NHTSA Complaint #11206288 — 2017 RAM 3500

MY VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR THE STEERING DRAG LINK ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL STATES THE ASSEMBLY WILL BE INSPECTED AND WELDED AS THE REPAIR. THERE IS A REPLACEMENT PART LISTED ON THE RECALL HOWEVER DEALERS ARE NOT INSTALLING THE REVISED PART. I CONTACTED FCA (CHRYSLER) CORPORATE OFFICE ABOUT THE SAFETY CONCERN WITH WELDING STEERING COMPONENTS. MY CONTACT WAS TO RECEIVE THE REVISED STEERING DRAG LINK SINCE NO CREDIBLE AUTOMOTIVE AUTOMOTIVE SOURCE APPROVES OF WELDING STEERING COMPONENTS AND THAT BEYOND THE SAFETY ISSUE THE PART IS NO LONGER ADJUSTABLE OR FUNCTIONAL TO ADJUST DURING ROUTINE FRONT END ALIGNMENTS AND WILL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE RESPONSE FROM THE EXECUTIVE REFERRALS MANAGER WAS THAT I HAD ONE CHOICE AND THAT WAS TO BRING MY TRUCK TO A DEALER FOR THE STATED RECALL REPAIR AND THAT WELDING THE DRAG LINK WAS APPROVED BY THEIR ENGINEERS. I STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAS UNACCEPTABLE AND THAT I WOULD PAY FOR THE REVISED PART AND THE INSTALLATION THROUGH THE DEALER EVEN THOUGH MY TRUCK IS STILL COVERED BY THE ORIGINAL BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. I WAS INFORMED THAT NEITHER THE REPLACEMENT PART OR ANY OTHER CHRYSLER/MOPAR PART IS AVAILABLE FOR THE CONSUMER AND THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST ME IN HAVING THE DEALER INSTALL THE REVISED PART AT MY COST. I ASKED WHAT IF I HAVE A AFTERMARKET DRAG LINK INSTALLED. I WAS TOLD THE RECALL WOULD NOT BE CLEARED ON MY VEHICLE, I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FOR ANY DEFECTS IN THE STEERING COMPONENTS, AND THAT FCA WOULD BE ABSOLVED OF ANY RESPONSIBILITY. ITS NO SECRET THAT FCA IS RATED LOWEST OF ANY MANUFACTURE IN CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, HOWEVER THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR THE NEARLY ONE MILLION RECALLED VEHICLES. THE TRUCK IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND FCA IS WORRIED ABOUT COST NOT SAFETY. FCA HAS GIVEN THE OWNERS NO OPTION BY REFUSING TO PROVIDE UPDATED PARTS AND FORBIDDING THE INSTALLATION OF AFTERMARKET PARTS.