Dodge Ram Complaints (1998)

1,390 consumer complaints on file.

#10039852October 27, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
THE AUTO TRANSMISSION LINKAGE THAT CONNECTS TO THE FRAME BOLT SHEERED OFF. WHEN THIS OCCURED THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN THE GEAR IT WAS IN AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS UNDETERMINED. *PH THE BOLTS SHEARING OFF THE FRAME CAUSED THE LINKAGE BRACKET TO FALL OFF THE TRUCK FRAME DISABLING THE TRANSMISSION FROM BEING SHIFTED. *TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044093October 16, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OWNER OF VEHICLE HAD A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE DONE. WHILE DRIVING OWNER NOTICED THAT OIL GAUGE DROPPED, AND VEHICLE WAS LOSING OIL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042921October 15, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
1998 DODGE TRUCK ATE THE INJECTOR PUMP WHEN THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THIS CAN CAUSE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, BRAKES AND STEERING IF IT HAPPENS AT HIGH SPEEDS OR WHEN CARRYING LARGE LOADS AS I DO WHEN ON THE JOB. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10043990October 15, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
VEHICLE FAILED STATE INSPECTION DUE TO A DEFECTIVE HORN. CONSUMER REPORTED THE DEFECT TO THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042971October 15, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IT HAS BURNED OUT TWICE AND I HAVE HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED TWICE MY SPEEDOMETER DOESN'T WORK UNTIL IT SAYS THAT I AM GOING 25 MILES PER HOUR THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH IS NOW ON ALL THE TIME I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THAT MY DOOR LOCKS ARE POWER AND AS LONG AS YOU LOCK AND UNLOCK THEM FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE THEY WORK FINE BUT THE DRIVER SIDE DOESN'T WORK ALL THE TIME I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANY OF THESE COULD BE SOME KIND OF DEFECT THAT HAVE OR WILL BE RECALLED *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044049October 15, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041523October 9, 2003
AIR BAGS
I WAS DRIVING MY 1998 DODGE RAM QUAD CAB PICKUP TRUCK. I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE I HIT ONE RETAINING WALL WITH THE FRONT CORNER OF THE TRUCK, SENDING ME INTO A 360 DEGREE SPIN, HIT A SECOND RETAINING WALL HEAD ON AND WENT INTO A SECOND SPIN. LUCKILY MY SEAT BELT SAVED ME BECAUSE THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED. MY INSURANCE COMPANY TOTAL THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. I HAVE INJURED MY HEAD, NECK AND BACK BECAUSE OF NOT HAVING THE AIR BAG TO SAVE ME. *LA
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10041378October 7, 2003
TIRES
DYNAMIC TIRE SEPARATION, SEARS TRAIL HANDLER TIRES OF SIZE: 26575R16. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE RUNNING AT 70 MPH. A TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHICH ALMOST LED TO AN ACCIDENT. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042371October 6, 2003
STRUCTURE:BODY
FLOOR BOARD IS CRACKING AROUND THE FRONT SEATS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042264October 3, 2003
TIRES
THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE THE WHEEL AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038439October 1, 2003
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. 40 PERCENT OF THE TREAD WAS LEFT. *AK *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041949September 30, 2003
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE WAS PARKED. CONSUMER SAW FRONT TIRES POINTING DIFFERENT WAYS. THE FRONT TIE ROD SNAPPED. CAUSING VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040938September 29, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
BURNING ODOR AND LIGHT SMOKE FROM DASHBOARD. ALL LIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF. TURNED OF HEADLIGHTS AND BURNING ODOR AND SMOKE STOPPED. WENT TO DODGE DEALER TO CHECK FOR RECALL - MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 819 WAS FOR SIMILAR PROBLEM BUT ONLY APPLIED TO MODEL YEARS 1994 - 1997. THIS TRUCK WAS 1998 MODEL. PURCHASED NEW HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND REPLACED THE BURNED SWITCH ALONG WITH SOME BURNT WIRING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040430September 23, 2003
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO, SEAT BELTS FAILED TO HOLD DRIVER AND CONSUMER. NO AIR BAG LIGHT WARNING LIGHT APPEARED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040469September 23, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
THE BOLT THAT HOLDS FIFTH GEAR IN PLACE DISLODGED AND THE GEAR CAME OFF THE SHAFT. VEHICLE WAS STILL DRIVABLE IN THE OTHER FOUR GEARS BUT FIFTH GEAR WAS INOPERABLE. MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040202September 22, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKS WHICH CAUSES A MIXTURE OF OIL AND GAS. AS A RESULT VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND CONSUMES EXCESSIVE OIL. THERE IS A TSB 1001522 ON THIS ISSUE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039088September 18, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
OIL PRESSURE GAUGE DROPPED TO ZERO AND LIFTERS ON ENGINE WERE TAPPING, SO I HAD TO PARK MY VEHICLE BEFORE I LOST MY ENGINE. VEHICLE IS A 98 DODGE RAM 1500 V6 WITH 70K MILES. WAS CAUSED BY A CLOGGED OIL PUMP INTAKE SCREEN. ALMOST LOST ENGINE BECAUSE SCREEN IS OF DEFECTIVE DESIGN. SCREEN IS COVERED BY A CAP THAT PREVENTS ALL OF THE SOLIDS FROM DROPPING BACK INTO THE PAN. THE OIL PAN ITSELF HAS A HALF INCH RISE INSIDE TO RECEIVE THE OIL DRAIN PLUG. THIS HALF INCH RISE PREVENTS HEAVY SOLIDS FROM BEING DRAINED DURING ROUTINE OIL CHANGES. THE OIL PUMP INTAKE IS LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THESE SOLIDS, TRAPPED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE PAN, AND SUCKS THEM DIRECTLY INTO THE SCREEN. THEREFORE, OVER TIME THE CONDITION WILL REOCCUR. POST RESEARCH I FOUND NUMEROUS PERSONS WITH IDENTICAL DESCRIPTIONS TO MINE WHO HAD LOST THEIR ENGINES ON VARIES YEARS AND MODELS OF DODGE TRUCKS. ALTHOUGH HEARSAY, THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE TOLD BY DEALERSHIPS THAT THEY HAD SLUDGE IN THE BOTTOM OF THEIR PANS, STATING THE REASON FOR FAILURE WAS DO TO NOT ROUTINELY CHANGING OIL. I CAN DOCUMENT MY ROUTINE OIL CHANGES, AND I STILL HAD SOLIDS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE PAN ON MY VEHICLE THAT CANNOT BE REMOVED BY ROUTINE OIL CHANGES. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A BREACH OF THE IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I HAVE DOCUMENTED THE PROBLEM ON VIDEO AS WELL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038965September 16, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
98 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB - THE BEARINGS IN THE REAR END AXLE ASSEMBLIES OF THESE TRUCKS FAIL PREMATURELY. I HAVE FOUND MANY INQUIRIES OVER THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. ALL OF THE VEHICLES HAVE LOW MILEAGE (LESS THAN 100000 MILES) AND THE BEARINGS HAVE WORN OUT. THERE IS A LOUD WHINING NOISE FROM THE REAR END ASSEMBLY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038760September 12, 2003
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
98 DODGE HI TOP CONVERSION VAN; THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS' RELEASE MECHANISM HAS BROKEN FOR THE FOURTH TIME. THIS TIME THE MIDDLE SIDE PASSENGER DOOR LOCK BROKE. WHEN THE DOOR LOCKS' BRAKE, THEY ARE JAMMED LOCKED, AND WE CAN NOT OPEN THE DOOR AT ALL. WE CONTACTED THE DODGE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IF THEY UNJAM THE DOOR, THE DOOR WOULD THEN STAY OPEN! WE HAVE TO WAIT TILL NEXT WEEK TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO ORDER THE PART. THIS WILL END UP COSTING US OVER $200/00 - AGAIN. I AM AMAZED AT YOUR QUESTION "NUMBER OF FATALITIES" . BUT IT DOES BRING A CHILLING THOUGHT - IF I WAS TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH MY FIVE CHILDREN IN THE BACK - THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT, AND IF A FIRE WAS TO IGNITE, I WOULD NOT EVEN LIKE TO THINK OF THE RESULTS!!!!!! YOUR QUESTIONS SHOULD BE "NUMBER OF POSSIBLE FATALITIES" - THEN YOU WOULD GET A MORE ACCURATE NUMBER OF THE SEVERITY OF THE DEFECT. MY (FIVE) CHILDREN NOW HAVE TO ENTER AND EXIT THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. MY SIX YEAR OLD DAUGHTER HAD TO GET OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE THIS MORNING TO GO TO SCHOOL. SHE FELL OUT AND HURT HER WRIST! AS MENTIONED BEFORE, THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME ONE OF THE LOCKS BROKE ON THE DOORS. TWICE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, AND ONCE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR. IT IS OBVIOUS TO US THAT THE LOCKS ARE DEFINITELY DEFECTIVE - AND LIFE THREATENING! I SEE FIRST HAND WHAT HAPPENS IN WRECKS, BEING A CAPTAIN OF THE LOCAL VOL. FIRE DEPT AND A MEMBER OF THE RESCUE SQUAD. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10039873September 12, 2003
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
THE WINDSHIELD TINT IS AT EYE LEVEL CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY IN SUNLIGHT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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