NHTSA Complaint #11620587 — 2017 RAM 3500

While pulling my trailer on the interstate with cruise control set, I was going up a hill when all of a sudden my engine RPMs skyrocketed and my truck simultaneously lost propulsion. The cruise control system then disabled itself. My truck had slowed down enough that I turned my hazard lights on, and then selected a lower gear due to the decreased speed. While attempting to accelerate back to a normal speed, my trucks RPMs again skyrocketed and my truck simultaneously lost propulsion. I was now fairly certain that my clutch was slipping. I was able to limp the truck back to my shop. I then contacted my dealership asking if this would be covered by the manufacture powertrain warranty, they informed that it was not. I then asked for them to order me a new flywheel, clutch kit, and all other incidental parts. It was at this time the dealer advised that I instead purchase an after-market performance clutch because they had seen very high failure rates from the OEM clutches. Not wanting the risk of using parts not designed by the OEM, I elected to use all OEM replacement parts. Upon installation of the new clutch parts, I discovered the clutch friction material was not even warn down on the slipping clutch. After the repairs, my truck was back to normal until, out of the blue again, the same thing happened with approximately 12,000 miles on the replacement OEM clutch components. Remembering what the dealer said about the high failure rates, I decided to hang onto the original clutch, pressure plate and flywheel incase the want or need to examine it would arise later. My trailer complies with all of the manufactures rated weight capacities. The now slipping replacement OEM clutch has not yet been removed from the truck. I do not want to use after-market replacement parts, however I am now concerned about using the replacement OEM parts due to the unexpected loss of propulsion. Said issues occurred at approximate ODO of 46,800 miles and again at 58,800 miles.