1999 Dodge RAM 1500

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD FAILED ADDITIONALLY, BLOWING THE HEAD GASKET. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED REPLACING BOTH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND HEAD GASKET TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

I HAVE A 1999 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 THAT HAS A CRACKED DASH BOARD. EVERY WEEK THE CRACKS GROW AND INCREASE IN NUMBER. THE CRACKS ARE CONNECTING TO EACH OTHER NOW AND IS MAKING HOLES IN THE DASH. I'M GETTING CONCERNED THAT IF IT KEEPS CRACKING AT THIS RATE THAT THE AIR BAG MAY BE EXPOSED AND IF IT WERE TO DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT THAT THE SHARP CRACKED PIECES MAY TURN INTO PROJECTILES. IT MAY ALSO DEPLOY WITH OUT REASON. *JB

MY DASH HAS 3 CRACKS IN IT ONE FROM THE WINDSHIELD ALL THE WAY BACK, AND THE OTHERS ARE 1) FROM THE WINDSHIELD TO ABOUT 7" BACK AND 2) FROM THE WINDSHIELD MAKING A LARGE CURVE ABOUT 14" LONG. BOTH OF THE TWO ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ARE SLOWLY CREEPING TOWARD THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. THERE WAS NO ACTIONS SUCH AS CRASHES THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. *NM

I OWN, SINCE NEW, A 1999 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCK. THE TRUCK HAS 57,000 MILES AND IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF. LAST YEAR I NOTICED A CRACK RUNNING ALONG THE BOTTOM OF MY DASH. AFTER THAT, THEY JUST KEPT COMING ONE AFTER ANOTHER. NOW I CAN TAKE IT APART LIKE A PUZZLE . ONE BIG PIECE DID COME OUT, LEAVING A GAPING HOLE. I"M WAITING FOR WARMER WEATHER TO TRY TO FIX IT. MY CONCERN IS ,BEING THAT THE WHOLE DASH IS IN PIECES,HOW SECURED IS THE AIRBAG ON THE PASS. SIDE ? *NM

DODGE RAM 1500 YEAR 1999 [XXX] MILEAGE: 66,164 [XXX] CUSTOMER SERVICE: I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE RESENT REPAIRS INCURRED IN REFERENCE TO INVOICE #[XXX] AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY EARLY THURSDAY MORNING OF THE 9TH OF FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR, I HEARD A VERY LOUD BANGING OF METAL ON METAL AT THE SAME TIME THE REAR WHEELS OF MY TRUCK LOCKED UP. THE TRUCK THEN SKIDDED OFF THE ROAD BARELY MISSING THE GUARDRAIL AND OTHER CARS IN THE ADJACENT LANES. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO MARIETTA DODGE. UPON INSPECTION BY THE DEALERSHIP I WAS SHOWN BY THE TECH THAT THE CLIPS THAT HOLD THE PIN THAT SUPPORTS THE FICTION CLUTCH AND GEAR ASSEMBLY OF THE DIFFERENTIAL HAD FALLEN OUT INTO THE HOUSING LETTING THE PIN AND THE CLIPS FALL DOWN INTO THE GEARS CAUSING REAR-END TO LOCKUP AND SEVERE DAMAGE TO IT. THIS IN-TURN DAMAGED THE RING AND PINION GEARS AS WELL AS THE CASE, THE BEARINGS AND SO ON. A LIST OF THE PARTS AND LABOR ARE ON THE ACCOMPANYING. INVOICE # [XXX] TOTAL: $3730.86 I TOOK THE DAMAGED PARTS TO THE MACHINE SHOP AT THE BASE AND HAD THEM MAG-NI-FLUX TESTED. WE FOUND THAT THE SEVERAL OF THE PARTS HAD STRESS CRACKS INCLUDING THE RIGHT REAR AXIAL JUST BEHIND THE HUB THAT COULD OF LED TO ANOTHER ACCIDENT SHORTLY DOWN THE ROAD. THE MACHINIST CONCLUDED THAT THE CLIPS COULD HAVE FAILED DO TO POOR CASTING AND OR METAL FATIGUE. I WOULD TRULY APPRECIATE SOMEONE GETTING BACK TO ME ABOUT THIS REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION ON THIS MATTER. SINCERELY [XXX] *JB UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE CREEK TURNPIKE THE VEHICLE, 1999 DODGE RAM 4WD, BEGAN TO SHAKE WHEN SUDDENLY THE LEFT REAR WHEEL DISENGAGED FROM THE VEHICLE AND ROLLED 150 YARDS DOWN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED UPON IMPACT WITH THE PAVEMENT. POTENTIAL CATASTROPHE WAS AVOIDED. THE EXACT SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED TO MY SON WITH HIS 1997 DODGE RAM. *JB