2006 Dodge Ram 2500

Good Morning! On April 9, 2023 I was going to pickup my Son in his 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 at LAX. He was returning from a 3 week trip to Chile. After taking the transmission out of gear I attempted to start the truck, but the battery was dead. I got out of the cab and released what I thought was the hood release but released the emergency brake instead. The front wheel was turned at about a 40 deg. angle to the right in my driveway which is on about a 15 deg slope to the street. The truck rolled back pinning my left leg under the left front tire, while the open drivers side door pushed me towards the now moving wheel. the left front wheel continued to roll over my left hand and my right chest grazing my left side of my head. The truck continued to roll down the street and into a neighbors truck. I suffered 13 broken ribs, a collapsed right lung, a partially collapsed left lung, a broken shoulder, and a broken left eye socket bone, deep vein thrombosis in both lower legs, 2 weeks in the ICU, 1 week in the hospital and 1 week in rehab. I am presently in home rehab. The man across the street from me at one time worked as a service manager / mechanic for a local automotive shop, and told me that he has made the same mistake many times of mistaken the emergency brake release for the hood release. I would recommend relocating the brake release to the right of the steering wheel on all vehicles that have a foot actuated emergency brake.

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN MOTION OVER 35MPH ON A HIGHWAY AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. A YOUNG MAN TURNING LEFT FROM THE SOUTH LANE ACROSS THE NORTH LANE FAILED TO YIELD TO ME TRAVELING IN THE NORTH LANE. ALL AIR BAG RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AS SHOWN ON THE ATTACHED FORM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY A DEER JUMPED ONTO THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED TO THE RIGHT IN ORDER TO AVOID THE DEER HOWEVER, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A FOUR FEET DEEP DITCH. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED HEAD AND BODY INJURIES. THE CONTACT HAD TO SPEND FIFTEEN HOURS IN THE HOSPITAL BEING TREATED AND WAS RELEASED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V313000 (AIR BAGS) WAS RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

TRUCK IS NOT DRIVEN VERY OFTEN. I NOTICED THE POWER ADJUSTABLE BREAK PEDALS MOVES SIDE TO SIDE EARLY. BUT DO TO LACK OF DRIVING I WAS NEVER ABLE TO PHYSICALLY BRING IT TO A DEALER UNTIL JUST RECENTLY. I HAD IT THERE FOR THE AIR BAG RECALL. AND REMEMBERED TO ASK THEM TO LOOK AT THE PEDAL. THEY SAID IT WAS DEFINITELY BAD AND A SAFETY ISSUE. THEY NEVER DID THIS TYPE OF REPAIR. THEY WERE NOT SURE HOW TO DO IT AND I THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE FIXED FROM A DESIGN FAULT. I SEE THAT THIS IS SOMEWHAT COMMON FROM MY RESEARCH. ALSO I SEE THAT DODGE HAS A REPAIR KIT OUT FOR THIS FROM 2009. IF I HIT BREAK PEDAL IT WANTS TO SWING TO THE LEFT CAUSING MY FOOT TO SLIP OFF AND HIT HE ACCELERATOR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 2500. ANOTHER VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL AND VEER OFF THE ROAD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V817000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V795000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. UPDATED 6/8/15*CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY RELATED TO A NOTICE HE RECEIVED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V528000 (STEERING).THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SHOULDER AND CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,600.

OWNER HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A TREE. ALTHOUGH THERE WERE BRAKE MARKS, THERE SEEMED TO BE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. ALCHOL WAS NOT A FACTOR IN THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS AND REMAINS ON HOLD FOR INSPECTION BY DODGE (WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER-ASAP). THERE WERE MANY DOCUMENTS OF REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE WHICH I DISPOSED OF BEFORE FINDING THIS RECALL NOTICE. IT WAS PURCHASED IN 2014 BY CURRENT DRIVER.

HEAD ON COLLISION AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 45 -50 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AND UNEXPECTEDLY, AN OPPOSING VEHICLE PULLED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO THREE LARGE TREES AND A UTILITY POLE. THE AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE MASSIVE LEVEL OF IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. UPDATED 02/02/10. *LJ UPDATED 02/05/10.*JB

2006 DODGE RAM MEGACAB 4X4 LAST WAS DRIVING AROUND CORNER LOST STEERING CONTROL. COLLISION INTO 5 PARKED VEHICLES TOTALING ALL VEHICLES HIT APPROX 48 MPH AT NIGHT CLEAR ROADWAYS NO ICE OR WATER POLICE REPORT SHOWS THAT STEERING WENT OUT ON VEHICLE BECAUSE STEERING WHEEL TURNED BUT WHEELS DID NOT.. STEERING WAS LOST MEANING NO STEERING CONTROL WHATSOEVER. HAD TO HAVE WHOLE FRONT END PUT ON TRUCK. STEERING APPEARS OKAY. *TR

FRONT PASSENGERS SEAT BELT FAIL TO RESTRAIN OCCUPANT IN A 35 M.P.H. COLLISION. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED DURING A CRASH THE VEHICLE'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED ON 11/18/07 HE WAS TRAVELLING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND HE HIT A GUARD RAIL HEAD ON. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THE CONTACT WORE A SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, IT FLIPPED OVER THE RAIL AND STRUCK A TREE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED , AND THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HIT A TREE. THE WINDOWS SHATTERED ON THE DRIVER SIDE BACK DOOR, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE KNOCKED OUT AND HE BELIEVED THE FRAMEWERE CRACKED. THE CONTACT STATED HE DROVE THE VEHICLE AWAY. THE BODY SHOP WAS COMING OUT ON 1/18/07 TO GIVE AN ESTIMATE. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. *AK UPDATED 02/15/07. *JB

MULTIPLE REPAIRS TO THE FRONT END SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE, TO THE POINT THAT WE ARE NOW PAYING FOR THE REPAIRS AND THE DEALERSHIP DENYING THEY REPLACED THE MOST RECENT TRACK BAR ON THE TRUCK AND BLAME THE TIRES ON THE TRUCK. I AM REALLY TIRED OF RUNNING OFF INTO A DITCH AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR STEER TO MISS A POTHOLE. JUST FIX THE TRUCK CORRECTLY AND STOP MAKING EXCUSES TELLING US IT IS OUR TIRES WHEN IT IS A 4X4 AND THEY CANNOT PUT MORE STURDY PARTS ON THE FRONT END OR TAKE BLAME FOR THE STEERING SHAFT AND GEAR BOX WHEN THESE HAVE BEEN RECALLED UNDER THE DEATH WOBBLE. HUB ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THIS TRUCK AS WELL. TRYING TO TURN THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING SPOT AND CONSTANTLY HAVING TO BACK INTO A SPACE. THIS DEATH WOBBLE HAS GONE TOO FAR. AS FAR AS THE ELECTRICAL THEY CANNOT FIND WHY THE DASHBOARD KEEPS FLICKERING AND WE KEEP BLOWING FUSES OR BULBS. IT IS REALLY GETTING ANNOYING WITH THIS TRUCK AND ALL THE REPAIRS WHICH WE HAVE HAD TO DO THIS VEHICLE, AND YET TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT A LOW SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 03/11/16*LJ *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY, VEERED TO THE RIGHT, AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A ROAD SIGN. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V528000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

AFTER BEING INSPECTED AT DEALERSHIP FOR PRIOR TIE ROD AND STEERING LINK RECALLS, MY RAM 2500 AT ABOUT THE 125K MILEAGE POINT BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE THE NOW WELL DOCUMENTED "DODGE DEATH RATTLLE", WHERE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE FRONT END WOULD VIOLENTLY SHIMMY. SOON THEREAFTER MY TIE ROD DID FRACTURE, CAUSING ME TO LOSE STEERING ABILITY ON A 40MPH ROADWAY, WHERE I NARROWLY AVOIDED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAD IT REPAIRED AT MY LOCAL SHOP AND IT WENT ANOTHER 10K BEFORE THE DODGE DEATH RATTLE REAPPEARED AGAIN, AND DESPITE NUMEROUS CHECKS ON ALIGNMENT, SHOCKS, FRONT END, THERE DID NOT SEEM TO BE AN ANSWER. THERE ALWAYS REMAINED A SHIMMY ON BUMPS ON THE HIGHWAY, AND I ONLY DROVE THIS TRUCK ON LOCAL ROADS THEREAFTER. TONIGHT BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING LINK ASSEMBLY JUST FRACTURED AND I AGAIN LOST STEERING ABILITY COMPLETELY. THIS SAME RECALL WAS FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER RECALL BY DODGE ON THIS COMPONENT (H46 WAS FIRST, THEN N62) IT IS MY BELIEF THIS DEFECTIVE COMPONENTRY CAUSING THE "DEATH RATTLE" ALSO PUT SO MUCH STRESS ON THE REST OF THE FRONT END THAT THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AS I EXPLORE ON THE INTERNET IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT DODGE WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND DID NOTHING ABOUT IT FOR MY VEHICLE. I ALMOST DIED THE FIRST TIME, THANKFULLY THE SECOND TIME I WAS NOT EVEN ON THE ROAD YET ! I SPOKE WITH DODGE TONIGHT AND WAS TOLD THAT I COULD BRING IT TO A DEALER TO INSPECT AND "IF IT IS INDEED DUE TO ANY OF THE RECALLED ITEMS" THEY WOULD GLADLY REPAIR IT FOR ME AND PROVIDE ME A QUOTE. WHAT RECOURSE DO I AS AN OWNER HAVE ? THE LATER RECALLED MODELS ALL HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM, YET MY CAR IS NOT ON THEIR LIST, DO I HAVE TO TAKE THEIR WORD FOR IT THAT IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT ? AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION FOR THE REPAIRS I HAVE ALREADY DONE AT MY EXPENSE ? THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE AND I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE IT AGAIN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT WAS UNINJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,500. UPDATED 8/29/2014 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH AND TRAVELED OVER A ROAD BUMP, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT THEN LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OUTER TIE ROD WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TIE ROD WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON A RURAL ROAD WITHOUT ANY WARNING (SHAKING, CLUNKING, NOISE OF ANY KIND, OR SOME KIND OF STEERING ISSUE) THE TIE ROD END ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED CAUSING THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL TO TURN TO THE RIGHT AND I LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL. THE TRUCK PULLED SUDDENLY TO THE RIGHT, AND INTO THE DITCH UNEXPECTEDLY WITH MYSELF AND MY 2 YR OLD SON ON-BOARD. LUCKILY WE WERE ON A RURAL ROAD IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY IT COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, A TIE ROD SHOULD NOT SEPARATE WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

UPON PARKING MY TRUCK, PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK, AND EXITING, I THEN NOTICED A LOUD CLANK SOUND AND THEN THE TRUCK STARTED ROLLING BACK. IT WAS STOPPED BY A CURB. IT SEEMED TO POP OUT OF GEAR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR