NHTSA Complaint #11228602 — 2003 DODGE RAM 1500

THANKS FOR REVIEWING. I BOUGHT NOT JUST ONE BUT TWO 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 SLT LARAMIE OFF ROAD 4/4. AFTER ONLY 6-7 YEARS OF SERVICE THE TRUCK STARTED TO RUST. I WENT FOR MAINTENANCE AND WHEN RAISING THE VEHICLE THE TECHNICIAN GOT EXCITED AND STOPPED HE CALLED ME OVER TO SHOW ME MY DRIVER SIDE FRAME RAIL WAS SO DETERIORATED HE WAS UNSURE HE COULD SAFELY RAISE THE VEHICLE. I WAS SHOCKED. BECAUSE I HAD THE TRUCK FROM THE DEALER BRAND NEW AND KNEW THE CARE IN WHICH THE TRUCK RECEIVED. THE TRUCK IS UNSAFE AND THOUGHT I COULD JUST BUY A REPAIR. THE REPAIR COST AS MUCH AS BUYING A DIFFERENT TRUCK WHICH I DID. SAME ONE. AND GUESS WHAT THE SAME PROBLEM. RUST OVER THE WHEEL, BUMPER AND YES THE FRAME RAIL. I COULD POKE MY FINGER THOUGHT IT AND IT WOULD FALL APART. I CALLED DODGE TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN FOR THE AMOUNT OF TRUCKS LIKE THIS ON THE ROAD. THEY TOLD ME MY TRUCK WAS OLD AND THAT'S WHY. FOR A COMPANY TO ADVERTISE THEIR TRUCKS BEING THE TOUGHEST ON THE PLANT I DON'T THINK SO. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS MY SON HAS A 1986 FORD TRUCK WHICH EVERYTHING FELL OFF EXCEPT THE FRAME, ON THE OTHER HAND, I HAVE A TRUCK WHICH ALL WORKS AND I CAN'T DRIVE. I'M SURE A LITTLE INVESTIGATION YOU WILL FIND 100000S OF THESE BROKEN FRAME TRUCKS THAT MOST DON'T EVEN KNOW IT'S HAPPENING. IT'S UNSAFE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN A VEHICLE TO PROVIDE PROTECTION IN CASE OF THE UNTHINKABLE. BUT DODGE HANDED OUT A BUNCH OF TRUCKS THAT HAVE TICKING TIME BOMBS IN THEM. I IMAGINE THE VEHICLE RESPONDING MUCH DIFFERENTLY IF IN A COLLISION WITH A RUSTED UN SUPPORTED FRAME. JUST LIKE A HOUSE IN FLORIDA WITHOUT BUILDING FOR A HURRICANE TO PASS. I FEEL DODGE COVERED UP THE PROBLEM AND SACRIFICED THE VERY PEOPLE THAT KEPT THEM IN BUSINESS. I WILL CONTINUE TO BRING LIGHT TO THIS AND I'M SURE MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. A VEHICLE THAT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND VALUELESS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.