NHTSA Complaint #765617 — 1996 DODGE RAM 3500

DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT FOUND THAT THE LEFT FRONT FRAME WAS TOTALLY BROKEN AND THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE WAS CRACKED AND ALMOST TOTALLY BROKEN IN SAME AREA. THEY SAY THAT IT CAN POSSIBLY BE WELDED BUT NO GUARANTEE WOULD HOLD. WE ASK THAT THEY CONTACT CHRSYLER TO SEE IF ANYTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT, BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAPPEN. THEY SAID CHRSYLER REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, AND SAID SINCE IT WAS 6 YEARS OLD, AND HAD THAT MANY MILES ON IT THAT THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. WELL, WE FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT BECAUSE THEY ARE THE MANUFACTURER THAT BUILT THE TRUCK AND THE FRAME IS SUPPOSE TO LAST, ONE WOULD THINK LONGER THAN 6 YEARS. WE HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE WE HAVE OWNED OR ANYONE WE KNOW HAS NEVER. WE ALSO HAVE A 1987 CHEVROLET TRUCK AND IT HAS NO PROBLEMS WITH ITS FRAME. AFTER LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM CLOSER, IT APPEARS TO BE WHERE THE FRAME WAS WELDED TOGETHER IS WHERE IT BROKE AND CRACKED. IF I HAD NOT TAKEN IT IN TO GET IT ALIGNED, WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WOULD HAVE TOTALY BROKEN ON THE OTHER SIDE WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MILES PER HOUR. THE SERVICE DEPT SAID THE ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO FALL OUT THE BOTTOM AND I WAS VERY LUCKY. THEY COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED IT TO BREAK OTHER THAN SAYING IT WAS FROM STRESS. IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT , AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED AS LONG AS I HAVE OWNED IT. I FEEL THAT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO HELP, BECAUSE I HAD NO PLANS TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE AND NOW I HAVE NO CHOICE UNFORTUNATLY. THIS WILL PUT A VERY BIG FINANCIAL HARDSHIP ON MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. PLEASE HELP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *AK