1997 Dodge Ram complaints

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN VEHICLE SLID OFF THE ROAD INTO A UTILITY POLE, AND SPLIT POLE IN HALF, CONSUMER FELT THAT THE INJURIES SUSTAINED WERE CAUSED BY AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING. *AK

WHEN CONSUMER TURNED ON VEHICLE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. BUT TWO DAYS LATER, THE AIRBAG LIGHT STILL CAME ON. *AK

DURING VEHICLE COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVERS AIR BAG. *MJS

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER CAR ON THE FRONT. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 50 TO 60MPH. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND DRIVER'S SWEAT PANTS CAUGHT ON FIRE. DRIVE RHAD TWO PAIRS OF SWEAT PANTS ON. FIRE BURNED A BIG HOLE THROUGH THE FIRST PAIR, AND SINGED THE SECOND PAIR OF PANTS. IF DRIVE RWOULD NOT HAVE HAD ON TWO PAIRS OF PANTS, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN BURNED. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN LOOKED AT BY ANYONE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. NLM

NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVERSIDE AIR BAG DURING VEHICLE COLLISION RESULTING IN INJURY. *MJS

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY KIND OF WARNING. TRUCK WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ON FEB 4, 2000, IT FAILED ON THE NEXT DAY, FEB 5, 200O, WITH 46 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

BOTH SIDEVIEW MIRRORS COLLAPSE INWARD WHEN TRAVELING AT 60MPH. *AK

DRIVER SIDE SEATBACK BOLT WHICH SUPPORTS THE SEATBACK HAS BROKEN, CAUSING THE SEAT TO RECLINE IN THE REST POSITION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE PARTS. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, FAILED TO RESPOND. *AK

ROTORS AND PADS REQUIRED REPLACING AT 17000 MILES. DEALER CLAIMS ROTORS ARE MANUFACTURED THIN AND ROAD SALT IN OUR AREA CORRODES THEM PREMATURELY. I HAD TO PAY $360. TO HAVE THEM REPLACED, NOT COVERED UNDER WARANTY. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING WELDS TO THE BODY OF THE DOORS ARE COMING UNDONE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK

WHEN TRUCK WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG, THE FRAME WAS BENT IN 5 DIFFERENT PLACES. *CJ

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *SLC

CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT SHUT OFF AT STEERING WHEEL BUTTON. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT SHUT OFF AT TOUCH OF BRAKES. VEHICLE IN FOUR TIMES FOR SERVICE. CHRYSLER CONTACTED, VEHICLE STILL DEFECTIVE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

FUEL TANK ATTACHMENTS BROKE OFF AND THE TANK DROPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS FIXED VEHICLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION HAD GRINDING NOISE ON REVERSE,THE AIR CONDITIONER BLEW WARM AIR AND MADE A WEIRD NOISE BEHIND DASH. HORRENDOUS NOISE IN REAR ,TURNED OUT TO BE THE REAREND (MECHANIC STATED IT HAD FROZE AND EXPLODED) NO EXTENDED WARRANTY, AM HAVING IT WORKED ON NOW. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

RECALL 95V-056 000/HOOD ASSEMBLY: LATCHES. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE HOOD POPPED OPEN. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED, HOOD COULD HAVE OPENED AND OBSTRUCTED THE DRIVER'S VISION, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL OF AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

FAULTY STEERING COLUMN; DEALER HAD TO REPLACE TWO STEERING COLUMNS DUE TO UNNECESSARY NOISE, AND STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. *AK

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT/ UPSHIFT, CAUSING STALLING OR HESITATION USUALLY AT AN INTERSECTION. 4 REPAIR ATTEMPTS THIS YEAR. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO LEFT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED 2 TIMES, CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK

REPORTING FROZEN PLUGS ARE LEAKING DUE TO RUST. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

I HAVE HAD MANY ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON THE FRONT END FIXED, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE REAR BRAKE ADJUSTERS DONT WORK

I HAVE HAD MANY ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON THE FRONT END FIXED, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE REAR BRAKE ADJUSTERS DONT WORK( DOT NUMBER: )

REAR CONTROL ARM WAS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING FRONT END TO BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT WHICH RESULTED IN REAR END LOCKING UP. THE REAR END WOULD LIFT UP & DOWN 6 INCHES FROM THE GROUND. OWNER REPLACED CONTROL ARM. BEEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC WANTED TO CHARGE TO CHECK IF REPLACED CONTROL ARM WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK

STEERING GEARBOX SEAL FAILURE W/SHAFT DAMAGE, SEVERAL OTHER TRUCK OWNERS KNOWN W/SIMILAR DAMAGE

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH HAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT WITH A BUILDING, AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG MALFUNCTIONED, BUT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY FULLY. ALSO DRIVER'S SEATBELT RIPPED APART, CAUSING THE OCCUPANT TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD, AND SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE MFR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I HAVE HEARD OF AT LEAST THREE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE 1997 DODGE'S THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME FAILURE AFTER THE 35,000 TO 40,000 MILE RANGE

HEADIGHTS ON LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERATIVE UPON TILTING STEERING WHEEL DOWNWARD. RAISING TILT WHEEL, THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME OPERATIVE. POSITION OF STEERING WHEEL DID NOT EFFECT HIGHBEAMS, ONLY THE LOWBEAMS. UPON REMOVAL OF THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN COWL, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE LOWBEAM WIRE TO THE DIMMING SWITCH HAD BECOME CHAFFED BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE TILT ASSEMBLY, MELTING THE WIRE INSULATION, AND CREATING A HIGH RESISTANCE CONNECTION TO THE STEERING COLUMN, STRONG ENOUGH FOR THE WIRE TO PART BUT NOT ALLOWING THE AMOUNT OF CURRENT FLOW NEEDED TO BLOW THE FUSE TO THE LIGHTING CIRCUIT OVERCURRENT DEVICE. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS 12,000 MILES PAST WARRANTY ( 36 MONTHS/36,000 MILES) THE SELLING DEALER REFUSED TO TREAT THE PROBLEM AS FACTORY DEFECT AND STATED OVER THE TELEPHONE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS MINE AND THAT I WOULD MOST LIKELY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR. IT IS MY POSITION THAT WIRING HARNESSES IN SUCH A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME SHOULD NEVER SHORT-OUT OR BECOME SO DANGEROUSLY DEFECTIVE, CREATING A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD, HEADLIGHT FAILURE, AND WORST CASE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WHILE DRIVING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME...MARSHALL SEARLES

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED VEHICLE SLOWING DOWN. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND SAW TIRE HANGING DOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

TRUCK CONTINUES TO ROLL WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AND IT GOES TO THE FLOOR. TRUCK WILL NOT STOP ON AN EMERGENCY.

1. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE. AFTER KEEPING THE TRUCK FOR 34 DAYS, DEALERSHIP FINALLY PUT IN A REBUILT TRANNY. 2. DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, RENDERING IT USELESS. DEALER BLAMED IT ON THE BUG SHIELD. 3. BATTERY COMPLETELY DIED RIGHT AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. 4. FRONT WHEELS MAKE CONSTANT CLICKING NOISE...SUSPECT FAILED BEARINGS. 5. STEERING WHEEL MADE CRACKING SOUND WHEN TURNING TO LEFT OR RIGHT...TOOK SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX IT. TRUCK IS TOTAL PIECE OF JUNK!

I CONTACTED YOU BY PHONE BUT WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE OPERATOR AND I AM SUBMITTING YOU THIS E-MAIL ONTOP OF THE INFO I GAVE THE OPERATOR. WHILE DRIVING N. BOUND ON I69 MY TRUCK HAD A SHAKE IN THE FRONT END FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND THE RIM AND TIRE FLEW OFF. AFTER GETTING THE TRUCK OFF THE HIGHWAY I OBSERVED THAT ALL THE STUDS THAT HOLD THE RIM ON HAD SNAPPED OFF AT THE BASE OF THE THREADS. THE HOLES IN THE RIM FOR THE LUGS SHOWED NO SIGN OF WEAR THAT WOULD HAVE INDICATED THAT THE LUGNUTS WERE LOOSE. THESE TIRES WERE LAST REMOVED BY DANVILLE DODGE DEALER ON 3/26/99 TO REPLACE THE U-JOINTS THAT WENT BAD ON THE FRONT AXEL. THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD PICKED UP SEVERAL DODGE TRUCKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE A COUSIN THAT HAD A DODGE ON WHICH ONE RIM HAD ALL THE LUGNUTS BREAK OFF. THE TRUCK IS CURRENTLY AT MIKE ANDERSON DODGE, 3527 S WESTERN AVE., MARION IN, 46953, PHONE# 765-674-3394, MY CONTACT IS ED IN THE SERVICE DEPT. I HAVE CONTACTED DAIMLER CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CENTER WHO HAS OPENED A FILE #6331098 AND IS SENDING A INVESTIGATOR TO LOOK AT THE DAMAGE AND DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THANKS RICK

10 AMP FUSE IN PANEL MARKED"ENGINE" BLOWS AT ERRATIC INTERVALS. WHEN FUSE BLOWS, ENGINE AND ALL COMPONENTS SHUT DOWN. REPLACEMENT OF FUSE, SAME SIZE OR LARGER, SOMETIMES ALLOWS RESTART. AT TIMES AS MANY AS THREE OR FOUR FUSES BLOW AS SOON AS ATTEMPT TO RESTART. TRUCK HAS SHUT DOWN AT CROWDED INTERSECTIONS AND INTERSTATES...WHEN TRAFFIC LANE IS BLOCKED, DRIVER MUST HOLD DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE FUSE, THUS BLOCKING TWO TRAFFIC LANES. TRUCK IS USED TO TOW A 32' TRAVEL TRAILER, WHICH FURTHER ADDS TO DANGER. TRUCK HAS BEEN TAKEN TO CHRYSLER DEALERS EIGHT TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS AT FINDING FAULT. TRUCK (AND TRAILER) HAVE BEEN TOWED BY WRECKER TO DEALER THREE TIMES. OWNER HAS ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT CHRYSLER REP SEVERAL TIMES BUT NO RETURN CALLS. OWNER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE ANY FURTHER, ESPECIALLY TOWING TRAVEL TRAILER. ALL RECOURSE HAVING FAILED, SEEKING LEGAL ADVICE FROM ATTORNEY.

WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55MPH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. OBSTRUCTED DRIVER'S VIEW. AVOIDED HITTING DEER. HIT A DITCH. THE LEFT FRONT END WAS DAMAGED & HANGING OFF FRAME. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH IT TAKES TRUCK 190 FEET TO STOP. *AK

SLIGHT JERKINESS BETWEEN 45 - 50 MPH, LESS NOTICABLE JERKINESS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. DEALER STATED THAT DODGE DOES NOT HAVE AN ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM. THE COMPONENT HAS NOT FAILED, BUT IT IS VERY IRRITATING TO SAY THE LEAST. THERE WAS ONE OCCASION WHERE I HAD 2 SUDDEN JERKS WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH. THE DEALER WHERE I HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED DIDN'T HAVE AN ANSWER. I AM SURPRISED THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED BEFORE. I KNOW OF A 1998 RAM 1500 THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.

UPON FAILURE OF FUEL PUMP, MECHANIC DISCLOSED THAT HE REPLACES MANY FUEL PUMPS FOR THE AFFORMENTIONED MAKE AND MODEL. ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER WHO OWNS A DODGE RAM 1500 THAT WAS PURCHASED ON THE SAME DATE AS THE EARLIER MENTIONED VEHICLE WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE SAME ITEM (FUEL PUMP) AT APPROXIMATELY 48,000 MILES. IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD FOLLOW, THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE MERELY COINCIDENTAL

I'M NOT SURE IF I SHOULD BE REPORTING THIS HERE BUT I'VE ENCOUNTERED THE ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN AT 45MPH AND ABOVE SPEEDS FOR LESS THAN A SECOND. INVARIABLY I'M AT 55-60MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THIS OCCURS. IT IS UNEXPECTED. NORMALLY ONLY ONE INCIDENT BETWEEN STARTING UP AND SHUTTING DOWN ENGINE BUT HAVE HAD TWO ABOUT SEVERAL MINUTES APART A COUPLE OF TIMES. I'VE TOLD MY DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHEN THEY'RE FIXING OTHER THINGS BUT THEY'RE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE IT AND THUS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEMO. IT IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY NOW THAN DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF MY TRUCK PURCHASE AND MY WARRANTY EXPIRES 1/1/00 SO I'M SORTOF CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT I SHOULD DO. BECAUSE OF YOUR RESOURCES I FIGURED I'D LET YOU KNOW AND MAYBE GET SOME HELP REGARDING THE PROBLEM BEFORE THE ENGINE DIES COMPLETELY. THANK YOU.

THE WELD THAT HOLDS THE EGR CROSSOVER TUBE CAME APART CAUSING A MELT DOWN IN THE WIRES. THE WELD WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER IN DECEMBER OF 1998, AND THEN WAS REPLACED AGAIN. THE MILEAGE ON THE TRUCK WAS 31,424 MILES. *ML

FUEL HEATER DEVELOPED SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH BURNED UP THE WIRES THAT CONTROL THE FUEL HEATER NEAR THE FUEL LINES, PRODUCING SMOKE AND HEAT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

BRAKES DON'T STOP AT LOW SPEEDS AND LOCK UP UNDER WET CONDITIONS, RING AND PINION DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR AT 19500, DEAD BATTERY (H.D.) AFTER 2 YEARS

VEH. SHAKES AT 55 TO 65 MPH. DEALER HAS 3 DIFFERENT TIME TOTAL 6 DAYS. HAS RULED OUT TIRES AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THEY DON'T HAVE A CLUE AS TO WHAT IS WRONG.

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, BRAKES ARE SOFT WEHN APPLIED, AND THE PEDAL GOES STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING VEHICLE TO NOT STOP. CONSUMER HAD TO KEEP HIS FOOT DOWN ON THE BRAKES UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. *ML

WHILE DRIVING, GOODYEAR RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, P245/75R16, DOT MK11C20V306, ALMOST CAUSING CONSUMER TO DRIVE IN A DITCH. *SLC

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING TRANSMISSION WILL SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

HEAD ON COLLISION AT APPROX. 30 MPH AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY

WHILE DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES WITHOUT TOUCHING THE PEDAL, BRAKES LOCK UP. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED PROBLEM WITH ABS SYSTEM. PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK