NHTSA Complaint #11271139 — 2016 RAM 1500

ECODIESEL MODEL PICKUP WHILE TOWING OUR 4,000 LB TRAVEL TRAILER AT 50 MPH ON A STATE HIGHWAY, 90 MILES INTO A CAMPING/FISHING TRIP, SUDDENLY DISPLAYED SYMBOL AND MESSAGE ALERTS ON THE DASH AND AT THE SAME TIME LOST ENGINE POWER. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP ENOUGH SPEED TO PULL ONTO A DIRT SIDE ROAD WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE HUNDRED YARDS, THEN COASTED TO A STOP. DURING THE LAST 20 YARDS, THE ENGINE DIED COMPLETELY SO I HAD NO POWER STEERING. AT FULL STOP THERE WAS A STRONG CHEMICAL SMELL IN THE CAB AND GREY SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. WHEN I OPENED THE DRIVER DOOR, GREY SMOKE WAS BILLOWING FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD, THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FLAMES WERE SHOOTING UP FROM BEHIND THE ENGINE, THE INSULATION ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE HOOD WAS BURNING AND FLAKES OF BURNING INSULATION WERE FLOATING AROUND IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH AN EXTINGUISHER BEFORE THE ENTIRE TRUCK AND TRAILER AND THE SURROUNDING FOREST CAUGHT ON FIRE. JUST AS THE FLAMES DIED OUT, THE COOLANT RESERVOIR ON TOP OF THE ENGINE BURST AND BOILING COOLANT SPRAYED OUT CREATING A BUNCH OF STEAM AND MORE BAD CHEMICAL SMELL. I ARRANGED FOR THE TRUCK TO BE TOWED TO OUR HOMETOWN DEALER. TRUCK WAS STOCK AND DEALER MAINTAINED. I AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM THE DEALER AND THEIR RAM INVESTIGATOR ON WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE AND HOW THIS MATTER WILL BE HANDLED.