NHTSA complaint: 1996 DODGE RAM 2500 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
STARTER CAME ON WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 40 MPH. I PARKED VEHICLE AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH AND REMOVED THE KEY, AND STARTER KEPT RUNNING. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD FROM THE BATTERY CABLES. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERIES AND THE STARTER STOPPED. THE DEALER SAID THE RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE STARTER. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE IGNITION WIRING THAT CAUSED THE STARTER TO COME ON. I CAN NOT IMAGINE HOW A STARTER SOLENOID COULD GET POWERED WITHOUT TURNING THE IGNITION SWITCH OR A SHORT.*AK
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation