NHTSA Complaint #11320973 — 2009 DODGE RAM 1500

SEVERE CORROSION RESULTING IN COMPROMISED STRUCTURAL FRAME INTEGRITY NEAR WHERE THE REAR BUMPER AND TOWING PACKAGES ATTACHES TO THE FRAME. APPEARS TO BE THE RESULT OF A FRAME REINFORCEMENT ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRAME THAT WAS NOT PROPERLY COATED WITH A RUST INHIBITOR AT THE FACTORY. MOISTURE LIKELY PENETRATED THE SPACE BETWEEN THE TWO METAL PIECES AND CAUSED COMPLETE RUST-THROUGH, COMPROMISING THE INTEGRITY OF THE REAR OF THE FRAME. THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE BUMPERS AND TOWING PACKAGES MOUNT TO THE FRAME IN THIS EXACT SPOT. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, BUMPERS OR TRAILERS IN TOW COULD BREAK AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND BECOME DANGEROUS PROJECTILES ON THE ROAD. THIS ISSUE WAS OBSERVED DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. IT HAS LIKELY BEEN ONGOING FOR MONTHS. THE UNDERNEATH SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS REGULARLY WASHED IN THE WINTER AND SPRING TO REMOVE DE-ICER THAT WAS APPLIED TO THE ROAD DURING WINTER STORMS. BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME HAVE SEVERE CORROSION IN THE SAME SPOT. THE LEFT-SIDE FRAME HAS WORSE CORROSION THAN THE RIGHT SIDE. THE SUPPORT METAL IS VISIBLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE FRAME AND CAN BE SEEN IN THE IMAGES ATTACHED.