What 694 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ram 1500 Quad Cab

MY 2012 DODGE RAM 1500 IS AFFECTED BY THE NHTSA RECALL 17V-821 (T79 MANUFACTURER RECALL) I HAVE HAD 2 INSTANCES OF MY TRUCK COMING OUT OF PARK IN THE LAST MONTH, I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS RECALL ONLINE, CHRYSLER/DODGE/RAM HAS NOT NOTIFIED ME OF THE RECALL AT ALL. I CALLED CHRYSLER AND THE MAN I SPOKE TO SAID THERE IS NO FIX CURRENTLY AND IT COULD BE SEPTEMBER OR LATER BEFORE THERE IS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND I WANT TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO TO GIVE THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER OR HAVE THE DEALER BUY IT BACK AS I DONT FIND IT SAFE TO PARK THE VEHICLE ANYWHERE AS IT COULD ROLL AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

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TAMARA RECALL- SO ON JUNE OF 2017 I WAS DRIVING FROM TEXAS TO COLORADO. I WAS AT THE PASSING BY TRINIDAD, CO WHEN THE TRUCK JUST GAVE OUT GOING UP THE HILL. IT LITERALLY LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HILL WHILE CARS WER DRIVING BY 70 MILES AN HOUR. M AND M TOWING TOWED IT TO TRINIDAD AND THEY INFORMED ME THE TRANSFER CASE WAS BAD AND SO WAS THE RIGHT FRONT DRIVE SHAFT. I PAID 2500 DOLLARS TO HAVE THAT REPAIRED. WELL NOW SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2012 THE TRUCK KEEPS GIVING ME PROBLEMS. IT TURNS OFF LITERALLY WHILE I'M DRIVING MAKING ME LOOSE ANY STEERING OR BREAK POWER. THE HEATING SEATS HAVE STOPPED WORKING, THE TRACTION LIGHT KEEPS TURNING OFF AND ON. THE LIGHT TRAILER DISCONNECTED MESSAGE IS PERMANENTLY ON. THE SHIFTER WON'T MOVE OUTTA PARK ALMOST EVERYDAY WHEN I FIRST START THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK TURNS ON AND IMMEDIATELY SHUTTS OFF. THE REMOTE START ONLY WORKS HALF OF THE TIME. I WAS JUST INFORMED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS CRACKED AND THAT THE RFRONT DIFFERENTIAL IS BAD TOO. AT THIS POINT THE TRUCK ISN'T EVEN DRIBBLE UNLESS I SPEND LIKE 5000 IN FIXING IT. BIT HOW IF I'M MAKING 700 PAYMENT MONTHLY. THE TRUCK IS PLAIN AND SIMPLE FALLING APART AND I HAVE ONLY HAD IT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. WHAT WORRIES ME THE MOST THAT IT TURNS COMPLETELY OFF WITHOUT NOTICE OR WARNING WHILE I'M DRIVING WITH MY KIDS IN THE TRUCK

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TAKATA RECALL, TRANSMISSION SHIFTS STRAIGHT INTO 4 GEAR FROM THE PARK POSITION, WILL NOT GEAR UP OR DOWN, STUCK IN THAT GEAR

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MFG RECALL # T79 AND NHTSA # 17V-821 ALSO THIRD REAR CAB BRAKE LIGHT IS LEAKING INTO THE CAB WHICH CAN LEAK INTO AIRBAGS, MAY CAUSE A MALFUNCTION DUE TO CORROSION.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 1500. WHILE STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GEARS MALFUNCTIONED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEARS WOULD NOT SWITCH TO DRIVE WHEN PROMPTED AND SWITCHED OUT OF GEAR INDEPENDENTLY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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1. WHEN PUTTING TRUCK INTO REVERSE FROM PARK OR DRIVE IT TAKES UPTO 7 PLUS SECONDS TO ENGAGE. 2. WHEN 4X4 IS ENGAGED AS YOU COME TO A STOP THE TRUCK LUNGES FORWARD AND CLUNKS EVERYTIME. ALSO IT HAPPENS IN 2 WHEEL DRIVE BUT NOT AS BAD...UPDATED 11/07/17 *BF

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THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BREAKING ON THE 5.7 ENGINES. I'VE HAD TO HAVE BOTH MANIFOLDS REPAIRED IN UNDER A YEAR. THIS PROBLEM ALLOWS EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE CABIN EXPOSING THE OCCUPANTS TO CARBON MONOXIDE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR RANDOMLY FLASHED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. ONE DEALER HAD BEEN UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE MULTIPLE TIMES. A SECOND DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF A DEALER MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

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IT WAS IN PARK AND ROLLED BACKWARDS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 1500. WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,772.

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VEHICLE WARRANTY FROM DODGE NOT HONORED DUE TO COMING FROM CANADA . YET AS I HAVE JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED A RAM TRUCK FROM ROY ROBINSON CHEVROLET IN MARYSVILLE WA TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASED VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN BRAKE WAS PRESSED UNLESS PUMPED DODGE WOULD NOT COVER WARRENTY ON VEHICLE AND ROY ROBINSON PAID TO REPAIR MASTER CYLINDER. ITS BEEN 1 MOTH AND HALF AND FROM TIME TO TIME I STILL GET THE SENSATION OF NOT STOPPING UNLESS I PUMP BRAKE . NOW MASTER TRANSMISSION HAS ISSUES WONT GET OUT OF 5 THE GEAR . SO FOR A UNSAFE VEHICLE THAT NOW HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF BRAKES AND BEING 37500 MILES A NEWER VEHICLE WAS ALLOWED TO BE SOLD AT NEW VEHICLE PRICE. AND STILL DODGE CANNOT TELL ME WHY AFTER GOING THRU CUSTOMS AND DOT AND EPA . WHY THE WARRANTY CANT BE CONTINUED. IM SCARRED TO DRIVE MY TRUCK THAT IM PAYING FOR WHEN IT IS UNSAFE WHAT ELSE WILL GO WRONG AND WHY ARE THESE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES ALLOWED IN USA.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE, THE STEERING COLUMN AND WHEELS VIBRATED AND MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE USUALLY OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE SYMPTOMS WERE RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V038000 (POWER TRAIN), BUT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

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THE RAM1500 WAS BEING STARTED AND PUT IN REVERSE THEN DRIVE AND IT MAKES A GRINDING NOISE. STARTED GETTING WORSE AND FAMILY MEMBERS WOULD NOTICE THE NOISE WHEN LEAVING THEIR HOMES. THEN ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO (JUNE 2015) WE TOOK IT IN TO DODGE AND THEY HEARD THE PROBLEM AND SAID THEY HAD CONTACTED THE ENGINEERS AND JUST KEEP AN EYE ON IT. NO FIXING OF ANY KIND. NOW EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, AS IT SHIFTS GEARS IT CLONKS INTO GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ALWAYS SHIFT PROPERLY. IT STAYS IN A GEAR LONGER THAN IT SHOULD. YOU CAN HEAR THE GEARS NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING. THE BRAKES ON THE TRUCK DONT SEEM TO STOP FAST ENOUGH. TAKING TRUCK IN FOR THAT NEXT WEEK.

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I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING AND THEN THE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON. BEFORE I COULD PULL INTO A GAS STATION THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF ON ME. I TURNED THE KEY AND THE CAR WOULD NOT TURNOVER. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY HOUSE FOR THE NIGHT AND THEN TO MY MECHANIC THE NEXT MORNING. HE COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND THAT'S WHEN I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. IT TOOK THEM 2-3 DAYS TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. WHAT THEY FOUND WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THIS IS HOW THEY STATED IT ON THE INVOICE: 29303 NO START P0688 ASD CIRCUIT FAULT, FOUND FUSE M19 BLOWN- REPLACED AND ATTEMPTED TO START- FUSE BLEW AGAIN. TRACED ASD CIRCUIT. FOUND IGNITION COIL #5 MELTED. TESTED FURTHER, FOUND #5 SPARK PLUGS FOULED AND CIRCUIT K16 SHORTED TO GROUND. REPLACED SPARK PLUGS, IGNITION INSUFFICIENT IONIZATION FAULT SET DIA AS A PCM WITH INTERNAL DRIVER FAULT CAUSED BY SHORT, REPLACED AND PROGRAMMED PCM. THIS OF COURSE HAPPENED 5 DAYS AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED, GRANTED I DID NOT EVEN HAVE 30,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V038000 (POWER TRAIN), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

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DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD BOLTS. CAUSING FUMES TO GET INSIDE CAB OF TRUCK.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD WAS WORN PREMATURELY, WHICH CAUSED THE TIRES TO BE WORN. IN ADDITION, THREE SECURITY LOCKS AND THE STUDS AND BOLTS FRACTURED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE SUSPENSION ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRES WAS UNSTABLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY LOOSE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE WHEELS WERE LOCKING IN THE REAR, WHICH INDICATED A DRIVE TRAIN FAILURE BECAUSE THE BOLTS ALSO FRACTURED IN THE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS FOR INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED WITH CONFLICTING INFORMATION FROM THE DEALERS AND WAS WAITING TO DETERMINE HOW THE MANUFACTURER WAS GOING TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V038000 (POWER TRAIN), 12V474000 (POWER TRAIN), 13V528000 (STEERING), 11V350000 (STE/ERING) AND 10E040000 (WHEELS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000. UPDATED 11/12/15*LJ UPDATED 10/19/2017*CN

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I HAD PUT MY 2012 RAM 1500 INTO PARK AND WALKED UP THE SIDEWALK, HAPPENED TO LOOK OUT AND IT WAS MOVING AND I RAN TO GET INTO IT TRYING TO STOP IT FROM HITTING OR CRASHING INTO SOMETHING. I DIDN'T GET TO IT IN TIME AND I GOT PINNED BETWEEN THE VEHICLE AND THE HOUSE CAUSING ME TO BREAK MY TAILBONE AND PELVIS IN TWO PLACES. THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND HAD SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THIS IS LIKE THE 4TH ONE HE HAS FIXED DO TO IT POPPING OUT OF GEAR. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THERE WAS A DELAYED RESPONSE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY DURING THE FAILURE. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH UNTIL AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. IN ADDITION, THE GEAR SHIFTER MOVED OUT OF GEAR WHEN SLIGHTLY TOUCHED WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

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WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK TRAVELING DOWNTOWN IN A BUSY AND TRAFFICKY BUSINESS DISTRICT IN WHICH ACCELERATION IS VITAL, UPON ATTEMPTING TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC AT GENERAL TRAFFIC SPEED THE TRANSMISSION STALLS AND I NEARLY GET RAMMED FROM BEHIND. FORTUNATELY THE DRIVER BEHIND ME NOTICED IT IN TIME & THOUGH MY VEHICLE DID NOT COMPLETELY STOP, IT STALLED ENOUGH TO HAVE CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAD NOTICED THE STALLING BEFORE, BUT NOT SO SIGNIFICANT. I HAVE TALKED WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE AT MY DEALERSHIP & THEY HAVE SCHEDULED ME IN FOR A SERVICE VISIT IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. HAVING MECHANICAL EXPERIENCE, I'M APT TO BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING IS GOING AWRY IN THE POWER TRAIN. I JUST ACQUIRED THE CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE A FEW MONTHS AGO AND IT HAS LESS THAN 82000 MILES. HOPEFULLY MY DEALERSHIP WILL ADDRESS THE ISSUE ACCORDINGLY & FAIRLY, GUESS I'LL KNOW SOON ENOUGH. *TR

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WHEN ON A40 TO45 PERCENT GRADE MY TRUCK TRANSMISSION WON'T ENGAGE UNLESS I REV TO 2000 TO 2500 RPM AND WHEN IT DOES IT BANGS INTO GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY CAN NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM BUT IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME I PUT MY BOAT IN OR TAKE IT OUT OF THE WATER. *TR

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THE WEEK OF MARCH 9TH OF THIS YEAR, WE TOOK THE TRUCK IN FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT TO THE LOCAL DEALER: FRONTIER DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP 5801 SPUR 327 LUBBOCK, TX 79424 THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED. THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD US THAT THEY WILL ONLY FIX THE ALIGNMENT AFTER THEY RECEIVE THE RECALL PART# N49. DUE TO THEM HAVING TO REALIGN IT AGAIN AFTER THEY REPAIR N49. THE STEERING WHEEL'S POSITION IS OFF. THE LOGO IS TILTED TO THE RIGHT. WITH THAT SAID, ITS NOW DECEMBER AND WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY CALLS FROM THE DEALER. THEY HAVE NOT CONTACTED US WITH ANY UPDATES. WE CALLED IN JUNE AND THE SERVICE DESK AND WERE TOLD THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE OUR PART YET. THAT WAS SAID EVEN BEFORE WE GAVE THEM OUR NAME. HOW DID THEY KNOW WHO THEY WERE TALKING TO? AFTER WE IDENTIFIED THE TRUCK, THEY SAID THAT THE PART ISN'T IN YET. THE ONLY REASON THAT WE ARE CONTACTING YOU IS DUE TO THE POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT WE RECEIVED AT THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE RECALLS NEED TO BE DONE. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT ITS NOT GETTING DON?T IN A TIMELY MATTER. THE 2ND RECALL, WITH COMPARTMENT FIRE, SOUNDS LIKE IT COULD BE A DISASTER. I DON'T EVEN FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE TRUCK ESPECIALLY HAVING MY FAMILY IN IT. I WOULD REALLY LIKE A CALL OR SOME SORT OF RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE SITUATION. *TR

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DRIVING AT OR NEAR HIGHWAY SPEEDS, VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY SURGE FORWARD AS IF SOMEONE BUMPED THE REAR BUMPER..HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

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VEHICLE WAS IN AUTOMATIC DRIVE, NOT MANUAL. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED INTO 4TH GEAR. I STOPPED, PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK, AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. WAITED TWO MINUTES AND TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON. PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO DRIVE AND IT STAYED IN 4TH GEAR AND WOULD NOT COME OUT. ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON UNTIL AFTER VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THEN BACK ON. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY TO TRY A RESET AND THAT DID NOT WORK EITHER. COMPUTER READING STATED SHIFT SOLENOID MALFUNCTION. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THREE KIDS IN THE TRUCK. *TR

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WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE TRUCK FAILED TO DOWNSHIFT FOR AN INCLINE ON THE HIGHWAY LOOSING MOMENTUM. I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED. AT THIS POINT I SIGNALED TO MOVE ONTO THE SHOULDER WHILE THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO LOSE MOMENTUM. WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MOVE AS IF I HAD LOST MY POWER STEERING TOO. THE BRAKES WORKED AND I STOPPED ON THE SHOULDER. I PLACED THE TRUCK IN PARK AND BACK TO DRIVE: NOTHING HAPPENED. I PLACED THE TRUCK IN PARK, TURNED IT OFF, WAITED A COUPLE MINUTES AND RESTARTED. THE TRANSMISSION AND STEERING NOW WORKED. AT NO TIME DID ANY WARNING LIGHT APPEAR ON THE DASH. I COULD HAVE CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT PILE UP ON THE FREEWAY DURING RUSH HOUR. SINCE NO WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE DASH--HOW DO I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED--OR MORE LIKELY, HOW WILL THE DEALERSHIP FIND THE ROOT CAUSE FOR THIS FAILURE. THIS BEHAVIOR IS DANGEROUS AND UNACCEPTABLE FOR A 2 YEAR OLD TRUCK WITH LESS THAN 15K MILES. I USE MY TRUCK TO SOMETIMES PULL A HORSE TRAILER. IF THIS INCIDENT HAPPENS AGAIN WHILE I AM TOWING THE OUTCOME WILL BE DISASTROUS. I AM NOW SCARED TO DRIVE MY TRUCK. *TR

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