NHTSA Complaint #724749 — 1994 DODGE RAM 1500

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH A LOOSE IGNITION SWITCH FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I HAVE NOT REPORTED IT UNTIL NOW BECAUSE I WAS UNAWARE THAT IT HAD BEEN A PROBLEM FOR OTHER OWNERS. I HAD SMOKE COME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN BUT THOUGHT THAT IT WAS JUST A FLUKE. THE FAN MOTOR FOR THE VENTILATION SYSTEM QUIT WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. UPON MOVING THE STEERING COLUMN UP AND DOWN WITH THE TILT FEATURE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE FAN GOING AGAIN AND THE SMOKE STOPPED. THIS HAS HAPPEN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITHOUT SMOKE HOWEVER. THIS HAPPENS ON A RANDOM CYCLE WITH NO APPARENT PATTERN OF FREQUENCY. IT ONLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN TILTING THE WHEEL FROM TIME TO TIME . AFTER HAVING READ ABOUT OTHERS VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE DECIDED TO REPORT THIS TO A LOCAL DEALER. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT 7/6/00 TO REPLACE THE VAPOR CANISTER WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED. I WILL REQUEST A REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR FREE BASED ON THE REPORTS IN YOUR WEB SITE WITH PREVIOUS OWNERS COMPLAINTS. NEW ISSUE THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED FAILING TO IDLE WHILE COMING TO A STOP AND THE ENGINE COMES TO A STOP OR DIES. THIS HAS NEARLY CAUSED TWO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE THE POWERING STEERING AND POWER BRAKES FAIL DUE TO THE ENGINE DYING IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC. I MANAGED TO AVOID ACCIDENTS THANK GOODNESS. THE TRUCK THEN REFUSES TO START DISPITE THE ENGINE TURNING OVER WHEN ATTEPTING TO RESTART. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO MOVE THE TRUCK OUT OF TRAFFIC BOTH TIMES WITHOUT INCIDENT SO FAR. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED 6/28/00/TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO HAS DONE REGULAR MAINTINANCE ON IT FOR SOMETIME. THIS TOW WAS THE RESULT OF THE SECOND FAILING OF THE ENGINE. THE SHOP HAS YET TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE AS OF THIS WRITING. NEW ISSUE THE STEERING COLUMN ALSO HAS A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND WILL HAVE THE DEALER LOOK AT IT THE SAME TIME THE RECALL WORK WILL BE DONE AND WILL LET YOU KNOW FROM THERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER. I DID'NT KNOW YOU COULD HELP PRIOR TO THIS DAY.*AK