NHTSA Complaint #11702941 — 2024 RAM 3500

The contact owns a 2024 Ram 3500. The contact stated that upon purchasing and driving the vehicle, the contact noticed an abnormal odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The dealer was notified and informed the contact that it was a new vehicle odor. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the contact noticed clear smoke coming from the vents. Additionally, the contact stated that the rearview was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the cab heater had experienced an internal short circuit, causing the wiring and grid heater to melt. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred while driving. The contact sustained extreme fatigue, sore throat, nausea, headaches, ringing ears, and vomiting. The contact had not received medical assistance but had taken a 3-day leave from work. The dealer was contacted via email and informed the contact that the heater assembly might not be the cause of the failure. The contact was concerned that the vehicle failure could cause a fire. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20.