NHTSA Complaint #11349945 — 2015 RAM 1500

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY PULLING A SMALL 16 FT. CAMPER (I77 NB, MM ~68 IN NORTH CAROLINA), I NOTICED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH OTHER WARNING LIGHTS, I TRIED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. I WAS ABLE TO PULL SAFELY ONTO THE SHOULDER AND POPPED THE HOOD WHERE I NOTICED FLAMES. I TOLD MY FAMILY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES (WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM MY CAMPER) TO NO AVAIL. WE CALLED 911 AND WAITED FOR THE FIRE CREW TO ARRIVE. THE VEHICLE IS A COMPLETE LOSS. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE (19V-757) REGARDING EGR ISSUES AND POTENTIAL FOR ENGINE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE LOCAL DEALER AND HAD THE RECALL PERFORMED ON MAY 18TH. THE RECALL WAS LISTED AS COMPLETE AND INSPECTED, HOWEVER AFTER REPORTING THE INCIDENT TO FCA, THE STATUS OF THE RECALL ON MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHANGED TO OPEN. ATTACHED YOU WILL SEE PHOTOS OF THE SHOP VISIT SHOWING RECALL COMPLETION. I ALSO HAVE A SCREEN SHOT OF THE INITIAL VIN LOOK UP ON 8/8/2020 SHOWING THE RECALL COMPLETED, HOWEVER THERE IS NOW AN UPDATE SHOWING THE RECALL AS OPEN, UPDATED ON 8/17/2020. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT, HOWEVER I WAS QUICK TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, OBSERVE THE FIRE AND TELL MY FAMILY TO EXIT. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO FCA CASE [XXX] WHO HAVE SENT OUT AN INVESTIGATOR TO THE VEHICLE. FCA TODAY ISSUED ME A STATEMENT SAYING THE INFORMATION AT HAND DOES NOT PERMIT THEM TO ASSOCIATE THE FIRE WITH A MANUFACTURING OR ASSEMBLY ERROR. GIVEN THE GRAVITY OF THE FIRE, DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND POTENTIAL INJURY TO PEOPLE I FEEL THAT IF THE CAUSE CANNOT BE ASCERTAINED OR CORRECTED IT SHOULD BE REPORTED AS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.*DT*DT*JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB*DT*JB