT SLEEVE ARE SEPARATED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN FOR A FUTURE ALIGNMENT. I CALLED DODGE WITH THIS CONCERN, AND THEY PUT ME IN CONTACT WITH THE LOCAL DEALER WHO SAID IF THE ADJUSTER NEEDED TO BE MOVED WITH FUTURE ALIGNMENTS THEY WOULD GRIND THE WELD OFF, MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT, THEN WELD THE NUTS BACK TO THE ADJUSTMENT SLEEVE. THIS WILL WORK IF THE OWNER USES ONLY THE DODGE DEALER FOR ALIGNMENT. MANY ALIGNMENTS ARE DONE AT TIRE STORES, AND A VARIETY OF OTHER SERVICE FACILITIES WHO WILL NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS REPAIR. THE WELD MIGHT BREAK WHEN THE TECHNICIAN COUNTER WRENCHES THE JAM NUT AND ADJUSTMENT SLEEVE, OR GRINDS IT OFF TO ALIGN THE TRUCK. WITH OUT KNOWING ABOUT THIS RECALL THE TECH MIGHT MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AND TURN THE JAM NUT BACK ON THE SLEEVE; RETURNING THE TRUCK TO IT'S PRE RECALL CONDITION. THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE DEALER, OR FCA. I'M CONCERNED THAT MOST OWNERS WILL BE UNAWARE THAT AFTER A COMMON ALIGNMENT THE V06 RECALL MIGHT NEED TO BE REDONE. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN SPOT WELDED AND THE RECALL IS DONE.