1997 Dodge Ram 1500 complaints

BEARINGS IN THE DIFFERENTIAL FAILED, REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED TRANSMISSION GEAR SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL AND VEHICLE WILL STOP ACCELERATING. TO GET IT BACK INTO GEAR, DRIVER HAS TO PUT INDICATOR INTO NEUTRAL AND SHIFT IT BACK TO DRIVE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

THIS PROBLEM IS IN REGARDS TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. SUMMARY OF PROBLEM: INTERMINTENT SURGE,BUCK,DRIVELINE CLUNK, OR TRANSFER HARSHNESS. THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN SERVICE BULLETIN # 96-40, NHTSA ITEM # SBO49106. I HAVE BEEN ESPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THIS FOR SOME TIME I HAVE APPROACHED 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS ,HENDRICK DODGE AND BUMPOUS DODGE. THEY RECEIVED MY TRUCK WITH 29,000 MILES ON IT CONTINUED TO DRIVE TILL WARRANTY EXPIRED AND CLAIMED NOTHING WAS WRONG. AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM IT HAS LOOSENED THE THE REAR SHACKLES CAUSING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL TO BECOME LOOSE AND CAUSE EXTREME WEAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRES. I HAVE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO SATISFACTION WITH THE EITHER DEALERSHIP THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON. IN THE PAST I HAD TO RETURN IT 7 TIMES TO HAVE A WATER LEAK FIXED, OF COURSE NO DOCUMENTATION WAS GIVEN TO ME, AT THE TIME IT NEVER OCCURED TO ME THAT THIS WOULD BE USEFUL. SMART ON THEIR PART. I WOULD LIKE SOME HELP DEALING WITH THIS MATTER, AS I AM ONE INDIVIDUAL WITH VERY LITTLE POWER AND RECOURSE. THANK YOU KEVIN CARLSON

THIS IS A USED VEHICLE SO WE ARE UNAWARE OF ADDITIONAL FAILURES OF PREVIOUS OWNERS.

HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED ABOUT A MONTH AGO PER MANUFACTURE RECOMMENDATIONS. NOTICED INTERMITTLY SMELL OF FUEL BUT IT BECAME INCREASING STRONGER AND MORE FREQUENT WITHIN THE LAST WEEK. FOUND THE LEAK AT THE END OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE FUEL RAIL NEXT TO THE FIRE WALL ABOVE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. CONTACTED THE DEALER IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED.

THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING DUE TO A LOOSE STEERING KNUCKLE. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. CHRYSLER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, AND SAID IT WAS NOT A FACTORY DEFECT. *AK

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE ABS SYSTEM KICKS IN, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION INTO BRICK BUILDING, NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DURING COLLISION RESULTING IN INJURY. MJS

FUEL GAUGE ISN'T WORKING, AND WHEN THE CONSUMER FILLS TANK UP, GAUGE INDICATES THE WRONG AMOUNT OF GAS. IT SHOWS THAT TANK IS ONLY HALF FULL. CONSUMER CAN'T DETERMINE HOW MANY MILES PER GALLON OF GAS THEY ARE DRIVING. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR ,AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT REGISTER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

TRANSMISSION DOSN'T SHIFT, IT BOUNCES IN AND OUT OF GEAR BETWEEN 45-60 MPH. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME GOING BACK FOR SERVICE. *AK

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN FIRE. NLM

AS PER NHTSA #SB049106,BULLETIN #96-40,SEQUENCE #152.THE DESCRIPTION IN THIS REPORT DESCRIBES HOW MY TRUCK HAS DRIVEN SINCE I RECEIVED IT.I WENT THROUGH ALL THE HOOPS AND RINGS THAT THE DEALER AND THE REGIONAL MANAGER REQUIRED AND FINALLY ENDED UP IN ARBITRATION ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT MY TRUCK DIDNT HAVE A PROBLEM,WHAT I FELT (AND EXPERENCED) WAS INHERENT TO THE VEHICLE AND ALL THE VIBRATION, CLUNKING AND HESITATION JUST BOTHERED ME MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE WAS BECAUSE I WAS SENSATIVE TO IT.AFTER 2 YEARS OF BATTLING WITH THIS AND BRAKE PROBLEMS(WHICH I WILL SAY ,THEY FIXED AFTER 32000 MILES AND $400+ OF MY MONEY) I COULDNT AFFORD THE TIME OFF TO CONTINUE BATTLING. NOT ONCE WAS THIS BULETIN EVER BROUGHT UP,INFACT,DURING ARBITRATION,IF WAS ASKED IF ANY BULLETINS REFERED TO PROBLEMS LIKE THIS AND THE ANSWER WAS A FLAT "NO".I STILL HAVE ALL MY RECORDS AND COPIES OF THE DEALER SERVICE RECORDS.I'LL TRY TO CALL MONDAY,07/19/99.MY HOME #IS 623-878-2138(RECORDER/FAX) CELLPHONE IS 602-321-0921.THANK YOU PHIL LOBINS. *AK

CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAILED WITHIN TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

THE TRUCK WAS DELIVERED WITHOUT A CERTIFICATION LABEL ON THE DOOR, DODGE WILL NOT PUT THE LABEL ON. *AK

POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE FAILURE IN THE WIRING HARNESS UNDERDASH CAUSING VEHICLE FIRE. MJS

DUE TO IMPROPER UNDER ENGINEERING FOR THE SIZE OF VEHICLE, THE REAR BRAKE SHOES BURN, WHICH CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND MAY RESULTIN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I HAVE HAD EXTENSIVE BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH MY 97 DODGE RAM. THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A RATTLE FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL AREA. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN A INTERMITTENT BRAKE PULL TO THE DRIVER SIDE. IT BECAME A SERIOUS PROBLEM AFTER THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED AT 12000 MILES. THE TRUCK HAS ALSO HAD EXCESSIVE PAD WEAR. THE FIRST SET WAS REPLACED ON5/15/98 WITH 12314 MILES ON THE TRUCK. THE SECOND SET WAS REPLACED ON6/1/98 WITH 13093 MILES. THE THIRD SET WAS REPLACED ON 8/13/98 WITH 16336 MILES ON THE TRUCK. THE FOURTH SET OF BRAKES WAS REPLACED ON 4/6/99 WITH 25323 MILES ON THE TRUCK. COUNTING THE ORIGINAL SET OF BRAKES, WHICH STARTED SQUEALING AT APPROXIMATELY 12000 MILES, I HAVE HAD FIVE SETS OF FRONT BRAKE PADS AND THREE SETS OF ROTORS PUT ON THIS TRUCK. NOT TO MENTION THAT THE INTERMITTENT BRAKE PULL HAS NOT GONE AWAY. EVEN AFTER INSTALLING THIS LAST SET OF PADS. I WENT TO ARBITRATION. I HAD WITNESS STATEMENTS, BUT THE ARBITRATOR DENIED MY CLAIM TO HAVE DAIMLER CHRYSLER PURCHASE MY TRUCK BACK. I HAVE ALSO HAD MANY CLOSE CALLS WHEN THE TRUCK WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE TRUCK HAS ALSO BOUNCED OFF OF THE CENTER MEDIAN MORE THAN ONCE. THE PATTERN IS ALWAYS THE SAME. I GET THE TRUCK BACK FROM A BRAKE REPAIR AND IT IS FINE FOR ONE TO TWO WEEKS. AFTER A SHORT WHILE, ONE TO TWO WEEKS, THE TRUCK STARTS TO MAKE A RATTLING NOISE FROM THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WELL, THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GET SOFT. THEN THE INTERMITTENT BRAKE PULL STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN. I WOULD A

CRUISE CONTROL SERVO LOCATION IMMEDIATELY BEHIND LEFT FRONT BUMPER CAN CAUSE SERVO TO BEND AND OPEN THROTTLE UNINTENTIONALLY. ALSO, A STUD FASTENED TO SIDE THAT HOLDS HEAT SHIELD IN PLACE BECAME DETACHED. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

BATTERY FAILED. MJS

"SENSOR" FAILED, CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *YC

MOPAR RADIO CASSETTE FAILED. NLM

TRANSMISSION FAILS TO GO INTO GEAR. YH

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES ARE SOFT AND GO STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD. WHEN SLOWING DOWN THE PEDAL WILL SLOWLY GO TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES FOR A WHILE, AND CAN'T DETEMINE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *AK

WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY THE STEERING COLUMN BEGAN TO MAKE A POPPING SOUND AND THE WHOLE THING JUST FELL IN CONSUMER'S LAP. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FRONT TIRES NOT BEING ALIGNED. PROPERLY. CONSUMER HAD REPLACED FRONT TIRES WITHIN FIRT 26,000 MILES OF WEAR. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

CONSUMER HAD BEEN DRIVING VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES WHEN HE STARTED TO SMELL A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL. THEN HE PARKED VEHICLE, BUT WITH ENGINE STILL RUNNING VEHICLE STARTED GETTING ON FIRE AND EXPLODED. ALSO, CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS OF INTAKE MANIFOLD ON OCTOBER 16, 1998. DEALER HAD TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY WILL INVESTIGATE. *AK

I KNOW OF TWO OTHER PEOPLE WHO'S REAR ENDS HAVE FAILED BUT LUCKILY FOR THEM THAT THEY STILL HAD A LITTLE WARRANTY LET ON THEIR TRUCKS.

AT TEN THOUSAND MILES THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE, IDLING FROM 700RPMS UP TO 1200 RPMS. VEHICLE IS ACCELERATING WITHOUT WARNING. PROBLEM WILL OCCUR WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN OR SITTING IN PARK. CONSUMER PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY, PARKED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE UP TO 1200, NEARLY WENT INTO THE WALL OF GARAGE. CONSUMER WILL PROVIDE VIN.# AT A LATER DATE. *AK

DRIVER WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO STALL IN ONCOMMING TRAFFIC.

TRANSMISSION FAILED, REPLACEMENT EXPERIENCING SAME FAILURES, EXCESSIVE VIBRATION RESULTING IN COMPONENTS LOOSENING.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OVER BUMPS VEHICLE JUMPS OUT OF GEAR. DEALERS HAVE CHANGED LINKAGE 3 TIMES BUT PROBLEM REMAINS. *AK

BRAKE MALFUNCTION.

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE TWICE PRIOR. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER A THIRD TIME AND STATED THAT PEDAL GOES AND VEHICLE SLOWLY STOPS, MASTER CYLINDER AND FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT A PROBLEM DOES EXIST PROBABLY WITH THE HYDRAULIC FLUID FLOWING TO THE BACK BRAKES. *AK *TT

WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY WOULD COAST VEHICLE, NOT STOPPING RIGHT AWAY. BRAKES WOULD NOT CATCH OR LOCK. PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR. NO PULSATING. *AK THE REAR BRAKES WERE ADJUSTED, CAUSING THE BRAKING ACTION TO BECOME WORSE, FRONT PADS WERE REPLACED AND LATER FOUND TO BE GLAZED AND BRINDLED. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTED TO STOP, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DID NOT CATCH, AND CONSUMER RAN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE.DRIVER SUSTAINED SOME INJURIES. *AK

FRONT BRAKES HAVE REPEATEDLY SHOWN EXCESSIVE WEAR. FIVE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE - 5 SETS OF LININGS, 2 SETS OF ROTORS, AND 2 SETS OF BRAKE CALIPERS. ALL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE BETWEEN 1000 AND 22000 MILES AND A 7 MONTH PERIOD.

BRAKES, ROTORS, TRANSMISSION, AND ALIGNMENT MALFUNCTION.

VEHICLE PULLS PULLS TO THE RIGHT AS IF OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

HANDLE USED FOR ENTERING AND EXITING VEHICLE ON PASSENGER SIDE PULLED OUT OF THE ROOF CAUSING PERSON HOLDING IT TO FALL TO THE GROUND.

WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CAME ACROSS AND ISLAND AND STRUCK VEHICLE SQUARELY IN FRONT CENTER AND LODGED UNDER THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED AND DRIVER WAS RESTRAINED BY SEAT BELT ALONE.

PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS.

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, HEARD LOUD NOISE WHEN MAKING LEFT HAND TURN. STEERING LOCKED UP, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL.BULLETIN IS OUT ON PART, BUT IT IS ON BACK ORDER, STEERING DAMPER WAS REPLACED PRIOR AT ABOUT 7000 MILES. *AK

ABS BRAKES FAILED 3 TIMES, ONCE RESULTING IN A COLLISION.

AXLE SHAFT SNAPPED, RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

SIDE MIRRORS SHAKE AND VIBRATE AT ALL SPEEDS .

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER DRIVING A 100 YARDS. FIRE STARTED UNDER HOOD OF VEHICLE. FIRE DEPARTMENT NOTED CAUSE OF FIRE APPEARED TO BE ELECTRICAL. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN LETTING UP OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE CUT OFF WITHOUT NO PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND VEHICLE CONTROL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH ENGINE RUNNING, CONSUMER STOPPED TO PICK UP SOME MAIL. AS CONSUMER STEPPED OUT OF VEHICLE, HE FELL DOWN, ACCIDENTLY HIT OR MAY HAVE HIT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THAT WAS STOPPING THE PARKED VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN WITH PARKING BRAKE O. , ACCORDING TO THE PEOPLE WHO STOPPED THE VEHICLE, THEY SAID THAT VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL. *AK