Dodge Ram Complaints (1997)

1,130 consumer complaints on file.

#10074161May 24, 2004
TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY
WHILE MAKING A SHARP TURN USING THE FIFTH WHEEL IT CAUSED THE TRAILER TO COLLIDE WITH THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRAILER DENTED THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, BREAKING A GLASS WINDOW. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074005May 20, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR INTERMITTENTLY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10072609May 14, 2004
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF TRUCK WHILE GOING DOWN FREEWAY. THERE WAS A SLIGHT VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END ABOUT 10 SECONDS BEFORE THE WHEEL CAME OFF. THE LUG BOLTS WERE ALL SHEARED. THERE IS NO APPARENT WEAR ON THE WHEEL OR RIM. WE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING. HAD THIS BEEN ANOTHER MILE DOWN THE ROAD, WE WOULD HAVE MET A ROCK WALL AND SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURY TO PASSENGERS. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071854April 29, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT REAR AXLE BROKE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067895April 27, 2004
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WE WERE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 44 IN MISSOURI AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HEARD A LOUD BANGING/THUMPING AND WERE LOSING CONTROL OF THE BACK OF OUR TRUCK. WE THOUGHT WE HAD A BLOWOUT SO WE PULLED OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER. INITIALLY, THE TIRE LOOKED FINED UNTIL WE LOOKED AT THE BACK OF THE TIRE AND THE DAMAGE TO THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK. IT LOOKED LIKE A TREAD SEPARATION. WE REPLACED THAT TIRE WITH THE SPARE TIRE AND TRAVELED TO THE NEXT AVAILABLE TOWN TO BUY A NEW TIRE. WE WERE AFRAID TO TRAVEL ANY FURTHER WITHOUT A SPARE TIRE NOT KNOWING WHAT CAUSED THE INITIAL PROBLEM AND TO MAKE SURE WE WERE PREPARED IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ANOTHER ONE OF THE TIRES. WE STILL HAVE THE TIRE THAT WE BELIEVE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055241April 20, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
WHILE GETTING THE BRAKES CHECKED THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER AND UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE LOOSE AND REPLACED THEM. *NM *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055587April 20, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER SMELLED A FUEL ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND SAW FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL RAIL. *AK THE FUEL LINES WERE CRACKED. THE ORIGINAL FUEL RAILS WERE PLASTIC AND THE REPLACEMENT RAILS WERE METAL WITH DIFFERENT CONNECTORS. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066117April 14, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
RIGHT REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY SHEARED CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL/LOSS OF STEERING/CONTROL OF THE WEHICLE. TRUCK BED WAS EMPTY AND TRAVELING AT APPROX. 60MPH; UPON OCCURENCE VEHICLE ROLLED 3 TIMES ON BUSY HIGHWAY; BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER INJURED
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10065970April 12, 2004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT CAME UNLATCHED. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10066676April 6, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE VIBRATES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE GAS LINE AND BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTY. *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055654April 1, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONSUMER DETERMINED THAT THE ACCELERATOR ROD BROKE. *AK THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT WILLING TO FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053719April 1, 2004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
FRONT SEAT BELTS UNLOCK DURING SUDDEN STOPS OR WHEN PULLING ON THEM. *AK *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065296March 31, 2004
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. HOWEVER, THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063499March 18, 2004
TIRES:TREAD/BELT, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 TO 60 MPH TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND THE STEEL BELTS RUPTURED THE GAS TANK. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND GAS TANK WAS REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062479March 17, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I OWN A 1997 DODGE 1500 RAM P.U. I STARTED MY TRUCK UP TOWARM UP. I THEN BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVE. WHEN I PUT TRUCK IN DRIVE, IT STALLED. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND PUT IT IN DRIVE AGAIN. THE ENGINE WAS GOING FULL THROTTLE AND IT TOOK OFF LIKE A ROCKET. I CUT THE ENGING TO LOOK FOR A PROBLEM. EVERYTHING APPEARED OK SO I STARTED IT UP AGAIN AND PUT IT IN GEAR. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING SO FAST THAT EVEN THOUGH I HELD THE BRAKE PEDDAL TO THE FLOOR THE ENGINE PULLED ME RIGHT THRU A STOP SIGN. I PLAYED WITH THE GAS PEDDAL AND IT BEGAN TO RUN NORMAL. I THEN TOOK IT TO MY SERVICE STATION AND HAD THEM LOOK AT IT. THEY ADVISD ME THAT IT WAS A DEALER PROBLEM AND THEY COULD DO NOTHING. I THEN PROCEEDED TOWARDS TO THE FREEWAY WHEN IT SUDDENLD ACCELERATED AGAIN. I THEN BROUGHT THE TRUCK HOME AND AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT. I CALLED CHRYSLER CORP. TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HAD ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND YET I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL SAME OR SIMULAR PROBLEMS LISTED ON YOUR SITE. I ALSO HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IT SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING, AND HASEN'T WORKED SINCE. AGAIN CHRYSLER CLAIME TO NOT BE AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS. THE EXACT SAME THING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL HAPPENED ON MY 1998 PLYMOUTH VAN AND IT WAS TAKEN CARE OF UNDER RECALL. IT APPEARS THAT EITHER YOU ARE NOT RELAYING ALL THESE COMPLAINTS TO CHRYSLER CORP., OR THEY ARE LIVING IN A VACUUM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10057525February 26, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
FUEL SHUT OFF AND SOLENOID OVERHEATED, CAUSING A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. *AK *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10055681February 24, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE AND IT COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT A NEW ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS NEEDED, BUT NONE WERE AVAILABLE. MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THAT THAT THIS TYPE OF CABLE WAS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. *AK *MR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058517February 19, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
I HAD THE EXHAUST SYSTEM REPLACED.WHEN I RETURNED TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE FROM THE SHOP I WAS INFORMED THAT A DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS THE CAUSE OF A RATTLE AND THAT I SHOULD RETURN TO THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE CONVERTER IS UNDER WARRANTY TO 80K MILES. THAT EVENING I CALLED DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPLAINED IN DETAIL WHAT WORK HAD BEEN DONE TO THE SYSTEM. MY SHOP TOLD ME TO MAKE SURE I INFORMED THEM OF A WELD. DODGE CS SAID NO PROBLEM THAT THE CONVERTER WOULD BE COVERED.UPON TAKING THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE CONVERTER BECAUSE I HAD ALTERED THE SYSTEM BY REPLACING THE FACTORY EXHAUST."THE ALTERING THAT WAS DONE WAS THE FRONT CLAMP WHICH WAS RUSTED IN PLACE HAD TO BE CUT OFF THE SYSTEM AND REPLACED WITH A WELDED CONNECTER" WHEN I CALLED DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE I SPOKE WITH A WOMAN NAMED BOBBI I INFORMED HER THAT THE ONLY REASON I REPLACED THE EXHAUST WAS IT SOUNDED LIKE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE MUFFLER SHE SAID "WHY DIDNT YOU TAKE IT TO THE DEALER IN THE FIRST PLACE"I RESPONED THAT THE DEALER CHARGED CLOSE TO $500 FOR THE SAME THING I HAD DONE AT AN EXHAUST REPAIR SHOP FOR $300 AND THAT IT WAS THE PREMATURE WEAR OF SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE LASTED MUCH LONGER IE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SHE SAID THAT I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND PAID FOR THE WORK IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THAT IF THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD THEY WOULD HAVE REPLACED IT ,IF IT WAS THE MUFFLER I WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY THEM $77 FOR 1 HOUR OF DIAGNOSTIC REGARDLESS OF WHAT WAS ONE. I PAID $300 FOR AN EXHAUST THAT I DIDNT NEED BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON MY TRUCK THAT SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY TO 80K MILES.I NOW HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER $250 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO BRING MY TRUCK BACK IN LINE WITH MY LOCAL EMISSIONS BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THE WARRANTY BECAUSE ONE CLAMP WHICH WAS RUSTED IN PLACE WAS CUT OFF OF THE FACTORY PIECE WHEN I HAD IT REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053513February 19, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC WHICH INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10058282February 16, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
BURNING SMELL, BLINKING OF HEADLIGHTS AND THEN HEADLIGHT FAILURE WHILE ON INTERSTATE. TOOK TO MECHANIC WHO FOUND A RECALL AND ADVISED ME TO CALL A DODGE DEALER. DODGE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THAT PARTICULAR VEHICLE. CALLED DAIMLER/CHRYSLER ASSISTANCE CENTER WHO SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THAT PARTICULAR VEHICLE BY VIN NUMBER. MECHANIC IN TOWN WILL BE FIXING. VEHICLE HAS TRAILER TOW PACKAGE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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