What 340 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Ram 2500 Regular Cab

The electoral component of the climate control started on fire while vehicle was parked and turned off. The truck was deemed a total loss by insurance. There is a fire and police report stating the fire started in the wiring of the climate control. The fire department had to tear out that whole dash part to stop the fire. There was no warning that this was going to happen. We are now stuck with $8000 left to pay on this vehicle that was deemed total loss by American Family Insurance. This was faulty wiring on Dodges behalf.

NHTSA ODI 11438728

ON DECEMBER 21ST, 2018 I TOOK MY TRUCK TO A CAR WASH. FOLLOWING THE INITIAL CLEANING THE ATTENDANT PLACED THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL, EXITED THE TRUCK, ENGAGED THE TRACK MECHANISM AND WALKED BACK TO THE NEXT TRUCK IN LINE. I WAS IN THE GLASSED IN AREA WATCHING. WITHOUT WARNING THE TRUCK WENT TO FULL THROTTLE RACING THROUGH THE CAR WASH TUNNEL AND HITTING A TOYOTA VAN WAITING TO BE MOVED TO THE NEXT CLEANING POINT. I WATCHED AS THE ATTENDANT TRIED TO RACE DOWN THE TUNNEL AFTER THE TRUCK. JUST AS THE TRUCK STRUCK THE VAN HE ENTERED AND PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK. THE ENGINE SLOWED FROM FULL THROTTLE TO WHAT APPEARED TO BE NORMAL. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CHRYSLER. THEY HAD A THIRD PARTY RUN A DIAGNOSTIC PROGRAM ON MY TRUCK. THEY SENT THE INFORMATION TO CHRYSLER ENGINEERS. I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL TELLING ME CHRYSLER WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INCIDENT. I HAVE WRITTEN THEM AGAIN TELLING THEM I THOUGHT THEIR INVESTIGATION WAS INCOMPLETE SINCE THEY SPOKE TO NO ONE ON STAFF AT THE CAR WASH OR REVIEW THE VIDEO OF THE EVENT. THEY IMPLIED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY AFTER MARKET MATS. SINCE I WAS PRESENT AND OBSERVED THE INCIDENT, I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH THAT EXPLANATION AND HAVE ASKED THEM TO STATE TO ME IN WRITING MY TRUCK IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I DO NOT ANTICIPATE THAT HAPPENING AS I BELIEVE THEY ARE PLAYING A CLASSIC GAME OF CYA. THERE IS A VIDEO OF THE EVENT AS IT HAPPENED. *TR *DT *DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11173119

I WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION CAUSING $20,000 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO GO OFF. THE FRONT END WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED YET NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. I WAS TRAVELLING ABOUT 35 MPH AND HAD VERY LITTLE TIME TO BRAKE. I HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE BROADSIDE. I WAS ON A 4 LANE ROAD AND GOING STRAIGHT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. *DSY

NHTSA ODI 11143329

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF THE PARK POSITION AND CRASHED INTO AN AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR FAILURE IN THE PAST, BUT WAS ABLE TO JUMP BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND STOP IT WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHRIS NIKEL CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM FIAT (918-355-5000, LOCATED AT 2920 N ASPEN AVE, BROKEN ARROW, OK 74012), BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V562000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11130369

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 RAM 2500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND UNOCCUPIED, IT ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF THE PARK POSITION AND CRASHED INTO SOME TREES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. EGOLF CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM IN BREVARD, NORTH CAROLINA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V821000 (POWER TRAIN), WHICH WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ODI 11080234

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 DODGE RAM 2500 TOWING A CURT GOOSENECK HITCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HITCH BECAME UNHOOKED WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AT 3 MPH. THE VEHICLE HITCH ASSEMBLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY THERE WERE NO INJURIES, FIRE OR POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THE BALL ON THE HITCH ASSEMBLY WAS UNDERSIZED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11063150

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WHEN THE ROAD CURVED, I ATTEMPTED TO TUN THE STEERING WHEEL, I GOT NO RESPONSE FROM THE WHEELS. I WENT OFF THE ROAD AND IN TO THE DITCH. ONCE IN THE DITCH, I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO SEE IF THE WHEELS WOULD TURN, THE WHEELS WOULD NOT TURN. LOOKING UNDER THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK THE STEERING DRAG INK HAD BROKE AT THE ADJUSTING SLEEVE. LOOKING AT THE DRAG LINK IT HAS BROKEN IN HALF FOR NO REASON, AND ONE OF THE JAM NUTS IS LOOSE. RAM IS NOT OFFERING ANY ASSISTANCE TO ME TO COVER THE REPAIRS OR DAMAGES TO THE TRUCK.

NHTSA ODI 11032861

DROVE FOR ABOUT 17 MILES AND PARKED AT A STORE. WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF PARKING THE TRUCK, WHITE SMOKE COULD BE SEEN COMING FROM THE HOOD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. AS I APPROACHED THE TRUCK FLAMES CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD IN THE SAME AREA. GRABBED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND RETURNED WITHIN ONE MINUTE TO FIND ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IN FLAMES. UNABLE TO OPEN THE HOOD SO THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER WAS NOT MUCH GOOD. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED WITHIN 5 MINUTES BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. INSURANCE COMPANY TOOK POSSESSION OF THE TRUCK AND TOTALED IT. UNKNOWN IF IT WAS EVER DETERMINED WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. *BF UPDATED 7/26/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 11032804

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING ON A TWO LANE ROAD, ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS IN A CRASH AND STRUCK THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL, TREATED, AND RELEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. ...UPDATED 04/20/17 *BF *CN

NHTSA ODI 10958271

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 RAM 2500. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V460000 (AIR BAGS). MONTHS LATER, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT REACHED FOR THE GLOVE BOX, VEERED OFF THE ROAD, CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL, AND STOPPED IN A FIELD. THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS AND STEERING WHEEL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH FORCE AND A SUBSTANCE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT ARM, LEFT SHOULDER, LEFT SIDE OF THE FACE, AND BRUISES TO THE LEFT EYE. MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD RESPOND WITHIN 48 HOURS. WHEN THE CONTACT HAD NOT HEARD FROM THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY LATER SENT AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR THE RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. ...UPDATED 02/22/17 *BF UPDATED 7/6/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 10925231

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DITCH TO AVOID HITTING A DEER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, FACE, ABDOMEN, AND BACK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A DODGE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,500.

NHTSA ODI 10897545

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP SIGN AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE REAR END WAS SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE REAR END TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT TRACK BAR BRACKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,820.

NHTSA ODI 10839492

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR FROM THE DRIVER SIDE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE HOOD AREA BEGAN TO SMOKE AND THE CONTROL BEGAN TO BECOME UNSTABLE. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, BUT NO OFFICIAL DIAGNOSTIC WAS GIVEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

NHTSA ODI 10809173

THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL LOCKED UP WHILE TOWING OUR RV, WHICH CAUSED US TO JACKKNIFE AND SUBSEQUENTLY FLIPPING OUR RV. THE RV IS A TOTAL LOSS AND THE TRUCK HAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. THERE WAS A LOUD POP OR BANG AND THEN MAYBE A SECOND OR SO BEFORE THE REAR END SEIZED. THE TRUCK SHUT DOWN DURING THIS WHICH LEFT US WITH NO BRAKES FOR THE RV AND THE TRUCK ALMOST FLIPPED WITH RV. THE MECHANIC AT THE SERVICE CENTER SHOWED US THE SPIDER GEAR SHAFT IN THE DIFFERENTIAL, WHICH HAD BROKEN LOOSE SOMEHOW AND JAMMED AGAINST THE DRIVESHAFT GEAR, THEREBY LOCKING THE DIFFERENTIAL AND POWERTRAIN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH RAM TRUCKS AS THE INVESTIGATIONS HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE JUST EXITED THE FREEWAY BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY, MY WIFE AND MYSELF COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND ANY NUMBER OF DRIVERS THAT WERE AROUND US. THE FREEWAY WE HAD JUST EXITED WAS PRETTY BUSY WITH SEMI'S AND CARS ALIKE. THIS KIND OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE ON A NEW TRUCK WITH ONLY 4700 OR SO MILES IS UNACCEPTABLE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10664110

THIS VEHICLE HAS THE WORST ACCELERATION AND TAKE OFF I HAVE EVER NOTICED. IF I HAD TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF SOMETHING, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TOO. IF NOT FIXED THIS WILL DEFIANTLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I CAN'T EVEN PULL OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND GET UP TO THE SAME SPEED AS OTHER TRAFFIC. WHEN I GOT IN MY WRECK IN JUNE I WAS TRYING TO PASS SOMEONE WHO WAS DRIVING SLOW AND I COULD NOT GET AROUND THEM QUICK ENOUGH AND THEY CUT ME OFF CAUSING OUR VEHICLE TO COLLIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10627954

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY 100 YARDS. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TRACTOR TRAILER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

NHTSA ODI 10616077

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE THAT ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRICAL WIRES AND INSULATION THAT WAS UNDER THE VEHICLE HAD CAUSED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS THE FIRE CHIEF THAT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE OF THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,700. ..UPDATED 08/11/14 *BF UPDATED 08/19/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI 10587789