NHTSA Complaint #755796 — 2000 DODGE RAM

I INSTALLED TIRE CHAINS ON MY VEHICLE AS PERMITTED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. A LINK ON THE CHAIN BROKE BECAUSE IT WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE LEAF SPRINGS OF THE VEHICLE. THE SPACE BETWEEN THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE AND THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE LEAF SPRINGS IS APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH. THIS IS INSUFFICIENT TO SAFELY RUN CHAINS ON THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CHAINS FAILED - IF THEY HAD WRAPPED AROUND THE AXLE IT VERY LIKELY COULD HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS REFERRED ME TO THE SELLING DEALER. THE SELLING DEALER SAID THEY CANNOT GET ANY GUIDANCE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE SELLING DEALER OFFERED THAT I USE CABLE CHAINS INSTEAD. I BOUGHT A SET OF THESE AND THEY, TOO, DON'T FIT WITHOUT RUBBING THE LEAF SPRINGS. THE DEALER ALSO SAID THAT THEY WOULD HONOR THE WARRANTY IF I PURCHASED WHEELS WITH MORE OFFSET (MOVE THE CENTERLINE OF THE WHEEL OUTBOARD OF THE VEHICLE) BUT THEY CANNOT OFFER A RECOMMENDATION FROM DODGE FOR AN AMOUNT OF OFFSET. FOLLOWUPS TO DODGE HAVE PROVEN FRUITLESS. I AM RUNNING FACTORY ORIGINAL TIRES AND CHAINS THAT ARE SIZED TO FIT THOSE TIRES.*AK