1998 Dodge Ram complaints

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH AND THE 5TH GEAR IN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY WENT OUT. I CONTACTED SCOTT ENKIRK AND IN TURN CONTACTED DODGE AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY CLAIM NO RESPONSIBILITY. MY NEIGHBOR'S 1998 DODGE RAM TRUCK ALSO DID THE SAME EXACT THING. DT

HEADLIGHT "WINKED" OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES THEN QUIT WORKING, THEY RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION AFTER ABOUT 10 MIN. DT

HAVING TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKES WORKED ONE MINUTE AND THE NEXT TIME TOTAL FAILURE. IN 2001 POWER STEERING PUMP AND GEAR BOX WERE REPLACED DUE TO TOTAL FAILURE.

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REAR END FAILED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ANDWITH NO WARNING TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, LOCKING REAR TIRES. IT WAS HARD TO CONTROL VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

THE BRAKE FLUID RESIRVOIR WAS EMPTY, BUT THE BRAKE WARRNING LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A FLUID LEVEL SENSOR INSIDE MASTER CYLINDER. THE DEALER REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER. *YH

IMPACT WAS CENTERED ON TRUCK. STRAIGHT IMPACT, NO ANGLE INVOLVED.UPON IMPACT, AIF BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT LEFT TIRE CAME OFF, AS A RESULT THE VEHICLES SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT TIRE AND RIM, FRONT DISC, WHEEL STUDS AND THE RADIATOR BEGAN LEAKING FLUID, POSSIBLE LUG, NUT OR BOLT FAILURE (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM

I HAVE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH PREIGNITION (SPARK KNOCK) IN MY 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 WITH THE 318 CID/5.2L MOTOR. .AT 24,896 MILES, MY DEALER RE-PROGRAMMED THE PCM AND RE-ROUTED THE SPARK WIRES. THE SPARK KNOCK CONTINUED. AT 35,067 MILES, THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE TIMING; I DIDN'T THINK THIS COULD BE DONE. THE SPARK KNOCK CONTINUED. AT 43,281 MILES, THE DEALER REPLACED THE INTAKE PLENIUM GASKET. THE SPARK KNOCK CONTINUED. AT 45,093, THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH ENGINE HEADS. THE SPARK KNOCK CONTINUED. AT 57,452 MILES, I INSTALLED A COLDER THERMOSTAT AND THIS HELPED SOMEWHAT, BUT THE SPARK KNOCK RETURNED. AND, TODAY AT 74,834 MILES I INSTALLED A SET OF TRUCK SPARK PLUGS TO SEE IF THAT WILL HELP. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THIS TRUCK HAS AN INHERINT DEFECTIVE DESIGN IN THE ENGINE WHICH IS BEING PREMATURELY WORN OUT DUE TO SPARK KNOCK. I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE, AND HELP ME IN SECURING A REPLACEMENT FOR MY PROBLEM PLAGUED LEMON. THANK YOU!

WHILE DRIVING RIGHT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF DUE TO FOUR STUDS BREAKING COMPLETELY OFF.*AK *YH

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT PERFORMS ERRATICALLY, NOT BEING ABLE TO EXTEND FROM HOLSTER AROUND DRIVER OR MAY TIGHTEN WHILE BEING WORN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND BACK UP, BUT WILL GO FORWARD. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO DEALER WHEN IT WAS FIRST PURCHASED, DUE TO A VIBRATING NOISE. AT 36041 MILES, THE OVERDRIVE UNIT FAILED WHICH HAD TAKEN OUT THE REVERSE. A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED. THIS CORRECTED THE VIBRATION NOISE WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE COMING FROM A BROKEN SNAP RING THAT HELD THE OVERDRIVE UNIT. *SCC

WHEN HITTING DIMMER SWITCH TO DIM HEADLIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS WILL GO COMPLETELY OFF. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK *SLC

RETURN FUEL LINE CORRODED AND HAD BEGUN TO LEAK RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE, THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ENGINE FIRE.*AK *NLM

CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO PUT VEHICLE INTO GEAR. THE GEAR SHIFT HAD BROKEN. CONTACTED DEALER. REPLACED PART.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR STUCK, UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK

IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT.*AK

TRANSMISSION WAS IN NEUTRAL, PARKING BRAKE WAS SET. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY FOR APPROX. 1 MIN. WHILE I REMOVED MY THINGS FROM THE INTERIOR. AS I WAS WALKING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE (ABOUT 30-40 FT) I HEARD THE BRAKE "POP" TURNED AROUND AND THE VEHICLE SLOWLY STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS UNTIL IT HIT A POLE. THIS HAPPENED IN A PRIVATE PARKING LOT AND WAS REPORTED TO CORP. SECURITY, BUT NO POLICE REPORT.*AK

THE OVERDRIVE OR 5TH GEAR OF THE TRUCK SLIPPED OUT WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM A TRIP TO MYRTLE BEACH, SC. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS HAS HAPPEN TO NUMEROUS OTHER TRUCK LIKE MINE. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED PROBLEMS IF I HADN'T BEEN THE ONLY VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AT THAT TIME.

AT 58,000 MILES, THE STEERING COLUMN IN MY DODGE RAM 1500 PICK UP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A NOISE WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WROTE A LETTER TO CHRYSLER ABOUT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE MY EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT DOES NOT COVER THE STEERING COLUMN. THE LETTER WAS WRITTEN ON APRIL 5TH OF THIS YEAR AND I JUST CALLED CHRYSLER TO INQUIRE ABOUT AN ANSWER AND WAS TOLD MY REQUEST FOR "GOOD FAITH" ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN DENIED. I DO NOT USE THIS VEHICLE FOR COMMERCIAL OR OFF ROAD DRIVING AND DO NOT FEEL THE STEERING COLUMN SHOULD FAIL WITH ONLY 58,000 MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REPAIR OTHER THAN TAKE MY $400-$500 FOR THE REPAIR. I HAVE SEARCHED YOUR DATABASE AND HAVE FOUND NO OTHER ISSUES SIMILAR TO MINE WITH THE YEAR AND MODEL OF MY TRUCK. I AM ALSO RECEIVING NO ASSISTANCE FROM THE DEALER. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND I DO NOT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT ANY FAILURE.*AK

FRONT BUMPER IS RUSTING FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. BUMPER IS PITTED FROM THE RUST.*AK *SCC

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A WHINING SOUND FROM REAREND. MECHANIC DETERMINED REAR BEARING HAD GONE OUT, AND REAR AXLE HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

VERY LOUD NOISE WAS COMING FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL. CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

BOTH FRONT SIDE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN FROM EITHER SIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ACTIVATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *TT

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH INVOLVED IN A SIDE COLLISION, VEHICLE TURNED COUPLE TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.*AK

THE BRAKE CYLINDERS HAD BEEN LEAKING AND WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER IN 2000. THEN AGAIN IN DECEMBER OF 2001 WE HAD BRAKE3 TROUBLE AND THE CALIPERS AND CYLINDERS HAS BRAKES BEGAN TO SQUEAK. WE HAD JUST HAD EVERYTHING DONE LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO. WE ASSUMED THAT AT THE WORST THE PADS NEEDED CHANGING. WE TOOK IT IN THE NEXT DAY. WE WERE INFORMED THAT IT WAS NOT THE WARNING SYSTEM BUT THAT THE CALIPERS WERE FROZEN AND HAD WORN OUT SO QUICKLY THAT THE BACK CYLIDERS WERE SHOT TOO. WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR BRAKES COULD HAVE GONE OUT COMPLETELY AT ANY MOMENT THERE WASN'T ANY WARNING. THANKFULL THAT WE DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT WE SPENT THE $800.00 TO FIX EVERYTHING. THE CALIPERS, ROTERS, CYLINDERS, PADS, EVERYTHING. THIS IS THE KICKER THAT NEXT WEEKEND FIVE DAYS LATER WE WERE COMMING HOME FROM OUT OF TOWN AND GOING DOWN A LARGE HILL THEY BEGAN TO SMOKE. AND WE TRIED TO PULL OVER. WE HAD NO BRAKES!!! THANK GOODNESS THERE WAS NO ONE IN FONT OF US. WE SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR AND GRADUALLY CAME TO A STOP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. I AM STLL WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE PROB. IS NOW. I HAD CALLED DODGE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY SORT OF PROB. OR RECALL WITH THE BREAK SYSTEM BEFORE AND THEY SAID NO. THEY WOULD FIX IT BUT CHARGE US TO DO SO. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEMS. OUR LIVES HAVE BEEN IN JEPORDY TWICE AND WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY. IT IS OBVIOUS THERE IS A PROB. LOOKING AT THE COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE WHY ARE THEY NOT DOING ANYTHING.

ENGINE BLEW A ROD, CAUSING ENGINE TO RATTLE. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENTLY SHUTS DOWN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. SAFETY FACTOR IS THAT THERE IS NO INDICATION TO FOLLOWING VEHICLES THAT A PROBLEM EXISSTS. FOR INSTANCE, I PASSED A TRUCK ON I81 IN WVA WITH THE CRUISE SET AT 70 MPH THE TRUCKS SPEED WAS APPROX 67 MPH. WHEN I PULLED BACK INTO THE RIGHT LANE THE CRUISE CONTROL SHUT DOWN. THERE WAS ABSOLUTLY NO INDICATION TO THE TRUCK DRIVER THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING. I BARELY HAD TIME TO HIT ACCELERATOR IN TIME TO AVOID BEING REARENDED BY THE TRUCK.*AK

WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS COLD OUTSIDE IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED UNTIL THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WARMED UP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE PARTS 3 TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. *AK *NLM

THROTTLE STUCK ON VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED SPRING IN THE BELT CRANK WAS FAULTY.*AK

DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A CAR CRASH. *AK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM KEPT BURNING OUT, CAUSING DASHBOARD AND TAIL LIGHTS TO GO OUT, WITHOUT WARNING. *AKHEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS CHECKED AND DEALER FOUND MELTED PLASTIC WIRE TO THE SWITCH CONNECTOR. SWITCH WAS REPLACED, THEN THE TAIL LIGHTS WENT OUT. STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. *JG

STUDS KEEP BREAKING ON THE FRONT WHEELS. IN NOVEMBER 2002 RIGHT FRONT STUDS "FELL OFF" AS A MECHANIC WAS TAKING THE TIRES OFF AS PART A MAINTENANCE INSPECTION. ITEMS REPLACED. IN MARCH 2002, I WAS REPLACING THE CALIPERS AND AS I PLACED THE LUG WRENCH "MANUAL TYPE" ON THE LUG NUTS TWO FELL OFF FROM THE FRONT RIGHT AND ONE FROM THE FRONT LEFT. I AM NOT SURE IF THE TWO FRONT RIGHT WERE THE SAME ONES THAT WERE REPLACED IN NOV 2002. I AM CURRENTLY WORKING WITH A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE BROKEN STUDS REPLACED. WOULD LIKE FURTHER INFORMATION IF AVAILABLE AS IT CONCERNS ME THAT THEY MAY POP WHILE DRIVING AND I MAY LOOSE A TIRE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.*AK

NHTSA# 01 V 153 000 & MFR# 982: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON/OFF INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WHERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FRUTHER INFOMATION. NLM

RIGHT FRONT INSIDE BRAKE PAD LOCKED AGAINST THE DISC CAUSING CONTINUOUS WEAR. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE INSIDE PADS DO NOT HAVE "SQUEALERS" AS DO THE OUTSIDE PADS SO THERE WAS NO ADVANCE INDICATION OF IMPENDING FAILURE. DAIMLER/CHRYSLER HAS INFORMED ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO DECLINE MY REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD JUST EXCEEDED THE TIME/MILEAGE LIMITATIONS OF THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY AT THE TIME ($357.78) EXPENSE WAS INCURRED.*AK

THE VEHICLE VIBRATES (UP/DOWN) SEVERELY IN THE 40-45MPH AND 60-65MPH RANGE. SINCE THE ORIGINAL TIRES WERE FAIRLY WORN, NEW TIRES WERE PURCHASED AND WERE FORCE BALANCED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS WITH NO SOLUTION IN SIGHT. CORRESPONDENCE WITH DAIMLER/CHRYSLER HAS NOT RAISED ANY CONCERN OR INTEREST ON THEIR PART. THERE IS CURRENTLY ONE OTHER COMPLAINT IN THE ODI DATABASE IDENTICAL TO THIS ONE.*AK

RIGHT FRONT WHEEL IS TRYING TO SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE. LEFT SIDE WAS FIXED. CURRENTLY, RIGHT SIDE NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *AK

ABS LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHEN DRIVING. DEALER HAS REPLACED CLOCKSPRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

LOCKING PINION NUT BROKE, RESULTING IN SHAFT TO FALL WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PINION GEARS AND SPINDLES. SEVERAL MECHANICS STATED THAT A LOCKING PINION NUT SHOULD NEVER UNLOCK OR BREAK. THUS IT'S DEFECT CAUSED 1,100 WORTH OF DAMAGE AND COULD HAVE DEFINITELY RESULTED IN INJURY.*AK

WHILE STOPPING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE CAUSING A CHAIN REACTION COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. 2 PASSENGERS AND DRIVER WERE INJURED. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE TIRE SEPARATED THE TREAD FROM THE SIDEWALL AND PEELED ALL THE WAY AROUND. THE TREAD IS STILL LIKE NEW.*AK (TIRESIZE: LT26575R16)

BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED, AND THERE IS VIBRATION. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND THEN STOPPING FRONT BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE, AND VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*AK

HORN BUTTONE (THE AREA YOU PRESS IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL) WILL NO PRESS IN TO HONK, DUE TO DESIGN PROBLEM, DUE TO AIR BAG. THERE IS NOT WAY TO HONK THE HORN

PRIOR TO THE RECALL, THE TRAILER HITCH ATTACHMENT WAS CRACKED AND DETERIORATED, THE DEALER REPLACED TRAILER HITCH.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITION WAS NOT BLOWING COLD. *YD

OIL CHANGES WERE DONE EVERY 3000-5000 MILES. THE THIRD AND FOURTH PISTON RODS WERE WORN DOWN AND THEN BROKE. *AK *JB ******DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****7757169

HORN IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HONK, DEALER SAYS IT IS BECAUSE OF AIRBAG HOUSING AND THERE IS NOT ROOM FOR HORN CONTACTS TO WORK, SO NO MATTER WHERE YOU PUSH OR HOW HARD YOU HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WILL NOT ALLOW THE HORN TO HONK!*AK

VEHICLE HIT A TREE AT 35 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, DRIVER AND PASSENGER HIT THEIR HEADS ON THE WINDSHIELD. *AK *YD

VEHICLE HAS HAD EXCESSIVE STERRING DRIFT SINCE PURCHASED. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO HELP CORRECT PROBLEM. "THEY ALL DO THAT" IS THE ATTITUDE. SEEMS TO EFFECT MOST DODGE 4 X 4 TRUCKS. PROBABLY A DESIGN DEFECT AS THEY SEEM TO ALL DO THIS FROM DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER OWNERS. VERY DANGEROUS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.*AK

AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN SYSTEM. DEALER DETERMINED THAT PROBLEM IS OCCURRING DUE TO CLOCK SPRING. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK