NHTSA Complaint #706215 — 1995 DODGE RAM 1500

SHORTED IGNITION WIRING DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING OF WIRE SIZE AND AMP DRAW FROM HVAC FAN. WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE TRUCK STALLED. THE TRUCK COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. AFTER DISCUSSING THE FAILURE WITH THE DEALER, I WAS ABLE TO RETAIN THE DAMAGED IGNITION SWITCH AND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THERE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT DUE TO AN UNDERSIZING OF THE WIRE WHICH FEEDS POWER TO THE HVAC FAN, THROUGH THE IGNITION NO LESS, THE INSULATION HEATS UP AND DETIORATES TO THE POINT AT WHICH IT SHORTS WITH THE SURROUNDING THE WIRES. THE TECHNICIAN HAD CUT THE WORST WIRES AWAY FOR OBVIOUS REASONS BUT THE REMAINING WIRES SHOW SIGNS OF OVERHEATING. I HAVE READ A COUPLE OF INCIDENTS LIKE THIS EXACT ONE ON THE NHTSA TROUBLE PAGE. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT I WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT 5MPH BECAUSE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH BIGGER INCIDENT. CHRYSLER HAS NO INTENTION ON REIMBURSING THIS OR FIXING OTHER OWNERS WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY HAVE THIS FAILURE. THEY NEED TO REASSESS THE POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE THIS FAILURE COULD CREATE. THANKS CRAIG DIXON. *AK