1997 Dodge Ram complaints

THIS WILL BE THE FOURTH TIME THIS PART IS BEING REPLACED AND THIS TIME IT CAUSED A FIRE AND GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN THE NEXT TIME. *AK

HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO REMAIN ON WHILE IN OPERATION. DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 99V024000, AND CAUSE FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS UNKNOWN. *AK *SLC

REAR VIEW MIRRORS MOUNTED ON BOTH DOORS OF VEHICLE FAILED TO REMAIN IN ONE POSITION AND "FLOPPED IN WIND". DEALERSHIP WAS UNWILLING TO ASSIST CONSUMER IN REPAIR OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK *SLC

WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH AND WHEN TRYING TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT CONSUMER RAN INTO TWO POLES HEAD-ON, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

MY TRUCK HAS HAD 3 OIL SENDING UNITS, 3 OIL PUMPS, NEW ENGINE, CRANK SHAFT SENSOR, FUEL PUMP, 8 INJECTORS, COMPUTER CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I REALLY DON'T HAVE $3000.00 FOR AN ATTORNEY THAT I CAN TIE UP FOR YEARS. *AK

HEARD LOUD POP, TRUCK JOLTED, LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND ALL BRAKES, DUE TO POWER STEERING PUMP SHAFT SHEARRED, ALTHOUGH PUMP WAS FULL OF FLUID. WHILE TURNING CORNER, SECTOR GEAR BOX LOCKED UP. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY TRANSMISSION HESITATES AND THEN WILL KICK IN. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DRIVING 45-55MPH, VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE, BUT CAN BE CONTROLLED. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR VIBRATION. HAD DRIVERSHAFT REPLACED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. ALSO BEEN TO TIRE RETAILER DUE TO POSSIBILITY OF TIRES CAUSING PROBLEM. TIRES WERE THE PROBLEM. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER , INFORMED CONSUMER NOTHING COULD BE DONE. IT WAS CHARACTERISTIC OF TRUCK, AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED.*AK CONSUMER STATES VIBRATION HAS EXISTED IN VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASED, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THE VIBRATION CAUSES HIM TO HAVE TO DRIVE UNDER 40 MPH OR OVER 50 MPH TO AVOID THE VIBRATION. *JB

I HAVE HAD TWO FAILURES IN THE PAST MONTH. FIRST IS THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AT 57K MILES AT A COST OF $498.00. SECOND, MY TRUCK IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR A BAD INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET (INTERNAL). THIS ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO BURN ABOUT A QUART OF OIL A WEEK. THERE IS A TSB 09-05-00 ON THIS KNOWN PROBLEM SINCE 1994. OUT OF WARRENTY - OUT OF LUCK.

THERE IS NO SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM PRESENT IN VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE CAN BE TAKEN OUT OF PARK WITHOUT USE OF A KEY. *AK

AT 60,000 TRANSMISSION REPLACED; 68,000 BOTH U-JOINS REPLACED; 75,000 DIFFERENTIAL REBUILT; 80,000 UNIVERSAL JOINT REPLACED; NOW DIFFERENTIAL SLIPS AFTER STOPPING

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING, TRIED TO TAKE TO THE SHOP NEXT DAY. TRANS WOULD NOT SHIFT AND IT GROUND WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. TOOK TRUCK TO AAMCO AND THEY SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY A CHECK VAULVE THAT WAS IN THE TRANSMISSION LINE THAT WAS REPLACED DUE TO A RECALL. THE REPAIR COSTED OVER $2,000.00. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. I HAVE A COPPY OF THE REPAIR BILL WITH A LISTING OF PARTS REPLACED. THANK YOU. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH HOOD FLEW OPEN. MECHANIC SAID THAT LATCH WAS DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65-70 MPH STEERING LOCKED, VEHICLE SKIDDED INTO TREE. AFTER INSPECTING VEHICLE MECHANIC STATED STEERING KNUCKLE HAD BROKEN AND COULD HAVE CAUSED STEERING TO LOCK, AND IN TURN ACCIDENT.

FRONTAL CRASH AT 65-70 MPH, HIT A TREE, AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK VEHICLE ROLLED OVER AND DRIVER WAS INJURED, AIRBAG HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN RECALLED AND REPLACED. CONSUMER FEELS THE STEERING KNUCKLE BROKE, LOCKING TIRES MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. *SLC

GOODYEAR, P245/75R16, DOT M670BL0R037 ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1997, DODGE, RAM 1500 WITH 29000 MILES. RIGHT FRONT AND REAR TIRES HAVE SPLITS IN SIDEWALL. REAR SPLIT IS 10 MM FROM RIM AND IS 22 MM LONG, 5 MM DEEP AND 3 MM WIDE.FRONTR SPLIT IS 40 MM LONG, 6 MM DEEP AND 3-4 MM WIDE. *AK GOODYEAR WRANGLER RTS. *SLC

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION ONCE ALREADY, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK *JB

PROBLEM WITH ROTORS. THEY HAD ROTORS REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE MAKING SOME NOISES. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

AIR CONDITIONER EVAPORATOR WOULD BE LEAKING WHEN ITS TURNED ON.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE BROKE CAUSING THE SPARE TIRE TO COME OFF THE TRUCK. NLM

ON/OFF SWITCH FOR HEADLIGHTS IS LOCATED IN CAB OF VEHICLE. THERE IS A BOX IN DASHBOARD THAT SWITCH FEEDS INTO, IT HAS BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, WHICH REGULATES OPERATION OF HEADLIGHTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT OVERDRIVE FAILED, CAUSING COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF TRANSMISSION, TORQUE CONVERTER AND RELATED ELECTRONICS. MECHANIC ALSO MENTIONED MANY SIMILAR FAILURES IN NEWER PICKUP TRUCKS.*AK

WHEN FILLING TANK UP FUEL GUAGE RED EMPTY ALTHOUGH 50 MILES LATER THERE WAS STILL GAS IN TANK. DEALER SAID SENDING UNIT WAS STUCK. *AK

TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL TO FUNCTION DURING COLD WEATHER. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR PROBLEM, AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK DEALER REPLACED VALVE BODY, HOWEVER THIS DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. *SLC

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION AND FOUND OUT BRAKE PAD FELL OFF. METAL TO METAL RUINED ROTOR. BOTH HAD TO BE CUT BECAUSE OTHER GOOD ONE WAS WORN DOWN. ALSO, FUEL PUMP WENT BAD FOR SECOND TIME. CONSUMER STOPPED AT A STOP AFTER RETURNING FROM STORE AND VEHICLE STALLED. IT NO LONGER STARTED RIGHT UP, IT ALWAYS HEITATED LIKE IT WAS NOT TRYING TO CATCH. DEALER SAID IT LOST ITS PROGRAM BECAUSE IT WAS NOT USED ENOUGH. CONSUMERS WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED, COVERED COST.*AK

THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM RECALL 00V-135 BECAUSE THEY CLAIMED THE CONSUMER ALTERED THE WIRING HARNESS ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER CONTENDS THAT THE ONLY ALTERATION OF THE WIRING IS THE INSTALLATION OF A SET OF AIR HORNS WHICH DO NOT CONNECT TO THE IGNITION WIRING. NLM

THE TORQUE CONVERTER SHREDDED ITSELF IT COST $2000 TO MAKE ALL NECESSARY REPAIRS TO TRANSMISSION

PULLING A HORSE TRAILER DOWN AN INCLINE WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WHEN LOST CONTROL. DEALER REPAIRED DEFECT, AND STATED THAT REASON FOR LOSS OF CONTROL WAS SHAFT IN POWER STEERING UNIT SHEARED. PULLEY NO LONGER WORKING.. *AK THE SHAFT IN POWER STEERING SHEARING WAS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. *YH

WENT TO DEALER TWICE. THEY SAID IT WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY. THE TIME BEFORE MY HIGH BEAMS WERE THE ONLY LIGHTS THAT CAME ON. I AM VERY UPSET BECAUSE I BOUGHT IT USED AND I HAVEN'T HAD IT FOR A YEAR YET AND I'M MAKING REPAIRS. ISN'T THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT?

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE LATE OR NO SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR CAUSING ENGINE TO REV TO HIGH RPMS NOT ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO GO OVER 45 MPH. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS THE MECHANIC INFORMED US THAT THE MANFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY AN INNER SEAL GROOVE. HAS THERE EVER BEEN A RECALL OR HAS THE MANUFACTER OFFERED ANY COMPENSATION FOR THIS DEFECT?

WE HAVE CHANGED TIRE BRANDS. TRANSMISSION OR DRIVESHAFT IS STILL NOISY, BUT DOES NOT SEEM TO EFFECT ANYTHING. IT SHOULD BE ON RECALL BUT THE CAR PLACE SAID THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD EASILY BE MISTAKEN FOR LOSING THE REAR END. THE ONE BRAKE HAS CONTINUALLY NOT CLOSED PROPERLY AND THEREFOR DOES NOT WEAR LIKE THE OTHER 3. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

TRANSMISSION CEASED TO WORK WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH. NO FORWARD MOVEMENT. HAD TRUCK TOWED HOME. DROVE THE NEXT DAY, BUT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 2ND. GEAR. SCRANTON DODGE PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TEST (REVEALED CODE 37: OVERDRIVE LOCKUP SOLENOID MALFUNCTION) , SAID TRANS. WAS BAD AND WANTED $2,456.00 FOR REPLACEMENT. NO WARRANTY HELP BECAUSE TRUCK WAS OVER WARRANTY COVERAGE BY 2,950 MILES. MECHANIC SAID FLUID WAS BURNT AND THERE WAS "METAL IN THE PAN AND IT RUINED THE SOLENOIDS." (INSPECTION LATER REVEALED NO METAL IN PAN OR BURNT FLUID). CALLED CHRYSLER (1-800-992-1997) SPOKE TO DON GRIESBAUM, EXT. 7088 GAVE AUTHORIZATION NO. 7934794. HE SAID THAT CHRYSLER WOULD "HELP" WITH THE COST, BUT WOULD NOT GIVE A HINT AS TO WHAT "HELP" MIGHT BE. SCRANTON DODGE WOULD HAVE TO DISASSEMBLE THE TRANS. TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM, AND THEN CHRYSLER WOULD DEEM IF IT WAS "DRIVER NEGLECT" WHICH WOULD GET NO "HELP" FROM CHRYSLER. ALSO ONCE TRANS IS DISASSEMBLED, IT CANNOT LEAVE THE DEALER UNTIL IT HAS BEEN FULLY REPAIRED. I WOULD HAVE OK'D THE TEARDOWN BUT $2,456.00 FOR A TRANS WITH A 36K MILE WARRANTY SEEMED USELESS WHEN MINE FAILED AT 38,950 AND I PUT 22K MILES ON IN 19MOS. I ASKED DON GRIESBAUM IF THE TRANSMISSION IS DEFECTIVE WITH NO FAULT ON MY PART, HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST ME. HE REPLIED THAT HE COULD NOT DISCLOSE ANY INFORMATION TO ME UNTIL MY TRUCK WAS DISASSEMBLED AT A CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. I HAVE BEEN MAKING PAYMENTS ON A TRUCK THAT HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY SINCE NOVEMBER . I HAVE

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKE AND SKIDDED ABOUT 10 FEET,HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT,DRIVER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH HAVE CAUSED INJURIES.*AK THE INSPECTORS FROM THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE THE IMPACT DISSIPATED. *YH

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH, AIRBAG DEPLOYED, HOWEVER DID NOT PREVENT CONSUMER FROM HITTING STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAINING INJURIES, CONSUMER FEELS THE AIRBAG DIDN'T FULLY DEPLOY BECAUSE IT NEVER CAME IN CONTACT WITH CONSUMER. *SLC

GOODYEAR, WRANGLER TIRES, SIZE LT245-75-R16 WITH DOT # 273758-GRT-70G. THERE WAS TREAD SEPARATION ON LEFT/REAR TIRE WHICH WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, AND 62000 MILES ON THEM. CONSUMER NOTICED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER YET.*AK PRIOR TO SEPARATION, TIRE SEEMED TO BE UNBALANCED, WHEN CONSUMER FIRST PURCHASED VEHICLE AT 14926 MILES, A TIRE WAS REPLACED DUE TO BEING DEFECTIVE. *SLC

THE FIRST REPAIR TO THE ACCELERATOR STICKING WAS DONE AT THE CADILLAC TRUCK CENTER IN CADILLAC, MICHIGAN. THE LAST TWO REPAIRS WERE DONE AT BONNEY MOTOR SALES IN LAKE CITY, MICHIGAN. I NOTIFIED THE DODGE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN AUBURN HILLS, MICHIGAN, OF THIS PROBLEM IN NOVEMBER OF 1999 WITH NO RESPONSE. AT THAT TIME MY TRUCK HAD 56,000 MILES ON IT. THE LAST TIME I WROTE THEM A LETTER DATED JANUARY 5, 2001, AND ALSO SENT THEM THE BILL IN THE AMOUNT OF $86.63 FOR ANOTHER REPAIR (#3) AT 73,000 MILES. THE MAIN CONCERN I HAVE OVER THIS IS THE SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THE ACCERATOR STICKS, I HAVE TO PUT THE TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL AND WAIT FOR THE ACCELERATOR TO COME DOWN. I HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH A RED LIGHT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER NEAR-MISS ACCIDENTS. AS A RESULT OF THE ACCERLATOR STICKING SO BAD, I HAVE ALSO BEEN USING MY BRAKES MORE THAN NECESSARY RESULTING IN REPLACING THEM MORE THAN I SHOULD HAVE TO. WE DID RECEIVE A PHONE CALL FROM OUR LAST COMMUNICATION WITH THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN AUBURN HILLS LAST WEEK. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BILL. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS RESOLVED. THANK YOU.*AK

PLEASE DELETE ODI #739665. THIS IS THE REVISED COMPLAINT. THE FIRST REPAIR TO THE ACCELERATOR STICKING WAS DONE AT THE CADILLAC TRUCK CENTER IN CADILLAC, MICHIGAN. THE LAST TWO REPAIRS WERE DONE AT BONNEY MOTOR SALES IN LAKE CITY, MICHIGAN. I NOTIFIED DODGE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN AUBURN HILLS, MICHIGAN, OF THIS PROBLEM IN NOVEMBER OF 1999, AND THEY RESOLVED THIS BY "PAYING FOR THE REPAIRS." MY CONTACT PERSON AT THAT TIME WAS [XXX]. AT THAT TIME MY TRUCK HAD 56,000 MILES ON IT. THE LAST TIME I WROTE THEM A LETTER IT WAS DATED JANUARY 5, 2001, AND ALSO SENT THEM THE BILL IN THE AMOUNT OF $86.63 FOR ANOTHER REPAIR (#3) AT 73,000 MILES. WE DID GET A RESPONSE FROM THAT LETTER LAST WEEK. HER NAME WAS [XXX] AND HER PHONE NUMBER WAS [XXX]. SHE INFORMED ME THAT CHRYSLER WAS NOT GOING TO COVER THIS BILL AND IF I HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT, I SHOULD GET AHOLD OF BONNEY MOTOR SALES THAT DID THE WORK ON THE TRUCK. SHE TOLD ME THAT CHRYSLER IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DEALERSHIP WORK. THE MAIN CONCERN I HAVE OVER THIS IS THE SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR STICKS, I HAVE TO PUT THE TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL AND WAIT FOR THE ACCELERATOR TO COME DOWN. I HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH A RED LIGHT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER NEAR-MISS ACCIDENTS. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS RESOLVED. THANK YOU. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 5

2 WHEEL LUGS BROKE, AND 2 WERE LOOSE AND FELL OFF AFTER BEING TORQUED TO SPECIFICATION. *AK

SIDE MIRRORS FOLD BACK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP ADJUSTED. *AK

TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL WHEN GOING UP AN INCLINE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR IT. *AK

WHILE BRAKING, VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP, DEALER STATES BRAKES ARE WITHING SPECIFICATION. FRONT TIRES KEEP WEARING, DEALER CAN NOT FIND REASON FOR WEAR. *SLC

FUEL GUAGE WAS INOPERABLE AND MISREAD AMOUNT OF FUEL IN VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED A LEAK AROUND TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE THAT SPILLED INTO RADIATOR. THIS WAS SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS STATED IN MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 722 FOR TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE. *AK

POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WENT OUT AT THE SAME TIME WHILE DRIVING, NO ACCIDENT. TRIED TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE , DID NOT WORK EITHER. CONSUMER USED GEARS TO STOP VEHICLE. REPAIRED, DODGE WILL NOT REIMBURSE BECAUSE REPAIR NOT DONE AT DODGE DEALER. *AK DEALER REPLACED STEERING PUMP AND HET ASSEMBLY FOR EMERGENCY BRAKE. *SLC

ALL THREE HAVE BEEN IN TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE SAME EXACT CONCERN. DIFFERENT DRIVERS OPERATE EACH OF THESE VEHICLES. THIS WILL BEE THE SECOND TIME THIS VEHICLE WILL BE GOING BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME REPAIR. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT ALL LIKE VEHICLES HAVING THE SAME CONCERN. WITH THE REAR BRAKES GETTING SEVERELY OUT OF ADJUSTMENT LIKE THEY DO WITH THESE VEHICLES IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT A CRASH OCCURS DURING A PANIC STOP DUE TO THE VEHICLE SWERVING. *AK

TORQUE CONVERTER BURNED, TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING, BUT DEALER REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *SLC

CONSUMER HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISON, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED SOME INJURIES. *AK

CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH FRONT END/STEERING. VEHICLE HAD A 60,000 MILE WARRANTY. DEALER DROVE VEHICLE & SAID IT WAS FINE. ON APRIL 5, 2000, DEALER SAID FRONT END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. STEERING GEAR BOX, AND 4 TIRES HAD TO BE REPAIRED TO PASS INSPECTION. CONSUMER HAS PUT OUT $839 THE FIRST TIME & NOW STEERING BOX IS LEAKING WHICH COST $900. DEALER DIDN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT REAL CAUSE WAS.