NHTSA Complaint #736402 — 1995 DODGE RAM 3500

IN JULY I RECEIVED CHRYSLER RECALL #875 WHICH STATED:THE IGNITION SWITCH AND/OR STEERING COLUMN WIRING ON YOUR RAM TRUCK MAY OVERHEAT WHEN THE BLOWER MOTOR IS OPERATED AT HIGH SPEED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THIS CAN CAUSE STALLING, LOSS OF BLOWER MOTOR OR POWER WINDOW OPERATION, ABS OR AIRBAG LAMP ILLUMINATION OR A STEERING COLUMN/INSTRUMENT PANEL FIRE.THE DAY I RECEIVED THE NOTICE, THE STARTER DIED BEFORE I COULD GET TO THE DEALER. I TRIED TO CALL CHRYSLER TO DETERMINE THE LIKELIHOOD OF A CONNECTION BETWEEN FAILURE AND RECALL. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE RECALL SERVICE AND REPLACED THE STARTER AND SOLENOID. BY THE TIME I REACHED CHRYSLER, THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETE. THE MECHANIC, PERFORMING HIS FIRST 875 RECALL SAID NOCORRELATION. I ASKED IF THERE WERE OTHER STARTER FAILURES THAT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE DEALER SAID HE WOULD HAVE CHRYSLER CALL ME TO ANSWER THE QUESTION AND PROVIDE INFORMATION. THE DEALER CONTINUES TO SAY THAT ONLY CHRYSLER WOULD KNOW, CHRYSLER SAYS ONLY THE DEALER CAN ANSWER.BECAUSE FAILURE OF ELECTRIC MOTORS AND SOLENOIDS CAN OFTEN RESULT FROM LOW-VOLTAGE, OVER-HEATING, OR OVER-CURRENT OR RAPIDLY REPEATED VOLTAGE APPLICATION AND THE EXISTENCE OF SUCH CONDITIONS SEEMS TO BE WELL DOCUMENTED IN RECALL 875, THESE CONDITIONS ARE REASONABLE CAUSE OF STARTER FAILURE. CHRYSLER SHOULD PAY FOR THE ATARTER OR SHOW THERE IS NOT A HISTORY OF SIMILAR FAILURES OF OTHER TRUCKS RECALLED ON 875.