NHTSA complaint: 2015 RAM 1500 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
81,000 MILES ON A ECO DIESEL. ON TRIP. CRUISE SET AT 75MPH ON I20 BASICALLY GOING STRAIGHT. A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, SOMETHING LIKE 'ELECTRONIC THROTTLE.' IT DID NOT STAY ON LONG. IMMEDIATELY STARTED LOOSING POWER BUT ENGINE STILL RUNNING BUT NOT RESPONSIVE. FINALLY CAME TO A HALT AND ENGINE DIED. ELECTRICITY STILL WORKING AS PUT ON EMERGENCY FLASHERS. STARTED CALLING RAM ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. MY WIFE SAID SHE SMELLED SOMETHING. ABOUT MAYBE 30 SECONDS LATER WE COULD SMELL SOMETHING ON FIRE. SECONDS LATER SMOKE BILLOWING FROM BENEATH HOOD. WE BAILED OUT. GOOD SAMARITAN STOPPED WITHIN A FEW MINUTES WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER. HE AND I POPPED HOOD AND FLAMES ARE SHOOTING ABOUT 18' ALONG BACK OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WE GOT FIRE OUT BUT WAS STILL SMOLDERING. HAD ALREADY CALLED 911. ABOUT 5-10 MIN LATER RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND DOUSED ENGINE WITH WATER AS IT WAS STILL 'HOT' AND WE WERE ON SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY BESIDE LARGE AREA OF DRY GRASS. FIREFIGHTERS SEEMED TO THINK IT WAS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. CAME HOME AND BEGAN TO RESEARCH 1500 RAM ECODIESELS CATCHING FIRE. SEEMS THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF INSTANCES AND ALSO SEEING FCA IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING A POTENTIAL PROBLEM. THIS IS MY WORK VEHICLE FOR MY SMALL BUSINESS SO PRESENTLY INCAPACITATED. THANK YOU!
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation