NHTSA complaint #11717340

Owner complaint summary

I am writing to report a critical safety defect in my vehicle, a 2019 Ram 1500 Big Horn , involving a catastrophic failure of the heater core (heater coil). This failure creates an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety as defined under 49 U.S.C. § 301. Safety Risk 1: Acute Toxicity and Driver Impairment The failed component is releasing vaporized ethylene glycol directly into the passenger cabin through the HVAC vents. Per CDC and ATSDR documentation, these fumes are known to cause respiratory distress and neurological impairment, including dizziness and confusion. While operating the vehicle, these fumes caused [describe your symptoms, e.g., dizziness or coughing], creating an immediate risk of a crash. Safety Risk 2: Severe Visual Obstruction The vapor creates a persistent, oily film on the interior of the windshield that cannot be cleared by the defrost system. This "flash-fogging" has severely restricted my field of vision during operation, which mirrors safety risks identified in NHTSA Recall 24V-011. Safety Risk 3: Electrical and Fire Hazard Liquid coolant is currently leaking into the dashboard area, which houses critical wiring harnesses and electronic control modules. This exposure to conductive fluid poses a high risk of electrical short-circuits and potential vehicle fire, as documented in previous NHTSA investigations (e.g., Recall 26V012). Supporting Information: * VIN: [XXX] * Current Mileage: 93000 * Incident Date: January 17 2026 I request that the NHTSA open a Preliminary Evaluation into this model’s heater core assembly to determine if a safety-related recall is warranted. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)