NHTSA Complaint #11363213 — 2011 DODGE RAM 1500

OUR 2011 RAM 1500 HAS RUST UNDER THE PAINT, BUBBLING IT UP, UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE BACK DOOR RIGHT ON/ABOVE THE ROCKER PANEL. THE ACTUAL DOOR IS NOT AFFECTED AND APPEARS TO BE RUST FREE, IT IS THE BODY OF THE TRUCK THAT IS AFFECTED. WE NOTICED THIS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND HAVE OWNED THE TRUCK FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS. I CALLED AN AUTO BODY REPAIR PLACE AND THE PERSONNEL TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH DOGE TRUCKS BECAUSE THE PANELS ARE NOT WELDED TOGETHER ANY LONGER, BUT ARE NOT BONDED TOGETHER WITH SOME KIND OF INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH ADHESIVE WHICH THEN CAUSES MOISTURE TO BE UNABLE TO ESCAPE, WHICH CAUSES RUST. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND FAULTY DESIGN AND TO CONTACT DODGE TO SEE IF THEY COULD ASSIST, BUT THEY CLAIM THEY CANNOT DUE TO THERE BEING NO RECALLS ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE. A GENTLEMAN FROM THE FCA INSTRUCTED ME TO COME HERE AND FILE A COMPLAINT. THOUGH THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS LISTED, THERE IS NO RECALL BECAUSE THERE IS NO RISK OF INJURY CONSIDERED, BUT FOR ME THE RUST IS ON THE ROCKER PANEL, WHICH IS STRUCTURAL, AND IS A RISK IF IT WEAKENS. ALSO, THE GENTLEMAN AT THE FCA AGREED WITH ME THAT THIS IS A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING, SO IT WOULD ONLY BE GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICE FOR DODGE TO COVER THE EXPENSES AND WORK TO IMPROVE THEIR PRODUCT BECAUSE IT CAN AND HAS PUT PEOPLE IN DANGER. THE COMPLAINTS ARE OUT THERE, AND I BELIEVE RUST ABSOLUTELY POSES RISK OF INJURY, AND I ALSO BELIEVE THAT DODGE SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAULTY DESIGN OF THEIR PRODUCT BECAUSE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. OUR VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN REGISTERED IN A STATE WHERE INCLEMENT WEATHER AND SALT BRINE FOR THE ROADS WAS REGULAR, AND IT HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED NEAR THE BEACH. WE LIVE IN THE PIEDMONT AREA OF SC AND EVERY TIME WE RETURN FROM THE BEACH WE THOROUGHLY WASH IT. RUST SHOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE. DO NOT REMEMBER THE DATE THAT WE FIRST NOTICED