Dodge Ram Complaints (1997)

1,130 consumer complaints on file.

#714619November 11, 1999
TIRES, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THIS PROBLEM IS IN REGARDS TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. SUMMARY OF PROBLEM: INTERMINTENT SURGE,BUCK,DRIVELINE CLUNK, OR TRANSFER HARSHNESS. THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN SERVICE BULLETIN # 96-40, NHTSA ITEM # SBO49106. I HAVE BEEN ESPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THIS FOR SOME TIME I HAVE APPROACHED 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS ,HENDRICK DODGE AND BUMPOUS DODGE. THEY RECEIVED MY TRUCK WITH 29,000 MILES ON IT CONTINUED TO DRIVE TILL WARRANTY EXPIRED AND CLAIMED NOTHING WAS WRONG. AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM IT HAS LOOSENED THE THE REAR SHACKLES CAUSING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO BECOME LOOSE AND CAUSE EXTREME WEAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRES. I HAVE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO SATISFACTION WITH THE EITHER DEALERSHIP THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON. IN THE PAST I HAD TO RETURN IT 7 TIMES TO HAVE A WATER LEAK FIXED, OF COURSE NO DOCUMENTATION WAS GIVEN TO ME, AT THE TIME IT NEVER OCCURED TO ME THAT THIS WOULD BE USEFUL. SMART ON THEIR PART. I WOULD LIKE SOME HELP DEALING WITH THIS MATTER, AS I AM ONE INDIVIDUAL WITH VERY LITTLE POWER AND RECOURSE. THANK YOU KEVIN CARLSON
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#714612November 10, 1999
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS IS A USED VEHICLE SO WE ARE UNAWARE OF ADDITIONAL FAILURES OF PREVIOUS OWNERS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#714426November 6, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
I HAVE HAD MANY ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON THE FRONT END FIXED, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE REAR BRAKE ADJUSTERS DONT WORK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#714336November 4, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
I HAVE HAD MANY ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON THE FRONT END FIXED, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE REAR BRAKE ADJUSTERS DONT WORK( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#852337November 1, 1999
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR CONTROL ARM WAS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING FRONT END TO BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT WHICH RESULTED IN REAR END LOCKING UP. THE REAR END WOULD LIFT UP & DOWN 6 INCHES FROM THE GROUND. OWNER REPLACED CONTROL ARM. BEEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC WANTED TO CHARGE TO CHECK IF REPLACED CONTROL ARM WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#852340November 1, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY PUT ON BRAKES LIGHTLY AND VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND JERKED TO THE OTHER LANE. *AKTHIS PROBLEM OCCURS WITH EACH BRAKING SINCE ABOUT 45000 MILES, THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET IT REPAIRED, SOMETIME THE PULLING WHILE BRAKING IS MILD YET SOMETIMES IT IS SEVERE, THE TIRES WERE CHANGED BUT THERE WAS NO EFFECT ON THE BRAKING. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#714032October 28, 1999
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
STEERING GEARBOX SEAL FAILURE W/SHAFT DAMAGE, SEVERAL OTHER TRUCK OWNERS KNOWN W/SIMILAR DAMAGE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#851960October 27, 1999
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH HAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT WITH A BUILDING, AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONED, BUT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY FULLY. ALSO DRIVER'S SEATBELT RIPPED APART, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD, AND SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE MFR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#852029October 27, 1999
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED ABOUT A MONTH AGO PER MANUFACTURE RECOMMENDATIONS. NOTICED INTERMITTLY SMELL OF FUEL BUT IT BECAME INCREASING STRONGER AND MORE FREQUENT WITHIN THE LAST WEEK. FOUND THE LEAK AT THE END OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE FUEL RAIL NEXT TO THE FIRE WALL ABOVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. CONTACTED THE DEALER IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#851820October 26, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS TOO LOOSE OR SOFT, AND ON A ROUGH TERRAIN PULLING A TRAILER, IT MAKES THE TRUCK START TO HOP. WHEN IT MAKES THE TRUCK HOP, IT CAUSES THE REAR AXLE DRIVELINE SEAL TO LEAK OIL. THE FACTORY INSTALLED THERMOSTAT IS FAULTY AND MAKES THE TEMPERATURE GO UP AND DOWN BY ABOUT 40 DEGREES. HAD IT REPLACED AND IT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#713710October 22, 1999
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
I HAVE HEARD OF AT LEAST THREE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE 1997 DODGE'S THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME FAILURE AFTER THE 35,000 TO 40,000 MILE RANGE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#713665October 21, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
HEADIGHTS ON LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERATIVE UPON TILTING STEERING WHEEL DOWNWARD. RAISING TILT WHEEL, THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME OPERATIVE. POSITION OF STEERING WHEEL DID NOT EFFECT HIGHBEAMS, ONLY THE LOWBEAMS. UPON REMOVAL OF THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN COWL, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE LOWBEAM WIRE TO THE DIMMING SWITCH HAD BECOME CHAFFED BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE TILT ASSEMBLY, MELTING THE WIRE INSULATION, AND CREATING A HIGH RESISTANCE CONNECTION TO THE STEERING COLUMN, STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE WIRE TO PART BUT NOT ALLOWING THE AMOUNT OF CURRENT FLOW NEEDED TO BLOW THE FUSE TO THE LIGHTING CIRCUIT OVERCURRENT DEVICE. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS 12,000 MILES PAST WARRANTY ( 36 MONTHS/36,000 MILES) THE SELLING DEALER REFUSED TO TREAT THE PROBLEM AS FACTORY DEFECT AND STATED OVER THE TELEPHONE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS MINE AND THAT I WOULD MOST LIKELY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. IT IS MY POSITION THAT WIRING HARNESSES IN SUCH A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME SHOULD NEVER SHORT-OUT OR BECOME SO DANGEROUSLY DEFECTIVE, CREATING A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD, HEADLIGHT FAILURE, AND WORST CASE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WHILE DRIVING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME...MARSHALL SEARLES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#851169October 20, 1999
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING DUE TO A LOOSE STEERING KNUCKLE. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. CHRYSLER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, AND SAID IT WAS NOT A FACTORY DEFECT. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#851004October 18, 1999
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED VEHICLE SLOWING DOWN. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND SAW TIRE HANGING DOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#713297October 14, 1999
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TRUCK CONTINUES TO ROLL WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND IT GOES TO THE FLOOR. TRUCK WILL NOT STOP ON AN EMERGENCY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#713221October 13, 1999
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR, WHEELS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
1. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE. AFTER KEEPING THE TRUCK FOR 34 DAYS, DEALERSHIP FINALLY PUT IN A REBUILT TRANNY. 2. DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, RENDERING IT USELESS. DEALER BLAMED IT ON THE BUG SHIELD. 3. BATTERY COMPLETELY DIED RIGHT AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. 4. FRONT WHEELS MAKE CONSTANT CLICKING NOISE...SUSPECT FAILED BEARINGS. 5. STEERING WHEEL MADE CRACKING SOUND WHEN TURNING TO LEFT OR RIGHT...TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT. TRUCK IS TOTAL PIECE OF JUNK!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#713179October 12, 1999
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I CONTACTED YOU BY PHONE BUT WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE OPERATOR AND I AM SUBMITTING YOU THIS E-MAIL ONTOP OF THE INFO I GAVE THE OPERATOR. WHILE DRIVING N. BOUND ON I69 MY TRUCK HAD A SHAKE IN THE FRONT END FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND THE RIM AND TIRE FLEW OFF. AFTER GETTING THE TRUCK OFF THE HIGHWAY I OBSERVED THAT ALL THE STUDS THAT HOLD THE RIM ON HAD SNAPPED OFF AT THE BASE OF THE THREADS. THE HOLES IN THE RIM FOR THE LUGS SHOWED NO SIGN OF WEAR THAT WOULD HAVE INDICATED THAT THE LUGNUTS WERE LOOSE. THESE TIRES WERE LAST REMOVED BY DANVILLE DODGE DEALER ON 3/26/99 TO REPLACE THE U-JOINTS THAT WENT BAD ON THE FRONT AXEL. THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD PICKED UP SEVERAL DODGE TRUCKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE A COUSIN THAT HAD A DODGE ON WHICH ONE RIM HAD ALL THE LUGNUTS BREAK OFF. THE TRUCK IS CURRENTLY AT MIKE ANDERSON DODGE, 3527 S WESTERN AVE., MARION IN, 46953, PHONE# 765-674-3394, MY CONTACT IS ED IN THE SERVICE DEPT. I HAVE CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CENTER WHO HAS OPENED A FILE #6331098 AND IS SENDING A INVESTIGATOR TO LOOK AT THE DAMAGE AND DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THANKS RICK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#713169October 11, 1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
10 AMP FUSE IN PANEL MARKED"ENGINE" BLOWS AT ERRATIC INTERVALS. WHEN FUSE BLOWS, ENGINE AND ALL COMPONENTS SHUT DOWN. REPLACEMENT OF FUSE, SAME SIZE OR LARGER, SOMETIMES ALLOWS RESTART. AT TIMES AS MANY AS THREE OR FOUR FUSES BLOW AS SOON AS ATTEMPT TO RESTART. TRUCK HAS SHUT DOWN AT CROWDED INTERSECTIONS AND INTERSTATES...WHEN TRAFFIC LANE IS BLOCKED, DRIVER MUST HOLD DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE FUSE, THUS BLOCKING TWO TRAFFIC LANES. TRUCK IS USED TO TOW A 32' TRAVEL TRAILER, WHICH FURTHER ADDS TO DANGER. TRUCK HAS BEEN TAKEN TO CHRYSLER DEALERS EIGHT TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS AT FINDING FAULT. TRUCK (AND TRAILER) HAVE BEEN TOWED BY WRECKER TO DEALER THREE TIMES. OWNER HAS ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT CHRYSLER REP SEVERAL TIMES BUT NO RETURN CALLS. OWNER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE ANY FURTHER, ESPECIALLY TOWING TRAVEL TRAILER. ALL RECOURSE HAVING FAILED, SEEKING LEGAL ADVICE FROM ATTORNEY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#849994October 5, 1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS SET VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE PASSED SET SPEED. DEALER REPLACED CRUISE CONTROL TWICE, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#849755October 4, 1999
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. OBSTRUCTED DRIVER'S VIEW. AVOIDED HITTING DEER. HIT A DITCH. THE LEFT FRONT END WAS DAMAGED & HANGING OFF FRAME. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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