2001 Dodge RAM 1500

While driving and operating the heater, unbeknowst to me leaves/pine needles had come in through the fresh air cowl vent and built up on the heater blower resistor resulting in a fire. This design in dangerous as the default for the air intake is open and allows debris to enter and drop directly into the fan and blower motor resistor. I've searched online and seen multiple reports of this issue. I have a video I can provide if contacted.

I TURNED THE KEY TO START THE ENGINE AND AS IT STARTED CRANKING SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE DEFROSTER AND THEN FIRE STARTED COMING OUT THE ENGINE HOOD. LUCKILY I HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER HANDY AND OPENED THE HOOD AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. WONDERED WHERE THE FIRE STARTED SO TRIED STARTING AGAIN AND FIRE STARTED IMMEDIATELY AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE OR ON TOP OF THE BELL HOUSING. I ALSO SMELLED FUEL. THE TRUCK WAS NEXT TO MY GARAGE AND HAD BEEN DRIVEN A FEW DAYS EARLIER. IF I HAD NOT PUT OUT THE FIRE MY WHOLE HOUSE COULD HAVE BURNED DOWN. I DONATED THE TRUCK TO WHEELS 4 VETS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASH ASSEMBLY FOR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AND CAUSED THE CONTROLS TO COLLAPSE INWARD INTO THE DASHBOARD. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG ON/OFF SWITCH WAS ATTACHED TO THE PANEL, THE HEADLAMP SWITCH, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, AND OTHER CONTROLS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD CAUSE ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND PREVENT THE AIR BAGS FROM DEPLOYING OR OPERATING CORRECTLY. THE DEALER WAS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE 2009 AND WAS INITIALLY INFORMED THAT IT WAS A COSMETIC ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED AGAIN OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS SIXTEEN YEARS OLD WITH 240,000 MILES, IT COULD NOT BE SERVICED BY THEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE HAD BEEN ONGOING SINCE 2005. IN 2005 THE FAILURE WAS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY DEFECT, BUT NOW THAT IT IS THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO AGE. *JS

AFTER ABOUT 11,000 MILES THE DASH BEGAN TO GET CRACKS AND FALL APART. IT GRADUALLY HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT THAT THERE ARE VERY LARGE HOLES AND PIECES OF THE DASH HAVE GOTTEN INTO THE DUCT WORK OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO HAVE BEEN HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH FUSES BLOWING. THAT IS WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO VANN DODGE IN VINELAND NJ AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. THEY TOOK PHOTOS AND LATER CALLED ME AND SAID THE DETERMINED THAT THE DASH WAS FAILING BECAUSE OF EXPOSURE TO SUN!!! THE VEHICLE IS GARAGED OR PARKED IN THE SHADE FOR MOST OF ITS EARLY LIFE AND CRACKS AND CHUNKS HAPPENED FOR NO APPARENT REASON, BUT THIS IS PROBABLY THEIR WAY OUT OF FIXING THE PROBLEM. NOW COMES ANOTHER PROBLEM OR INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED TO ME BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY PLASTIC THAT WAS USED TO CONSTRUCT THE DASH. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND TURNED ON MY DEFROSTER AND A PIECE OF PLASTIC BLEW OUT OF THE VENT ON THE TOP OF THE DASH OR LACK THERE OF, AND HIT ME IN THE FACE CAUSING ME TO SWERVE AND ALMOST HIT AN ONCOMING CAR. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE CAR AVOIDED ME OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 MONTHS AGO TO HAVE SERVICE ON A DIFFERENT VEHICLE AND QUESTIONED THEM ON THE STATUS OF ANY RECALL AND THEY ASKED ME FOR MY VIN # OF MY DODGE RAM PICKUP WHICH I PROVIDED AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECORD OF ME TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THEM FOR A INSPECTION, WHICH IS TOTALLY FALSE!!! THEY CONVENIENTLY LOST MY RECORDS ON MY PICK UP!!!!! SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE TO PREVENT SOMEONE FROM BEING KILLED DUE TO THIS FAULT OF CHRYSLER CORP. I HAVE PUT A REPLACEMENT SKIN ON THE DASH BUT THERE WAS NOT MUCH LEFT TO ADHERE THE SKIN TO AT A COST OF NEARLY $300 BUT THE PIECES CONTINUALLY FALL INTO THE VENTS. THANK YOU *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD A PAST FAILURE WITH THE BRAKES, CORROSION OF THE FRAME, A CRACKED DASHBOARD, AND WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATING SINCE 26,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THESE FAILURES, BUT NOT FOR THE STEERING FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 41,000.....UPDATED 01/04/2016 *BF