NHTSA Complaint #11299535 — 2018 RAM 2500

FCA COMPLETED A SUB-PAR REPAIR ON A DEFECT RELATED TO THEIR RECALL NOTICE V06. THIS 'REPAIR' WAS COMPLETED ON MY NEW 2018 RAM 2500 POWER WAGON PRIOR TO ME TAKING DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE (I AM THE 1ST OWNER). THE 'REPAIR' RELEGATES WHAT IS DESIGNED AND REQUIRED TO BE AN ADJUSTABLE STEERING DRAG LINK INTO A FIXED, NON-ADJUSTABLE COMPONENT BY WELDING THE JAM NUTS TO THE ADJUSTING SLEEVE. BY DOING SO, FUTURE STEERING ALIGNMENTS WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL TIME AND EXPENSE TO THE CUSTOMER BECAUSE FCA WANTS TO SAVE A FEW DOLLARS INSTEAD OF PROPERLY REPAIRING THE VEHICLE AS PART OF THE V06 RECALL CAMPAIGN. FCA REDESIGNED THIS COMPONENT FOR THE 2019+ MODELS AND THE NEWLY DESIGNED COMPONENT IS FULLY COMPATIBLE WITH PRIOR MODEL YEARS. I HAVE PURCHASED THE REDESIGNED COMPONENT AT MY OWN EXPENSE BECAUSE I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH AN ADJUSTABLE PART THAT WAS WELDED BY A NON-CERTIFIED WELDER AND WASN'T DESIGNED TO BE WELDED. THE MATERIALS ARE DISSIMILAR AND ANY WELD WILL BE SUBJECT TO FAILURE UNLESS CAREFUL CONSIDERATION WAS GIVEN TO THE AMPERAGE AND FILLER MATERIAL BEING USED TO COMPLETE THE WELD.