Dodge Ram Complaints (1998)

1,390 consumer complaints on file.

#10138487October 4, 2005
STEERING
STEERING PROBLEMS WONDERING NEEDED NEW STEERING BOX ROD AND PIN AND TIE RODS ON FRONT ALSO PAINT IS ALL COMING OFF. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138517October 4, 2005
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
DIESEL ENGINE, MANUAL TRANSMISSION, 3500. THE NUT THAT HOLDS THE 5TH GEAR ON IN THE TRANSMISSION COMES OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. RESULTING IN NO 5TH GEAR. IT IS KNOWN THAT THE NUT SOMETIMES JAMS THE REST OF THE TRANSMISSION, RESULTING IN NO TRANSMISSION AT ALL WHEN MOVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE AND IT IS ABOUT $600+ TO FIX EACH TIME. I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA, MY BUSINESS FRIEND IN SOUTH CAROLINE HAS HAD IT HAPPENED TWICE ALSO, AND HE KNOWS OF ANOTHER PERSON IN TEXAS THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW OF TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE SAME VEHICLE, SO IT SEEMS STRANGE THAT THE ONE PERSON I DO BUSINESS WITH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTRY HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT HE KNOWS OF SOMEONE ELSE IN ANOTHER PART OF THE COUNTRY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE PICK UP SPENDS 1 OR 2 DAYS IN THE SHOP, THEY REPLACE THE NUT, AND THAT'S IT. THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE NUT, I THINK THEY PUT LOCKTITE ON IT. THE OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE, BUT MY WORK ORDERS FROM THE DODGE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS ARE. I AM NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DATES OF BOTH OCCURRENCES, IT IS ALL FILED AWAY, BUT IF YOU WANT, I CAN DIG THEM UP FOR YOU. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138857September 28, 2005
SUSPENSION, STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ALREADY INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. A FEW DAYS LATER THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MEINEKE BECAUSE OF A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE NEVER PASSED INSPECTION DUE TO NUMEROUS PROBLEMS FOUND WITH THE VEHICLE. *TS THE MEINEKE TECH STATED THAT EH VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE PASSED INSPECT DUE TO NUMEROUS VIOLATIONS. THE VEHICLE NEEDS 2 WHEEL BEARINGS, TRACK BAR, STEERING SHOCK, 2 HUB ASSEMBLIES, BRAKE LINES, OXYGEN SENSOR AND A NEW LICENSE PLATE BULB. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO GET HIS MONEY BACK BUT THEY REFUSED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135674September 7, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
THE FRONT SEAT BELTS LOCK UP AND CANNOT BE USED OR TIGHTEN UP TO WHERE YOU HAVE TO UNLATCH THEM DUE TO THE SEAT BELT MOTOR SENSOR IN MY 98 DODGE 3500. THEY ARE UNPREDICTABLE AND MAKE IT UNSAFE TO USE THEM WHEN YOU DO AND IT IS UNSAFE NOT TO USE THEM. DODGE IS VERY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE THE HAVE SINCE RETURNED TO USING MANUAL SEAT BELTS BUT DON'T WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN THESE VEHICLES, AND CHARGE THE VEHICLE OWNERS TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELTS SINCE THE LAWS REQUIRE THEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135137September 2, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135195September 2, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCK. HE STATED THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE RIGHT SIDE BROKE. THE DEALER AND THE BODY SHOP SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A DEFECT IN THE METAL. THE BODY SHOP SAID THE ONLY PROPER WAY TO FIX IT WAS TO GET A NEW FRAME. CHRYSLER SAID THAT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133908August 23, 2005
AIR BAGS
THE "AIR BAG" LIGHT REMAINS ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126269August 18, 2005
SEAT BELTS
DT: CONTACT STATES THAT EARLY IN THE MORNING WHEN SHE GOT IN HER CAR AND WAS PUTTING THE SEAT BELT ON, THE SHOULDER PART TIGHTENED UP THE LAP BELT AND SHE NOTICED A BOLT HOLE. THERE WAS A METAL BAR AND THE BOLT HOLE HAD BROKEN. SHE CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THE TRUCK WAS A 1998 MODEL AND HAD A LOT OF MILEAGE ON IT. THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. *AK (THE BELT WAS IN PROPERLY BUT THE METAL STRAP HOLDING THE SEAT BELT TO THE FLOOR HAD SHEARED AT THE BOLT HOLE WHICH WAS COMING APART) *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132753August 14, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EQUIPMENT
PROBLEMS WITH WEAR OF BRAKE SHOES. SINCE I PURCHASED MY DODGE RAM 1500 IN JUNE 1998 I HAVE HAD CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH MY FRONT BRAKES. I AM HAVING TO REPLACE THEM AT LEAST 3 TIMES A YEAR. I UNDERSTAND THAT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THIS PART BUT HAVING TO REPLACE THEM THIS MUCH IN ONE YEAR. I DO NOT RIDE MY BRAKES LIKE I HAVE BEEN TOLD I DO. EVEN RIDING MY BRAKES I STILL DO NOT THINK REPLACING THEM THIS MUCH IS NECESSARY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131240August 3, 2005
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DT: BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS RETRACTOR/LOCK INTERCHANGES BUCKLE ASSEMBLY BROKE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHEN TRYING TO BUCKLE UP WITH THE SEAT BELTS, NO INCIDENT WHERE THIS COULD HAVE OCCURRED. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS DEFECTIVE. SPOKE TO DEALER, WHO SAID THIS WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT WAS TOLD SOME TIME AGO SAID SAFETY FEATURES WERE COVERED. HAS NOT CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AT THIS TIME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129846July 24, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
VEHICLE: 1998 DODGE B1500 RAM VAN PROBLEM: AT LESS THAN 40,000 MILES I WAS TOLD BY A TIRE DEALER THAT MY UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE SHOT AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THEM REPLACED BEFORE THE FRONT END COULD BE ALIGNED. AT 60,000 MILES I FINALLY DECIDE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. NOT ONLY WAS THE BALL JOINTS BAD, BUT ONE SIDE HAD COME LOOSE IN THE UPPER CONTROL ARM, AND DESTROYED THE THREADS AND WAS FLOATING FREE IN THE CONTROL ARM. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFTEY HAZARD. I AM INTERESTED IF THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THIS VEHICLE OR NOT. BY DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I SEE MULTIPLE COMPLAINT ON OTHER DODGE VEHICLES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. JOSEPH SCHEIBENPFLUG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127890July 8, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH THE SIDE OF A CHEVY BLAZER AT APPROX. 50 MPH. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT ON MY VEHICLE, AND MY WIFE WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE PASSENGERS WINDOW.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
5
Deaths:
0
#10128125July 8, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
ACCORDING TO THE NHSTA RECALL DATABASE, A RECALL (01V153000) ALREADY EXISTS FOR 1998 DODGE RAM TRUCK CONCERNING THE AIR BAG AND IS SPECIFIC TO MY VIN NUMBER OF [XXX]. HOWEVER, UPON CALLING DODGE AT THE NUMBER SPECIFIED IN THE FILING, MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL ALTHOUGH IT IS EXPERIENCING THE SYMPTOMS ADDRESSED IN THE NOTIFICATION. NO ACTION WAS AVAILABLE FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127057June 29, 2005
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT ON HIS 2004 THOR JAZZ 5TH WHEEL TRAILER. IT IS THE ORIGINAL TIRE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FENDER. CONSUMER CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE THE DAY BEFORE. HE TOOK THE TIRE TO A GOODYEAR DEALER BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A CARLISLE DEALER NEARBY. HE WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO SIGN OF THE TIRE RUNNING LOW AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE TIRE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126995June 29, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: CONTACT COMPLAINED OF BRAKE PROBLEMS SINCE 1999 DUE TO BATTERY ACID LEAKING ONTO THE BRAKE LINES AND CAUSING CORROSION. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL, BUT THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE PROBLEM WA SREPAIRED BY PUTTING A RUBBER TRAY UNDER THE BATTERY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118347April 24, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
DODGE DIESEL LIFT PUMP FAILURE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118290April 23, 2005
STEERING
MY GIRLFRIEND'S SON WAS DRIVING OUR 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 GOING ABOUT 35 OR 40 MILES PER HOUR (HE AND HIS GIRLFRIEND WERE TAKING A RIDE WAITING FOR A PIZZA) SO JUST MOSING ALONG THANK GOD . HE ROUNDED A CURVE AND LOST STEERING HE TRIED TO JERK IT BACK AND SAID IT MADE A CRACKING NOISE AND HE HAD NO STEERING ABILITY. HE RAN OFF THE ROAD STRIKING TREES, KNOCKED HIMSELF OUT BY HITTING HIS HEAD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. WHEN HE CAME TO, HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS KNOCKED OUT. HE GOT HER ALERT AND CALLED 911. SHE WAS LIFE FLIGHTED, 5 BROKEN RIBS, MAJOR CONCUSSION AND HE HAD CUTS AND SCRATCHES AND A CONCUSSION. HE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED. I ASKED THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER TO CHECK IT BUT HE LOOKED AT IT (NEVER TORE THE STEERING COLUMN APART) AND SAID IT LOOKED OK. THEY MOVED IT TO A SALVAGE YARD. SINCE THE ACCIDENT 3 PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR RAM 1500. NOW HER SON IS BEING FINED FOR DRIVING TOO FAST AROUND THE CURVE..GUESS IT IS ALWAYS A FINE NEVER A TRUE ACCIDENT ANYMORE, BUT I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT THE KIDS ARE BOTH ALIVE AS THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED FROM THE TREES AND STUMPS THEY HIT. HER SON FEELS HE MAY HAVE LEANED ON THE GAS PEDAL WHEN HE WAS KNOCKED OUT BUT KNOWS HE WAS ONLY GOING 40 MPH TOPS PRIOR TO THE STEERING FAILING. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10117560April 6, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117327April 4, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE RPMS INCREASED, AND THE GEARS POPPED ON THE VEHICLE ON THEIR OWN. TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP FOR CHECK UP, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059234March 28, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHCILE WA TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE GOVERNOR PRESSURE SENSOR AND THE GOVERNOR PRESSURE SOLENOID FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO SLIPPED MOMENTARILY. *AK THESE PARTS WERE REPLACED TWICE. *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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