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1999 DODGE RAM 1500 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

crash · 679778 · 2008-07-24

Vehicle

Make
DODGE
Model
RAM 1500
Year
1999
Manufacturer
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Component
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Miles at failure
140,000
Speed
15 mph

Severity

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

Narrative

VEHICLE'S BRAKING SYSTEM SEEMED NOT TO BE WORKING PROPERLY, TAKING LONGER DISTANCES TO STOP. A CHECK OF EQUIPMENT SHOWED ALL MECHANICAL PARTS TO BE FIT, AND ADJUSTED CORRECTLY. CONTINUED TO DRIVE VEHICLE BUT THEN HAD SMALL ACCIDENT INVOLVING BRAKING WHILE GOING DOWNHILL. AT THIS TIME IT WAS DETERMINED I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. DIAGNOSTICS OF THE BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM DETERMINED THE COMBINATION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS THE CULPRIT AND HAD FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE LIGHTS AND FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION TO GO INTO COAST MODE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THIS ALSO RESULTS IN THE CRUISE FUNCTION TO NOT CANCEL WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THERE IS NO INDICATION OF FAILURE THROUGH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOR THIS FAULT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A REGULAR PROBLEM, AS THIS PART IS BACK ORDERED AT THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS FAULT I FEEL IT SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE IS NO FACTORY PART AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE CONDITION. MY VEHICLE IS STILL NOT REPAIRED. *TR

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10235599
Machine
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