Dodge Ram Complaints (1998)

1,390 consumer complaints on file.

#10010896March 22, 2003
STEERING
DEFECTIVE STEERING COMPONENTS LEADING TO DIFFICULTY IN CONTROL. PROBLEM BEGAN SOON AFTER PURCHASE AND CONTINUE TO DATE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010863March 21, 2003
STRUCTURE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STEERING, POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT
FROM THE DAY I SAW THAT 96 DODGE TRUCK ROLLING DOWN THE STREET I FELL IN LOVE. I SAVED EVERY WAY POSSIBLE TO PURCHASE THE BIG BAD 1500 4X4 5.9(98)WITH EVERY OPTION AVAIL. HAD EVERYTHING AND FROM WEEK 1 HAD PROBLEMS. FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING "DUE TO FRAME STRESS" IT ABOUT 2 WEEKS INTO IT. BRAKE FAILURE CAUSE SERIOUS ASSAULT ON GUARD RAIL, AND DODGE SAID I MUST HAVE BEEN DRIVING TO FAST (@ 30 MPH). THEY REFUSED ANY WARRANTY BECAUSE "NOTHING CAN TOUCH THE WHEEL" AND SINCE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AFTER 93 DAYS LEMON LAWS DID NOT APPLY SO AFTER (2) $900 BRAKE JOBS TWO WEEKS APART EVERYTHING WAS FINE. NOT TO MENTION DAMAGE TO BODY I PAID FOR OUT OF POCKET. NOW I JUST GO THROUGH AN ENTIRE SET OF BRAKES EVERY 6 MONTHS. BUT I STOP UNTIL THEN.. I REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT 38 K MILES, NOTE THE WARRANTY ON THAT IS 36 K MILES. I HAVE HAD STEERING LINKAGE BECOME SO LOOSE INSTANTANEOUSLY (OR 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS) THAT IT FELT LIKE I WAS RUNNING OVER MY OWN AXLE, WHICH IS ANOTHER $1000 EACH TIME. FOR THE PAST THREE EMISSIONS INSPECTIONS THE ON BOARD COMPUTER FAILS SO I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER WHILE THEY CHARGE $200 TO FIX IT, BUT WILL NOT GIVE STRAIGHT ANSWER TO WHAT IS PROBLEM. AND TO NIGHT AS I TYPE, I SPREAD THE GRIME OF ENGINE CRUD ACROSS MY KEYBOARD AS I TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE FUEL FILTER SUDDENLY STOPPED. AMAZINGLY I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK FOR 5 YEARS BECAUSE IT HAS KEPT ME TOO BROKE TO BUY SOMETHING ELSE. ANY "LEGAL" SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT CAN BE DONE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. I RECOGNIZE I HAVE SPENT MORE THAN $15,000 TRYING TO KEEP THIS THING RUNNING RIGHT, AND THAT IS TOO MUCH FOR A "LATE MODEL" TRUCK. I WOULD LOVE TO BLAME A DEALER BUT I HAVE BEEN TO JUST ABOUT ALL OF THEM AROUND HERE AND WITH THE SMILES ON THERE FACES I HEAR "THAT WILL BE ANOTHER $950 SIR".. GOOD GRIEF. *NLM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010727March 19, 2003
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THE PAINT ON 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THERE ARE A LOT OF THEM THAT ARE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE PAINT, MINE INCLUDED. THE RECALL IS ONLY FOR 97 RED DODGES. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW PAINT JOB WHEN THERE ARE OTHER RECALLS FOR THE TRUCK. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10012118March 19, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011443March 18, 2003
TRAILER HITCHES
THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE RECALL PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE TRAILER HITCHES. THE DEALER STATED THE TECHNICIAN WAS SICK AND THE PART WHICH WAS NEEDED WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TS *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010717March 18, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THROTTLE STUCK WIDE OPEN. HAD IT LOOKED AT AND THERE WAS NO CONCLUSION AS TO WHY IT HAPPENED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10011375March 11, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10008460March 5, 2003
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT APROX 80,000 MILE. LOST ALL GEARS EXECPT FOR 4TH. COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT HAD IT FAILED ON THE FREEWAY WHICH WE HAD JUST EXITED. ALSO THE CLUTCH HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NEW. ONE AT 37000, 56,000 AND 81,000. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10008387March 4, 2003
AIR BAGS
THE DODGE TRUCKS HAVE A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THEIR HORN SYSTEM. IMPROPER PACKING OF THE DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAGS RENDERS THE HORN INOPERABLE. I PURCHASED MY 1998 DODGE 1500 NEW IN 1998. I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET THE HORN TO WORK. DODGE DEALER IN WASHINGTON SAID IT NEEDED REPACKED BUT I WAS LEAVING FOR TEXAS AND TIME WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO WAIT FOR THE PARTS. UPON ARRIVAL AT BEAUMONT, TEXAS I TOOK THE TRUCK TO MIKE SMITH AUTOPLEX DODGE. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE COULD NOT BLOW THE HORN AND SAID SHE WOULD ORDER A REPACK AND CALL ME WHEN IT CAME IN. TWO MONTHS LATER I FOUND OUT FROM HER THAT THE MANAGER CANCELED IT AND REFUSED TO FIX THE HORN UNDER THE WARRANTY. EVERY YEAR I WIRE A MICKY MOUSE RIG ON THE COLUMN WIRED DIRECTLY TO THE HORN TO PASS INSPECTIONS. RECENTLY HAD SERVICE AT MIKE SMITH AND THE SAME SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE HORN NEEDED REPACKED, SAID CRYSLER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HORNS AND DID NOT KNOW WHY THE MANAGER HAD REFUSED TO FIX IT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS UNSAFE TRUCK SINCE 1998 AND HAD MANY CLOSE CALLS AND NEVER ABLE TO USE THE HORN TO WARN VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS OF DANGER. THE MANAGER THAT REFUSED TO FIX IT ADMITTED THAT DODGE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE HORNS ON THESE TRUCKS. AFTER FOOLING WITH IT FOR A WHILE HE DID GET IT TO BLOW, ONLY TIME ANYONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO BLOW THE HORN AND IT TOOK HIM TWO HANDS AND A LOT OF PRESSURE. THESE TRUCKS ARE DANGEROUS. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10008842February 20, 2003
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10007039February 11, 2003
POWER TRAIN
THE GEAR SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A BUMP.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005623February 10, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN APPROACHING A HILL OR ATTEMPTING TO PASS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (75 TO 85MPH) EITHER WITH CRUISE ON OR OFF THE TRUCK WILL DOWN SHIFT FROM OVERDRIVE TO LOW GEAR.(SUDDENLY BRINGING YOU TO A HAULT!) IT WILL THEN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO OVERDRIVE. THEN THE TRUCK WILL STAY EITHER IN LOW GEAR OR 2ND GEAR UNTIL YOU SHUT THE KEY OFF AND RESTART OR BY PUTTING IT INTO NEUTRAL THEN BACK INTO DRIVE AND LETTING IT COAST FOR A BIT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! I HAVE BEEN ALMOST SMASHED INTO SEVERAL TIMES! THIS TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN WITH IT SINCE REBUILDING. THERE IS ONLY 4000 MILES ON THE REBUILD! I HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK OVER TEN TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT IT WILL NEVER LEAVE A CODE! I HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO WITH IT! THE REASON THE FIRST TRANNY WENT OUT IS BECAUSE THE PARK CONTROL ROD BROKE AND FELL INTO THE GUTS OF THE TRANNY AND VIRTUALLY DESTROYED IT!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10006655February 6, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHILE TRAVELING AT NIGHT, BOTH HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10005358February 5, 2003
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
LOSS OF FIFTH GEAR (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) WHILE GOING UP A MOUNTAIN ON INTERSTATE 25 IN WYOMING RESULTING IN RAPID DECELERATION OF VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS RECOGNIZED BY CHRYSLER IN 1994 AND SERVICE BULLITENS WHERE ISSUED TO DEALERS. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH NUMEROUS OWNERS OF THIS SAME MODEL AND HAVE FOUND IT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED AT VARIOUS MILEAGES. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT DUE TO "OUT OF WARRANTY" STATUS, THE REPAIR WOULD BE PERFORMED NO QUESTIONS ASKED IF WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10006302February 4, 2003
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THIS RESULTED IN DRIVER BEING INJURED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10006377February 4, 2003
AIR BAGS
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, WERE THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. WHICH RESULTED IN DRIVER BEING INJURED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10005310February 4, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE HORN DIFFICULT TO PRESS IN TO HONK IF NECESSARY. VERY DIFFICULT TO SOUND HORN WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS. WOULD BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SOUND IN AN EMERGENCY. I HAVE NEED TO EASYILY SOUND HORN TO WORN ANIMALS OUT OF MY PATH AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUE TO THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10003775January 29, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
VEHICLE BRAKES FAILED. SCC PH
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10004783January 28, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
THE FUEL PUMP BROKE CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND BLACK SMOKE OCCURRED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10004284January 21, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN CAUSING LOST OF POWER STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Dodge Ram