1998 Dodge RAM 2500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRAILER HITCH FRACTURED IN THE AREA WHERE THE TRAILER HITCH MOUNTS TO THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V107000 (TRAILER HITCHES). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

I HAVE A 1998 DODGE 2500 QUAD CAB WITH THE CUMMINGS DIESEL. I TOW A ENCLOSED LAWN TRAILER THAT WEIGHS ABOUT 500 LBS. HITCH IS RATED AT 10'000 LBS. ABOUT A MONTH AGO I STARTED HAVING TROUBLE UNHITCHING MY TRAILER. HAD TO PUT REAR WHEELS ON A 2X4 TO GET THE DOLLY DOWN. I CHECKED THE HITCH AND FOUND THE 2 REAR BOLTHOLES HAT TORE OUTAND THE 2 MIDDLE HOLES WERE CRACKED ALLOWING THE HITCH TO DROP ABOUT 1 1/4 INCHES. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER THE STATED NO RECALL SO NO REPAIR. I CONTACTED THE MFG. AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. SO ABOUT A MONTH LATER I TRIED AGAIN NO HITCH. I FOUND A RECALL ON LINE #872 CALLED AGAIN THE STATED NO RECALL ON MY TRUCK. I PURCHAED A NEW HITCH FROM DODGE WHICH HAS 4 BOLS ON EACH SIDE NOT 3. INFO I FOUND STATES INFERRIOR MATERIAL IN HITCH IF CRACKED OR TORN UNIT MUST BE REPLACED. A FRIEND OF MINE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM ON A 97 2500 BUT HE HAD A RECALL AND THEY REPLACED THE HITCH. I STILL HAVE THE HITCH AND IF YOU NEED PICTURES I CAN SEND THEM. *NM