1996 DODGE RAM Complaints

THE IGNITION SWITCH MELTED THE PLASTIC SHROUD UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS RUNNING WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE RADIO WAS ON ALSO. AFTER THIS OCCURRED, THE RADIO NO LONGER WORKS RIGHT EITHER. THE DEALER SAID THERE IS A REPLACEMENT SWITCH, BUT DID NOT COVER IT UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE DEALER SAID THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SWITCH, THAT'S WHY THERE WAS A NEW REPLACEMENT SWITCH. COST OVER $350, INCLUDING INSTALLATION. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE REPLACING THE RADIO. THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY THE RADIO WENT BAD. THE DEALER WAS FRED BEANS IN DOYLESTOWN, PA. THE ORIGINAL BALL JOINTS AND FRONT AXLE WERE NEVER GREASED AT THE FACTORY. THERE ARE NO GREASE FITTINGS TO ADD GREASE. THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. THE MECHANIC SAID HE COULD TELL THAT THEY WERE BONE DRY & NEVER GREASED AT THE FACTORY.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY, AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. ABOUT TWO OR THREE MONTHS AGO, VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 31, 700 MI. IT REQUIRED A MAJOR OVERHAUL TO RETURN IT TO OPERATION. LABOR COSTS WERE $1100 DOLLARS AND PARTS $800. AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEALER THE LABOR CHARGES WERE PAID BY THE DEALER. INVESTIGATION INTO CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH DODGE RAM TRANSMISSIONS PROMPTED OWNER TO CALL CHRYSLER 800 NUMBER TO COMPLAIN ABOUT $800 PAYMENT. OWNER WAS TOLD THAT SINCE THE $800 WAS PAID, NO REFUND COULD BE PROVIDED. OWNER WAS TOLD THAT THIS DETERMINATION WAS FINAL AND NO APPEAL TO HIGHER AUTHORITY WAS POSSIBLE. OWNER PERSONALLY KNOWS THREE OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH DODGE RAM PICKUPS THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AT THE SAME MILEAGE. CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS DEFECT PREFERRING INSTEAD TO DEFER THE EXPENSE TO THE VEHICLE OWNER. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT INDICATON. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. ALSO, OIL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE IS ON ITS THIRD REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

STEERING PITMAN ARM AND IDLER ARM HAVE A LOT OF PLAY, FRONT BEARINGS LOOSE, FRONT ROTORS RUSTED AND WORN OUT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *AK

TAILGATE SIDE OF THE BED FELL APART. THE PART WAS LOOSENED FROM THE ORIGINAL WELDING PART. *AK

TRANSMISSION GOES INTO 2ND WHEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND WON'T SHIFT OUT OTHER. PEOPLE I KNOW WITH SAME PICKUPS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION. *AK

ORIGINAL FAILURE TOOK PLACE ON NOV 26, 1997. THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND OIL PRESSURE DROPPPED TO ZERO. THE OIL PUMP WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THEN, ON JAN 21, 1999 THE SAME SCENARIO HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME THE OIL PUMP, CONNECTING ROD,CRANKSHAFT AND GASKETS WERE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE AS THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY NOR WERE THE PARTS THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED. FINALLY, ON FEBRUARY 14, 2000 THE ENTIRE SCENARIO TOOK PLACE AGAIN. THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND OIL PRESSURE DROPPED TO ZERO. IT APPEARS THAT THE OIL PUMP WILL AGIN NEED TO BE REPLACED. AT THIS POINT, THE DEALERSHIP IS TRYING TO SAY IT IS A LACK OF MAINTENANCE AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED AT MY EXPENSE. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND THAT AFTER 3 FAILURES THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED DEALERSHIP AWAITING REPAIRS AND THE RESPONSE FROM CHRYSLER CORP AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL DO SO AT THEIR EXPENSE. ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE WOULD BE GREATLY A

RECALL 97V084 000/TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE: WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH FLUID LINE DISCONNECTED FROM TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED LOSS OF FLUID. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFOMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL. *AK

DEALER WAS DOING A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ON THE VEHICLE WHEN TEMPERATURE EXCEEDED THE LIMIT, CAUSING TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES TO SEPARATE, RESULTING IN FLUID LEAKING ONTO THE MANIFOLD WHICH CAUSED A FIRE. ALSO, RECALL 99V115000 DEALS WITH THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK