2002 Dodge RAM Quad Cab

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE MOUNTING CABLE FRACTURED AND THE SPARE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE CABLE. THE SPARE TIRE LANDED ON THE PAVEMENT AND SKIDDED ACROSS INCOMING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE SPARE TIRE WINCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ORDERED THE PARTS AND INSTALLED IT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE PRESENT. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION, NO LEAKS WERE DETECTED. THE CONTACT ALERTED THE DEALER WHO INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO START THE ENGINE AND UPON DOING SO, FLAMES ERUPTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE QUICKLY SPREAD CONSUMING THE VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALERTED, AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE POLICE WERE ON THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FINDINGS OF THE INSPECTION WERE NOT DIVULGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

GOODYEAR FORTERA TIRE ISSUE - I HAVE A SET OF 265-70-17 GOODYEAR FORTERA SILENTARMOR TIRES ON A 2002 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB 1500 4X4. BAD VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I THINK THAT THEIR IS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES. I HAVE SPENT SEVERAL DAYS AT VARIOUS TIRE DEALERS AND HAVE GONE THROUGH 2 1/2 SETS OF TIRES IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE TIRES REQUIRE AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT TO BALANCE. EVEN WITH ALL THAT WEIGHT THE VIBRATION IS STILL PRESENT. THERE MUST BE A DESIGN FLAW OR POOR QUALITY CONTROL DURING MANUFACTURE. I PUT A ABOUT 3000 MILES ON FIRST SET OF TIRES AND I NOW HAVE ABOUT 500 MILES ON THE CURRENT SET. I HOPE THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT TURN INTO A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE TIRES END UP COMING APART ON THE HIGHWAY. I SEE ONLY GOOD REVIEWS FOR THE FORTERA SILENTARMOR ON THE FORTERA WEBSITE SO I DOUBT THAT GOODYEAR IS POSTING ANY NEGATIVE PRESS...I HAVE ALSO MADE AN ATTEMPT TO POST MY COMMENTS ON THE GOODYEAR WEBSITE TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE ISSUE. *NM

AT 65 MPH USING CRUISE CONTROL, DAYTIME, DRY PAVEMENT, GOOD WEATHER, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH WARNING CHIME. AT NEXT EXIT, OPERATOR TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP. TECHNICIAN FOUND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY WORN, ALLOWING TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO BE MOVED 1-2'' FROM VERTICAL. VEHICLE HAD BEEN CHECKED DURING STATE INSPECTION LESS THAN 400 MILES PREVIOUSLY AND PASSED. A TOTAL FAILURE IN TRAFFIC AT SPEED MIGHT HAVE RESULTED IN A LOSS OF HANDLING/BRAKING THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED OR WORSENED AN ACCIDENT. FAILED PART IS AVAILABLE. VEHICLE HAS ALSO SUFFERED NUMEROUS PREMATURE FAILURES INCLUDING: FAILURE OF DRIVER HEATED SEAT, FAILURE OF ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP, NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENT DUE TO ENGINE STOPPAGE AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING, FAILURE OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, FAILURE OF FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, AND DAMAGE TO SPARE TIRE DUE TO MIS-ROUTED TAIL PIPE. SOME OF THESE ARE MANUFACTURER DESIGN DEFECTS, OTHERS ARE TROUBLESHOOTING OR REPAIR ERRORS AT DEALER. TWO EVENTS (FUEL PUMP, WHEEL BEARING) MIGHT HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT WITH INJURY/DEATH POSSIBLE OUTCOME. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD DEVELOPED A CRACK WHERE THE AIRBAG IS LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 06/26/06 WHO DETERMINED THAT THE DEFECT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND DID NOT REPAIR THE CRACK. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD HAS DEVELOPED THREE ADDITIONAL CRACKS SINCE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.