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2007 DODGE RAM 3500 — SERVICE BRAKES

fire · 1180602 · 2015-05-06

Vehicle

Make
DODGE
Model
RAM 3500
Year
2007
Manufacturer
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Component
SERVICE BRAKES
Miles at failure
117,000
Speed
5 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
Yes
Crash
No
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

LOADED AT 18000 LBS GVW WHILE TOWING A TANDEM AXLE TRAILER THE VEHICLE DIED. UPON LOSING ALL ELECTRICAL POWER THE ENGINE DIED CAUSING THE LOSS OF POWER ASSISTED BRAKES AND POWER ASSISTED STEERING. FORTUNATELY THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE WAS AROUND 5 MPH. I'M 6 FOOT TALL AND OVER 200 LBS AND I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE PARKING AREA. UPON LEAVING THE VEHICLE I IMMEDIATELY SMELLED ELECTRONICS BURNING. I OPENED THE HOOD AND IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECTED THE POSITIVE POST OF THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE (TIPM). I THEN REMOVED THE TIPM TO FIND A HOLE BURNT THROUGH THE SIDE AND THE CIRCUIT BOARD COVERED WITH BLACK SOOT. I HAD THE VEHICLE AND TRAILER TOWED TO CORBIN KY WHERE THERE WERE NO DODGE DEALERS WILLING TO WORK ON A VEHICLE OF THIS SIZE. NOR WOULD THEY STORE THE TRAILER FOR ME WHILE CONDUCTING THE REPAIR. I CHOOSE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE AND TRAILER TOWED OVER 600 MILES TO MY HOME IN MICHIGAN. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER WHOM TOOK THE VIN NUMBER TO ORDER AN NEW ONE. AFTER OVER 2 WEEKS WAITING ON THE TIPM (WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE REMANUFACTURED) THE TRUCK IS STILL NOT OPERABLE. IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS WITH A LOADED VEHICLE I LIKELY WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED THIS INCIDENT. PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING I HAD MANY ISSUES WITH THE LIGHTING ON THE TRUCK. THE LOW BEAM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WOULD BE INOPERABLE WHILE THE DRIVERS HIGH BEAM IS THE ONLY ONE THAT WOULD WORK. ALSO, THE TAILLIGHTS WOULD STOP WORKING ON ONE SIDE AND THE TURN SIGNALS W

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10714959
Machine
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