NHTSA Complaint #11328470 — 2015 RAM 1500

UPON PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND ONTO A DIVIDED HIGHWAY ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC THE TRUCK MADE NOISES AND THE ENGINE DIED, LEAVING ME TO COAST BACK INTO THE NEXT PARKING LOT ENTRANCE WHILE HOLDING UP TRAFFIC. THE FAILURE TURNED OUT TO BE THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION TONE RING. THE DESIGN OF THIS TONE RING IS A STAMPED STEEL WHEEL WITH MAGNETIC MATERIAL ADHERED TO THE RIM, IT APPEARS THAT HEAT AND TIME CAUSED THE MAGNETIC MATERIAL TO CRACK AND FAIL. ONCE A PIECE OF MAGNETIC MATERIAL CAME OFF, THE MOTOR NO LONGER HAS A PROPER CRANK POSITION SIGNAL AND WILL STOP RUNNING. ANOTHER DESIGN CONSIDERATION IS THAT THE TONE RING IS INACCESSIBLE WITHOUT REMOVING THE TRANSMISSION AND FLEXPLATE, THIS RENDERS IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CHECK THE CONDITION OF THE TONE RING TO AVOID A FAILURE. *TR