NHTSA Complaint #11245363 — 2015 RAM PROMASTER 2500

2015 RAM PROMASTER DIESEL 2500 WITH 72000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, WELL MAINTAINED, WITH OIL CHANGES PER FACTORY RECOMMENDATIONS. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 70 -75 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING THERE WAS A SUDDEN AND HARD THUD IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SLOWING VERY RAPIDLY, AS IF BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AS THE VEHICLE SLOWED AND CAME TO A STOP, THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT SMOKE AND STEAM RISING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, BUT IT WAS NOT. IT SMELLED OF BURNT RADIATOR FLUID AND BURNT CLUTCH PLATES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP AND THE TOW OPERATOR HAD DIFFICULTY LOADING AND UNLOADING THE VEHICLE SINCE THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND THE DRIVETRAIN WHEELS WOULD NOT TURN. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED UNDER 100,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTEE. LUCKILY NO WAS WAS INJURED AND THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGES EXCEPT TO THE POWERTRAIN.