Dodge Ram Complaints (1997)

1,130 consumer complaints on file.

#10222436March 26, 2008
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
I DROVE 20 MILES TO PICK UP MY ELDERLY FATHER TO TAKE HIM OUT TO LUNCH LAST FRIDAY, THE 21ST OF MARCH, 2008. AFTER WE GOT IN MY TRUCK, (1997 DODGE RAM PU 1500), I PUT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING LOT, I HEARD A HISSING SOUND AND REALIZED THE AIR WAS COMING OUT OF MY TIRE. I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK, THE TIRE WAS FLAT AND I NOTICED THE TIE ROD HAD BROKEN, AND DROPPED DOWN AND PUT A HOLE IN THE RIM OF MY TIRE. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING 55MPH DOWN THE HIGHWAY, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED OR WORSE YET, KILLED!! IT COST ME OVER $350 AND I HEARD SOMEONE ELSE SAY THAT SOMEONE THEY KNEW HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. I DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING BEFORE TO ALERT ME TO THE FACT THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TIE ROD. I FEEL THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT AND CHRYSLER SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS SITUATION-ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAD NO WARNING. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE MY TRUCK TOWED 20 PLUS MILES TO REPAIR SHOP,(AND HAD TO PAY THE TOW BILL), HAD TO HAVE SOMEONE ELSE DRIVE 20 MILES TO COME AND GET ME AND I WAS WITHOUT USE OF MY TRUCK FOR TRANSPORTATION FOR AWHILE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220647March 7, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE AND OIL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE ON THREE OCCASIONS AND STATED THAT THE COMPRESSOR SENSORS WERE LOW AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO ADD TWO QUARTS OF OIL PER WEEK. HOWEVER, THE OIL LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE HAD ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE VIN WAS CONFIRMED, BUT APPEARS TO BE INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218148February 15, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT THROUGH ALL GEARS APPROACHING 30MPH... IT WILL THEN NEED TO BE ALMOST FLOORED TO GET THE TRUCK TO DOWN SHIFT SO I CAN BEGIN TO MOVE AT A QUICKER RATE OF SPEED. OVERDRIVE SLIPS EVERYTIME YOU PRESS THE PEDAL AND SOMETIMES WON'T GO INTO OVERDRIVE. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAS FAULTY CLUTCHES CAUSING THEM TO BREAK DOWN. THE DEBRIS CLOG UP THE CHECK VALVE OUT OF THE COOLER BLOCKING FLOW OF FLUID TO THE TRANSMISSION... THEREFORE CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE AS EARLY AS 20MILES WITHIN CHECK VALVE CLOGGING. DODGE NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I'M GOING TO LOOSE A TRANS SOON AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE ALREADY HAVE. DODGE REPLACES THE TRANSMISSION LEAVING THE CLOGGED CHECK VALVE THIS CAUSES THE SECOND TRANSMISSION TO GO ETC. I BELIEVE YOU GET THIS GIST OF IT. SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS WHY IS OUR GOVERNMENT BLIND TO THE CHEAP, DANGEROUS AND FAULTY ASSEMBLY OF THIS VEHICLE. SOMEONE PLEASE FORCE A RECALL ON THESE POWERTRAINS!!! THE DODGE OWNING CITIZENS ARE TIRED OF BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF DAY AFTER DAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217838February 12, 2008
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD AND ALL OTHER INTERIOR PLASTIC DETERIORATING, CRACKED, BROKEN, FALLING INTO FIREWALL AREA. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON I-95, LARGE PIECE OF DASHBOARD BROKE OFF AND FELL INTO AREA BEHIND SPEEDOMETER AND CAUSED DASH LIGHTS TO GO OUT. THIS SCARED ME TERRIBLY AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND RECONNECT THE WIRE COUPLING TO GET MY DASH LIGHTS BACK ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216678February 1, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE 1500. APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS AGO, THE DASHBOARD BEGAN CRACKING IN SMALL SQUARES. HE HAD TO GLUE THE PIECES BACK ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO CALL THE DODGE MANUFACTURER FOR AN APPROVAL NUMBER, BUT THEY REFUSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 189,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216531January 30, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT WIRES GET HOT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON MY MODEL TRUCK ( 1997 DODGE RAM 3500 ) BUT I WAS TOLD MY TRUCK WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215288January 17, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 2500. THE BRAKE LINES HAVE RUSTED IN THREE PLACES. THE FAILURES OCCURRED NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE FRAME RAIL. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE BRAKES ALSO FAILED IN HIS DRIVEWAY AND AT A DRIVE THROUGH WINDOW. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED IN PARTS SINCE THE DEALER NO LONGER SELLS THE ALL OF THE ORIGINAL PARTS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT IT OCCURS AS THOUGH IT WERE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE VEHICLE IS CONSIDERED AN 8800 DUE TO THE WEIGHT CLASS. THE VEHICLE IS UP-TO-DATE ON ITS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF THE REAR BRAKES STARTED TO LOCK UP EVER SINCE THE BRAKES LINES STARTING TO DETERIORATE. UPDATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211268December 9, 2007
STRUCTURE
DASH BOARD CRACKING ALL UP AND FALLING APART MAKING SHARP EXPOSED PLASTIC PIECES EASILY TO GET CUT ON . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210846December 4, 2007
STRUCTURE
DASH HAS CRACKED IN NUMEROUS PLACES. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE INTEGRITY OF WIRING AND AIRBAGS BENEATH THE DASH MAY BE COMPROMISED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210146November 27, 2007
STRUCTURE
DASH CRACKED AND STARTED TO FALL INSIDE, LARGE PIECES FELL ON FLOOR. I HARD TO PAY 3 HOURS OF LABOR PLUS THE PRICE OF THE NEW DASH BOARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206929October 25, 2007
TIRES
THE SPARE TIRE ON MY 97 DODGE PICKUP TRUCK FELL OFF THE TRUCK FROM ITS STORAGE HOLDER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE HORSE TRAILER I WAS TOWING, RESULTING IN A FLAT TIRE ON THE TRAILER. FORTUNATELY NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED. THE CAUSE WAS THE SPARE TIRE HOLDER RUSTING TO THE POINT WHERE IT JUST LET THE TIRE LOOSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10206769October 24, 2007
STRUCTURE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
DASHBOARD CRACKED/SPLIT INTO PIECES CAUSING WIRES TO BE CUT. LOSS OF HEADLAMPS, TAILLAMPS, AND BRAKE LIGHTS. UNKNOWN IF ANY DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE TO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. HOW DO I CHECK THAT? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203877September 23, 2007
STRUCTURE
DASH CRACKING ON A 97 DODGE RAM 1500. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202195September 7, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,592 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND PLUG MELTED CAUSING ALL LIGHTS EXCEPT HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL. THE CONSUMER STATED REPLACED SWITCH AND PLUG BUT CAN'T FIND PARK RELAY. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201106August 29, 2007
PARKING BRAKE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE, BUT THE BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE REGULAR BRAKES WORK, BUT THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT. THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE PARKED ON AN INCLINE BECAUSE IT WILL ROLL. DODGE HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 133,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201495August 28, 2007
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
1997 DODGE RAM LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. *KB THE SEPARATION CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE VEHICLE. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199869August 16, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE UPPER DASH COVER CRACKING IN MULTIPLE AREAS. THE CRACKS STARTED SMALL AT THE CORNERS OF THE DEFROST VENTS AND HAVE EXTENDED OVER THE ENTIRE AREA OF THE DASH. THE CRACKS ARE MORE SEVERE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197810July 30, 2007
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN AND NEARLY CAUSED NUMEROUS CRASHES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT A NUT ON THE FIFTH GEAR WAS DISENGAGED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. DODGE STATED THAT THERE WAS A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 01/02/08.*LJ UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196427July 16, 2007
STRUCTURE
DODGE RAM DASHBOARD CRACKING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196508July 16, 2007
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I HAVE HAD THREE TIRE SEPARATIONS WITH THE GOODYEAR TRACKER AND TRACKER II TIRES LT245-75R16. GOODYEAR STATES THE TIRE WERE MADE FOR WALMART AND WILL NOT GET INVOLVED. WALMART HAS REPLACED EACH OF THE TIRES BUT I BELIEVE THEY ARE UNSAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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