Dodge Ram Complaints (1997)

1,130 consumer complaints on file.

#10122044May 24, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
DT: CONSUMER NOTICED THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD ABOVE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHILE DRIVING. IMMEDIATELY CONSUMER TURNED THE ENGINE AND THE HEADLIGHTS OFF. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES IT STOPPED SMOKING. AFTER WAITING SEVERAL MINUTES, THE ENGINE STARTED, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON. CONSUMER CALLED DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MAKE AND MODEL. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT CHECKED THIS VEHICLE. CONSUMER CHECKED THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND FOUND A RECALL FOR THE 3500 SERIES BUT NOT THE 2500 SERIES. DISCOVERED THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET DUE TO EXPENSE. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121011May 16, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
DT: 97 DODGE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WENT OUT AND THE WIRING BURNED AND MELTED. ALSO HAVE 96 DODGE AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120418May 4, 2005
STRUCTURE
1997 DODGE RAM 2500 DASHBOARD CRACKED.*MR *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117281April 27, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHTS PLASTIC LENS BECAME DISCOLORED, AND CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY OBSTRUCT CONSUMER'S VISION AND RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PARTS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL.*AK *BF *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116859April 13, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR, STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
A LONG LIST IS AVAILABLE AT HUMES OF WATERFORD,PA. THE MOST AMAZING FAILURE OF THE VEHICHLE WAS WHEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING AROUND THE BEND AND I WAS LUCKY THAAT NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS COMING. HUMES(DEALER) FIXED IT BY A HORRIBLE WELD ON THE LATCH.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117128March 30, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE SKIDDED AND STOPPED WHEN ENGAGED ON ITS OWN. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE PADS/ ABS CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106943March 30, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
VEHICLE LOST BRAKING WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AT 25 MPH. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY INCIDENTS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS AN ERUPTED METAL BRAKE LINE DUE TO CORROSION. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED.*AK BROKEN BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED. THE REST OF BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF SEVERE CORROSION AND DANGER OF BURSTING. *BF *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114316March 19, 2005
STRUCTURE
DODGE RAM WITH 65,000 MILES DASH HAS SPIT IN SEVERAL PLACES THIS IS UNCALLED FOR ON A 20,000 DOLLAR TRUCK. THERE WAS A MALFUCTION IN THE PRODUCTION OF THESE DASHES AND CHRYLSLER SHOULD MAKE THEM GOOD. I TOOK IT TO THE CHRYLSLER COMPANY THAT I PURCHESED IT FROM, AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST ME AROUND 200 DOLLARS. ITS ALSO A SAFETY HAZZARD, I HOPE NO ONE GETS CUT FROM THE SHARP EDGES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112592March 6, 2005
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 62000. DEALERSHIP IN HAMMOND, LA WOULD NOT WORK WITH ME TO REPLACE. HAD IT REPLACED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AT THE COST $2300.00 . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113331March 3, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
VEHICLE WAS PULLING A TRAILER AT 40 MPH, IN THE PROCESS,THE REAR EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS CAME OUT, ALLOWING A LOT OF HEAT TO ESCAPE THROUGH THE JOINT ATTACHMENT. THE HEAT SET THE INSULATION WALL ON FIRE. THE FIRE MELTED THE HYDRAULIC LINE TO THE CLUTCH.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108289January 31, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
STARTED SMELLING STRONG GAS FUMES. HAD CHECKED AND FOUND GAS TANK WAS CRACKED ON TOP AND RUNNING DOWN BOTH SIDES VERY CLOSE TO EXHAUST PIPES. FIRE HAZARD. HAD TO HAVE GAS TANK AND FUEL PUMP REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. SEEMS TO ME A GAS TANK SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 7 YEARS OR BE A FACTORY DEFECT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107931January 26, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK FROM A USED DEALER IN TUPELO, MS ON JULY 5, 2004. ON AUGUST 27, 2004, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING AROUND 65-70 MPH DOWN A 4-LANE HWY IN MS WHEN I HEARD A WEIRD NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND AS HE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN TO GET OFF ON THE SHOULDER, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING SHEARED THE STUDS OFF AND MY TIRE WENT SAILING OFF THE TRUCK, SLAMMING THE FRONT END DOWN ONTO THE GROUND. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT DENTED THE FENDER AND SHOVED THE FENDER INTO THE PASSENGER DOOR PREVENTING IT FROM BEING ABLE TO BE OPENED. TRUCK WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT ON A TRAILER AND A NEW WHEEL BEARING WAS PUT IN. THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE DUE TO THE STUDS BEING SHEARED OFF ON A 4-LANE HWY. WHEN PART WAS REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING WAS CHECKED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, SHOWING NO REASON FOR REPLACEMENT. 2 WEEKS LATER ON MY WAY TO WORK, I FELT A SUDDEN VIBRATION IN THE TRUCK. I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CHECKED THE TRUCK, JUST BY A SUDDEN CHANCE OF LUCK I CHECK THE TIRE AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD ALREADY SHEARED 3 OF 5 LUG NUTS OFF. ONCE AGAIN THE TRUCK WAS TOWED IN FOR REPAIR AND A NEW WHEELBEARING WAS INSTALLED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. WHILE THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN IN OUR POSSESSION, WE HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO IT TO MAKE IT SHEAR STUDS AND BREAK BEARINGS LIKE THAT. THE PREVIOUS OWNER TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF THE TRUCK AS WELL, INCLUDING SERVICING AND REPLACING PARTS, AND MAINTENANCE.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10106354January 14, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TRAVELING AT 40 MPH, HEARD A"POP", REAR BREAK LINE RUPTURED, DUE TO EARLY CORROSION OF GALVINIZED BRAKE LINES. NO REAR BRAKES. WAS ABLE TO GET OF ROAD. DEALERSHIP ASKED IF ITS A NORTHERN TRUCK, SAYS IT'S NON-WARRANTY. REPAIR PENDING - ESTIMATES RANGE FROM $600 TO THOUSANDS (DEALER) *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106187January 12, 2005
STRUCTURE, TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH HEARD A LOUD BANG THE REAR END OF THE PICKUP ROSE 4-6". UPON LOOKING IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR THE SPARE TIRE HAD FALLEN FROM ITS STORAGE LOCATION UNDER THE BED OF THE TRUCK. UPON INSPECTION THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE TIRE ASSEMBLY HAD CORRODED AND ONE EAR (HALF) OF THE BRACKET BUCKLED AND ALLOWED THE TIRE TO FALL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105847January 6, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
MY TRUCK WAS AT A STAND STILL WHEN I WAS REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AT POINT OF IMPACT, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEATS BROKE AND RECLINED TO THE REARWARD POSITION. BOTH CAN BE PUT IN THE FORWARD AND BACK TO THE REARWARD POSITION (TOTALLY RECLINED) BY SIMPLY PUSHING IT FROM FRONT TO BACK. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BROKE TO THE POINT THAT ONLY A SMALL PART OF THE HINGE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT REMAINS TO HOLD THE BACKREST TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT. BOTH SEATS FAILED TO HOLD UP TO THE IMPACT! THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BREAKING IS THAT MY SON, WHO WAS POSITIONED BEHIND THE DRIVERS SEAT, BROKE HIS JAW WHEN HE WAS THROWN FORWARD, AFTER THE SEAT HAD ALREADY BROKEN TO THE REARWARD POSITION. HIS FACE MADE CONTACT WITH THE HEADREST OF THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT AS IT WAS LAYING IN HIS LAP. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AS OF YET, AS THE CLAIMS ADJUSTER HAS YET TO INSPECT MY TRUCK. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
4
Deaths:
0
#10104935January 2, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY I-70 EAST BOUND, THE HOOD LATCH RELEASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE HOOD FLIPPED BACKWARDS ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE OR REPLACED YET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104936January 2, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY I-70 EAST BOUND, THE HOOD LATCH RELEASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE HOOD FLIPPED BACKWARDS ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE OR REPLACED YET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103033December 15, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
JUST HAD TO REPLACE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON MY 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP. THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING POPPING NOISED FOR OVER A YEAR I JUST DIDN'T HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I WROTE BECAUSE I HEARD OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS GOING OUT ON THE DURANGO AND DAKOTA. ANYWAY, I AM OUT & $750.00.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10094931December 15, 2004
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING LEFT FRONT TIRE LOST ITS SHAPE. CONSUMER STOPPED AND CHANGED THE TIRE. LATER, THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS REPLACED. CURRENTLY,THE RIGHT AND LEFT REAR TIRES WERE SHOWING THE SAME DEFECT. *AK THREE OF THE FOUR TIRES HAD BROKEN BELTS. THE TIRES HAD 18000 MILES ON THEM AND THE TREAD WAS AT 55-60%. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102853December 13, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB, EQUIPMENT
WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY GOING OUT. OWN THE TRUCK FOR SINCE 91,000 MILES AND HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT RT HUB ASSEMBLY 4 TIMES. IT SEAMS TO BE GOING OUT AROUND 10,000 TO 12,000 MILES. PRIOR TO THIS ONE LAST ONE WAS DONE ON 2/04 ,6/03 & 10/02 MILEAGE NOW 141,000 W/ NEW ENGINE THAT ALSO WENT .SPUN A BEARING. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE MANY OF THESE HUB ASSEMBLYS GOING BAD ON 1997 RAMS 5.9 ENGINE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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