1998 Dodge Ram 1500 complaints

#4 CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED, BUT HEAD GASKET WORN ON OTHER HEAD AS WELL SO WE CHOSE TO REPLACE BOTH HEADS. WE REPORTED TO CHRYSLER AND THEY AGREED TO PAY HALF THE COST TO REPLACE THE TWO HEADS INCLUDING LABOR. *AK

I HAVE A RUBBING SOUND,PULTSATING.LIKE WARPED ROTOR BUT I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE A BEARING GOING,BUT I WAS TOLD IT MAT BE THE WHEEL HUB.I DON'T ABUSE THE TRUCK AND IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE IT WAS BEFORE I GOT IT SO,I WAS WONDERING IF IT ME BE THE RECALL ON THE FRACTURED HUB.DOES IT SOUND LIKE THE SYMPTOMS ?*AK

REAR AXLES SEALS LEAKED LUBRICANT ON THE BRAKE SHOES CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING. THIS PROBLEM A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN WHEN TOWING A TRAILER DUE TO LOSS OF BRAKING AND COULD CAUSE A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THE FUEL SENDER IN THE FUEK TANK FAILING.THE FUEL GAUGE READING WILLINDICATE ZERO TO FULL RANDOMLY, THUS YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL RESERVE YOU HAVE. THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE BEFORE UNDER WARRANTY. UPON INSPECTION THE THE SENDING UNIT THE WIPER MECHANISM APPEARS TO WEAR OUT PREMATURELY AND SENDING ERRONEOUS SIGNAL TO THE FUEL GAUGE IN THE DASH.*AK

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN A LOUD GRINDING NOISE CAN BE HEARD. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SIDEWALL SEPARATED FROM RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND BLEW OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. ORIGINAL MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT ON A DODGE, RAM,1998, TIRE SIZE P26575R16, AND MILEAGE 30,000. *AK CONSUMER ADDED THAT BACK LEFT TIRE SIDEWALL IS STARTING TO PEEL AT FIRESTONE MARKINGS, DOT NUMBERS FOR TIRES ARE BM14474-3 AND BM14976-1. *TT

I REPORTED THE FAILURE TO CHRYSLER WHO AGREED TO A DIAGNOSIS. A REPRESENTATIVE VERBALLY AGREED THAT CHRYSLER WOULD PAY FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR IF PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY FACTORY DEFECT. A DIAGNOSIS SHOWED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FACTORY DEFECT. AT LEAST ONE METAL PART WAS MISSING FROM THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE FAILURE. CHRYSLER THEN SAID I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR $350 OF THE REPAIR COST, GOING AGAINST THEIR EARLIER AGREEMENT.*AK

THE FRONT BRAKE PADS REQUIRED REPLACING AT 16,000 MILES, 8,500 MILES BEFORE SUGGESTED MAINTENANCE. AT 35,975 MILES THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS REQUIRED REPLACING. DODGE INFORMED ME THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR, NOT WITHIN WARRANTY AND NOT CONSIDERED A PROBLEM. THEY DID NOT INFORM ME OF THE TSB ALREADY RELEASED STATING THE KNOWN PROBLEM OF EARLY WEAR ON FRONT BRAKE PADS.

THE REAR AXLE BEARINGS AND SEAL HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. THE PROBLEM WAS DETECTED FROM HEARING SOME REAR AXLE NOISE. PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**753546

IN APRIL OF 2001, THE LUGS: NUTS OF FRONT/PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SHEARED OFF AND THE WHEEL FELL OFF. I WAS GOING 5 MPH PULLING INTO A GAS STATION AT THE TIME, BUT 30 SECONDS BEFORE THE INCIDENT I WAS GOING 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY.*AK

AFTER VEHICLE IS WARMED UP IT WILL INTERMITTENTLY NOT SHIFT INTO DRIVE. CONSUMER HAS TO SHIFT IT INTO NEUTRAL, THEN, BACK INTO DRIVE BEFORE VEHICLE RESPONDS. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT VEHICLE ROLLING BACKWARDS WHEN THIS OCCURS.*AK *YD

SEVERE CRACKS UNDERNEATH HATCH ATTACHED TO VEHICLE. CRACKS ARE APPROXIMATELY ONE INCH APART ON EACH SIDE, AND 90% OF HATCH IS AFFECTED BY THESE CRACKS. PART IS AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED,AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST IN THIS MATTER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, AND DRIVER SUFFERED SPRAINED NECK/ ANKLE, AND BACK INJURIES. PASSENGER'S AIRBAG WAS TURNED OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD-ON, AND LEFT REAR PASSENGER'S SEATBELT DID NOT RESTRAIN CHILD. CHILD HIT HIS FACE ON FRONT PASSENGER'S SEATBACK. ONE OF THE CHILD'S TEETH CUT THROUGH THE LIP.*AK

VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE BACK IN REVERSE, BUT VEHICLE WAS STILL IN DRVE. CONSUMER SLAMMED ON BRAKES, AND WENT BACK TO REVERSE, AND DROVE. BUT VEHICLE WAS STIL THE SAME. CONSUMER HAD TO TURN VEHICLE OFF TO GET IT CORRECTLY INTO GEAR. SERVICE MANAGER REFERRED THE CONSUMER TO TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, WHO HAD TO REPLACE STEERING COLUMN.*AK

STANDARD MAINTENANCE FOLLOWED AS RECOMMENDED BY DEALER, JACK CAROLL LYNNWOOD DODGE. PREMATURE REAR AXLE BEARING FAILURE. COMMON LIGHT DUTY USE OF VEHICLE AND ALL FLUIDS CHANGES AND MAINTAINED ON SCHEDULE.

CONSUMER CAN SHIFT VEHICLE INTO ANY GEAR. STEPPED ON GAS PEDAL AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. RPMS REVVED HIGH OR LOW BEFORE VEHICLE HAD A DELAYED RESPONSE BY LURCHING FORWARD IN WHATEVER GEAR IT WAS IN. DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED NO CODES AND SHIFTED AS NORMAL. PROBLEM HAD TO DUPLICATE TO BE REMEDIED. *AK

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL VEHICLE COLLISION IN WHICH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAIN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, NEITHER DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND AS A RESULT TWO OCCUPANTS SUSTAIN INJURIES. NLM

HOOD LATCH FAILED.

ENGINE PISTON SEALS WERE NEVER SEATED PROPERLY WHICH ALLOWED ENGINE TO OPERATE ERRATICALLY. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, ENGINE LOCKED UP, AND CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED. A PRIVATE MECHANIC REPLACED ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED FLAT IN A PARKING LOT, JACK WAS LEVEL AND ON ASPHALT. VEHICLE WAS JACKED UP AND TIRE REMOVED. AFTER TIRE WAS REMOVED, JACK BROKE APART AND TRUCK FELL TO THE GROUND LANDING ON ROTOR ASSEMBLY. VEHICLE GRAZED MY LEG, AND FRIENDS LEG AS IT WAS FALLING TO THE GROUND. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLES. *AK

CRONIC PROBLEMS IN SAFTEY RELATED ITEMS: STEERING, TIRES, MIRRORS FUEL SYSTEM

WE WERE TAVELING ON HWY. 400 AT APPROX. 65MPH, WHEN THE DRIVESHAFT FELL OUT OF THE TRUCK, DUE TO A BROKEN BOLT HEAD. BEING THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY , CHRYSLER DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANY THING ABOUT IT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER SOMETHING OTHER THAN A TYPICAL WARRANTY, SINCE THE TRUCK HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND TAKEN CARE OF. BY THE GRACE OF GOD WE WERE ABLE TO STEER THE TRUCK INTO THE MEDIAN WITHOUT GETTING HIT.

WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 25 MPH AND TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR, THERE IS A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM REAR AXLE OF VEHICLE, SPECIFICALLY REAR DIFFERENTIAL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

DEFECT IN FRONT AND BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK

FRONT AXLE STARTED MAKING A NOISE AT 35,000 MILES. IT WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, BUT PROBLEM COULDN'T BE DULPICATED FOR REPAIRS. CURRENTLY, AT 39,000 MILES BEARINGS ARE SHOT AT U-JOINT. DEALER OFFERS TO PAY FOR PART AT BOTH SIDES.*AK

TRANSMISSION GEAR CAN BE PUSHED INTO DRIVE WITHOUT PUTTING FOOT ON BRAKE FIRST. CONCERNED BECAUSE CONSUMER HAS SMALL CHILDREN. *AK CONSUMER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THIS FEATURE PRIOR TO PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. *SLC

RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH WITH DRIVER AND ONE PASSGENER IN A 1998, DODGE, RAM 1500; AFTERMARKET TIRE INSTALLED AT 35,000 MILES, TIRE SIZE P265/75R15, DOT# 7BHPUB286; TIRE CTR. NOTIFIED AND WILLING TO EXCHANGE TIRE AT A PRORATED DEAL. *AK CONSUMER STATES SINCE TIRE FAILURE, THE OTHER TWO REMAINING TIRES HAVE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE TREAD SEPARATION, ALL TIRES HAVE VISIBLE BULGES ON THE RUNNING TREAD, CAUSING OSCILLATIONS OF THE VEHICLE AT SLOWER SPEEDS AND VIBRATIONS AT HIGHER SPEEDS, ONE OTHER TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING PRIOR TO THE ONE REPORTED, THIS OCCURRED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2000. *SLC

TRANSMISSION FAILED IN OVERDRIVE WHICH CAUSED FAILURE TO THE REST OF THE TRANSMISSION WHICH REQUIRED THE TRANSMISSION TO BE REBUILT.*AK

CONSUMER HEARD A HUMMING SOUND FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. DEALER FOUND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE ALL CHEWED UP, MECHANIC STATED THEY WERE TOO TIGHT.*AK EVAPORATOR CORE FAILED. BEARINGS, PINION BEARING, AND AXLE SEALS WERE REPLACED DUE TO POSSIBLY BEING PUT ON TOO TIGHT AT THE FACTORY. *SLC

ROAD CONDITIONS WERE FOGGY, LOST CONTROL, AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE AT 20 TO 25 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

WHILE STARTING TO PROCEED THROUGH INTERSECTION AT APPOX. 5 MPH, FELT JOLT FROM REAR OF TRUCK AND HEARD SOMETHING BREAK. WHEELS LOCKED UP AND TRUCK CAME TO IMMEDIATE STOP. IT HAD TO BE DRUG ONTO FLATBED AS REAR-END WAS LOCKED-UP. DEALER CLAIMS THAT PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE GEAR.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH CONSUMER HEARD LOUD NOISE. VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, AND REAR END LOCKED UP. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH VEHICLE, AND NOTICED DRIVESHAFT WAS MISSING.*AK

CONSUMER HAD RECEIVED A RECALL FROM MANUFACTURER TELLING CONSUMER TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR CHECK AND REPAIR OF CRACKS ON T TRAILER HITCH, OR TO ATTACH SUPPORT TO AVOID CRACKS ON HITCH. BUT, DEALER NOR MANUFATURER HAD TRIED TO ANSWER HELP.*AK THE DEALER POINTED OUT THAT THE HITCH WAS INSTALLED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND THE RECALL DOES NOT APPLY. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER SAYS THIS WAS MANUFACTURER INSTALLED HITCH AND THE DEALER MUST DO THE REPAIR. *YH

CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN SHE HEARD A BANG, STOPPED AND GOT OUT, AND TIRE HAD EXPLODED, CAUSING IT TO RIP OFF TIRE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND ENGINE GOT LOUD AND LOCKED UP 50 MILES LATER. DEALER HAS VEHICLE CURRENTLY. *AK

FRONT BRAKES \ ROTORS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AFTER ONLY 20,000 MILES. I HAVE NOTICED OTHER RECALLS ON RAM 1500 FRONT DISC BRAKES (ROTOR PROBLEMS: FATIGUE BUT NOT ON MY PARTICULAR VIN). I ALSO NEED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN YET AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ONLY 5 DAYS AFTER INITIAL "REPAIR"! I LOVE MY DODGE RAM, BUT I FEEL THERE IS SOMETHING DEFINITELY WRONG WHEN MYSELF AND OTHERS HAVE TO REPLACE BRAKES SO EARLY ON A RELATIVELY NEW VEHICLE. PERHAPS CHRYSLERS RECALL # 788 SHOULD BE REOPENED FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION?*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME APART. THE TIRE WAS BLOWN OUT IN MULTIPLE AREAS. THE RESPONDING TROOPER ADVISED IT WAS ONE OF THE WORST HE HAD SEEN AND SIMILAR TO THE FIRESTONE PROBLEM. *AK (TIRESIZE: P245/75R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P245/75R16 )

I HAVE JUST OVER 36,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. I AM ON MY THIRD SET OF PADS FOR THE FRONT AND HAVE REPLACED THE SHOES ONCE. IN ADDITION, I'VE HAD THE DRUMS AND ROTORS TURNED. THE DEALER RESPONDS BY CHARGING ME TO ADJUST THE REAR BRAKES. I HAVE HAD THIS DONE BUT CONTINUE TO EAT UP THE FRONT BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER CHANGED TO BIGGER PADS AND ROTORS SHORTLY AFTER MY TRUCK WAS MADE BUT DEALER & MANUFACTURER ARE NOT RESPONSIVE. ALSO, THE REAR ANTILOCK DOESN'T WORK RIGHT. *AK

CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE WHEN FRONT BRAKE PADS FELL OFF, AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES. MANUFACTURER SENT OUT TSB FOR NEW BRAKE DESIGN. *AK

GOODYEAR WRANGLER AFTER MARKET TIRE, LT235/85R16 SIZE. TREAD ON 9 OF TIRES SEPARATED FROM CASING. DOT MK0RKRHV079. *SLC

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASSIONS, EVAP COMPONENTS, (VAPOR CANNISTERS) ATTACHED TO THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE PASSENGER SEATING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DUE TO ROAD HAZARD AND ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEIR LOCATION MAKES THEM SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE AND THEY ARE EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE AND ARE NOT REPAIRABLE.

I WAS DRIVING ALONG WHEN THE CAR STOPPED HARD I PROCEEDED TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES, WHEN I NOTICED I WAS NOT STOPPING. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY 4 OUTSIDE PERSONAL AND THEY ALL SAY THE SAME THING. THAT I HAVE A SEVER PROBLEM WITH MY REAR BRAKES, BUT THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM INCLUDING CHRYLSER. *AK

IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, THE HORN BUTTON CANNOT BE LOCATED WITHOUT TAKING EYES OFF THE ROAD

WITHIN 57,000 MILES FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES CAUSE UNKNOWN, DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY CAUSE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

DRIVER/PASSENGER SEAT BELTS WOULD LOCK UP WHEN PULLED OUT TO BE USED. IT WOULD FAIL TO RELEASE FROM RETRACTOR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT SEAT BELTS NEED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

FRONT CRASH AT 55 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK

FUEL SENDING UNIT WENT OUT. THIS INDICATED THAT TANK WAS EMPTY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER . DLR PUT IN A FUEL PUMP,.BUT PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE, AND DEALER SENT PART BACK. CONSUMER HAS BEEN OUT OF A CAR 2 WEEKS. *AK FUEL SENSOR FAILED AND LATER ON THE FUEL PUMP FAILED TOO. *YH

REAR DIFFERENTIAL BEGAN GROWLING AT 39K MILES. DEALER REPORTED IT NEEDED OVERHAUL ($1100 COST). COMPLAINED TO MANUFACTURER AND THEY AGREED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 9.25 IN. DODGE REAR ENDS. RUMOR IS DEFECTIVE PINION BEARINGS OR UNDERSTRENGTH EQUIPMENT COMPARED TO ENGINE SIZE. *AK

BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS WILL NOT OPERATE, BELTS ARE STUCK IN RETRACTORS, LEAVING BOTH OCCUPANTS WITHOUT ANY RESTRAINTS IF VEHICLE BECAME INVOLVED IN A CRASH. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOTHING WOULD BE DONE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK