NHTSA Complaint #11361693 — 2007 DODGE RAM 1500

I PURCHASED A 2007 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP IN NOVEMBER 2008. IT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND TAKEN CARE OF, HOWEVER THE REAR FENDERS ARE RUSTING OUT. THE RUST IS SPREADING AND GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. THE EXCESSIVE RUSTING HAS SPREAD TO BOTH SIDES OF THE TRUCK ON THE LOWER DOOR PANELS. I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH THE BODY SHOP MANAGER AT A DEALERSHIP, WHO TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS AN ENGINEERING FLAW THAT IS CAUSING THIS MODEL YEAR TO RUST THROUGH. I DO NOT BELIEVE REPAIRING THE RUST DAMAGE IS MY FINANCIAL BURDEN TO BEAR WHEN THE REASON FOR THE RUST IS THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER. ANOTHER PROBLEM I AM EXPERIENCING IS THAT ALL OF THE LUG NUTS HAVE MOISTURE INSIDE OF THEM THAT IS CAUSING THEM TO SWELL. THEREFORE WHEN GOING TO TAKE ANY OF THE TIRES OFF, I AM UNABLE TO USE THE CORRECT SIZE SOCKET TOOL. THE APPROXIMATE COST TO REPLACE ALL OF THE LUG NUTS IS $250, ALL OF WHICH IS DUE TO NO FAULT OF MY OWN. I SHOULD ALSO MENTION ANOTHER COSTLY REPAIR WAS REQUIRED AT ONLY 90,000 WHEN THE ENGINE HEAD WAS FOUND TO BE WARPED/OUT OF TOLERANCE, WHICH RESULTED IN CYLINDERS MISFIRING. I HAD TO PAY ~$5,000 TO HAVE A MECHANIC IN MY AREA REPAIR THIS ISSUE. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. OVERALL, WITH A TRUCK THAT HAS 96,000 MILES AND IS ONLY 13 YEARS OLD, THERE HAS BEEN AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ISSUES AND MONEY SPENT ON FIXING PROBLEMS THAT DID NOT ORIGINATE FROM ME, BUT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ACTION TAKEN ON THE EXPENSIVE RUST PROBLEM I AM EXPERIENCING THAT DRASTICALLY LOWERS THE VALUE OF MY VEHICLE AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING BECAUSE OF THIS MANUFACTURING/ENGINEERING FLAW.