Dodge Ram Complaints (1998)

1,390 consumer complaints on file.

#10215408January 19, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
I HAD JUST STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND MY STEERING WAS ACTING FUNNY - SORT OF JERKING TO THE LEFT SLIGHTLY. AS I LEFT THE INTERSECTION AND GOT UP TO ABOUT 20-25 MPH, THE TRUCK SUDDENLY JERKED HARD TO THE LEFT AND I COULD NOT RECOVER CONTROL. I CROSSED TWO LANES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND FORTUNATELY DID NOT HIT ANYONE - I ENDED UP IN A SNOW BERM ACROSS THE STREET. I HAD THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE MY BRAKES STICKING BECAUSE OF THE COLD WEATHER IN ALASKA. IT TURNS OUT IT WAS A FAILURE OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SEALED WHEEL BEARINGS - THE SEAL GOES BAD, THE BEARINGS DRY OUT, THEN THEY LOCK UP. IT TYPICALLY RESULTS IN A TIRE FALLING OFF AND AN ENSUING ACCIDENT - OFTEN FATAL. MY 5 YEAR OLD SON WAS WITH ME AND I WAS FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE TAKEN THE HIGHWAY WHERE I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. I'M QUITE CERTAIN I WOULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE IF NOT MY SON AND MYSELF. I HAVE A 1998 DODGE 2500 WITH THE CUMMINS DIESEL AND IT HAS 99985 MILES ON IT - THE DIESEL ENGINE EXACERBATES THIS PROBLEM DUE TO THE NOISE LEVEL - I MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HEAR THESE BEARINGS GOING OUT SOONER. I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND OTHER MISC PARTS THAT WERE TORN APART - EITHER WHEN THE BEARINGS WENT OUT OR I HIT THE SNOW BERM. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213864December 27, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
1998 DODGE RAM HOOD FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE WAS DRIVING 65 MPH. HE ALSO STATES THAT THE GRILL, HOOD HINGES, AND INSULATION ARE DESTROYED. HE STATED THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212881December 26, 2007
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE RIDE GOT ROUGH, BEFORE I HAD TIME TO PULL OVER, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. I LOOKED BACK AND SAW THAT THE TREAD HAD COME OFF OF MY TIRE. THE TIRE DID NOT LOSE AIR, BUT THE TREAD FLEW BACK AND DAMAGED THE REAR CORNER PANEL OF MY TRUCK AND ALSO FLEW UP AND DAMAGED THE SIDE PANEL OF MY TRUCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212668December 24, 2007
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD CRACKING AND FALLING DOWN INSIDE THE CONTROL PANEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10211232December 8, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN DOES NOT WORK UNLESS YOU HIT IT IN THE RIGHT SPOT AND YOU HAVE TO HIT IT VERY VERY HARD TO THE POINT WHERE IT HURTS YOUR HAND,THEN SOME TIMES IT STILL DON'T WORK. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210638December 3, 2007
STRUCTURE
1) NOTHING CAUSED FAILURE. NO CAR ACCIDENTS OR CRASHES. JUST STARTED SHOWING UP OVER TIME. 2) TWO SEPARATE CRACKS IN DASHBOARD. ONE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY VENT THAT LEADS ALL THE WAY TOWARDS THE GLOVE BOX WHILE THE OTHER CRACK IS ABOVE MY GAUGE CONSOLE. 3) THE ONLY REPAIR POSSIBLE IS A WHOLE NEW DASHBOARD WHICH HAS NOT BEEN DONE AS OF YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210731December 3, 2007
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
ON 1 DEC 2001 I LEFT WATERTOWN, NY TO DRIVE TO SYRACUSE, NY VIA I-81 SOUTH. JUST AFTER THE CENTRAL SQUARE ENTRANCE RAMP MY HOOD BLEW OPEN AT 65MPH. THIS NEARLY CAUSED ME TO CRASH BUT I MANAGED TO FINALLY GET THE TRUCK PULLED OVER WITHOUT A CRASH. I AM A HANDICAPPED MEMBER OF THE US ARMY SO I CALLED MY WIFE TO HELP ME GET THE HOOD DOWN AND STRAP IT DOWN WITH A RATCHET STRAP AND BUNGIE CORDS. THE HOOD, GRILL, HINGES AND HOOD LINER ARE ALL DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. UPON RETURNING HOME I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND A "SAFETY RECALL" #973 FOR THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH FAILURE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN 2006 AND NEVER RECEIVED A WARNING. TODAY I WENT TO DEALMAKER DODGES SERVICE DEPT AND IT WAS VERIFIED THAT THE REPAIR SERVICE HAD NEVER BEEN COMPLETED. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN MARK (315)-779-5725 I WAS INFORMED THAT THE DISTRICT MANAGER MR. DAVID LITTLEJOHN DISAPPROVED THE REPAIR OF THE DAMAGE, HOWEVER WOULD AUTHORIZE THE RECALL TO BE PERFORMED. I WAS TOLD THAT CHRYSLER DODGE WAS NOT LIABLE FOR INHERIT DAMAGED CAUSED BY THE HOOD OUT OF NOWHERE POPPING OPEN. I CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER RELATIONS (800) 992-1997 AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. I ASKED FOR THE PROOF IN WRITING AND WAS REFUSED THE DOCUMENT STATING THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR INHERED DAMAGED CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE PART THAT CAN CAUSE SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH TO MANY PEOPLE IF THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO HANDLE SUCH PROBLEMS. MY CHRYLER CORPORATION REFERENCE NUMBER IS 16995780. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209160November 16, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 3500. OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, THE CONTACT HAS REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH SEVEN TIMES. THE SWITCH CURRENTLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE EIGHTH TIME. HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V024000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS: SWITCH). THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 280,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208399November 8, 2007
STRUCTURE
THE FRONT DASH OF MY 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB BEGAN CRACKING IN MULTIPLE PLACES WITHIN THREE YEARS OF THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CRACKS HAVE BECOME SO EXTENSIVE THAT A LARGE HOLE RECENTLY OPENED UP IN THE TOP DASH ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND STEERING COLUMN. INTERNAL COMPONENTS UNDER THE DASH ARE NOW EXPOSED TO SUNLIGHT. THE DASH IS ESSENTIALLY SLOWLY DISINTEGRATING OVER TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208149November 7, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS AT CRUISING SPEED. MY TRUCK, MY NEPHEWS TRUCK AND FOUR OTHERS I AM AWARE OF IN LITTLE ROCK ARKANSAS ARE ALL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN ENGINE IS NOT PULLING OR ACCELERATING THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS CAUSING THE RPM TO RISE AROUND 4 HUNDRED TO 800 RPM. MY NEPHEW STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM SOME TIME BACK. I ONLY PURCHASED THIS TRUCK A YEAR AGO AND WAS UNAWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10208176November 7, 2007
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND AN ALARM SOUNDS FOUR TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. EVENTUALLY, THE AIR BAG LIGHT DIMS. THE CONTACT WILL HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THERE ARE TWO AIR BAG RECALLS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 01V153000 AND 99V002000); HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER ONE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10207949November 5, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD IS BEGINNING TO CRUMBLE INTO PIECES. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH DODGE AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR CERTAIN YEARS OF THIS VEHICLE FOR THE SAME COMPONENT. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT CERTAIN DEALERS HAVE AN ALLOWANCE THAT ENABLES THEM TO PERFORM THE REPAIR AND WRITE IT OFF. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 15,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10205129October 6, 2007
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DASH ON 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK CRACKS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS COULD LEAD TO AIR BAG FAILURE, SINCE THE DASH TOTALLY COLLAPSED. ONCE STARTED, THIS DASH JUST BREAKS APART. THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE, WHICH AT THE DEALER IS AROUND $800. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203867September 23, 2007
STRUCTURE
1998 DODGE RAM 1500 2WD. I HAVE ONE LARGE CRACK IN THE CENTER OF THE DASH AND ANOTHER SMALL ONE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. IF I GET ONE THE PASSENGER SIDE AT THE AIR BAG WELL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10203425September 19, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF AND THEN DIMMED COMPLETELY. AS OF SEPTEMBER 19, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FUSE BOX MELTED, WHICH BE BELIEVED WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202321September 9, 2007
STEERING:LINKAGES
LOWER STEERING COLUMN SEPARATED FROM THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN. UPON INSPECTION BOLT ON THE UNIVERSAL JOINT OF THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN, BOLT WAS NEVER SEATED PROPERLY FROM THE FACTORY. IT WAS CROSS THREADED IN THE ALUMINUM U JOINT. THE BOLT WAS NEVER SEATED ALL THE WAY, THERE IS BLACK PAINT ON THE BOLT WERE THIS IS EVIDENT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201893September 5, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1998 DODGE RAM 2500 PICKUP MY DASH IS FALLING APART. IT HAS CRACKS AND LARGE HOLES IN IT. I AM AFRAID IT MY SET OFF MY AIR BAG. THANKS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201668September 1, 2007
STRUCTURE
SMALL CRACKS IN DASH, WHICH LEAD TO LARGE CRACKING. THE DASHBOARD HAS ALMOST COMPLETELY CAVED IN THE MIDDLE. THE DASHBOARD IS NO LONGER ONE PIECE. VERY DISAPPOINTED, AND IT MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SAFETY RELATED ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201312August 31, 2007
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON SEVERAL TIMES DURING OPERATION MEANING THE AIR BAG WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10199320August 11, 2007
STRUCTURE
1998 DODGE RAM 2500, DASHBOARD CRACKING IN SEVERAL PLACES. FEEL IT COULD BECOME A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AS IT DEGRADES AND LOSES STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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