NHTSA Complaint #11396792 — 2015 RAM 1500

FIRST WEEK OF DECEMBER 2020, I HAD A NORMAL OIL CHANGE. THE FOLLOWING DAY MY RAM IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE BATTERY (EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY WAS ONLY A YEAR OLD). FOUND MY RAM VIN HAD LONG LIST OF OPEN RECALLS. I CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. PROVIDED WITH LOANER. SERVICE ADVISER SAID TRUCK WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE EGR RECALL. A COUPLE HUNDRED MORE MILES, A FIRE ENGINE WOULD HAVE ENSUED. MY EGR HAD COMPLETELY FAILED, COOLANT HAD GOTTEN INTO MY INTAKE. PARTS WERE BACKORDERED BECAUSE MANUFACTURING OF MODS JUST BEGAN. 12/24/20 ALL RECALL MODS/REPAIRS COMPLETED. DEALERSHIP ADVISED TRUCK WAS SAFE AND OPERABLE. RECEIVED FCAS EXTENDED LIMITED WARRANTY. 2 WEEKS LATER COOLANT/WATER LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH. FOUND THE COOLANT LEVELS DROPPED. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, SERVICE AT THAT TIME COULD NOT FIND LEAK. TOLD TO RECHECK IN ONE WEEK. 1 WEEK LATER, LEVELS NOT LOWER BUT COOLANT FLUID SMELL AFTER SHUTTING OFF ENGINE. TOLD IT WAS NORMAL. FRIDAY 2/12/21 TRUCK STARTED IRREGULARLY AND GURGLED. FOUND COOLANT HAD DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW THE RECOMMENDED LEVELS. BROUGHT BACK TO DEALERSHIP. BEFORE DROPPING IT OFF ANOTHER MECHANIC FOUND COOLANT LEAK DRIPPING DOWN THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE ACTUATOR AND FRONT COVER WITH TRACES OF IT COMING OUT OF THE WATER PUMP AND VALVE COVER GASKET. PUT INTO A LOANER. I WAS TOLD MY WATER PUMP FAILED. NOT COVERED UNDER NEW FCA WARRANTY. ALL RECALL REPAIRS/MODIFICATIONS DID NOT FIX ISSUES. VEHICLE REMAINED INOPERABLE AND DANGEROUS. COOLANT NEVER STOPPED LEAKING INTO INTAKE AND OTHER AREAS OF ENGINE. THE EGR IS A COMPONENT FAILED CAUSING DOMINO BREAKDOWN OF ENTIRE TRUCK ENGINE. RECALL STATES THE FAILED EGR WILL CAUSE THERMAL FATIGUE AND HIGH TEMPERATURES TO CRACK PORTIONS OF THE COOLING SYSTEM (HENCE THE ENGINE FIRES).