NHTSA Complaint #11583133 — 2017 RAM 3500

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 3500. The contact stated while the vehicle was undergoing DOT inspection, the DOT inspector advised the contact to shift in neutral (N), and to activate and squeeze the brake controller manually. The contact was then advised to shift into drive (D) and to release the brake pedal while squeezing the brake controller. The contact stated that upon following the instructions, the vehicle moved forward. The DOT inspector determined that the brake controller was malfunctioning because the trailer brakes failed to prevent vehicle movement when manually activated. The contact stated that the company's mechanic replaced the 7-way pins, the 7-way pin trailer cable, the 7-way pin wiring harness box, and module, the brake controller assembly, the wiring on the front and rear axles, the brake assemblies; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that when the brake controller was set at the max 10, the brake wire connector displayed 6.5 Volts, while the voltage should be 13.2 Volts. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 162,388.