NHTSA Complaint #11350263 — 2005 DODGE RAM 3500

AT 178,000 MILES (APPROXIMATELY), THE REAR SUSPENSION STRAP RUSTED THROUGH AND DROPPED THE REAR END OF THE DIESEL FUEL TANK TO THE PAVEMENT. THE PLASTIC TANK WAS GROUND DOWN BY MOVING OVER THE PAVEMENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, BUT I WAS ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THE ISSUE BY THE UNUSUAL NOISE AND THUS STOP THE TRUCK BEFORE THE TANK RUPTURED. POTENTIAL HAZARDS INCLUDE FUEL SPILL, SMOKE, FIRE, AND VEHICLE STALL WHILE MOVING WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF RESTART. FUEL TANK FIXATION TO THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT RUST THROUGH AND FAIL DURING THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL TANK IS WITHIN 2 INCHES OF THE DRIVESHAFT AND WITHIN 18 INCHES OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.