1998 Dodge Ram complaints

VEHICLE CONTINUALLY SHUDDERS AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 45-50 MPH, HAPPENS CONSTANTLY

VEHICLE VIBRATION, SOME AT 22MPH, WORST AT 43MPH, DEALER BALANCED TIRES 1ST TIME IN, STILL VIBRATED. TOOK BACK IN 4 WEEKS LATER, DEALER SAID 3 TIRES WERE WAY OUT OF BALANCE. BALANCED AGAIN, STILL VIBRATES. VIBRATION INTENSITY CHANGES WHEN WHEELS ARE ROTATED. *MJS

HORN SENSOR WAS DIFFICULT TO LOCATE IN AN EMERGENCY. IT CAUSED A COLLISION IN WHICH SOMEONE WAS KILLED. *AK

VEHICLE IS RUNNING IN PARK ,AND BY ITSELF THE VEHICLE WILL JUMP OUT OF PARK INTO NEUTRAL OR DRIVE, CAUSING A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

EXCESSIVE FRONT BRAKE PAD WEAR: THE FRONT BRAKE PADS STARTED TO WEAR AT 6,000 MILES, AND FROM THAT POINT ON THE PADS DETERIORATED RAPIDLY. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE BRAKE PADS ARE BEING REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE PASSENGER'S OR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. ALSO, YOU ALMOST HAVE TO PUNCH THE HORN PAD TO GET IT TO WORK. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELT OR THE HORN. OWNER HAS 2 OTHER TRUCKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. PLEASE LIST VIN #S FOR OTHER 2 TRUCKS. *AK

BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAVE FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 14000. *AK

1. THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR GLASS ON THIS VEHICLE, RAM 2500 SERIES, HAS CRACKED DUE TO THE EXTREME COLD CONDITIONS IN MY LOCATION. PRESENTS AN EVEN MORE AND DISTORTED VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. THE PRODUCT IS INFERIOR GLASS. 2. EXCESSIVE PINGING IN THE 5.9L ENGINE. THE MANUAL STATES THAT YOU CAN USE AN 87 OCTANE RATED FUEL IN THIS ENGINE. IF YOU DO EVEN WITHOUT A "LOAD" IN THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE WILL CONSTANTLY "PING." USING A HIGHER OCTANE RATING THE PINGING NOISE IS STILL NOTICEABLE. ALSO THIS ENGINE FROM THE START USES APPROXIMATELY 1/2 - 3/4 OF A QUART OF OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. VERY BAD FOR A NEW PRODUCT. 3. THE SAME DOOR ON THE 2500 SERIES (QUAD CAB) RAM TRUCK IS USED ON THE TYPE OF TRUCK THAT I OWN, THE EXTENDED OR CLUB CAB. HOWEVER, WHERE THERE IS WEATHERSTRIPPING ON THE QUAD CAB DOOR ON THE LOWER RUNNING BOARD SIDES, (BOTH DOORS) THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO STRIPPING ON THE EXTENDED CAB DOORS (CLUB CAB). THIS ALLOWS FOR THE INFILTRATION OF DIRT AND WATER TO ACTUALLY COME UP AND SIT OR RESIDE ON THE TOP PLATE. THIS MAKES FOR A BAD SITUATION NOT ONLY FOR THE CLEANLINESS OF THE TRUCK ON THOSE PANELS BUT FOR CORROSIVE QUALITIES AS WELL.

REPLACEMENT OF BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DISC ROTORS REQUIRED DUE TO CRACKING OF THE ACTUAL ROTORS. AFTER ONLY 23000 MILES THIS IS NOT EXPECTED WEAR. NO EXCESSIVE USE OF BRAKES DURING THIS TIME. DUE TO SAFETY REASONS, ROTORS WERE REPLACED. LOCAL DODGE DEALER WAS INFORMED (MARIN DODGE, SAN RAFAEL, CA). I AM AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM DODGE/DEALER AS TO WETHER I SHALL BE RECOMPENSED SOME/ALL OF THE COST OF REPLACING THIS FAILED COMPONENT.

TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES LEAKING, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT.

LOUD POPING IN THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING, BEEN IN THE SHOP 7 TIMES FOR REPIR STILL NOT FIXED

THE HORN IS VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THROUGH THE AIRBAG. MANY TIMES IT HAS FAILED TO SOUND AT ALL.

WITHIN 3 DAYS OF BUYING THE DODGE TRUCK, WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD THE GAUGES WOULD MALFUNCTION AND THE TRUCK WOULD DIE. YOU COULD PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART IT. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP AND NOTHING WAS FOUND WRONG. THIS CONTINUES. THEN WE STARTED BLOWING BREAKERS AND FUSES THAT RUN BRAKE LIGHTS AND BLINKERS. TOOK TO THE SHOP. FOUND NOTHING. JUST REPLACED BREAKERS AND FUSES 3 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS. NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND MOTOR DIES GOING DOWN THE ROAD. WE HAVE NOW HAD TO BUY A NEW APPS SENSOR WHICH COST US 613.61 BECAUSE TRUCK IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY WITHOUT EVER BEING FIXED. THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAS BEEN AND STILL IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO EVERYONE. IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHICH CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. I KNOW OF ANOTHER VEHICLE LIKE MINE IN CALIFORNIA THAT HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MINE AND ALSO ONE IN FAYETTEVILLE, AR. THE MAN IN ARKANSAS WAS HAVING HIS TRUCK WORKED ON AT THE SAME TIME MINE WAS IN THE SHOP. THIS IS TOO MANY PROBLEMS FOR A NEW VEHICLE.

CHRYSLER DENIES LIABILITY. IT WAS 2-3 DEGREES OFF CENTER IMPACT. POINT OF INTEREST: CHRYSLER RECALLED 98 RAM TRUCKS AND VANS DUE TO FAULTY AIR BAG SENSORS. I ALSO FIND IT HARD TO FATHOM THAT MANY ACCIDENTS ARE EXACTLY SQUARE WHEN THE IMPACT. MY TRUCK WAS ONLY VERY SLIGHTLY ANGLED 2-3 DEGREES AT IMPACT AND DID SO MUCH DAMAGE THE ENTIRE FRAME MUST BE REPLACED. ICAR CERTIFIED AIRBAG MECHANICS THAT SAW THE TRUCK ALL SAID THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED WITHOUT DOUBT. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR AN OWNER TO TAKE ON CHRYSLER AND THEIR LAYWERS. I FEEL THAT THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND ARE JUST TRYING TOBLOW ME OFF. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP AND INTEREST IN THIS MATTER.

HORN CAN NOT BE SOUNDED IN A QUICK EMERGENCY SITUATION DUE TO AIRBAG CONFIGURATION. CAN ONLY BE SOUNDED IF THUMB IS PRECISELY PRESSED EXACTLY ON TWO SPOTS INDICATED WHILE LOOKING AT THOSE SPOTS IE: CAN NOT HAVE EYES ON ROAD..

WATER LEAKS INTO DRIVERS DOOR DUE TO MISALIGNMENT.

HORN BUTTON DIFFICULT TO PRESS. MUST BE CENTERED. WILL NOT WORK IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE SEVERELY PULLS TO THE RIGHT CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY PROBLEM. *AK.ET.

THE HORN BUTTONS ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO LOCATE/PRESS. THE RESULTING DELAY TO ACTIVATE THE HORN IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION ,COULD BE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS TO DRIVER/OCCUPANTS OR PEDESTRIANS. *AK

BRAKES LOCKED UP TWO TIMES; SECOND TIME CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.

THE BUTTON SEEMS VERY HARD TO PUSH ESPECIALLY IF COLD. TOO MUCH PLASTIC??

PLEASE REFER TO SERVICE BULLETIN 971017182997, NHTSA SB054220. THIS IS WHAT I AM EXPERIENCING ON MY TRUCK. I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS WITH THE DEALER THEY DID ALL THEY COULD. THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKS UP BETWEEN 40 AND 53 MPH. I WANTED THEM TO FIX IT. THEY SAID ALL OF THE DODGE RAM PICKUPS DO THIS. THE WHOLE TRUCK STARTS TO SHAKE BETWEEN 40 AND 53 AND ITS DUE TO THE GEAR SETTING IN THE TRANNY AND THE ENGINE RPM. THIS WAS DESIGNED BY DODGE FOR FUEL EFFECIENCY BUT CAUSES THE TRUCK TO SHAKE DUE TO TORQUE CONVERTER LOCK-UP. I WAS SATISIFIED THAT IT WASN'T JUST A PROBLEM WITH MY TRUCK WHEN THE DODGE DEALER LET ME PICK OUT A NEW DODGE ON HIS LOT WITH THE SAME SIZE ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN, IT HAD 6 MILES ON IT (BRAND NEW 99'). WHEN I DROVE THE NEW TRUCK IT WAS CONSIDERABLY WORST THAN MINE AND STARTED TO SHAKE BETWEEN 30 AND ABOUT 53 BUT IT SHOOK MORE THAN MY TRUCK THRU THE ENTIRE RANGE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS SHAKING DUE TO TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKUP WON'T EVENTUALLY SHORTEN THE LIFE OF THE TORQUE CONVERTER AND POSSIBLY THE TRANSMISSION. I FOUND YOUR SERVICE ON THE INTERNET, SO I AM GIVING IT A TRY. THANK YOU

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ACTIVATE THE HORN, THE COVER FOR THE AIR BAG IS A HARD PLASTIC AND YOU REALLY HAVE TO PUSH TO ACTIVATE IT. IN AN EMERGENCY, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT HIT A PATCH OF ICE ON THE ROAD, AND THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. CONSUMER THEN HIT A TREE HEAD-ON, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

WHEN TRYING TO USE THE HORN, YOU HAVE TO PUSH SO HARD THAT IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IT TO WORK WITHOUT GOING OFF THE ROAD. THE RUBBER COVERING THE STEERING WHEEL CENTER IS WAY TO HARD TO OPERATE THE HORN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY OTHER PEOPLE WITH '98 DODGE TRUCK, RAMS THAT THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO INSTALL A '99 RAM AIRBAG ASSEMBLY. I AM GOING TO BE GOING TO MY DEALER IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND I AM GOING TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT WOULD MAKE IT A LOT EASIER IF THE NHTSA WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE HEARD THAT DEALERS REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN MANY CASES. *AK

SPEED CONTROL ADDS AN ADDITIONAL 7 TO 12 MPH WHEN IT IS SET. IF SET AT 65 IT WILL GO TO 72 TO 77 BEFORE STOPPING. IT STAYS AT 72 TO 77 MPH FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES AND THEN WILL DROP BACK TO THE ORIGINAL SETTING OF 65. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND IS COMMON IN ALL '98 AND '99 DODGE RAMS. DODGE MUST DO SOMETHING TO FIX THIS SITUATION. *AK

WHEN THIS VEHICLE IS PLACED IN PARK THE GEAR SHIFT READS PARK, BUT ITS REALLY IN REVERSE. WHEN IN REVERSE ITS REALLY IS IN PARK. CONSUMER HAS TO PLACE IT IN NEUTRAL TO START IT UP. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

HORN VERY HARD TO OPERATE ,AIR BAG COVER GETS TOO HARD IN COLD WEATHER

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF.

FAN BELTS FAILED.

ORIGINAL GAS GAUGE FAILED,OWNER REPLACED IT AND FAILED AGAIN. YH

SUSPENSION FAILURE. YH

RADIO IS NOT WORKING. YH

BRAKES FAILED. YH

FRONT DIFFERENTIAL SEAL LEAKS OIL, CAUSING DIFFERENTIAL TO THROW A BEARING. YH

THE TRUCK DOES NOT RUN OVER 60 MILE PER HOUR WITH OUT BURING A LOT OF FUEL. YH

AXLE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. YH

TIE ROD FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL RESULTING IN BEING HIT IN PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER TRUCK. YH

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MALFUNCTIONED. YH

BRAKE PULL CAUSING UNSAFE CONDITION, ESPECIALLY IN WET CONDITIONS

THE DEFECT IS IN THE ALIGNMENT OF THE TRUCK AND THE ENGINE. WITH THE ALIGNMENT SET TO MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS THE TRUCK STILL PULLS OUT OF THE DRIVING LANE. WITHIN TEN SECONDS THE TRUCK WILL COMPLETELY VACATE THE LANE. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE HAS A "STUMBLE" OR MISS-FIRE AT IDLE. AGAIN THE MANUFACTURES STATES THE ENGINE IS ALSO WITHIN GUIDELINES. THE DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS AN INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR ALIGNMENT, BUT PROVIDES NO WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION ON WHAT THE STANDARDS ARE OR WHAT THE MANUFACTURER'S ACCEPTABLE TOLERANCES ARE SPECIFICALLY. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING WHICH INDICATES ALIGNMENT STANDARDS AND ENGINE TIMING.

HORN IS EXTREMELY HARD TO BLOW. ECCESSIVE PRESSURE REQUIRED. ESTIMATED 25 - 30 POUNDS.

HORN IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BLOW, YOU HAVE TO TAKE EYES OFF THE ROAD TO FIND HORN BUTTON

THE HORN ON THE DODGE RAM P/U IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ENGAGE OR SOUND. A PERSON HAS TO PUSH THROUGH THE AIRBAG TO MAKE THE HORN SOUND. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS AND HAVE SEEN THE PROBLEM IN SEVERAL VEHICLES. ANY HELP YOU CAN GET DODGE TO DO IN REPLACING THE HORN WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FRONT BRAKE PADS WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. VEHICLE HAD FOUR SETS OF BRAKE PADS WITHIN 30,000 MILE OF WEAR. DEALER NOTIFIED . *AK

THE TRUCK PULLS TO THE RIGHT ALL THE TIME, BUT VERY SEVERE WHEN BRAKING.

REAR SUSPENSION CLUNKS ON TURNS WITH LIGTH/NO LOAD IN BED. SOUNDS LIKE THE GAS TANK SHIFTING SIDE TO SIDE OR SPRING PACK NOISE. OTHER OWNER'S I'VE TALKED TOO HAVE SAME PROBLEM. THE REAR SLIDING GLASS WINDOW LEAKS AT THE TOP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN HEAVY RAIN. THE TWO TONE PAINT IS FADING. YOU CAN SEE THE BOTTOM COLOR THROUGH THE TOP COLOR. ALSO, I'VE HEAR FROM SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS ABOUT PREMATURE FRONT BALL JOINT FAILURES ALTHOUGH I HAVEN'T HAD THIS PROBLEM YET.

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE PULLS VERY HARD TO EITHER THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO OTHER LANES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN SYSTEM FAILED, WE WERE UNABLE TO PUT SEAT BELTS ON DUE TO COMPUTERS LOSS OF PROGRAMING. THIS IS NOT ONLY UNSAFE, BUT ILLEGAL IN THIS STATE AND MANY OTHERS.THERE SOULD BE A DEFAULT TO A MECHANICAL LOCKING SYSTEM, NOT JUST GO INOP. AND LEAVE US IN A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION. *AK