2001 Dodge RAM 1500

THE SPARE TIRE CABLE SNAPPED QUITE POSSIBLY CAUSING MY SPARE TIRE TO FALL OUT ON THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. I DO NOT KNOW WHERE OR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I LAST CHECKED THE SPARE TIRE IN NOV 2015 AND NOTICED IT GONE IN APRIL 2016. ALL THAT REMAINS IS A SPLINTERED CABLE. IN TALKING TO PEOPLE IN THE AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS THEY TELL ME THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. IN MY CASE IF IT DID INDEED FALL OUT WHILE DRIVING I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT NO ONE GOT HURT. I DO NOT KNOW IF NEWER VEHICLES ARE STILL EQUIPPED WITH THESE CABLES. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF SECONDARY SYSTEM TO PREVENT THE TIRE FROM FALLING OUT SHOULD THE CABLE SNAP AS I HAVE NOW COME TO UNDERSTAND TO BE A FAIRLY FREQUENT OCCURRENCE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE SPARE TIRE DETACHED AND BECAME JAMMED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE CORD THAT WAS HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE WAS CORRODED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. *TR

JUST PURCHASE MY 2001 DODGE RAM THE DAY BEFORE, TOOK IT FOR A DRIVE TO NEIGHBORING TOWN. WAS GOING 45 MPH AND THE ROAD WAS SOMEWHAT BUMPY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND VERY BOUNCY. THE TOWN WAS 10 MILES AWAY. ARRIVED, TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND WENT INTO MARKET FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. DROVE BACK HOME WITH THE SAME THING HAPPENING(VIOLENT SHAKING AND VERY, VERY BOUNCY) ALL THE WAY BACK. VERY SCARY AND DEFINITELY NOT RIGHT. STEERING WAS DIFFICULT DUE TO THE BOUNCE AND SHAKE. INTERESTINGLY MY FATHER DROVE THIS VEHICLE 300 MILES TO BRING IT TO ME THE PREVIOUS DAY WITH NO INCIDENT OF THE SHAKING OR BOUNCING. A FRIEND TOLD ME ABOUT THE "DEATH WOBBLE" AND AFTER LOOKING IT UP ON THE INTERNET, I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED, EITHER BY A RECALL OR DODGE! NOT EVEN A CONCRETE FIX FOR THE PROBLEM? I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITHOUT A LARGE SUM OF MONEY TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE, LET ALONE FIX MAJOR REPAIRS. I NEED A SAFE VEHICLE FOR MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN SCAMMED BY THE DEALER, DODGE, THE PREVIOUS OWNER, AND THE NHTSA. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM IN MY VEHICLE! *TR

THE UNDER THE BED SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY CABLE BROKE AT THE JUNCTION OF WHERE THE CABLE ENDS AND THE HOLDING METAL ASSEMBLY BEGINS. THE SPARE TIRE CAME LOOSE AND HIT THE HIGHWAY BOUNCING OFF OF THE PAVEMENT AND BECOMING AIRBOURNE BEHIND MY TRUCK . AT THAT TIME IT BECAME A HAZARD FOR ANY VEHICLE ESPECIALLY A MOTORCYCLE BEHIND ME. MY SPARE IS A 16 INCH TIRE AND WEIGHS OVER 35 POUNDS. I GOT OFF THE INTERSTATE AT THE NEXT EXIT AND TRIED TO FIND THE TIRE BUT COULD NOT LOCATE IT . I SUSPECT IT WENT OFF THE ROAD AND DOWN A STEEP EMBANKMENT. NO CARS BEHIND ME STRUCK THE TIRE AND NO WAS HURT. AFTER INSPECTING THE SPARE TIRE CRANK ASSEMBLY I FOUND THE CABLE WAS RUSTED AND SUSPECT THE HOLDING NUT ASSEMBLY WAS TOO. I HAVE NOT USED MY TRUCK FOR OFF ROAD USE ONLY TO TRAVEL BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AND TO HAUL MATERIAL WHEN NEEDED. I WENT TO THE LOCAL JUNK YARD AND WAS BOUGHT ANOTHER SPARE TIRE CRANK ASSEMBLY OFF OF A 2000 DODGE RAM 1500 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND FOUND THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY WAS ALSO RUSTED. I SUSPECT THAT IT MAY FAIL IN THE FUTURE JUST LIKE MINE DID. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW FOR ON INSPECTION IT IS EASY TO SEE HOW RUST CAN MAKE THE HOLDING NUT AND WASHER FAIL. I AM AFRAID THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN OR ALREADY HAS HAPPENED ON DODGE TRUCKS USING THIS TYPE OF SPARE TIRE HOLDER. IF THIS TIRE COMING FREE AND HITTING THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH COULD HAVE CAUSE SERIOUS HARM TO ANOTHER VEHICLE OR COULD HAVE LED TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. MY GUESS IS THAT MANY TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED BUT HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE RIGHT REAR TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. AFTERWARDS THE VEHICLE FELL TO THE GROUND AND WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER THE TIRE WAS LOCATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BRAKE SHOES AND DRUMS, WHEEL NUTS AND STUDS, COMBINATION SPRING KIT AND SELF ADJUSTER KIT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.*AK

JUST ABOUT A MONTH AGO, MY HUSBAND & I HAD TO TAKE OUR 2001, DODGE RAM1500, PICK-UP TRUCK(2-WHEEL DRIVE)INTO A LOCAL SERVICE CENTER IN THE TOWN IN WHICH WE LIVE. WE HAD BOTH NOTICED THAT SOMETHING WAS VERY "AMISS" IN THE WAY OUR TRUCK SOUNDED & FELT WHEN WE TURNED AT A SEVERE ANGLE TO THE RIGHT--I.E. INTO OUR CARPORT HERE AT HOME FOR INSTANCE. SINCE I DRIVE IT THE MOST TO & FROM WORK, I WAS THE FIRST WHO NOTICED THAT SOMETHING DIDN'T SEEM JUST RIGHT WITH THE WAY IT SOUNDED & HANDLED UPON TURNING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY. THEN ONE NIGHT WHEN MY HUSBAND HAD COME HOME FOR HIS LUNCH BREAK, HE RELATED TO ME THAT HE NOTICED THERE WAS A DEFINITE "SOUND" THAT WASN'T RIGHT..THIS PROMPTED US TO TAKE OUR TRUCK TO A SHOP HERE IN TOWN THAT SPECIALIZES IN WHEELS, BRAKES,,,ETC..ETC...THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING HOUSING, WHICH IS AN "ALL-IN-ONE" UNIT WAS IN SUCH A DAMAGED STATE THAT IT WAS NEARLY READY TO "FALL OFF" AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THE MECHANIC WHO HAD DONE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE NEW UNIT WE HAD TO BUY EXPLAINED TO US THAT IT APPEARED THAT THE UNIT HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY GREASED & PACKED WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY INSTALLED AT THE PLANT IN WHICH IT WAS MANUFACTURED. HE ALSO TOLD US THAT THIS SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED ON ANY VEHICLE THAT WAS THIS NEW. THEREFORE, I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT AS IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO DO SOME RESEARCH IN THIS MATTER TO FIND OUT WHY THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US, AND TO FIND OUT IF IT HAS OCCURRED TO ANYONE ELSE. AFTER ALL, I MIGHT HAVE BEEN TRAVELING DOWN OUR FREEWAYS HERE IN CALIFORNIA GOING 65-70 MPH AND THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL COULD HAVE VERY EASILY FALLEN COMPLETELY OFF DUE TO SOMEONE'S OVERSIGHT AND NEGLIGENCE. WE WOULD SURELY APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOUR AGENCY WITH ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU MIGHT COME UP WITH. SINCERELY YOURS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR