Aug 21, 2018SteeringTransmission & drivetrainBrakesFire
ON 8.20.18 MY VEHICLE GOING 70MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND THEN MADE A LARGE SOUND. I THEN LOST ALL STEERING AND BRAKING ON THE HIGHWAY. I BARELY WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF WITHOUT GETTING HIT. AFTER SITTING, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF FROM UNDER MY HOOD. AFTER POPPING THE HOOD, THERE WERE FLAMES DOWN IN THE ENGINE. I POURED THE LITTLE AMOUNT OF DRINKING WATER ON THE FLAMES TO DOUSE THEM. THE TOW TRUCK CAME AND TOOK US TO THE NEAREST DODGE DEALER (CROWN DODGE IN REDDING, CALIFORNIA). THEY IMMEDIATELY NOTED IT WAS LIKELY DUE TO RECALL T51, WHERE THE WATER PUMP OVERHEATS, BREAKS THE BELTS, OVERHEATS THE CAR AND COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. I TRIED TO GET THIS FIXED WITH MY LOCAL DEALER MONTHS AGO, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS. I ALSO NEVER RECIEVED ANY CORRESPONDENCE LETTERS ON THE RECALL... I OPENED A TICKET WITH DODGE DIRECTLY, THEY ARE INVESTIGATING. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS I COULD BARELY CONTROL MY CAR AT THAT SPEED, LOSING STEERING AND BRAKING.. SCARY, AND THEN A FIRE!. UGH...
NHTSA ODI 11121526
Apr 5, 2018SteeringCrash1 injury
TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY 101 AT 65-70 MILES PER HOUR, ONE QUARTER OF THE WAY INTO A HARD LEFT HAND TURN, THE STEERING ROD TO THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME LOOSE WITHOUT ANY IMPACT OR ANY OTHER FORM OF ROAD HAZARD. THE THREADED END DISENGAGED FROM THE TURNBUCKLE NUT LEAVING ME WITH ABSOLUTELY NO STEERING. THE OUT OF CONTROL TRUCK TRAVELED INTO A TURN OUT, UP A HILL, AND INTO A DITCH. THE ANTI SKID #2 KICKED IN, REDUCING MY BRAKES, MAKING THE TERRAIN EVENTUALLY STOP THE TRUCK. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET OF TRAVEL AFTER LEAVING THE HIGHWAY. FIAT-CHRYSLER WAS CONTACTED (CAIR # [XXX]) AND THEY SENT AN INVESTIGATOR (BOSCH AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE SOLUTIONS) WHO TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS AND DOCUMENTATION AFTER VIEWING THE TRUCK. I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO REVIEW THE REPORT. THEN, FIAT-CHRYSLER RESPECTFULLY DECLINED ANY ASSISTANCE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS MATTER. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT ALTHOUGH THE PARTS INVOLVED WERE UNDER WARRANTY, MY WARRANTY HAS BEEN VOIDED WITH NO EXPLANATION. THEY SUGGESTED I TURN IT OVER TO MY INSURANCE CARRIER, WHICH HAS ALSO DECLINED TO COVER THE DAMAGES. AS OF TODAY, APRIL 5 2018, MY TRUCK STILL SITS AT SPORTS CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE, AS NO ENTITY HAS ASSUMED RESPONSIBILITY OR AIDED ME IN ANY WAY IN FIXING THE TRUCK OR EXPLAINING THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. *DSY SEE ALSO ODI 11053917. *DSY *CN *DT *DT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 10/17/18*JB UPDATE 10/9/18 *DT *TR UPDATED 10/31/18*JB *BF *JB
NHTSA ODI 11083519
Dec 11, 2017SteeringSeat beltsCrash1 injury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING DID NOT RESPOND EVEN WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS MOVED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROVE INTO A DITCH. THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO TIGHTEN AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WAS ONE INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SPORT CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP (200 ECHESTNUT ST, FT BRAGG, CA), BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000. SEE ALSO ODI 11083519. *DSY
NHTSA ODI 11053917