Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1997 record →
THE OUTSIDE PASSENGER MIRROR FREELY GOES BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING, THE DEALER STATED TO REPAIR THIS, A KIT NEEDED TO BE ORDERED, THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT AND THE DEALER SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. *SLC
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A 1997 DODGE, RAM, WRANGLER AT, 245/75R16. WHILE BALANCING TIRES MECHANIC NOTICED TREAD SEPARATION, TIRE WAS REPLACED. ON 6,SEPTEMBER, 1999. 1000 MILES LATER, RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT, AND DID $ 2000 DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. GOODYEAR REPLACED 1 TIRE. CONSUMER REPLACED ALL TIRES. WITH 20000 MILES ON 3RD SET OF TIRES, TIRES WERE DIFFICULT TO BALANCE.*AK *SLC
FOUR TIRES HAVE DEVELOPED LARGE BUBBLES ON TREAD SURFACE CAUSED BY TREAD SEPARATION. *AK (TIRESIZE: LT245/75R1)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT245/75R1 )
I HAD MY COMPLETE REAR END OVERHALLED UNDER MY 90-DAY WARRANTY, NOW 6 MTHS. LATER I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND REAR END LOCKED -UP BREAKING MY PINION SHAFT GEAR.THEY OFFERED ME A TOW & A RENTAL, THEN COME BACK & SAY I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT!! NOTE-THE PINION SHAFT LOCK BOLT SHOWS DAMAGE OF FALLING OUT,THEY TOLD ME THEY DON'T USE LOCK-TITE.FORD&CHEVY MANUAL SAY'S DISCARD OLD BOLT, I THINK DODGE SHOULD TOO!!PLEASE HELP.
THE FUEL SOLENOID WAS REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN, THE REPLACEMENT WAS 1/3 LARGER WITH A DIFFERENT MOUNTING BRACKET. *MJS
WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 40 TO 45MPH EXTERIOR MIRRORS STARTED TO FOLD INWARD. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO SOLUTION. *AK
NUT ON TRANSMISSION IS SLOWLY LOOSENING WHEN SHIFTING. WHEN THE NUT FALLS OFF, 5TH GEAR IS NO LONGER WORKING. DEALER WILL NOT AUTHORIZE REPAIRS OF TRANSMISSION UNTIL THE BOLT IS COMPLETELY OFF TRANSMISSION, AND 5TH GEAR FAILS. *AK THIS PICK UP IS USED FOR PULLING BOAT AND CARRING A CAMPER. EVENTHOUGH THE LOOSE PARTS WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER, THE CUSTOMER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DEFECT POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *YH
CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT MAINTAIN SPEED, IT KEEPS ON ACCELERATING UNTIL MAX VEHICLE SPEED IS OBTAINED. DEALER NOTIFIED UNDER WARRENTY DID NOT RECEIVE PART UNTIL AFTER WARRENTY WAS OVER, WILL NOT REPAIR NOW
IGNITION SWITCH DID NOT SHUT OFF, CAUSING SOLENOID TO GET HOT AND BLOW UP. DEALER WAS REPAIRING VEHICLE. *AK
WAITING AT STOP LIGHT & PEDESTRIAN NOTICED LEAKAGE UNDER VEHICLE. PULLED AWAY FROM STOP LIGHT & VEHICLE STARTED JERKING & LURCHING. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, STOPPED VEHICLE & GOT OUT TO CHECK. LIFTED HOOD & NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT. CHECKED CLOSER AND SAW TRANSMISSION HOSE HAD PULLED AWAY FROM CONNECTION. IT WAS CLAMPED ON, BUT HAD PULLED AWAY. HOSE LINE WAS DIFFERENT THAN RECALL #97V084000. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS.*AK *JB
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING ALONG ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT APPLICATION, CAUSING UNWANTED ACCELERATION. THIS HAPPENS WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGEMENT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS. DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. *AK
CONSUMER RAN INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER TRUCK BECAUSE BRAKES DID NOT CATCH.- ALSO, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED. *YH
MANUFACTURER REPLACED PART FREE OF CHARGE, HOWEVER, I HAD TO PAY FOR 12 HOURS OF LABOR. HAVING AN OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE PART IN A THREE YEAR OLD VEHICLE, SHOULD NOT WARRANT A PENALTY OF PAYMENT BY ME.
WHILE ON VACATION IN NEW MEXICO OUR STEERING DID NOT WORK PROPERLY AND WE HAD TO DRIVE HOME TO PA
DIFFERENTIAL BEARING ARE DEFECTIVE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
ON 9/14/2000 THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL BEGAIN TO MAKE A MOANING NOISE DURING DEACCELERATING. WITH IN 10 MILES DRIVING DISTANCE AT 30 MPH DURING DEACCELERATION THE REAR END DIFFERENTIAL MADE A LOUD BANG WHILE THE VEHICAL JERKED VIOLENTLY. AFTER THE LOUD NOISE I HEARD THE DRIVE SHAFT OF THE VEHICAL DRAGING ON THE PAVEMENT. I PROCEEDED TO ATTEMPT TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SLOW DOWN WHEN THE VEHICAL JERKED VIOLENTLY AGIAN. AT THIS POINT I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP AND BEGAIN TO SLIDE. I RELEASED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE SLIDING CONTINUED DUE TO A MAJOR FAILURE IN THE DIFFERENTIAL. LUCKILY I DID NOT LOOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE TRUCK DURING WHEEL LOCKUP. WHEN THE TRUCK STOPPED I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND OBSERVED THE REAR END OF THE DRIVE SHAFT ON THE PAVEMENT. I COULD NOT MOVE THE VEHICAL DUE TO THE JAMMED DIFFERENTIAL, THE VEHICAL WAS TOWED TO TO A LOCAL DODGE DEALER SHIP. IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT A SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURED. THE BIGGEST ISSUE I HAVE WITH DODGE IS THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL FAILED THE FIRST TIME WHEN THE VEHICAL WAS ALMOST NEW AT 13000 MILES. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURED APPROXIMATELY ON 3/98. LUCKLY THE FAILING DIFFERENTIAL MADE VERY PRONOUNCED HUMMING NOISES BEFORE ANY CATASTROPHIC FALUIRE OCCURED. AT THAT TIME I TOOK THE VEHICAL TO ALLEN SAMUEL DODGE IN FORT WORTH TEXAS FOR REPAIR. ALLEN SAMUEL DODGE TECHNITIONS IDENTIFIED THAT THE BEARINGS IN THE DIFFERENTIAL H
HAD NOTICED BRACKET WAS CRACKED WHERE IT ATTACHES THE TRAILER TO THE HITCH. CRACK WAS SEVERE. OWNER BOUGHT NEW BRACKET & REPLACED THE OLD ONE.*AK THE ENTIRE HITCH HAS TO BE REPLACED AND IT IS THE SAME HITCH THAT WAS RECALLED. *YH
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE JUMPED IN FRONT. VEHICLE WAS MAKING A NOISE COMING FROM THE TIRES. ALSO, OIL WAS LEAKING FROM VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
WHENEVER DRIVING EXTERIOR MIRRORS WOULD TURN INWARD. DRIVER WOULD NEED TO USE INTERIOR MIRRORS TO SEE OTHER VEHICLES ON SIDE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC REFUSED TO CORRECT PROBLEM DUE TO VEHICLE BEING OVER 35,000 MILES.*AK
THE FAILURE OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE MIRROR SUPPORT ARM BECAME LOOSE INTERNAL TO THE CONNECTION BRACKET ON THE VEHICLE.
NO SUMMARY
THE REAREND IN THE DODGE TRUCK MAKES A CLUNK WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND DRIVE TO REVERSE IT WILL MAKE THE SAME CLUNK (RING) WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE TRANS. SHIFTS THROUGH THE SHIFT PATTERN. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER TO GET IT CHECKED OUT THEY SAID PLAY IN THE REAR END WAS NORMAL BUT TEY REPROGRAMED THE POWER CONTROL MODULE TO LOWER THE RPMS SO THAT THE CLUNK WOULD NOT BE HEARD, THEY PUT A $1.65 STICKER ON THE TRUCK SOME WHERE . THE CLUNK IS STILL THERE AND SOUNDS LOUDER . I KNOW OF THREE OTHER DODGE TRUCKS WITH THE SAME NOISE.
3RD ORIG. EQUIP. TIRE TO HAVE TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING, SIGNIFICANT VEHICLE DAMAGE. THESE ARE GOODYEAR TIRES, DO NOT FEEL THAT FIRESTONE IS ONLY TIRE MFG. WITH TREAD SEPARATION PROBLEM.( DOT NUMBER: MD11BTOV01 TIRE SIZE: 245/75R16E )
THERE IS A PADDED MATERIAL LAYING AGAINST EXHAUST PIPE WHICH HAS ALREADY SLIGHTLY BURNED. VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 97V126000 ALTHOUGH HAS SAME DEFECT.*AK
NO SUMMARY
THIS HAPPENED TO ME IN AUG 1999 AND TO ANOTHER MAN ON AUG 2000 LF WHEEL FALLS OFF WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS
PEOO 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE. RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND SHEET METAL WAS DAMAGED UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. TIRE IS A GOODYEAR, WRANGLER #AT, T245/75R16. *AK GOODYEAR 245/75/R16 *MW
NO SUMMARY
OUTSIDE SEAT BACK BRACKET OF DRIVER SEAT FAILED IN REAR END COLLISION RESULTING IN DRIVER BEING MOVED INTO BACK SEAT. SEAT BACK BRACKET FAILED ABOVE THE RECLINER RATCHET ADJSUTER. TRUCK MOVING 5MPH, REARENDED BY VEHICLE APPROX AT 30MPH OR FASTER (EXCESSIVE SPEED, 283' SKID MARKS, DRY PAVEMENT, 96 HONDA ACCORD)
FUEL PUMP FAILURE AT 37000 MILES??? COST ME $675 TO REPLACE/REPAIR. THOUGHT THIS WAS UNUSUAL SO REPORTING IT. ALSO, REPLACED WITH A DEALER PURCHASED PART BUT INSTALLED/REPAIRED AT BACK BAY AUTO IN VIRGINIA BEACH, VA WHERE IT BROKE DOWN... OF COURSE THE WARRANTY DIDN'T APPLY IN THIS CASE! :-(
THE FIRST FAILURE WAS AN ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT GOODYEAR WRANGLER AT ON THE RIGHT REAR. THE TREAD SEPERATED AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND CAVED IN THE SIDE OF THE PICK UP BED BUT DID ONLY MINOR DAMAGE TO THE 5TH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER I WAS PULLING. THE SECOND FAILURE WAS A KELLY SAFARI AWR LT245X75/R16 ON THE RIGHT FRONT. THE TREAD SEPERATED AT HIGHWAY SPEED DENTING THE PASSENGER DOOR AND ROCKER PANEL AND BREAKING THE FENDER WELL AND SOME BUMPER COMPONNENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS UNLOADED AT THE TIME. IN BOTH CASES, THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WAS ABOVE 90 DEGREES F. IN THE FIRST CASE, GOOD YEAR DID NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AT ALL. IN THE SECOND CASE, KELLEY PAID FOR THE LOSS COMPLETELY. BOTH TIRES WERE LOAD RANGE E WITH ABOUT 40,000 MILE OF USE. BOTH TIRES HAD LOTS OF TREAD LEFT (THE WEAR BARS WERE NOT EVEN BEGINNING TO SHOW.) THE FIRST TIRE (GOOD YEAR) THREW APROX 80% OF THE TREAD BUT REMAINED INFLATED (80PSI) AND ON THE RIM. THE SECOND TIRE (KELLY) THREW ABOUT 50 % OF ITS TREAD BUT ALSO REMAINED INFLATED (65 PSI) AND ON THE RIM. THIS SECOND INCIDENT PRESENTED A MUCH MORE DIFFICULT CONTROL SITUATION BEING ON A FRONT WHEEL, BUT I WAS STILL ABLE TO MAINTAIN ENOUGH CONTROLL TO CLEAR THE ROADWAY AND STOP WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGE. IN LIGHT OF TODAY'S NEWS ABOUT SIMILAR FIRESTONE TIRE FAILURES ON SUV TYPE VEHICLES, I FELT YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT IT IS NOT JUST FIRESTONE OR FORD WITH THE PROBLEM. LARGE SUV TIRES ARE LOOSING TREAD ALMOST AS READILY AS COMMERCIAL VEHICLE RE-CAPS.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 245
STEERING COLUMN FAILURE, STEERING WOULD VIBRATE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL; STEERING SHAFT, COUPING AND DAMPER HAD TO BE REPLACED. BELIEVED THIS PROBLEM IS PREMATURE/DEFECTED AT 47,000 MILE OF WEAR. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
REOCCURRING PROBLEM WITH STEERING COLUMN FAILURE, FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 16-JUN, 1997. REOCCURRED AGAIN. ALSO, NEEDS STEERING SHAFT, COUPING AND DAMPER REPLACEMENT. BOTH VEHICLES WOULD BE REPAIRED AT AN INDEPENDENT SHOP. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S MANUAL MIRRORS MOVES INWARD CONSTANTLY WHICH OBSTRUCTED THE REAR VIEW TO THE DRIVER . THIS MAY CAUSE A CRASH. *AK
BOTH PASSENGER'S SIDE AND DRIVER'S SIDE MIRRORS MOVE RAPIDLY WHEN VEHICLE IS DRIVING AT 45 MPH OR MORE. *AK
I OWN A 1997 DODGE RAM TRUCK AND THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS OUTSIDE MIRROR WILL NOT HOLD INTO POSITION (THEY SWING IN TOWARDS THE DOOR GLASS WHILE DRIVING). I CONTACTED THE DODGE DEALER IN MY AREA AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THERE IS A CONCERN WITH THE MIRRORS, IN FACT THEY TOLD ME THAT DODGE REDESIGNED THE MIRRORS FOR THAT REASON. THE REPLACEMENT MIRRORS ARE THE OLD DESIGN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IN A MATTER OF TIME THE NEW ONES WILL DO THE SAME THING. BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY MATTER I WOULD HOPE THAT THE MIRRORS COULD BE RETROFIT TO THE NEW STYLE OR A PERMANENT FIX BE MADE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN LOCKED UP, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES AND STEERING.*AK
THIS VEHICLE LEANS SEVERELY TO THE LEFT - WE HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO THE DODGE DEALER WHO STATED IT WAS BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE FUEL TANK IS LOCATED. THEY SUGGESTED WE TAKE THE TRUCK TO LES SCHWAB TO HAVE THE TIRES LOOKED AT ALSO. WE DID THIS AND LES SCWAB STATED THAT IT WAS A MAJOR DEFECT WITH THE TRUCK AND THE DEALERSHIP JUST WANTED US OUT BECAUSE THEY ARE AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND THEREFORE SENT US TO LES SCHWAB.*AK
GEAR BOX AND PITMAN ARM WERE REPLACED. CURRENTLY, VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING PREMATURE WEAR OF THE TIRES. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH AND BARELY TOUCHING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, ALL FOUR WHEELS LOCKED UP. TRUCK WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. BRAKE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE, AND RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY REPLACED THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER. BRAKE FAILURE HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE. *AK *ML
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE, TOTALLING THE VEHICLE. *AK
RIGHT FRONT BRAKES MAKE A CLANKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. NOISE STOPS WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. VEHICLE BEEN IN / OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 60 MPH VEHICLE WAS REARENDED/DROPPED, AND LOST CONTROL. TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PRELOAD ADJUSTER WAS SET AND CROSS THREADED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND HAD NOTHING TO SAY! PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
CONSUMER CALLED DEALER TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR AIR BAG REPAIRS. APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR THE NEXT DAY. WHEN CONSUMER CALLED TO CONFIRM THE APPOINTMENT, WAS TOLD THAT HE WAS NOT ON SCHEDULE. CONSUMER THEN MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT FOR 17TH. UPON ARRIVING ON THAT DAY, DEALER SAID IT WOULD BE READY BY NOON, BUT IT WAS NOT. THEN AT THE END OF DAY, REPAIRS WERE STILL NOT DONE. *AK
ROAD WAS WET & VEHICLE WAS GOING AROUND A CURB & VEERED OFF INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. ENTIRE FRONT END WAS CAVED INWARD. HAD SEAT BELTS ON. AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, UPON IMPACT. DRIVER SUFFERED FACIAL INJURIES. MANUFACTURER INDICATED AIR BAGS WORKED OKAY. VEHICLE SENSORS WERE NOT TOUCHED. *AK
I GOT 26000 MILES OUT OF THIS TIRE, I THINK MY VAN IS TO HEAVY FOR THIS TYPE OF TIRE.
WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED GEAR SLIPPING, AND SENSOR INDICATOR LIGHT COMING ON. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND STATED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING/MELTING PARTS WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT 55-60 MPH CONSUMER NOTICED LOSS OF ACCELERATION. VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER LINKED THE PROBLEM TO THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1997 Dodge Ram → · Every Ram year → · How the figures are calculated →