1998 Dodge Ram 1500 complaints

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

ENGINE WAS BURNING A QUART OF OIL WITHIN 700-900 MILES , DEALER CLAIMED THIS WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC. DEALER DID REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD TWICE WHICH STOPPED PROBLEM FOR A WHILE, BUT DEFECT HAS REOCCURRED. *AK *SLC

I REALLY ENJOY THIS DODGE RAM1500 ,BUT I FEEL THAT SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY IT WILL NOT HOLD UP TO MY EXPECTATIONS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

BRAKES HAVE NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY, VERY SPONGY, HAVE HAD INTO SHOP TWICE FOR THIS AT WORL THOMPSON, CALDWELL, OHIO. BRAKES ARE VERY WEAK AND HAVE BEEN SINCE PURCHASE. I HAD TO REPLACE FRONT BRAKE PADS AT LESS THAN 50, 000 MILES. I REALLY HAVE TO PUSH HARD TO STOP. *AK

WHEN DRIVING, THE TRUCK MAKES CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE, BUT BEFORE A LOSS OF POWER IS FELT. WHEN WE FIRST TOOK IN THE TRUCK, THE MECHANICS AT CAL WORTHINGTON SAID THEY COULD NOT HEAR ANYTHING OR FEEL ANY LOSS OF POWER. AFTER THEY CLAIMED THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM, THE PROBLEM KEPT COMING BACK. AFTER SEVERAL TIMES THEY STILL CLAIMED THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, UNTIL WE GOT FURIOUS AND UPSET. THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, AND THEY ALSO CLAIMED THAT MOST OF THEIR TRUCKS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE TAKEN IN OUR TRUCK SEVERAL TIMES, THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO STOP THE NOISES AND LOSS OF POWER. TO THIS DAY THE PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURING SPECIALLY WHEN WHEN GOING UP A SMALL ASCENT. THE PROBLEM ALSO OCCURS QUITE FREQUENTLY AT THE 60-70 MPH RANGE. WE HAVE NOT FIGURED OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, BUT THEY DO. FROM WHAT WE HAVE NOTICED OVER THE PAST YEARS THAT WE HAVE TAKEN IN THE TRUCK FOR REPAIRS THEY HAVE DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO STOP IT.*AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS DISPLAYED FRONT END ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS, AND PARTS IN THE FRONT END KEEP LOOSENING, AFTER PURCHASE NOTICED LEFT FRONT WHEEL IS SHIMMED OUT FURTHER AWAY FROM VEHICLE THAN THE OTHER WHEELS. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A NORMAL PROCEDURE TO "BALANCE" THE VEHICLE AFTER MANUFACTURE. IN LIGHT OF ALL THE FRONT END PROBLEMS I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS TRUCK IS SAFE FOR MY FAMILY TO BE DRIVING. HAS TESTING BEEN DONE AFTER THE "BALANCING" PROCEEDURETO INSURE THIS VEHICLE COMPLIES TO HANDLING AND SAFETY SPECIFICATIONS? DO BOLTS LOOSENING IN THE FRONT END CONSTITUTE A SAFETY HAZARD? I HAVE NOTICED THE VEHICLE PULLS RIGHT AND SOMETIMES SEEMS TO REACT WITH A RAPID PULL RIGHT TO SOME ROAD SURFACE DEFECTS AND HAS ALMOST PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL FROM MY HANDS. I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH CHRYSLER AND THE DEALERSHIPS SINCE DAY 1 AND HAVE GONE THROUGH THEIR DISPUTE SETTLEMENT PROCESS AND WAS TOLD MY DEFECTS TO NOT INFLICT ANY DETRIMENT TO THE VALUE, SAFETY OR USEFULNESS OF THE VEHICLE!*AK

I WAS TRAVELING EAST ON THE PAVED PORTION OF NEVADA STATE ROURE 290 AT ABOUT 50 MPH. THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. ABOUT A 10 INCH LONG PORTION OF THE TIRE JUST SHREDED. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALER HE REFUSED TO MAKE GOOD ON IT. HE CLAIMED I HAD RUN OVER A CURB OR SOME OTHER OBSTACLE. I HAD NEVER RUBBED A CURB, LET ALONE HIT ONE, OR HIT ANY OTHER OBSTACLE. I FIGURED IT WAS NOT WORTH THE TIME AND EFFORT TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. I KNOW OF TWO OTHER PEOPLE IN CARSON CITY WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH GOODYEAR TIRES. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN RACKED OVER THE COALS. I TINK IT IS TIME TO, AT LEAST, INVESTIGATE GOODYEAR TO SEE HOW SAFE THEIR TIRES ARE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRESIZE: P265/75R16)

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER TOO MANY TIMES ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS, ESPECIALLY THE BRAKES, WHICH I ADMIT IS AN INTERMETTENT PROBLEM. HOWEVER I HAVE DEMONSTRATED THE PROBLEM TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT RIVERHEAD DODGE. NO REPAIRS WERE EVER MADE. APPARENTLY AFTER SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I FIND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THESE SAME PROBLEMS. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE HURT BEFORE DODGE DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? DOES THIS HAVE TO EVOLVE INTO ANOTHER FIRESTONE PROBLEM BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE? *AK

AFTER IMPACT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AT THE DOOR, I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND IT LOCKED UP, I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND FOUND THAT I HAD NONE. I TRAVELED ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC (NO BRAKES NO STEERING) AND HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER HEAD-ON AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HAD MY STEERING NOT LOCKED UP THIS WOULD HAVE ONLY BEEN A MINOR ACCIDENT, NOW MY TRUCK IS TOTALED.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK INDEPENDENTLY OF EACH OTHER AND THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CAME OUT IN THE CONSUMERS HANDS ON TWO OCCASIONS.

TRUCK PULLS/TRACKS TO RIGHT, CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD WITH THE 1995 DODGE RAM 4X4 I OWNED. THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED. SOLD THE 95 AND BOUGHT THE 98, THE SALESMAN, SERVICE MANAGER , AND SALES MANAGER ASSURED ME PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE 98 THE PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT ENDS PULLING TO THE RIGHT WERE FIXED. I CURRENTLY HAVE THE VEHICLE IN THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR A FRONT END INSPECTION. AT FIRST THEY TOLD ME IT WAS AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM WITHOUT PROPERLY INSPECTING THE SUSPENTION. ADDITIONALLY THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE FRONT INSPECTED. IF AN ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT ALSO DUE TO THE ALIGNMENT IS COVERED ONLY TO 12000 MILES. I HAVE DONE QUITE A BIT OF RESEARCH MYSELF TALKING WITH OTHER CONSUMERS AND VIEWING INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE WEB CONCERNING THE FRONT END PROBLEMS ON THESE VEHICLES AND THERE SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT INDICATES A LARGE AMOUNT OF CONSUMERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE VERY SAME PROBLEM.

ENIGINE DEVELOPED A VERY SERIOUS KNOCKING AND BANGING, AND RECENTLY LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND LOW OVER 3 QUARTS OF OIL IN ABOUT 800 MILES AFTER OIL CHANGE. THE KNOCKING AND BANGING GOT SO BAD THAT I COULDN'T MAINTAIN HIGHWAY SPEEDS CAUSING A TRAFFIC HAZARD. IF ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT AND PASS THE KNOCK MAY PREVENT ACCELLERATION CAUSING A HEAD ON COLLISION. CONTINUED KNOCK WILL RESULT IN ENGINE FAILURE AND DAMAGE. *AK

WHEN ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED THERE IS A LOUD HUMING SOUND. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAIL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WENT TO APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE, AND IT GETS WORST AS THE BRAKES GETS HOTTER. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND DEALER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. THIS WAS PERFECTLY NORMAL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SHIFTED INDICATOR AND IT FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. COULD NOT LOCATE WHAT GEAR TRANSMISSION WAS IN. POPS OUT OF GEAR INTERMITTENTLY WHEN GAS PEDAL PRESSED. ALSO, WHENEVER APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE WOULD CONSTANTLY INCREASE IN SPEED. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP & EACH TIME TEST DRIVEN, BUT NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES FOR FAULTY GEAR SHIFTING. IN ADDITION, FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED DUE TO PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. ONGOING PROBLEMS. *AK *ML

AIR BAG FAILED AND REPLACED, DURING REPAIR DEALERSHIP DAMAGED VEHICLE. YH

PLACEMENT OF MIRROR, WIDTH OF DOOR POST MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ALL TRAFFIC COMMING FROM RIGHT. MIRROR COULD BE LOWERED AT LEAST 3 INCHES. THIS ALSO CAUSED AN EXACT ACCIDENT WITH A '95 RAM. VISIBILTY IS VERY LIMITED BY THE POST COUPLED WITH POOR MIRROR PLACEMENT. *AK

ENGINE STARTS TO PING AFTER 40 MPH. DODGE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THAT DODGE IS WAITING TO PASS A NEW EPA LAW TO FIX PINGING PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED IN THOUSANDS OF 1998 DODGE RAMS. DODGE IS UNWILLING TO FIX MY TRUCK. I FEEL I HAVE THE RIGHT TO AT LEAST A NEW ENGINE. *AK

REAR END WAS BUILT TOO SMALL FOR V8 ENGINE,CAUSING IT TO BURN UP. DEALER WILL INSTALL A 350 REAREND BECAUSE 321 PARTS ARE ON A NATIONWIDE BACKORDER. *AK

WHILE CONSUMER WAS STOPPED WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REVVE AND THE BACK TIRE STARTED SPINNING. THIS LASTED FOR ABOUT 4 OR 5 SECONDS AND CONSUMER IMMEDIATED SHIFTED INDICATOR FROM DRIVE TO PARK. NLM

RIGHT FRONT BRAKES WORE OUT FASTER THEN OTHER SIDE. CONSUMER COULD HEAR NOISE COMING FROM BRAKES. NOISE DUE TO INSIDE BRAKE PAD LINING WEARING DOWN TO METAL. MANUFACTURER WARNING SYSTEM FAILED, DRIVER/OWNER UNAWARE PROBLEM EXISTED UNTIL FAILURE OCCURRED. *AK

ANY TIME WHEN TURNING VEHICLE WOULD MAKE NOISES. WHEN MAKING A SHARP TURN AND GOING SLOWLY IT WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE NOISES. CONTACTED DEALER, THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 35 - 40 MPH, HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT WITH A TREE WHICH CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AND PASSSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IN THE CRASH. DEALER SAID THE IMPACT WAS HARD ENOUGH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE HORN IS VERY DIFFICULT TO USE. IT MUST BE HIT HARD AT EXACTLY THE RIGHT SPOT TO FUNCTION. WHEN IN A PANIC (I.E. WHEN HORN USE IS NECESSARY) IT IS UNLIKELY THAT ONE CAN HIT THE RIGHT SPOT. IN VERY COLD WEATHER (BELOW FREEZING) THE HORN DOES NOT WORK AT ALL.

BREAKS FAILED AT 45 MPH. REAR-ENDED CAR IN FRONT. AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOVED. 2 PASSENGERS IN VAN HURT, DRIVER IN FRONT CAR HURT. *AK

WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD, HE NOTICED THAT THE PINCHWELD PRIMER USED TO ADHERE TO THE FACTORY PAINT HAD FAILED. *SLC

THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING ACCIDENT. YH

BRAKE PADS WORE PREMATURELY AT 18000 MILES.THOMPSON DODGE WHO IS DOING THE WORK SAID DODGE WILL PAY FOR PARTS BUT NOT LABOR WHICH WILL BE 100.00 LABOR.THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THE NEW PADS ARE OF A BETTER DESIGN AND SHOULD LAST BETWEEN 40000 AND 50000 MILES UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS.75%OF THE 18000 MILES ON MY TRUCK ARE HIGHWAY MILES SO I FEEL THAT THE PADS SHOULD NOT HAVE WORN OUT SO SOON.I THAT DODGE SHOULD REIMBERSE ME THE 100.00 THAT I PAID OUT OF MY POCKET FOR LABOR.DODGE'S DECISION ON THIS MATTER WILL DICTATE IF MY NEXT VEHICLE PURCHASE WILL BE A DODGE PRODUCT. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS FOUND BENT BY THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT, NOISE FROM THE UNIT PRIOR TO REPLACEMENT. *MJS

DRIVING ON FEEDER ROAD AT 45MPH ALL OF SUDDEN AN 18 WHEELER IN FRONT JUST STOPPED. CONSUMER DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO REACT BY APPLYING BRAKES AND REARENDED INTO THE 18 WHEELER. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL ARMS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN INTO A DITCH RESULTLING IN MAJIOR DAMAGE FOR THE VEHICLE. YH

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL SLOW DOWN AND THEN GO FREE FOR ABOUT 10 FEET. DEALER HAS SEEN AND REPLACED THE BRAKES TWICE, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 35 MPH HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WITH FRONT OF TRUCK. CONSUMER STATES IF SYSTEM IS NOT GOING TO WORK, PLEASE REMOVE. *AK

VEHICLE HAS NO INTERLOCK SAFETY MECHANISM. VEHICLE CAN BE PLACED INTO GEAR WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

TIRE SEPERATED FROM TRUCK, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, ROLLED ? TIMES, EVERYONE WAS EJECTED AND KILLED EXCEPT FOR 1. I DO NOT WANT MY INFORMATION RELEASED TO THE MANUFACTURER, PENDING LEGAL MATTERS.

AT A STOP LIGHT REAR ENDED AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SMOKE SUDDENLY WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE GAS TANK BY OTHER DRIVERS. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND NOTICED FLAMES AROUND THE GAS TANK. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FIRE OUT, CAUSE UNKNOWN, AND THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

VEHICLE DIES AT IDLE AND WHILE DRIVING. *ET

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AND ENGINE RUNNING WITH CHILDREN IN BACK SEATS;.ALL OF A SUDDEN A LOUD SOUND WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF DRIVEWAY INTO A TREE. THREE INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED, INCLUDING MINOR CUTS & BRUISES. DEALER NOTIFIED. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE OUT OF ALIGNMENT, CAUSED EXCESSIVE WEAR TO TIRES. MJS

BACK SEAT WAS MADE WITH A HEAD REST.CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BRAKING WILL TRANSFER TO FRONT BRAKES, CAUSING BRAKES TO FADE , TAKES ABOUT 190 FEET BEFORE IT STOPS . *AK

CONSUMER HEARS NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING. DEALER SAYS THAT THE TIRES ARE WORN BECAUSE VEHICLE NEEDS AN ALIGNMENT. *AK

RRONT PADS WEARING AT A EXCESSIVE SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. *AK

WE STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED, WE WENT BACK TO THE DEALER RIGTH AFTER WE NOTICED A FEW PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN, SUCH AS CAR PULLING TO THE RIGTH AND A LOUD THUMP SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGTH REAR SIDE EVERY TIME WE PASS THOSE SPEED BUMPS. AND WHEN THEY INSPECTED THE VAN THEY (THE DEALER TECHNICIANS), TOLD ME THAT A SHOCK ABSORVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACE AND ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED AS WELL. AFTER THIS TWO THINGS WERE DONE, EVERYTHING WENT DOWN THE HILL....WHEN I DROVE HOME THE VAN I NOTICED THAT VAN WAS PULLING STILL TO THE RIGTH AND A NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN BRAKING, IS MORE LIKE A CRACKING NOISE, I'LL MENTION THAT THIS WAS'T HAPPENING ALL THE TIME, BUT THE PULLING TO THE RIGTH WAS. WE WENT BACK WITH THEM, THEY ALIGNED AGAIN...BUT, THIS TIME THE VAN WAS NOT PULLING TO THE RIGTH BUT TO THE LEFT INSTEAD, THIS HAPPEND WHEN DRIVING STRAIGTH OR WHEN BRAKING AS WELL, WE WENT BACK TO THE SAME DEALER, BUT AFTER SOME ATTEMPSOF FIXING THIS PROBLEM AND A VERY UNPLEASENT EXPERIENCES WITH THEIR (CUSTOMER REPRESENTAIVES) AT DESPLAINES DODGE DEALER, NOT TO TRY AGAIN WIH THEM, WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVES, AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE VERY DUMB COMMENT THE CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE OF DESPLAINES DODGE DEALER, THAT THEY SUGGESTED TO TAKE THE VAN TO A 5 STARS SHOP THE COMMENT THE CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE MADE WAS (THAT THE VAN WAS PULLING TO THE RIGTH BECAUSE IT WAS A SAFETY FEATURE BUILD IN THE VAN TO PREVENT PEOPLE WANDER TO THE TO THE L

THE HORN IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO WORK IN AN EMERGENCY. YOU HAVE TO HIT IT IN EXACLY THE RIGHT SPOT FOR IT TO WORK WITH A SIZABLE AMOUNT OF FORCE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THINKING IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE ALONE. THEY SAID THEY TESTED IT AND IT WAS THE SAME AS ALL OTHER HORNS. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN INVOLVED IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE I HAVE NOT BE ABLE TO WARN A PERSON MOVING INTO MY LANE BECAUSE I COULD NOT GET MY HORN TO WORK. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AS I FEEL IT POSES A THREAT OF DANGER TO ANYONE WHO OPPERATES THIS VEHICLE. *AK

A VISITING RELATIVE FROM THE EAST COAST MENTIONED THAT THE DODGE PICKUP WAS NOT HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM DUE TO THE TRANSMISSIONS NOT HOLDING UP UNDER SNOW PLOWING WORK. THIS DIDN'T CAUSE ME ALARM SINCE MY TRUCK IS USED FOR PASSENGER USE ONLY. EXACTLY 10 DAYS LATER MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THE DEALER "RECONDITIONED" IT AND IT LASTED LESS THAN 1000 MILES BEFORE FAILING AGAIN. TO BE CONTINUED. *AK