Dodge Ram Complaints (1997)

1,130 consumer complaints on file.

#10247113October 29, 2008
TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER DEFINITE DAKOTA TIRES, (NA) SIZE LT26575R16 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES CONTINUED TO FLATTEN. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AGO, WHILE REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CRACKING AT THE OUTSIDE BEAD. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PEP BOYS AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE TIRE FAILURE. PEP BOYS OFFERED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES AT THE COST OF $246.38 FOR LABOR AND OTHER FEES. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT PEP BOYS SHOULD REPLACE THE TIRES FOR FREE BECAUSE A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,658. UPDATED 12-04-08 *BF UPDATED 12/10/08.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245569October 15, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND THE TIRE RIPPED APART WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT 65 MPH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245492October 14, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THERE WAS NOTHING LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, ALL OF A SUDDEN MY DASHBOARD JUST STARTED CRACKING ALL OVER THE PLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244682October 7, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I PURCHASED THIS 1997 DODGE 2500 DIESEL PICKUP BRAND NEW FROM THE DODGE DEALERSHIP IN OREGON. THE WORST VEHICLE THAT I HAVE EVER OWNED REGARDING BEING ABLE TO SEE AT NIGHT WITH THEIR HEADLIGHT DESIGN. I HAVE HAD MANY CLOSE CALLS TRYING TO SEE THE ROAD AS IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE EVEN THE ROAD DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE PICKUP WITH THIS STYLE OF HEADLAMPS THAT DODGE ENGINEERED FOR THIS YEAR PICKUP NIGHT DRIVING AT NIGHT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL DODGE DEALERSHIPS TO SEE IF THEY CAN HELP. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REMEDY THIS TO THIS DAY. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. HELP *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244684October 7, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I PURCHASED THIS 1997 DODGE 2500 DIESEL PICKUP BRAND NEW FROM THE DODGE DEALERSHIP IN OREGON. THE WORST VEHICLE THAT I HAVE EVER OWNED REGARDING BEING ABLE TO SEE AT NIGHT WITH THEIR HEADLIGHT DESIGN. I HAVE HAD MANY CLOSE CALLS TRYING TO SEE THE ROAD AS IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE EVEN THE ROAD DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE PICKUP WITH THIS STYLE OF HEADLAMPS THAT DODGE ENGINEERED FOR THIS YEAR PICKUP NIGHT DRIVING. AT NIGHT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL DODGE DEALERSHIPS TO SEE IF THEY CAN HELP. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REMEDY THIS TO THIS DAY. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. HELP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242458September 16, 2008
TRAILER HITCHES
I OWN A 1997 DODGE RAM 2500. I NOTICED THE HITCH STINGER WAS ANGLED DOWNWARD. UPON INSPECTION OF THE HITCH (3 BOLTS PER SIDE), AT THE 90 DEGREE BEND OF THE HITCH, THE DRIVER SIDE IS CRACKED 7/8 OF THE LENGTH; THE PAX SIDE IS CRACKED 2 ". ONE CAN REASONABLY CONCLUDE THAT HITCHES INSTALLED ON 98 MODELS WERE MADE PRIOR TO 98, AND THAT A HITCH OF THE SAME PRODUCTION BATCH COULD HAVE BEEN ISTALLED ON 97 MODELS. DODGE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED DEFECTS ON HITCHES MADE PRIOR TO 98, WITH CONFIRMED AND ANECDOTAL REPORTS OF 97 MODELS WITH SIMILAR DAMAGE. I WOULD SUBMIT DODGE CORPORATION, WITHIINCREASED NUMBERS OF REPORTS OF CRACKS IN 97MODELS, AND PRESSURE FROM NHTSA, OFFER A RECALL. IT IS OBVIOUS THE QUALITY AND WEIGHT RATING OF FACTORY INSTALLED HITCHES IS NOT ADEQUATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241994September 12, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING ON US HIGHWAY 231 IN ALABAMA A GOOD YEAR TIRE (LT245/75R16E) TREADS SEPARATED AND CAUSED OVER $4,600.00 DOLLARS DAMAGE TO THE LEFT SIDE OF MY DODGE RAM TRUCK. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE NEW AND WERE OEM EQUIPMENT . THEY WOULDN'T STAY IN BALANCE VERY LONG AFTER BEING BALANCED. GOOD YEAR TIRE AND RUBBER CO. HAS OFFERED ME $L89.00 FOR A NEW TIRE AND $200.00 FOR THE DEDUCTIBLE INSURANCE I PAID GEICO. I TOLD GOOD YEAR THAT I WANTED ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY OF THE TIRES. ALSO, THAT IF ONE TIRE COULD HAVE TREAD SEPARATION ANY ONE OF THE OTHER THREE TIRES COULD DO THE SAME THING AND THE NEXT TIME MORE THAN THE TRUCK BODY WOULD GET DAMAGED-HUMANE BODY'S MIGHT GET DAMAGED. FURTHER MORE, $L89.50 THEY HAVE OFFERED ME FOR A NEW TIRE WILL NOT BUY A TIRE FOR MY TRUCK THAT IS SAFE TO DRIVE ON A HIGHWAY. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED A PRICE OF $273.00 FOR THE RIGHT TIRE[S] FOR MY TRUCK. I HAVE BEEN SINCE JUNE 21, 2008, TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER WITH GOOD YEAR TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS DAYS TRAVELING TO TIRE COMPANY WORKING WITH GOOD YEAR{FOUR TRIPS}, GEICO{ONE TRIP} AND THREE TRIPS TO THE BODY SHOP THAT REPAIRED MY TRUCK. I LOST THE USE OF MY TRUCK FOR THREE WEEKS WHILE IT WAS BEING REPAIRED. I KNOW GOOD YEAR TIRE AND RUBBER CO. (THE LARGEST TIRE MANUFACTURE IN THE WORLD} IS NOT TREATING ME FAIRLY ANY WAY YOU LOOK AT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238571August 17, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO BRAKE LINE FAILURE BEHIND THE FUEL TANK AND BEHIND THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234932July 19, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEARS. WOULD NEVER GO FASTER THAN 40 MILES AND HOUR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235016July 18, 2008
TRAILER HITCHES
1997 DODGE RAM 3500 TRUCK HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRAILER HITCH. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRAILER HITCH IS DEFECTIVE AND WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT HITCH. *NJ WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE HITCH ON THE TRUCK LITERALLY BROKE AND THE TRAILER HIT THE GROUND. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD ABOUT A RECALL, HOWEVER WHEN SHE CONTACTED CHRYSLER, THEY TOLD HER THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234636July 17, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, PARKING BRAKE
PARK POSITION WITH IGNITION KEY IN THE LOCK POSITION, VEHICLE SHIFTER MOVED OUT OF PARK , KNOCKED OWNER DOWN AND RAN OVER ME, CONTINUED TO ROLL BACK HIT SECOND CAR, CONTINUED TO KEEP GOING UNTIL IT HIT A CURB. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD HAVE CAUSED OTHER ACCIDENTS. CONSUMER SENT IN A FAX COPY OF THE INTERNET VOQ. *KB *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10232537June 27, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DASH BOARD CRACKING AND FALLING OFF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229887June 4, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE SPEED INCREASED TO 55 MPH WITHOUT HIM PRE-SETTING THE SPEED. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV. HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE CONTACT HAD TO COMPLETELY TURN OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO DISENGAGE. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,900. UPDATED 07/08/08. *BF UPDATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229830June 3, 2008
STRUCTURE
1997 DODGE RAM 1500 DASH IS CRACKING AND FALLING OUT IN CHUNKS. BEZEL IS ALSO CRACKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227472May 12, 2008
STEERING:COLUMN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN AT 5 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NO WARNING SIGNS WERE ILLUMINATED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO LOCAL MECHANICS, BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT IS PLANNING TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED BY A TECHNICIAN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,800 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,885.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226412May 1, 2008
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
HEATER CORE REPLACEMENT NEEDS DONE AND WORRIED ABOUT THE DASH CRACKING WHEN PUT BACK IN, IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH A PRIOR 97' RAM I OWNED AND KNOW IT'S A CHRYSLER PROBLEM AND CONCERNED ABOUT MY DASH ON THE 01' I NOW OWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225992April 29, 2008
AIR BAGS
YOUR FAULTY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10226091April 29, 2008
STRUCTURE
MY DASHBOARD IN MY 1997 DODGE RAM STARTED CRACKING AND BEFORE I KNEW IT I HAD GAPING HOLES IN THE DASH BOARD. IT IS AN EYE SORE TO ME AND I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO LOOK FOR A DASH BOARD THROUGH THE INTERNET. I WISH I COULD GET SOME HELP IN PAYING FOR THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225051April 10, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
CONSUMER COMPLAINT ABOUT A 1997 DODGE DODGE RAM DIESEL 4X4. CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN REPLACING THE LOWER BALL JOINTS IT WAS NOTICED THAT THEY WEREN'T GREASED WHICH CAUSED THEM TO BE DRY, RUSTY, AND CAUSED THEM TO WEAR OUT. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223001April 1, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INSPECTION STATION AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED BY THE DEALER ON AUGUST 19, 1997 UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V084000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES). THE DEALER FAILED TO USE A STAINLESS STEEL RETAINER FOR THE REPAIR AS STATED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. INSTEAD, THE ORIGINAL PLASTIC PART WAS STILL ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72000. UPDATED 05/06/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER DID NOT MAKE THE REPAIR AND THE TRANSMISSION EVENTUALLY FAILED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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