Dodge Ram Complaints (1997)

1,130 consumer complaints on file.

#10027184July 10, 2003
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
THE VEHICLES SEAT RECLINER UTILIZES ONLY ONE RECLINER MECHANISM RATHER THAN DUAL MECHANISMS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS MAKES THE MECHANISM PRONE TO FAILURE. *PH *CB *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10024165July 10, 2003
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE 5TH GEAR TO THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. *AK IT WAS DISCOVERED THE NUT WHICH HELD THE 5TH GEAR INTO PLACE BECAME LOOSE. PH *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10020290July 10, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE RUSTED. *NLM *TS *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10024908June 25, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATED THAT OIL LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED, AND OIL IS BURNING TOO FAST. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10024079June 13, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
BRAKE FAILED WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE SEAT BELT SAVED THE CONSUMER'S LIFE. MR PH. ALSO THE SPARE TIRE WAS BALD AND IT TOOK 3 MONTHS TO GET IT REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10024046June 13, 2003
WHEELS, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHEELS WERE LOCKING UP AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. HE TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC, HAD TO HAVE AXLE BEARING S REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10021450June 11, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE DISTANCE IN WHICH VEHICLE NEEDS TO STOP IS LONGER THAN OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE IN MODERATE TO HARD BRAKING. WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE PEDAL FEEL IS AVERAGE BUT THE BRAKES DO NOT SEEM TO GRAB AND STOP THE VEHICLE AS IT SHOULD. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CLOSE ACCIDENTS DUE TO POOR BRAKING. THE BRAKES DO NOT LOCK-UP ON THE VEHICLE, NOT EVEN TO THE POINT WHERE ABS WILL NEED TO RELEASE THE REAR WHEELS. I HAVE COMPLETELY REPLACED ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS AND HAS NOT IMPROVED AT ALL!! AS WELL AS SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON DIAGNOSTICS WORK WITH NO ANSWER AS TO THE CAUSE (BUT THE DEALER DOES KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM)!! THIS IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE DEALER, THEY HAVE BEEN FAIR, BUT HAVE RUN OUT OF PLACES TO LOOK. THEY HAVE CALLED CHRYSLER STAR HOTLINE, ETC. BUT STILL NO RESOLVE. IF ANYONE HAS A FIX FOR THIS OR A COURSE OF ACTION TO TAKE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! I LOVE THE TRUCK, BUT IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10022321June 4, 2003
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD IS STARTING TO SEPARATE. FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL AT LT 245/75R16. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10022117June 3, 2003
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT (HANKOOK SPORT KING).*AK *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10021721May 28, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
NAR 05/28/2003 *MR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH MELTED AND BECAME NONO-FUNCTIONAL. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10020267May 21, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO INCREASE IN SPEED, MOSTLY IN COLD WEATHER. THIS WAS CAUSED BY OIL FROM THE VACUUM PUMP GOING INTO THE SERVO VACUUM LINES. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018787May 16, 2003
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CUP HOLDER IN MY 1997 DODGE RAM 3/4 TON PICKUP IS NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED. AS SUPPLIED THE CUP HOLDER HAS CUT OUTS ON THE SIDES. THE CUP HOLDER ALSO HAS A BASE PLATE THAT SUPPORTS THE BOTTOM OF THE CUP. THE BASE PLATE DOES NOT ALLOW CUPS TO FIT LOW ENOUGH INTO THE HOLDER TO ENABLE THE FRONT AND BACK PORTIONS OF THE CUP HOLDER TO MAKE GOOD CONTACT. TALLER CUPS LIKE THE TYPICAL FAST FOOD DRINK CUP IS ONLY SUPPORTED BY THE BOTTOM WITH NO SIDE SUPPORT OR JUST AROUND THE RING WHERE THE CUP CHANGES SIZES IN THE CASE OF THE LARGER CUPS. WITH THE MAJORITY OF COFFEE CUPS THE CUP HOLDER PROVIDES SUPPORT IN ONLY A COUPLE OF LOCATIONS. THE PROBLEM IS WHEN THE CUP HOLDER IS IN USE AS DESIGNED AND THE DRIVER MAKES A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN AT NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS THE CUP WILL FLIP OUT OF THE CUP HOLDER SPILLING THE CONTENTS ON THE OCCUPANTS AND THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES IN MY VEHICLE. I HAVE NOT HAD A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT INVOLVING OTHER VEHICLES BUT HAVE SUSTAINED COMPREHENSIVE DAMAGE DUE TO A SOFT DRINK BEING SPILLED IN THE RADIO/CD/TAPE PLAYER. I HAVE NOT MET ANYONE YET WHO OWNS OR OWNED A DODGE PICKUP OF THIS BODY STYLE THAT HAS NOT EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. AN EMPLOYEE AT THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM IN 1998 AGREED THAT THE CUP HOLDER WAS UNSAFE AND POORLY DESIGNED WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED TO ME RESULTING IN THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SOUND SYSTEM. WHEN I TRIED TO INFORM PEOPLE ABOUT THE PROBLEM THE DEALER THREATENED TO SUE ME. THE DODGE CORPORATION COMPLAINT HOT LINE INDICATED THAT I WAS THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAD EVER CALLED AND COMPLAINED WHEN I CALLED IN THE SPRING OF 1999. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018662May 14, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
CRUISE-CONTROL, MY CRUISE-CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND I GO TO SET MY SPEED THAT I WANT AND IT DOESN'T WORK. I CONTINUE GOING AND THEN THE CRUISE WILL TAKE OVER ON IT'S OWN AND START WORKING AND WHEN I STOP, IT STOPS. I TAKE OFF AND THEN IT WILL KICK IN AND LOCK ON AND WORK AND OTHER TIMES, WHEN I WANT IT TO, IT WON'T WORK AT ALL. WOULD THIS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE SPRINGS AND SET UP WITH THE AIR BAG RECALL ON THE 1997 DODGE RAM PICK-UPS, WHICH I NEVER RECEIVED. I DID GET THE RECALL FOR THE HOOD LATCH PROBLEM AND HAD THAT FIXED IMMEDIATELY. I OWN A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 PICK-UP TRUCK AND THE MILEAGE JUST TURNED 50,000, PLUS I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON IT ALSO. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10019826May 14, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN THE CONSUMER PULLED OUT OF A GAS STATION, THERE WAS A SMELL OF PLASTIC BURNING. SUDDENLY FLAMES APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE MECHANIC STATED THE MAIN BOLT FOR THE 120 AMP VIBRATED OFF, WHICH CAUSED THE WIRING TO HEAT UP AND CATCH FIRE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10019371May 7, 2003
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN INSPECTION, AND THE INSPECTOR SAID THAT ALL 4 BALL JOINTS WERE SHOT. THE BALL JOINTS FAILED WITHIN 90000 MILES. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018294May 6, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. THE CONSUMER HAD TO DOWN SHIFT AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE MECHANIC STATED THE MAIN BRAKE LINE RUSTED OUT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10018068May 2, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE SWITCH FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING MELTED AND CAUSED A BURNING SMELL. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10017806April 29, 2003
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
THE HOOD LATCH BROKE AND CAUSED THE HOOD TO FLY UP WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF VISIBILITY. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016478April 25, 2003
SUSPENSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, STEERING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
!)AT 36,246 MILES, BOLTS HOLDING TIE RODS TO STEERING BOX BROKE WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE. HAD TO FIGHT DODGE TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY. ORIGINALLY HAD VEHICLE IN FOR 'WANDERING STEERING' BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEY REPLACED STEERING BOX, TIE RODS, BALL JOINTS, IDLER ARM AND OTHER RELATED COMPONETS. 2)18,276 MILES LATER, SAME DEALERSHIP STATES NEEDS NEW TIE RODS, IDLER ARM, PITMAN ARM, AND BALL JOINTS ON LEFT FRONT. FEEL THESE PARTS SHOULD BE REPLACED FREE AS THEY REPLACED THEMSELVES ONLY 18,000 MILES AGO. HAVE PROVIDED PROPER MAINTENANCE. IN THE MEANTIME, GETTING THESE AREAS GREASED AND EXAMINED AS DIRECTED IN OWNERS MANUAL BY CERTIFIED MECHANICS. 3)SAME DEALERSHIP THIS WEEK REPLACED HEADER AND MANIFOLD GASKETS STATING THEY WERE BURNED UP DUE TO OUR USING PLATINUM TIP SPARK PLUGS WHICH SUPPOSEDLY CAUSED GASKETS TO BURN UP AND ALLOW OIL TO LEAK INTO CYLINDER. ($459)THEY ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC COVERTER (UNDER WARRANTY). THROUGH RESEARCH ON INTERNET, HAVE FOUND THAT THE INTAKE ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSES EXACT PROBLEMS I WAS CHARGED FOR. WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM, HAVE DOCUMENTATION THAT VEHICLE WAS IN THEIR SHOP ON OR AROUND THE TIME AT LEAST 2 OF THESE BULLETINS WERE ISSUED WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS THEY WERE TOLD TO LOOK FOR (OVERHEATING, SMELLING OF BURNING COMING FROM ENGINE, SMELL OF RAW GAS INSIDE VEHICLE). AS FAR AS WE CAN TELL, THEY HAVE NEVER CHECKED OR REPLACED THE INTAKE. VEHICLE: 1997 DODGE RAM EXTENDED CAB LARAMIE EDITION. 5.2 L , V-8 ENGINE. I FEEL THIS DEALERSHIP IS LYING ABOUT THE PROBLEMS AND PLACING OUR LIVES IN DANGER BY NOT PROPERLY INSPECTING AND EXPLAINING PROBLEMS. IN REGARDS TO THE NEWEST TIE ROD RECOMMENDATION, THEY STATED THAT "CUSTOMER DECLINED WORK". I DID NOT DECLINE THE WORK, I JUST ASKED THEM TO PAY FOR IT SINCE THEY DID THE WORK SUCH A SHORT TIME AGO. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10016492April 25, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
I HAVE A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 PICK-UP. I RECENTLY NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. WHEN I FILLED UP MY GAS TANK, I DISCOVERED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE TANK. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE LEAK APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM NEAR THE TOP OF THE TANK. I CAN'T SEE THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK BECAUSE OF THE FRAME. I CONTACTED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER AND THEY WERE NO HELP SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. SINCE THE LEAK IS NEAR THE EXHAUST PIPING, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE. THE TRUCK HAD NEVER BEEN DRIVEN OFF-ROAD, ONLY ON STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT NEXT WEEK WITH A REPAIR FACILITY TO EXAMINE THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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