← NHTSA complaints

2002 DODGE RAM 1500 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 fatal · 1180790 · 2015-05-07

Vehicle

Make
DODGE
Model
RAM 1500
Year
2002
Manufacturer
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Miles at failure
99,502
Speed
2 mph

Severity

Deaths
1
Injured
0
Fire
No
Crash
No
Police report
No
Medical attention
Yes
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

ON JULY 8, 2012, THE MOTHER CARRIED HER 2 YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER TO HER HUSBAND'S PARKED 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP EQUIPPED WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE MOTHER OPENED THE PASSENGER DOOR, INSERTED THE IGNITION KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH, TURNED THE KEY AS THE MOTHER WAS TRYING TO ACTIVATE THE AIR CONDITIONER AND COOL THE VEHICLE DOWN BEFORE HER HUSBAND CAME OUT TO DRIVE THEM HOME FROM CHURCH.THE VEHICLE WAS IN 1ST GEAR AND LURCHED FORWARD WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED.THE SPEED OF 2 MPH AT TIME OF INCIDENT IS AN APPROXIMATION ONLY. THE MOTHER WAS STRUCK BY THE MOVING VEHICLE WHICH KNOCKED HER CHILD FROM HER ARMS TO THE PAVEMENT. THE CHILD SUFFERED SEVERE HEAD TRAUMA AND WAS REMOVED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE CHILD LATER DIED IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE ACCIDENTAL DEATH WAS CAUSED BY FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH IGNITION INTERLOCK SAFETY SWITCH, COMPRESSION SPRING, AND ATTENDANT PARTS. THIS IS THE SAME DEFECT INVOLVED IN RECALL NO.14V795000 AND IS AT LEAST THE SECOND DEATH CAUSED BY THIS SAME DEFECT. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT RECALL NO. 14V795000 COVERS VEHICLES BACK TO ONLY 2004, AND THIS VEHICLE IS A 2002 MODEL YEAR. *TR

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10715099
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown