NHTSA Complaint #11234190 — 2005 DODGE RAM 2500

SPARE TIRE CARRIER. THE CABLE THAT HOIST THE SPARE TIRE UNDER THE BED OF THE TRUCK BROKE AT THE END OF THE CABLE CAUSING THE TIRE TO FALL TO THE GROUND. THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH WHILE TOWING A FIFTH WHEEL CAMPER. THE CAMPER RAN OVER THE TIRE CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY FIFTH WHEEL. BOTH AXLES ARE NOW BENT ON THE CAMPER, BENT A RIM, DESTROYED A TIRE, TORE A JACK STABILIZER OFF OF THE CAMPER. THE TIRE JUST MISSED MY WIFE WHO WAS DRIVING BEHIND ME. WE WERE TRAVELING ON A PAVED ROAD. THANK GOD THAT NOBODY WAS INJURED OR KILLED FROM THIS FREE ROLLING TIRE. I CALLED DODGE ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AT FIRST I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM, I INFORMED THEM THAT THE OWNERS MANUAL DOES NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT MAINTENANCE FOR THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOO OLD. THIS IS A 2005 MODEL THAT I BOUGHT BRAND NEW, I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRUCK IS IN ALMOST PERFECT SHAPE. I HAVE ONLY USED THE SPARE TIRE ONCE, THAT WAS ABOUT 7 YEARS AGO. THIS IS ALSO THE ONLY TIME THAT THE TIRE HAS BEEN LOWERED.