Dodge Ram Complaints (1997)

1,130 consumer complaints on file.

#730499September 6, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
3RD ORIG. EQUIP. TIRE TO HAVE TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING, SIGNIFICANT VEHICLE DAMAGE. THESE ARE GOODYEAR TIRES, DO NOT FEEL THAT FIRESTONE IS ONLY TIRE MFG. WITH TREAD SEPARATION PROBLEM.( DOT NUMBER: MD11BTOV01 TIRE SIZE: 245/75R16E )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#869490September 5, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THERE IS A PADDED MATERIAL LAYING AGAINST EXHAUST PIPE WHICH HAS ALREADY SLIGHTLY BURNED. VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 97V126000 ALTHOUGH HAS SAME DEFECT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9001529September 1, 2000
VISIBILITY
THE EXTERIOR MIRRORS FOLD BACK WITH WIND RESISTANCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#729660August 31, 2000
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868932August 28, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DIESEL ENGINE HAS REPLACEMENT PART SUCH AS TIMMING CHANGE INJECTOR PUMP. TRANSMISSION SENDER SWITCH AND SEAL HAD TO BE REPLACED. FRONT AND BACK BRAKES REPLACED. ALSO, TAIL PIPE HAD TO WELDED BACK ON. TAIL PIPE FELL OFF. THERE WAS VIBRATION. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#729007August 25, 2000
WHEELS
THIS HAPPENED TO ME IN AUG 1999 AND TO ANOTHER MAN ON AUG 2000 LF WHEEL FALLS OFF WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868707August 25, 2000
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
AT LOW SPEEDS POWER STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP INTERMITTENTLY,WITHOUT WARNING WHICH HAS CAUSED 2 ACCIDENTS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO TWO CHRSYLER DEALERS, WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED STEERING LOCKING UP, AND HAVE NOTED THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH PLAY IN STEERING GEAR BOX. ALSO, ALLSTATE INSURANCE SAFETY INSPECTOR CAME OUT TO CHECK VEHICLE AFTER 2ND ACCIDENT AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH PLAY IN STEERING GEAR BOX. CHRYSLER FINALLY SENT OUT THEIR OWN SAFETY INSPECTOR TO DEALER TO CHECK VEHICLE, AND HE DETERMINED THERE WAS NO DEFECT, EVEN AFTER TWO CHRSYLER DEALERS AND ALLSTATE INSPECTOR INDICATED EXCESSIVE PLAY IN STEERING GEAR BOX.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#868626August 24, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PEOO 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE. RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND SHEET METAL WAS DAMAGED UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. TIRE IS A GOODYEAR, WRANGLER #AT, T245/75R16. *AK GOODYEAR 245/75/R16 *MW
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9001515August 22, 2000
STEERING
NO SUMMARY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
4
#728111August 16, 2000
SEATS
OUTSIDE SEAT BACK BRACKET OF DRIVER SEAT FAILED IN REAR END COLLISION RESULTING IN DRIVER BEING MOVED INTO BACK SEAT. SEAT BACK BRACKET FAILED ABOVE THE RECLINER RATCHET ADJSUTER. TRUCK MOVING 5MPH, REARENDED BY VEHICLE APPROX AT 30MPH OR FASTER (EXCESSIVE SPEED, 283' SKID MARKS, DRY PAVEMENT, 96 HONDA ACCORD)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#728166August 16, 2000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
FUEL PUMP FAILURE AT 37000 MILES??? COST ME $675 TO REPLACE/REPAIR. THOUGHT THIS WAS UNUSUAL SO REPORTING IT. ALSO, REPLACED WITH A DEALER PURCHASED PART BUT INSTALLED/REPAIRED AT BACK BAY AUTO IN VIRGINIA BEACH, VA WHERE IT BROKE DOWN... OF COURSE THE WARRANTY DIDN'T APPLY IN THIS CASE! :-(
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#726453August 2, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE FIRST FAILURE WAS AN ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT GOODYEAR WRANGLER AT ON THE RIGHT REAR. THE TREAD SEPERATED AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND CAVED IN THE SIDE OF THE PICK UP BED BUT DID ONLY MINOR DAMAGE TO THE 5TH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER I WAS PULLING. THE SECOND FAILURE WAS A KELLY SAFARI AWR LT245X75/R16 ON THE RIGHT FRONT. THE TREAD SEPERATED AT HIGHWAY SPEED DENTING THE PASSENGER DOOR AND ROCKER PANEL AND BREAKING THE FENDER WELL AND SOME BUMPER COMPONNENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS UNLOADED AT THE TIME. IN BOTH CASES, THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS ABOVE 90 DEGREES F. IN THE FIRST CASE, GOOD YEAR DID NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AT ALL. IN THE SECOND CASE, KELLEY PAID FOR THE LOSS COMPLETELY. BOTH TIRES WERE LOAD RANGE E WITH ABOUT 40,000 MILE OF USE. BOTH TIRES HAD LOTS OF TREAD LEFT (THE WEAR BARS WERE NOT EVEN BEGINNING TO SHOW.) THE FIRST TIRE (GOOD YEAR) THREW APROX 80% OF THE TREAD BUT REMAINED INFLATED (80PSI) AND ON THE RIM. THE SECOND TIRE (KELLY) THREW ABOUT 50 % OF ITS TREAD BUT ALSO REMAINED INFLATED (65 PSI) AND ON THE RIM. THIS SECOND INCIDENT PRESENTED A MUCH MORE DIFFICULT CONTROL SITUATION BEING ON A FRONT WHEEL, BUT I WAS STILL ABLE TO MAINTAIN ENOUGH CONTROLL TO CLEAR THE ROADWAY AND STOP WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGE. IN LIGHT OF TODAY'S NEWS ABOUT SIMILAR FIRESTONE TIRE FAILURES ON SUV TYPE VEHICLES, I FELT YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT IT IS NOT JUST FIRESTONE OR FORD WITH THE PROBLEM. LARGE SUV TIRES ARE LOOSING TREAD ALMOST AS READILY AS COMMERCIAL VEHICLE RE-CAPS.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245X75/R16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#866516August 1, 2000
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
GASOLINE GAUGE NEEDLE DOESN'T WORK. NEEDLE OF THE GAUGE DOESN'T SHOW CORRECT AMOUT OF GASOLINE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#725703July 20, 2000
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED 5TH GEAR SUDDENLY LETS GO; ACTS LIKE SUDDENLY PRESSING CLUTCH WHILE AT SPEED. PROBLEM APPEARS WITHOUT WARNING, STARTLES DRIVER AND LEAVES DRIVER WITHOUT POWER TO AVOID VEHICLES APPROACHING IN REAR. ONLY RESPONSE IS TO MOVE TO RIGHT WITHOUT POWER TO AVOID ACCIDENT. HAD REPAIRED BY AZ DEALER FIRST TIME WITH "NEW REDESIGNED" PARTS AND SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED EXACTLY ONE YEAR LATER ON 2/10/00 AT 87615 MILES. PROBLEM FIXED WITH SAME PARTS AGAIN BY CA DEALER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE TRUCK IS NOT CAPABLE OF DRIVING IN 4TH GEAR AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (TRUCK HAS 4:10 RING AND PINION). BOTH TRANSMISSION MECHANICS HAVE REPAIRED SEVERAL VEHICLES WITH SAME PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#865725July 20, 2000
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING COLUMN FAILURE, STEERING WOULD VIBRATE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL; STEERING SHAFT, COUPING AND DAMPER HAD TO BE REPLACED. BELIEVED THIS PROBLEM IS PREMATURE/DEFECTED AT 47,000 MILE OF WEAR. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#865726July 20, 2000
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
REOCCURRING PROBLEM WITH STEERING COLUMN FAILURE, FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 16-JUN, 1997. REOCCURRED AGAIN. ALSO, NEEDS STEERING SHAFT, COUPING AND DAMPER REPLACEMENT. BOTH VEHICLES WOULD BE REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#865747July 20, 2000
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S MANUAL MIRRORS MOVES INWARD CONSTANTLY WHICH OBSTRUCTED THE REAR VIEW TO THE DRIVER . THIS MAY CAUSE A CRASH. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#865703July 19, 2000
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
BOTH PASSENGER'S SIDE AND DRIVER'S SIDE MIRRORS MOVE RAPIDLY WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVING AT 45 MPH OR MORE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#865243July 11, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
ON THREE OCCASIONS REAR AXLE SEAL HAD LEAKED OIL ONTO THE BRAKES, CAUSING BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION. A TECHNICIAN FOUND THIS OUT ON A ROUTINE INSPECTION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#725186July 10, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SINCE JANUARY I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT STALLING WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE IF I HAD IT IDLE FOR AWHILE OR WARMING UP. I TOOK IT BACK TO AUTO NATION AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY TOOK IT TO DICKINSON DODGE (910) 864-2411 AND THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO DUPLICATE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED PERIODICALLY UNTIL APRIL WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. THIS WOULD ONLY HAPPEN WHEN I WAS IN REVERSE THEN WOULD TRY TO PUT IT IN DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HESITATE AND IT WAS LIKE I WAS IN NUETRAL. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE DRIVE GEAR WOULD KICK IN AND IT WAS FINE. A FEW TIMES I HAD TO PUT IT IN D2 THEN PULL OUT AND PUT IT IN DRIVE. I HAD DICKINSON DODGE CHECK THIS AGAIN AND THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. IN LATE JUNE I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND TOLD DICKINSON TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING OR GET IT TO DUPLICATE THE SLIPPING AND STALLING. THEY DI REPLACE THE SERPENTINE BELT AND TOLD ME THAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM BUT IT WASN'T. TWO DDAYS AFTER ON JULY 1ST I WAS DRIVING AROUND FAYETTEVILLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CONTACTED DICKINSON DODGE AGAIN AND ON 5 JULY TOOK IT IN. INITIALLY THEY SAID THE FAULT REGISTERED AS A DROP IN RPM'S. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM AND THOUGHT IT WAS ELECTRICAL INITIALLY. THEN ON 6 JULY THEY DECIDED TO DROP THE TRANSMISSION PAN AND FOUND THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS SEPARATING AND PUTTING METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE TRANSMISSION. THEY SAID THIS ATE AWAY THE SEAL FOR THE GEAR BOX AND ALLOWED OIL IN THE CLUTCHES. THAT WAS CAUSING THE SLIPPAGE AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT. THEY ALSO SAID MY OVERDRIVE GEAR WAS ALREADY OUT. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1500 TO REBUILD IT. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT $95 FOR TESTING WHICH SHOWED NOTHING AND ANOTHER $80 FOR THE SERPENTINE BELT REPLACEMENT. I WOULD THINK A TRUCK WITH ONLY 48,000 MILES ON IT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I AM SUSPECTING IT MAY BE A FLOOD VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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