1994 Dodge Ram 3500

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MODEL 3500 LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS ONLY. OPERATION OF THE HEADLAMPS OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME CAN RESULT IN HEADLAMP SWITCH FAILURE, CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS OR PARK LAMPS TO GO OUT.

Risk. IF THE LIGHTS FAIL, A VISIBILITY PROBLEM COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP SWITCH INCLUDING A RELAY IN THE PARK LAMP WIRING CIRCUIT.

IN A HARD RAIN OR EVEN WASHING UP UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK THE 4WD SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON AND IT WILL SAY IT'S TRYING TO TRANSFER OVER TO 4WD AND WHEN IT TRIED WITH ME I WAS RUNNING AROUND 55 MPH! IT JERKS THE [XXX] OUT OF THE TRUCK WITH A LOUD HAMMER NOISE! IT WILL CAUSE A PERSON TO WRECK IF YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING IT ! IT WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 2019 AND STARTED THE 4WD CRAP AT 4,500 MILES NOT TO MENTION THE TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER DOESN'T WORK EITHER NOW, FOUND THAT OUT THE HARD WAY WITH 22 ROLLS OF HAY AND NO IT'S NOT THE TRAILER MY FORD TRUCK HAS TRAILER BRAKES, SAME TRAILER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2 OUT OF THE 3 MAIN TRANSPIRATION AND DELIVERY SERVICE VEHICLES THAT I PERSONALLY USED TO GET TO THE JOB SITE AND TO DELIVER HEAVY METAL STRUCTURES ARE IN VERY BAD SHAPE, PARTICULARLY DODGE RUM 1994 PLATE NUMBER (74R 300). THE MAIN PROBLEMS ON THIS TRUCK ARE THE BAD BRAKES, ESPECIALLY WHEN CARRYING HEAVY METAL MATERIALS. ABS LIGHT ON, NO HORN, BROKEN SPEEDOMETER, AIR BAG LIGHT ON, BROKEN TURNING SIGNALS, SPECKS OF RED PAINT ON THE WINDSHIELD, WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID NOT WORKING, NO A/C, TURNING SIGNALS NOT ALL WORKING, WEAR OUT TIRES, ETC. EVEN THOUGH I POINT OUT TO THEM THAT THE BREAKS WERE NOT GOOD, THEY STILL NEVER PAID ANY ATTENTION TO WHAT I SAID. THEY PROBABLY DID NOT PAY MUCH ATTENTION TO ME BECAUSE THEY NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY VEHICLE RELATED ACCIDENTS. BUT KNOWING THAT THEY AREA ALWAYS CARING HEAVY METALS, THEY SHOULD BE A LITTLE MORE CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THEIR WORKERS IN GENERAL BUT CLEARLY THEY DO NOT CARE A BIT AND THAT REALLY BOTHERED ME VERY MUCH. IN THIS EMAIL, I AM MOSTLY POINTING OUT THE DODGE RUM 1994 PLATE NUMBER (74R-300), UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT PLATE NUMBER OF THE OTHER 2 VEHICLES. I AM SURE THAT IF SOMEONE WHO KNOWS ABOUT TRUCK SAFETY AND MECHANICS TAKES A LOOK AT ALL 3 VEHICLES, THEY WILL SE THAT WHAT I AM SAYING IS TRUE. I AM ALSO ATTACHING A FEW IMAGES TO BACKUP MY STATEMENT.

TL-CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCK.... INQUIRED ABOUT GENERAL RECALLS... CONTACT HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DODGE DEALERSHIP AFTER CATCHING FIRE DUE TO RECALL... DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING... DEALERSHIP HAD INVESTIGATIONS TEAM COME OUT TO INSPECT TRUCK AFTER FIRE... TRUCK HAD BEEN REPAIRED AFTER FIRE... DEALERSHIPHAS DEAD ENGINE CABLE ... THROTTLE OF TRUCK IS FAILING... DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO FIX RECALL DUE TO TRUCK BEING REPAIRED AFTER FIRE.... DEALERSHIP STATED INSPECTION NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE THROTTLE CAN BE FIXED.... CONTACT WAS GIVEN NUMBER TO FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AT 202-366-2222 MAY 10,2000 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER875 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER00V-135 RECALL STATUSRECALL INCOMPLETE SUMMARYTHE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN IGNITION SWITCH AND WIRING THAT COULD OVERHEAT. 853-1403. PLEASE HAVE YOUR VIN READY WHEN CALLING.NHTSA. YOU CAN PROVE THE REPAIRS WERE MADE.) HOWEVER, IF THE COURT ULTIMATELY RULES THE DEFECT IS NOT SAFETY-RELATED, FEDERAL LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT THE MANUFACTURER REIMBURSE YOU FOR THE REPAIR WORKCHAPTER 301 OF TITLE 49 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE (U.S.C.) REQUIRES A MANUFACTURER OF MOTOR VEHICLES OR ITEMS OF MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT THAT CONTAIN A DEFECT RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY TO REMEDY THE DEFECT WITHOUT CHARGE.

PULLING INTO TRAFFIC VEHICLE SUDDENLY HAS NO POWER AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE NEARLY CAUSED A ACCIDENT. THROTTLE BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DODGE DEALER. DODGE SAYS THIS IS DUE TO A THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WHICH HAS BEEN ON BACK-ORDER SINCE MAY. WE RECEIVE A E-MAIL FROM DODGE CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVE APPROXIMATELY EVERY 2 WEEKS SAYING THANKS FOR YOU PATIENCE BUT THERE STILL IS NO DELIVERY DATE FOR THIS PART. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE MAY BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I FEEL THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE TO EXPECT A VEHICLE TO BE PARKED FOR 4 MONTHS WITH NO SOLUTION FROM DEALER FOR A REPAIR PART.

TLA* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT RETRACTED, BUT FAILED TO STOP WHEN PULLED FORCEFULLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THREE POINT SEAT BELT SYSTEM IN THE FLOORBOARD WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NO LONGER PRODUCED. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 7/16/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LOCK AND THE TENSION SPRING HAD BECOME VERY WEAK. . UPDATED 07/28/15

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR AND WIRING HARNESS MELTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V135000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,639. UPDATED 6/18/15*CN UPDATED 10/05/2017*CN

TL* THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE TRANSFER CASE FAILED . THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD TO APPLY THE BREAKS AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM SHAKING . THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED MANY TIMES.. UPDATED 05/12/2014*LJ

BRAKE LINE RUSTED INTO BETWEEN FUEL TANK AND FRAME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED AND FALLEN APART. HE STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD IS NO LONGER A COSMETIC ISSUE, BUT A SAFETY ISSUE. WHILE DRIVING, THE DASHBOARD FELL DOWN IN THE AREA WHERE THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE LOCATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PLASTIC PIECES OF THE DASHBOARD HAVE FALLEN OUT. THE HANDS ON THE DASHBOARD THAT INDICATE THE VEHICLE SPEED ARE LOOSE. THE # OF CYLINDERS IS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 200,014.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE HIT A BUMP, WHICH STARTED A VIOLENT SHAKING OR "DEATH WOBBLE" IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER REINFORCED THE SHOCK TOWER, AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRACK BAR WAS LOOSE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL # 94V097000 WHICH PERTAINS TO THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

DT: CONSUMER'S VAN HEATS UP EVERY NOW AND THEN. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR, INSIDE AND OUT. THE CONSUMER HAD FIRES AS WELL, HAD TO PUT THEM OUT WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND HE CHANGED THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER, AND THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN.*AK UPDATED 11/29/05. *JB

FAILURE OF TRAILER HITCH ON THE BACK OF THE 1994 DODGE PICKUP TRUCK.*MR THE TRUCK HITCH EXTENDED TOO FAR OUT FROM THE MOUNTS, PUTTING UNDUE LEVERAGE AND STRESS ON THE METAL WHICH RESULTED IN IT FAILING. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR MODEL YEAR 1998-2000 BUT NOT FOR EARLIER MODEL YEARS. THE CONSUMER HAD THE HITCHES REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE AND REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH VEHICLE RAN OVER A SMALL BUMP. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE SEVERELY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE STABILIZE BAR BRACKET WAS RIPPED FROM THE FRAME. *AK

PAINT BUBBLING AND PEELING ON CAB AND DISCOLORATION OF PAINT ON FENDERS. *NLM

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V024000 HEADLAMP SWITCH; THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED SHORTING OUT WHICH CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT WHILE IN USE. THE SWITCH FAILED AGAIN BUT THIS TIME THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DASH CAUGHT FIRE WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED ON THE RAM 3500 FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THE SAME FAILURE HAS OCCURED ON THIS RAM 2500 PICKUP. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS TS

CONSUMER NOTICED THE A FUEL LINE FITTING CONNECTOR, AND AUXILIARY COOLER ON TRANSMISSION IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

VEHICLE IS EXHIBITING POSSIBLE SUSPENSION PROBLEMS INCLUDING EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE PICKUP WHEN TOWING A CAMPER. THE TRUCK HAS SUDDENLY ROLLED TO THE RIGHT AS THOUGH A TIRE HAD ROLLED OOT OF THE RIM, THERE ARE CRACKS IN THE FRONT OF THE PICKUP BOX AND BOTTOM OF THE CAB. ALLOWING THE BOX TO TWIST IN RELATION TO THE FRAME AND THE HEIGHT OF THE CAMPER. THE MOTION IS EXTREME AND IS ACCOMPANIED BY CLICKS AND POPS OF THE SHEET METAL FROM THE AREA OF THE CRACKS. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THE SUSPENSION PROBLEMS CAUSED THE DRIVER SIDE U BOLTS TO BE LOOSE. *TT

DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT VEHICLE BEING IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK

VEHICLE OF WILL STALL INTERMITTENTLY. PROBLEM IS MORE FREQUENT DURING WARM WEATHER. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

TIRE HAS SEPARATED IN THE MIDDLE OF TREAD. STEEL BELTS HAVE COMPLETELY SEPARATED AND THE TREAD IS COMPLETELY OPENED UP. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VD1L1XA TIRESIZE: 225 75R16)

VEHICLE THAT WAS SOLD TO CONSUMER AS A SALVAGED VEHICLE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. FRONT AND CENTER PARTS OF FRAME WERE CRUSHED, AND PUT BACK TOGETHER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OFF AND ON AT DIFFERENT TIMES, AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT WORK AT ALL. VEHICLE WAS RECALLED BEFORE FOR THIS PROBLEM UNDER RECALL 99V024000/ HEADLAMP SWITCH FAILURE. *AK

ABS BRAKES PULSATE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, PEDAL SINKS TO THE FLOOR. ONCE POWER BRAKES LOCKED, AND CONSUMER WENT INTO A SLIDE. *AK

IT WAS RAINY DAY AND VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN ABOUT 2 HRS BEFORE INCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE INSIDE CAR. FIRE WAS COMING UP THROUGH THE DASHBOARD BETWEEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND VIN. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. THEY INVESTIGATED, AND CLAIMED THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE IF OVER 12 MONTHS. *AK

FRONT AXLE SUPPORT UPPER TOWER SPRING WELDS ARE CRACKING ON L AND R SIDE.

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASH AFTER BEING PARKED FOR OVER AN HOUR. THIS WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT UNDER THE DASH. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

NOTICED TRANSMISSION LEAKING UNDERNEATH. IT WAS LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM PIPE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER, CLEARLY BACK TO THE BRAKES AND REAR BUMPER. CONTACTED DEALER WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP DUE TO EXPIRED WARRANTY. TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES WERE CLAMPED TOGETHER WHERE THEY CAN RUBED EACH OTHER AND WORE OUT. *AK

VAN EXPERIENCING FLOOR OVERHEATING, POSSIBLY DUE TO EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILURE. INSURANCE COMPANY REQUESTING INFORMATION. MJS

RECALL # 99V024000 CHRYSLER/HEADLAMP SWITCH; AFTER HAVING RECALL WORK PERFORMED THE HEADLIGHT SWTICH FAILED. THE DEALER DID NOT INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS WHCIH CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED FOR RECALL # 819 THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FOUND TO BE MELTED. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE SWITCH HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

IGITION SWITCH HAD A LOOSE CONNECTION, AND WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE AND MELTED. ALSO, ABS LIGHT CAME ON. *AK

THROTTLE LINKAGE CLIP FAILS, THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE IS GONE AND IDLE SPEED AND RPM'S ARE ALL THAT IS AVAILABLE. MJS

TRUCK VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY ,THE DEALER HAS REPLACED TRANSMISSION/TORQUE CONVERTER AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. YH

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHICH CAUSED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH / WIRING / IGNITION SWITCH TO BURN OUT, RESULTING IN REPAIRS. *YC

STEERING COLUMN SHAFT FAILED PER RECALL NOTICE CAUSING IT TO COMPLETELY SEPARATE WHILE DRIVING. NLM (RECALL 96V230000)

TRAILER TOW HARNESS SWITCH BURNED.

WHEN DRIVING AT 45 MPH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. DRIVER PULLRD OVER, AND WHEN TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE KICKED OVER AND SHUT BACK DOWN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP. THE COMPUTER SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE, AND THE FUEL PUMP ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. CURRENTLY, THE PRESSURE IS BUILDING UP INSIDE THE VEHICLE, AND THE COSNUMER STATES THERE WASN'T ANY PROBLEM WITH THE PRESSURE UNTIL THE DEALER REPLACED SOME PARTS. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES RUB TOGETHER, CAUSING THE LINES TO BURN THROUGH AND LEAK ALL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

HARNESS/HEADLAMP SWITCH FAILED RESULTING IN MELTING.

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION FAILURE DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER . PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FULL TO CAPACITY, GAS WILL LEAK FROM UNDERNEATH. GAS TANK ROLLOVER VALVE FAILED, CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. *AK

THE PLASTIC FITTING ON THE TRANSMISSION PRESSURE LINE BECOMES HOT AND MELTS, ALLOWING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK OUT. AT THIS TIME ALL POWER IS LOST AND DRIVER HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE TRUCK. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

THE TRUCK LOSES IT'S BRAKING POWER WHEN BACKING UP. THE BRAKE PADS HAVE TO BE CHANGED EVERY 5 TO 10 THOUSAND MILES. THE BRAKES ON THE TRUCK ARE NOT LARGE ENOUGH FOR THAT SIZE TRUCK.*AK

TOW PACKAGE CAN NOT BE USED AS THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DOES NOT HANDLE MORE LIGHTS THAN WHAT IS ON IT.

THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING AND UPON APPLYING FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, CONSUMER NOTICED VIBRATION IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE RIGHT SEAL AND THE LEFT SEAL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE FRONT END VIBRATES WHILE APPLYING BRAKES.

ENTIRE CAB SHAKES AT VARIOUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. WHEN SHAKING OCCURS THE VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER, THIS RESULTED IN DRIVER HAVING TO GO OFF THE SIDE OF ROAD SEVERAL TIMES.

PREMATURE WEAR OF BRAKE SYSTEM.

AIR DUCT INTAKE LOCATED BETWEEN BATTERY AND LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT IS NOT SCREENED TO PREVENT DEBRIS FROM BEING SUCKED INTO AIR FILTER CHAMBER.