High Severity Issue
This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.
This Problem Across All Years
WHILE IN MOTION THE VEHICLES WIPER MOTOR STOPPED WORKING. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS HAD FAILED AND SEVERAL ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS HAD MELTED AWAY THEIR PROTECTIVE COATING CAUSING SEVERAL SYSTEMS TO SHORT OUT AND STOP WORKING. THIS ALSO CAUSED THE WIPER MOTOR TO PREMATURELY FAIL. WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED HOPING THAT IT WOULD STILL WORK AFTER THE EXPOSED WIRING WAS CUT BACK AND NEW WIRING WAS SPLICED IN. HOWEVER THE WIRING HARNESS CONTINUED TO WEAR DOWN AND THE WIPER MOTOR ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT HAS COMPLETELY SHORTED OUT.
WHILE IN MOTION THE VEHICLES WIPER MOTOR STOPPED WORKING. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS HAD FAILED AND SEVERAL ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS HAD MELTED AWAY THEIR PROTECTIVE COATING CAUSING SEVERAL SYSTEMS TO SHORT OUT AND STOP WORKING. THIS ALSO CAUSED THE WIPER MOTOR TO PREMATURELY FAIL. WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED HOPING THAT IT WOULD STILL WORK AFTER THE EXPOSED WIRING WAS CUT BACK AND NEW WIRING WAS SPLICED IN. HOWEVER THE WIRING HARNESS CONTINUED TO WEAR DOWN AND THE WIPER MOTOR ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT HAS COMPLETELY SHORTED OUT.
DRIVING ON HWY I FELT A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER/ NO BOOST. ON EMPTY CARGO I COULDN'T MAKE IT OVER 55-65 MPH. *TR
DRIVING ON HWY I FELT A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER/ NO BOOST. ON EMPTY CARGO I COULDN'T MAKE IT OVER 55-65 MPH. *TR
MY SERVICE TECH STARTED THIS VAN AND WENT BACK INTO THE HOUSE TO GET HIS CUP OF COFFEE. WHEN HE CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE HE FOUND THE VAN ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO TOMBALL DODGE. THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE LEFT SIDE HEAD LIGHT, CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE WIRING, HOOD, FENDER, BUMPER, MIRROR, INSULATION AND MUCH MORE. DODGE HAS NOT TAKEN ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND AFTER 4 MONTHS BEING REPAIRED AND AT A COST OF $12,763.50. I HAVE FOUR OTHER SPRINTERS IN MY FLEET, AND I AM VERY CONCERNED. I THINK WITH THE NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT SPRINTERS HAVE HAD, THIS WAS ONE THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF. *TR
MY SERVICE TECH STARTED THIS VAN AND WENT BACK INTO THE HOUSE TO GET HIS CUP OF COFFEE. WHEN HE CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE HE FOUND THE VAN ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE VAN WAS TOWED TO TOMBALL DODGE. THE FIRE WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE LEFT SIDE HEAD LIGHT, CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE WIRING, HOOD, FENDER, BUMPER, MIRROR, INSULATION AND MUCH MORE. DODGE HAS NOT TAKEN ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND AFTER 4 MONTHS BEING REPAIRED AND AT A COST OF $12,763.50. I HAVE FOUR OTHER SPRINTERS IN MY FLEET, AND I AM VERY CONCERNED. I THINK WITH THE NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT SPRINTERS HAVE HAD, THIS WAS ONE THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THERE WAS NO POWER BRAKES OR POWER STEERING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS ALMOST INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE SPRINTER 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THERE WAS NO POWER BRAKES OR POWER STEERING WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS ALMOST INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300.
1. INITIALLY I HAD BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CHASSIS BATTERY FROM THE BEGINNING OF PURCHASE (8/25/08). DURING THE FIRST AUTO DEALER'S SERVICE (5/13/09)), THE CHASSIS BATTERY WAS CHECKED AND CLEARED AS SATISFACTORY. THEN CHASSIS BATTERY BOILED DRY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED (5/30/09) LATER THE DEALER ADMITTED THAT THE TERMINALS ON THE CHASSIS BATTERY HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. 2. NEXT WAS A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRIC WIRING SYSTEM CONNECTING THE ALTERNATOR TO THE STARTER SYSTEM. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE BATTERY ISOLATING SWITCH MECHANISM (DISCONNECT SWITCH) WHICH IS LOCATED NEXT TO THE ACCELERATOR BEING JOSTLED BY THE OPERATOR'S FOOT. THIS CAUSES THE BATTERY TO CALL FOR EXCESSIVE VOLTAGE. CONSEQUENTLY THE EXCESSIVE CHARGING OVER A PERIOD OF TIME DESTROYED THE CHASSIS BATTERY, DESTROYED THE WIRING FROM THE ALTERNATOR TO THE STARTER SOLENOID WITH POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE ECM SYSTEMS. 3. I REPLACED THE CHASSIS BATTERY; THE DEALER PERFORMED TESTS AND REPLACED THE DESTROYED WIRING. WITH MY BACKGROUND IN MECHANICS, I DISCOVERED A DESIGN FLAW IN THE BATTERY ISOLATING SWITCH (DISCONNECT SWITCH). THE DEALER PERFORMING THE INSPECTION FOUND THE "DISCONNECT SWITCH" WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED AND THE AUTO MANUFACTURER DOES NOT RECOMMEND MODIFYING THIS DESIGN. AS A CUSTOMER I ASKED FOR THE DISCONNECT SWITCH TO BE STABILIZED WITH A DOUBLE NUT SYSTEM. THE REFUSAL OF THE AUTO MANUFACTURING TO MODIFY THIS DESIGN LEAVES THE BATTERY ISOLATING SWITCH (DISCONNECT SWITCH) SUBJECT TO MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE OR THE DRIVER'S FOOT WHICH CAUSES THE GROUND CONNECTION TO BE WEAK AND THUS CAUSING THE ALTERNATOR TO OVERCHARGE. THE CURRENT DISCONNECT DESIGN ALLOWS FOR THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. QUOTING: DODGE SPRINTER 2008 MANUAL: "CAUTION! MAKE SURE THAT THE KEY IS IN POSITION 0 IN THE IGNITION LOCK AND WAIT AT LEAST 20 SECONDS BEFORE DISCONNECTING OR CONNECTING THE BATTERY ISOLATING SWITCH. YOU COULD OTHERWISE DAMAGE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPONENTS." *TR
1. INITIALLY I HAD BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CHASSIS BATTERY FROM THE BEGINNING OF PURCHASE (8/25/08). DURING THE FIRST AUTO DEALER'S SERVICE (5/13/09)), THE CHASSIS BATTERY WAS CHECKED AND CLEARED AS SATISFACTORY. THEN CHASSIS BATTERY BOILED DRY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED (5/30/09) LATER THE DEALER ADMITTED THAT THE TERMINALS ON THE CHASSIS BATTERY HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED. 2. NEXT WAS A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRIC WIRING SYSTEM CONNECTING THE ALTERNATOR TO THE STARTER SYSTEM. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE BATTERY ISOLATING SWITCH MECHANISM (DISCONNECT SWITCH) WHICH IS LOCATED NEXT TO THE ACCELERATOR BEING JOSTLED BY THE OPERATOR'S FOOT. THIS CAUSES THE BATTERY TO CALL FOR EXCESSIVE VOLTAGE. CONSEQUENTLY THE EXCESSIVE CHARGING OVER A PERIOD OF TIME DESTROYED THE CHASSIS BATTERY, DESTROYED THE WIRING FROM THE ALTERNATOR TO THE STARTER SOLENOID WITH POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE ECM SYSTEMS. 3. I REPLACED THE CHASSIS BATTERY; THE DEALER PERFORMED TESTS AND REPLACED THE DESTROYED WIRING. WITH MY BACKGROUND IN MECHANICS, I DISCOVERED A DESIGN FLAW IN THE BATTERY ISOLATING SWITCH (DISCONNECT SWITCH). THE DEALER PERFORMING THE INSPECTION FOUND THE "DISCONNECT SWITCH" WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED AND THE AUTO MANUFACTURER DOES NOT RECOMMEND MODIFYING THIS DESIGN. AS A CUSTOMER I ASKED FOR THE DISCONNECT SWITCH TO BE STABILIZED WITH A DOUBLE NUT SYSTEM. THE REFUSAL OF THE AUTO MANUFACTURING TO MODIFY THIS DESIGN LEAVES THE BATTERY ISOLATING SWITCH (DISCONNECT SWITCH) SUBJECT TO MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE OR THE DRIVER'S FOOT WHICH CAUSES THE GROUND CONNECTION TO BE WEAK AND THUS CAUSING THE ALTERNATOR TO OVERCHARGE. THE CURRENT DISCONNECT DESIGN ALLOWS FOR THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. QUOTING: DODGE SPRINTER 2008 MANUAL: "CAUTION! MAKE SURE THAT THE KEY IS IN POSITION 0 IN THE IGNITION LOCK AND WAIT AT LEAST 20 SECONDS BEFORE DISCONNECTING OR CONNECTING THE BATTERY ISOLATING SWITCH. YOU COULD OTHERWISE DAMAGE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPONENTS." *TR
2007 DODGE RAM PICK UP TRUCK LONG HORN ,I WAS GOING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY BACK RIGHT DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE, I PULLED OVER AND THE TRUCK WAS FULL OF FIRE AND SMOKE, I PUT IT OUT WITH MY SHIRT AND POURED WATER ON IT. *TR
2007 DODGE RAM PICK UP TRUCK LONG HORN ,I WAS GOING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY BACK RIGHT DOOR CAUGHT ON FIRE, I PULLED OVER AND THE TRUCK WAS FULL OF FIRE AND SMOKE, I PUT IT OUT WITH MY SHIRT AND POURED WATER ON IT. *TR