1997 Dodge Ram 1500 complaints

CONSUMER COMPLAINT IN REFERENCE TO A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCK WITH DEFECTIVE PAINT AND HEADLIGHT SWITCH, REQUEST A RECALL INVESTIGATION. *TS THE PRIMER WAS NOT BONDING TO THE METAL AND AS A RESULT THE PAINT WAS PEELING OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND FOUND THAT THE DODGE 3500 SERIES PICKUP WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE IT IS SAFETY RELATED. *NM

WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY NEAR PHILADELPHIA, PA AT THE 65 MPH SPEED LIMIT, TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING. PUMPING IT DID NOTHING. I HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN THE TWO LANES TO THE RIGHT OF ME, I SWERVED AND GOT THE TRUCK ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN VEHICLES TO MY RIGHT, I WOULD HAVE REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, CAUSING A MULTIPLE VEHICLE CHAIN-REACTION TYPE OF CRASH. INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE ALONG THE HIGHWAY SHOWED BRAKE FLUID RUNNING OUT OF THE BRAKE LINE THAT RUNS FROM BELOW THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE NEAR THE PROPORTIONING VALVE. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT BRAKE SYSTEMS COULD HAVE A TOTAL, ABRUPT FAILURE AS THIS SYSTEM DID. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE STEEL BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND HAD RUSTED THROUGH. ALL STEEL BRAKE LINES ON THE VEHICLE WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY ALL WERE RUST COLORED AND SHOWED CORROSION. THIS TRUCK HAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS USED AS A SECOND VEHICLE AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND WELL MAINTAINED. THE GARAGE ALONG WITH MYSELF ARE AMAZED THAT THE BRAKE LINES SHOW THIS TYPE AND AMOUNT OF CORROSION. HOW MANY OTHER FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED WITH THESE TRUCKS? THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SEVERE CRASH WITH EXCESSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE AND/OR BODILY INJURY. *JB

WE OWN A 1997 DODGE RAM TRUCK. WHILE I WAS BUCKLING TWO INFANTS SEATS IN OUR REAR SEAT USING THE OVER THE SHOULDER BELTS, THE LOCKING PLATES THAT KEEP THE BELT TIGHT AROUND THE CAR SEATS POPPED OFF. THEREFORE I AM NOT ABLE TO USE THOSE SEAT BELTS CURRENTLY FOR CAR SEATS. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $130 PLUS LABOR TO HAVE EACH BELT REPLACED. I DO NOT THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THESE PLATES WILL POP OFF WITH ME TIGHTENING, WHO IS NOT TO SAY THEY WILL NOT COME OFF IN AN ACCIDENT. CURRENTLY I HAVE TO HAVE ONE CAR SEAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT (WHICH IS NOT THE SAFEST PLACE) AND THE OTHER IN THE MIDDLE BACK (WHICH IS OKAY). PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR CAN HELP ME IN ANY WAY. THANK YOU. *JB

I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN A DAMAGED CONDITION AFTER REPLACING PARTS THAT WERE NECESSARY ON FRONT SUSPINION INCLUDING TRACK BAR WHICH WAS WORN BADLY FOR A TRUCK WITH ONLY 65000 MILES TRUCK WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT EVEN AFTER THIS TRUCK HAS TENDENCY TO WANDER ON ROAD I BELEAVE THIS IS CAUSED BY INCORRECT PRELOAD ON STEERING SECTOR WHICH CAN BE ADJUSTED UPON RESEARCHING THIS ON INTERNET I FIND THIS TENDS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE TRUCKS I CALLED CHRYSLER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD DO ANY KIND OF POLICY ADJUSTMENT ON BOX THEY SAID NO I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT A WEAR PROBLEM AND SENSE TRUCK WAS WREAKED BY PREVIOUS OWNER I WONDER IF THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR AS THE LOOSENESS IN STEERING BOX IS NOT CONNECTED TO ACCIDENT AND WITH NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING CANNOT BE COINSIDENTIAL

DT: CONSUMER STATES THE STEERING GEARBOX ON THE VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM. WHILE PULLING FROM THE DRIVEWAY CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STEER. VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 20MPH. LUCKILY CONSUMER MADE IT BACK TO THE DRIVEWAY. CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS THE STEERING GEARBOX. VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER FELT AS THOUGH IT IS THE GEARBOX. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT PLANS TO HAVE DEALER TO DOUBLE CHECK THIS ISSUE. *TT

DT: 97 DODGE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WENT OUT AND THE WIRING BURNED AND MELTED. ALSO HAVE 96 DODGE AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *TT

A LONG LIST IS AVAILABLE AT HUMES OF WATERFORD,PA. THE MOST AMAZING FAILURE OF THE VEHICHLE WAS WHEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING AROUND THE BEND AND I WAS LUCKY THAAT NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS COMING. HUMES(DEALER) FIXED IT BY A HORRIBLE WELD ON THE LATCH.*AK

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE SKIDDED AND STOPPED WHEN ENGAGED ON ITS OWN. DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE PADS/ ABS CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

DODGE RAM WITH 65,000 MILES DASH HAS SPIT IN SEVERAL PLACES THIS IS UNCALLED FOR ON A 20,000 DOLLAR TRUCK. THERE WAS A MALFUCTION IN THE PRODUCTION OF THESE DASHES AND CHRYLSLER SHOULD MAKE THEM GOOD. I TOOK IT TO THE CHRYLSLER COMPANY THAT I PURCHESED IT FROM, AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST ME AROUND 200 DOLLARS. ITS ALSO A SAFETY HAZZARD, I HOPE NO ONE GETS CUT FROM THE SHARP EDGES.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 62000. DEALERSHIP IN HAMMOND, LA WOULD NOT WORK WITH ME TO REPLACE. HAD IT REPLACED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AT THE COST $2300.00 . *AK

STARTED SMELLING STRONG GAS FUMES. HAD CHECKED AND FOUND GAS TANK WAS CRACKED ON TOP AND RUNNING DOWN BOTH SIDES VERY CLOSE TO EXHAUST PIPES. FIRE HAZARD. HAD TO HAVE GAS TANK AND FUEL PUMP REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. SEEMS TO ME A GAS TANK SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 7 YEARS OR BE A FACTORY DEFECT.*AK

I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK FROM A USED DEALER IN TUPELO, MS ON JULY 5, 2004. ON AUGUST 27, 2004, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING AROUND 65-70 MPH DOWN A 4-LANE HWY IN MS WHEN I HEARD A WEIRD NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND AS HE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN TO GET OFF ON THE SHOULDER, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING SHEARED THE STUDS OFF AND MY TIRE WENT SAILING OFF THE TRUCK, SLAMMING THE FRONT END DOWN ONTO THE GROUND. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT DENTED THE FENDER AND SHOVED THE FENDER INTO THE PASSENGER DOOR PREVENTING IT FROM BEING ABLE TO BE OPENED. TRUCK WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT ON A TRAILER AND A NEW WHEEL BEARING WAS PUT IN. THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE DUE TO THE STUDS BEING SHEARED OFF ON A 4-LANE HWY. WHEN PART WAS REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING WAS CHECKED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, SHOWING NO REASON FOR REPLACEMENT. 2 WEEKS LATER ON MY WAY TO WORK, I FELT A SUDDEN VIBRATION IN THE TRUCK. I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CHECKED THE TRUCK, JUST BY A SUDDEN CHANCE OF LUCK I CHECK THE TIRE AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD ALREADY SHEARED 3 OF 5 LUG NUTS OFF. ONCE AGAIN THE TRUCK WAS TOWED IN FOR REPAIR AND A NEW WHEELBEARING WAS INSTALLED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. WHILE THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN IN OUR POSSESSION, WE HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO IT TO MAKE IT SHEAR STUDS AND BREAK BEARINGS LIKE THAT. THE PREVIOUS OWNER TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF THE TRUCK AS WELL, INCLUDING SERVICING AND REPLACING PARTS, AND MAINTENANCE.*AK

MY TRUCK WAS AT A STAND STILL WHEN I WAS REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AT POINT OF IMPACT, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEATS BROKE AND RECLINED TO THE REARWARD POSITION. BOTH CAN BE PUT IN THE FORWARD AND BACK TO THE REARWARD POSITION (TOTALLY RECLINED) BY SIMPLY PUSHING IT FROM FRONT TO BACK. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BROKE TO THE POINT THAT ONLY A SMALL PART OF THE HINGE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT REMAINS TO HOLD THE BACKREST TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT. BOTH SEATS FAILED TO HOLD UP TO THE IMPACT! THE CONSEQUENCE OF THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BREAKING IS THAT MY SON, WHO WAS POSITIONED BEHIND THE DRIVERS SEAT, BROKE HIS JAW WHEN HE WAS THROWN FORWARD, AFTER THE SEAT HAD ALREADY BROKEN TO THE REARWARD POSITION. HIS FACE MADE CONTACT WITH THE HEADREST OF THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT AS IT WAS LAYING IN HIS LAP. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AS OF YET, AS THE CLAIMS ADJUSTER HAS YET TO INSPECT MY TRUCK. *AK

DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY I-70 EAST BOUND, THE HOOD LATCH RELEASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE HOOD FLIPPED BACKWARDS ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE OR REPLACED YET. *JB

DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY I-70 EAST BOUND, THE HOOD LATCH RELEASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE HOOD FLIPPED BACKWARDS ONTO THE WINDSHIELD. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE OR REPLACED YET. *JB

JUST HAD TO REPLACE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON MY 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP. THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING POPPING NOISED FOR OVER A YEAR I JUST DIDN'T HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I WROTE BECAUSE I HEARD OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS GOING OUT ON THE DURANGO AND DAKOTA. ANYWAY, I AM OUT & $750.00.*AK

WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY GOING OUT. OWN THE TRUCK FOR SINCE 91,000 MILES AND HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT RT HUB ASSEMBLY 4 TIMES. IT SEAMS TO BE GOING OUT AROUND 10,000 TO 12,000 MILES. PRIOR TO THIS ONE LAST ONE WAS DONE ON 2/04 ,6/03 & 10/02 MILEAGE NOW 141,000 W/ NEW ENGINE THAT ALSO WENT .SPUN A BEARING. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE MANY OF THESE HUB ASSEMBLYS GOING BAD ON 1997 RAMS 5.9 ENGINE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH DRIVER'S AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SUSTAIN MINOR INJURIES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

I WAS DRVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE FRONT CAB ONLY. ME AND MY CHILDREN JUMPED OUT JUST IN TIME BEFORE IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH HOOD LATCH FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO AN EMBANKMENT. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK *SC *JB

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY, AND AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. THE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR AND CAUSES PULSATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP ON DIFFERENT OCCASION REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE RECURRED. *LA

WHILE DRIVING ON A CURVE TO THE LEFT AT HIGHWAY SPEED STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I TRIED TO TURN STEERING WHEEL AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE,HENCE I DROVE OFF HIGHWAY AND TRUCK ROLLED END FOR END. SEATED BELT WAS USED AND AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED. I SUSTAINED INTERNAL INJURIES AND WAS HOSPITALIZED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS ON A TERRIBLE SMELL PERMEATED THE VEHICLE. THIS SMELL OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND WHAT WAS CAUSING THE ODOR.*AK

WHILE SITTING AT A GAS STATION ON A SLIGHT INCLINE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS ABOUT THIRTY FEET AND COLLIDED WITH A FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEMOLISHED, AND FUEL FLOODED THE IMMEDIATE AREA. VEHICLE SUFFERED SCRATCHES, A BENT BUMPER AND SEVERAL DENTS.*AK

WHILE MAKING A SHARP TURN USING THE FIFTH WHEEL IT CAUSED THE TRAILER TO COLLIDE WITH THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRAILER DENTED THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, BREAKING A GLASS WINDOW. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR INTERMITTENTLY.*AK

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF TRUCK WHILE GOING DOWN FREEWAY. THERE WAS A SLIGHT VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END ABOUT 10 SECONDS BEFORE THE WHEEL CAME OFF. THE LUG BOLTS WERE ALL SHEARED. THERE IS NO APPARENT WEAR ON THE WHEEL OR RIM. WE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING. HAD THIS BEEN ANOTHER MILE DOWN THE ROAD, WE WOULD HAVE MET A ROCK WALL AND SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURY TO PASSENGERS. *AK

RIGHT REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY SHEARED CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL/LOSS OF STEERING/CONTROL OF THE WEHICLE. TRUCK BED WAS EMPTY AND TRAVELING AT APPROX. 60MPH; UPON OCCURENCE VEHICLE ROLLED 3 TIMES ON BUSY HIGHWAY; BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER INJURED

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE VIBRATES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE GAS LINE AND BRAKE LINES WERE RUSTY. *MR

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED DRIVER SIDE DOOR OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. HOWEVER, THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION.*AK

I OWN A 1997 DODGE 1500 RAM P.U. I STARTED MY TRUCK UP TOWARM UP. I THEN BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVE. WHEN I PUT TRUCK IN DRIVE, IT STALLED. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND PUT IT IN DRIVE AGAIN. THE ENGINE WAS GOING FULL THROTTLE AND IT TOOK OFF LIKE A ROCKET. I CUT THE ENGING TO LOOK FOR A PROBLEM. EVERYTHING APPEARED OK SO I STARTED IT UP AGAIN AND PUT IT IN GEAR. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING SO FAST THAT EVEN THOUGH I HELD THE BRAKE PEDDAL TO THE FLOOR THE ENGINE PULLED ME RIGHT THRU A STOP SIGN. I PLAYED WITH THE GAS PEDDAL AND IT BEGAN TO RUN NORMAL. I THEN TOOK IT TO MY SERVICE STATION AND HAD THEM LOOK AT IT. THEY ADVISD ME THAT IT WAS A DEALER PROBLEM AND THEY COULD DO NOTHING. I THEN PROCEEDED TOWARDS TO THE FREEWAY WHEN IT SUDDENLD ACCELERATED AGAIN. I THEN BROUGHT THE TRUCK HOME AND AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT. I CALLED CHRYSLER CORP. TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HAD ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND YET I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL SAME OR SIMULAR PROBLEMS LISTED ON YOUR SITE. I ALSO HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IT SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING, AND HASEN'T WORKED SINCE. AGAIN CHRYSLER CLAIME TO NOT BE AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS. THE EXACT SAME THING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL HAPPENED ON MY 1998 PLYMOUTH VAN AND IT WAS TAKEN CARE OF UNDER RECALL. IT APPEARS THAT EITHER YOU ARE NOT RELAYING ALL THESE COMPLAINTS TO CHRYSLER CORP., OR THEY ARE LIVING IN A VACUUM.

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC WHICH INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK *SC

I HAD THE EXHAUST SYSTEM REPLACED.WHEN I RETURNED TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE FROM THE SHOP I WAS INFORMED THAT A DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS THE CAUSE OF A RATTLE AND THAT I SHOULD RETURN TO THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE CONVERTER IS UNDER WARRANTY TO 80K MILES. THAT EVENING I CALLED DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPLAINED IN DETAIL WHAT WORK HAD BEEN DONE TO THE SYSTEM. MY SHOP TOLD ME TO MAKE SURE I INFORMED THEM OF A WELD. DODGE CS SAID NO PROBLEM THAT THE CONVERTER WOULD BE COVERED.UPON TAKING THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE CONVERTER BECAUSE I HAD ALTERED THE SYSTEM BY REPLACING THE FACTORY EXHAUST."THE ALTERING THAT WAS DONE WAS THE FRONT CLAMP WHICH WAS RUSTED IN PLACE HAD TO BE CUT OFF THE SYSTEM AND REPLACED WITH A WELDED CONNECTER" WHEN I CALLED DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE I SPOKE WITH A WOMAN NAMED BOBBI I INFORMED HER THAT THE ONLY REASON I REPLACED THE EXHAUST WAS IT SOUNDED LIKE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE MUFFLER SHE SAID "WHY DIDNT YOU TAKE IT TO THE DEALER IN THE FIRST PLACE"I RESPONED THAT THE DEALER CHARGED CLOSE TO $500 FOR THE SAME THING I HAD DONE AT AN EXHAUST REPAIR SHOP FOR $300 AND THAT IT WAS THE PREMATURE WEAR OF SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE LASTED MUCH LONGER IE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SHE SAID THAT I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND PAID FOR THE WORK IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THAT IF THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD THEY WOULD HAVE REPLACED IT ,IF IT WAS THE MUFFLER I WOULD HAVE

MY DASH IS CRACKING ALL OVER AROUND VIN NUMBER FROM THE DEFROST VENTS. I KEEP MY TRUCK IN THE GARAGE AND IN THE LAST 2 YEARS IT HAS CRACKED MORE AND MORE AND FOR TWO YRS I HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT MORE THAN 1 THOUSAND MILES CAUSE I AM NOT HOME TO DRIVE IT. ALSO THE COLUMN ON THE SIDES OF THE WINDSHIELD I CAN NOT SEE AROUND THEM I HAVE ALMOST HIT SEVERAL PEOPLE AND CARS THIS IS A BLIND SPOT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS BECAUSE OF THE SEAT AND WEAR I SIT I THINK THIS COLUMN IS TO FAT AND OBSTRUCTS MY VIEW. *JB

I HAVE A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. I NOTICED A STRONG GAS SMELL AND FOUND THAT THE PLASTICS FUEL RAIL WAS SPRAYING GAS ONTO THE INTACT MANIFOLD. THIS WAS LOCATED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BY THE FIREWALL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE PART WAS SUPERSEDED BY A NEW DESIGN AND IT WOULD TAKE A WEEK TO GET THE PARTS. *JB

PASSENGER SIDE EXTERIOR MIRROR IS DEFECTIVE. IT WILL NOT REMAIN STATIONARY AND MOVE AROUND IN THE WIND. WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP, A SMELL OF FUEL BECAME INCREASING STRONGER AND A WHINING SOUND UPON TAKEOFF BECAME LOUDER. I FOUND THE LEAK AT THE END OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE PLASTIC! FUEL RAIL NEXT TO THE FIRE WALL ABOVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS STARTED AFTER OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE REACHED 1 DEGREE FAHRENHEIT. FUEL FALLS DIRECTLY ONTO A REALLY HOT MOTOR. FOG LIGHTS, CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN DOES NOT WORK. *LA

EARLY TRANSMISSION FAILIER. 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 SLT. MILEAGE: 62823. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DEALERSHIP REQUESTED TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. TORQUE CONVERTER LOCK UP AND METAL IN FLUID PAN WAS DIAGNOSIS.

HAD TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS ON MY DODGE RAM1500 AT 50,000 MILES, NEW PROGRAMS HAVE INDICATED DODGE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BALL JOINTS. I ASKED DOGE CUSTOMER SERVICE IF THIS IS NORMAL WEAR, THEY ONLY SAID THERE ARE NO MAJOR COMPAINTS WITH BALL JOINTS. IT APPEARS THIS MAYBE A VERY WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH DODGE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE FUEL PUMP MODULE. HE TRIED TO REPAIR 3 TIMES,BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. *PH

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE FUEL PUMP MODULE. HE TRIED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *PH

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THE DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP AT 39,000 MILES, 44,000 MILES AND 63,000 MILES. *AK

THE FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE MIRROR WOULD NOT REMAIN STABLE ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN MOTION. AS YOU DRIVE THE MIRROR WOULD BE PUSHED TOWARDS THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. AFTER HAVING THE MIRROR REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE ($359.41), THE INVOICE IS RECEIVED STATED "MIRROR CLIPS BROKEN, REPLACED MIRROR WITH HOUSING". THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ABSORB THESE COSTLY REPAIRS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE INSTABILITY OF THE MIRRORS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *LA

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH BRAKES FAILED. IN ORDER TO STOP THE TRUCK DRIVER HAD TO SHIFT TO FIRST GEAR, THEN APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE.*AK

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS HEADLIGHT SWITCH PROBLEMS FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY OXYGEN SENSORS PAINT CHIPPING AND FADING BURNS OIL WORST THAN ADVERTISED FUEL MILEAGE EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR PREMATURELY EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR PREMATURELY

CONSUMER CALLED ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR END THAT NEEDS THE RTP REBUILT. MANUFACTURE STATED THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. DEALER STATED THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. *PH THE REAR PINION SEAL LEAKED DIFFERENTIAL FLUID AND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS VERY NOISY. THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE CARRIER BEARINGS AND RING AND PINION WERE WORN. *SCC *NLM

I OWN A DODGE RAM 1500 PICK UP, 1997, 4-WD, AUTOMATIC. I HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP THIS WEEK. THE COST INCLUDING LABOR WAS $750.00. I FEEL THAT WITH ONLY 67,000 MILES ON A 1997 VEHICLE, THE FUEL PUMP SHOULD NOT NEED REPLACING.*AK THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER'S FIRST REACTION WAS THAT HE FELT I NEEDED ON OF "THOSE LOUSY DODGE FUEL PUMPS". I HAVE A FRIEND WHO ALSO NEEDED ONE REPLACED LAST WEEK, AGAIN A DODGE RAM P/U. I HAD MY WORK DONE AT NEIGHBORHOOD AUTO, IN NEW BEDFORD, MA. WHEN I FOUND OUT THE COST OF THE JOB, I FELT IT WAS ON THE HIGH SIDE. I CALLED CENTRAL DODGE, IN RAYNHAM, MA, WHERE I PURCHSED THE TRUCK USED IN MARCH, 2002. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE PART WOULD NEED TO BE ORDERED, DUE TOO OVERWHELMING DEMAND ON THIS PART. ALL OF THIS ADDS UP TO MY SUSPICIONS THAT THIS PART MAY BE FAULTY, AND A RECALL, AND REFUND MAY BE IN ORDER.

THE CONSUMER STATED DURING A PANIC STOP, IT TOOK LONGER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. *AK *JB

THE VEHICLES SEAT RECLINER UTILIZES ONLY ONE RECLINER MECHANISM RATHER THAN DUAL MECHANISMS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS MAKES THE MECHANISM PRONE TO FAILURE. *PH *CB *NLM

WHEELS WERE LOCKING UP AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. HE TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC, HAD TO HAVE AXLE BEARING S REPLACED.*AK