Dodge Ram Complaints (1997)

1,130 consumer complaints on file.

#759165March 10, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
ENGINE HAS ALWAYS PINGED ON REGULAR GAS - 5+ TRIPS TO DODGE FOR SERVICE AND THEY NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM. AT ONE POINT, THEY POURED FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER IN THE ENGINE WHICH IS SOMETHING THEY TELL YOU NOT TO DO WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM COMPLETELY SHOT AT 50,000 MILES IN OCTOBER, 2001. A MONTH LATER, MY REAR-END WENT UP AT A COST OF $1345. TWO WEEKS LATER, MY TRANSMISSION WENT UP AT A COST OF $1700. IN JUNE OF 2001, MY FUEL PUMP WENT UP AT A COST OF $216. I DID NOT HAVE ANY OF THESE REPAIRS DONE AT DODGE ALTHOUGH I PURCHASED DODGE PARTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NEVER FIXED ANYTHING WITHOUT EITHER SCREWING UP SOMETHING ELSE OR JUST NOT PROPERLY REPAIRING THE PROBLEMS. I CALLED THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR REPAIR PRICES AND THEY WERE MUCH HIGHER THAN INDEPENDENT SERVICE SHOPS. I WROTE THEM FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THESE REPAIR COSTS BUT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST ME BECAUSE REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE AT DODGE. THEY SAID I SHOULD HAVE ASKED THEM FOR HELP FIRST BUT I COULD NOT WAIT FOR A RESPONSE FROM THEM BECAUSE I NEEDED MY VEHICLE RIGHT AWAY. I ALSO DID NOT TRUST THEM TO PROPERLY REPAIR MY VEHICLE. OF COURSE, MY TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY FOR ALL OF THE PROBLEMS. I EVEN TOOK THEM TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT FOR THE ENGINE PING THEY COULD NOT CORRECT AND THEY BROUGHT IN 4 HIGH DOLLAR LAWYERS, SO, OF COURSE, IOST THE CASE. I HAVE NOT YET HAD MY AIR CONDITIONER REPAIRED. I AM GOING TO CONTACT THEM TO SEE IF THEY WILL REPAIR IT WITH SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ALTHOUGH I AM NOT SURE IF I SHOULD TRUST THEM AT THIS POINT. I HAVE SPENT A TOTAL OF $3,331 IN REPAIRS OVER THE PAST 3 MONTHS AND AM NOT FINISHED YET. WHAT A LEMON! THEY ALSO COULD NOT PERFORM A SIMPLE OIL CHANGE PROPERLY-THEY DID NOT REPLACE THE OIL PLUG AND THE OIL WAS LEAKING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#759043March 7, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
HAD TO MAKE A ACCIDENT AVOIDENCE MANUEVER. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE TRUCK, HAD TO RUN OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID IMPACT. RESULTING IN DAMAGING A FRONT LAWN IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. THE NEXT EPISODE WAS PULLING A SMALL 8' TRAILER WITH A HONDA 4-WHEELER. LIGHT TURNED RED AND WHEN I WENT TO STOP, I ENDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOOK IT IN FOR INSPECTION. NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. THE SERVICE MANAGER MR. WEB ( I BELIEVE THAT'S HIS NAME) DROVE MY TRUCK AND AGREED IT SEEMED TO TAKE LONGER TO STOP, BUT UPON INSPECTION NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. AFTER 3 MORE INCIDENTS OF THE SAME NATURE, THE DEALERSHIP DID REPLACE ALL THE BRAKES, TELLING ME THERE WAS AN UPDATE TO A DIFFERENT PAD FOR THE REAR BRAKES. THE TRUCK AT THE TIME HAD APPROXIMATELY19000 MILES. I THEN WAS TOLS IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE BRAKES TO WEAR OUT AT 19000 MILES. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT. I STILL HAVE THE STOPPING PROBLEM, AND I AM EXTREMELY CAREFUL WHEN I TOW MY 17' BOAT AND TRAILER. THE WEIGHT IS LESS THAN 3000 LBS. THE TRUCK NOW HAS BARELY OVER 40000 MILES. I HAD THE BRAKES CHECK BY A QUALIFIED MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BRAKES HAVE ABOUT 75% OF PAD LEFT. ARE THER ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE 1997 DODGE 4X4 RAM 1500 TRUCKS?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8004807February 28, 2002
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
SIDE MIRROR MOTIONS BACK AND FORTH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8004387February 22, 2002
WHEELS:HUB, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH LEFT FRONT WHEEL COMPLETELY CAME OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER REPLACED WHEEL HUB/ BRAKE ROTORS. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8004331February 21, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH IN 5 TH GEAR ENGINE REVVED, BUT VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. CONSUMER SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL, AND THEN TRIED TO SHIFT BACK, WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT BACK INTO GEAR. PLEASE ADD FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#564284February 14, 2002
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
CONSUMER BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL #819 REPAIR, DEALER REPLACED HEADLIGHT SWITCH, INSTALLED OVERLAY HARNESS AND REPLACED 4 BURNT WIRES IN CONNECTOR, HOWEVER, AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED CONSUMER HAD NO TAIL LIGHTS, CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER MECHANIC THAT HEAD LIGHT SWITCH HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED AS REQUIRED BY RECALL. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8004077February 14, 2002
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ILLUMINATING ON DASHBOARD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757809February 5, 2002
TIRES
TRUCK MANUFACTURED WITH TIRE SIZE STANDARD LT225/75R16, BUT SOLD WITH SPORT PKG. TIRES P265/75R16. BRAKING SYSTEM UNDERSIZED FOR TIRE SIZE. IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP TRUCK SAFELY. LARGER BRAKES NEED TO BE INSTALLED. SMALLER TIRES WILL MAKE TRUCK LOOK DISPROPORT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8002831January 24, 2002
AIR BAGS
RECALL 01 V 153 000/CLOCKSPRING MATERIAL, AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINS ON WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8002677January 23, 2002
SEATS
WHEN DRIVING DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT COLLAPSED TO RECLINING POSITION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER; THE DEALER HAS REPLACED SEAT TRACK AND ANCHOR TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757050January 18, 2002
SUSPENSION:REAR
THE REAR ANTI-SWAY BAR, LEFT LINKAGE ROD IS RUBBING AGAINST THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE ASSEMBLY AND ALSO AGAINST THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE REAR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSORS. THESE COMPONENTS ARE BEING CUT IN HALF BY THE ANTI-SWAY BAR CONNECTING LINK.THE PARTS ARE IN TOO CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757053January 18, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLIPS AFTER PARKED FOR THREE DAYS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8001922January 10, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM. *AK THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 40 MPH. THE DEALER FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND REPLACED IT, BUT IT FAILED AGAIN AFTER 6000 MILES AND WAS REPLACED ON WARRANTY. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#756384January 4, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE ENGINE WOULD NOT STOP RUNNING. WIRING TO FUEL SOLENOID STARTED BURNING. ENGINE STARTED TO SHUTDOWN AND THE STARTER ENGAGED. THIS APPEARS TO BE COMMON BECAUSE A CUMMINS DEALERSHIP MENTIONED THAT IT HAPPENS OFTEN ON DODGE TRUCKS AND SO DID ANOTHER DODGE DEALERSHIP ONCE THE VEHICLE GETS AROUND OR ABOVE 75,000 MILES. THE NEW SOLENOID IS DIFFERENT FROM THE ORIGINAL. HOW EVER DODGE SAYS THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF STD WARRANTY AND WILL NOT ASSIST. IF RESERACHED YOU WILL FIND THAT IN OTHER APPLICATIONS THIS ENGINE DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE SOLENOID.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8001416January 3, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THROTTLE WAS STUCK WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH. VEHICLE HAD TO BE SHUT DOWN TO STOP. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8000625December 12, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION), SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE BRAKES DONE AND A GEAR BOX PUT ON, AND CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT FORNT COIL SPRINGS WERE BUSTED DUE TO DEFECTIVE STEEL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8000637December 12, 2001
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
FRONT BUMPER FELL OFF VEHICLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE. PART ON PASSENGER SIDE IS LOOSE. BOLTS FELL OUT OF BUMPER MOUNTING BRACKETS. CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER TOLD CONSUMER TO CALL NHTSA. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#6900659December 10, 2001
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
2 OUTER SEATBELTS ON BENCH IN REAR WILL NOT BUCKLE UP. SEAT BELTS HAD NEVER BEEN USED. CONSUMER JUST NOTICED IT RECENTLY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#755303December 5, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK , TALKING TO DEALER AND MECHANIC SHOP THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME, CHRYSLER HAS A TSB 09-05-00 OUT ON THIS PROBLEM BUT NO RECALL ISSUED. HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON VEHICLE FOR 5 YRS/100000, PROBLEM STARTED BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED, BUT DIDN'T BECOME AWARE OF WHAT IT WAS UNTIL AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED, CHRYSLER WARRANTY WON'T COVER REPAIR EVEN THOUGH PROBLEM STARTED WHEN WARRANTY WAS STILL ON VEHICLE. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#899612November 28, 2001
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
FRONT END ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HAD NOT CONTACTED A DEALER AS OF YET. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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