NHTSA Complaint #11489508 — 2021 ROADTREK ZION SRT

Built on a Dodge Ram 3500 chassis, our 2021 Roadtrek Zion SRT has the driver and passenger seats that swivel. As a so called safety feature, an alarm should chime and show on the dashboard if the individual seat is not locked in the forward position prior to putting the vehicle in gear. The vehicle will NOT go into gear if the alarm is activated. HOWEVER, the safety issue is that the wiring is defective so that when the seat is actually locked in the proper position, the alarm still sounds, and the vehicle can NOT be put in gear or moved! This creates the safety hazard as the vehicle cannot be moved in an emergency or non-emergency situation. A cutoff switch like the one for the airbag use should be installed. We were fortunate and not in a bad location and were able to contact the warranty roadside service in Branson, MO., when the vehicle couldn't be moved, but it could have proved deadly should this have happened elsewhere. The roadside assistance mechanic was able to disconnect the harness as a temporary fix so that the vehicle was able to be put into gear and driven, however the dashboard warning still shows up. At present, we are waiting for a new part ("harness") to come in to the Dodge dealership in DeLand, FL for the repair. Since this is a fairly new system for the seats, I thought I should get it on record as a safety issue. Not being able to put a vehicle in gear and move it is definitely a safety issue! Thank you.