1996 DODGE RAM Complaints

WHEN THE TIRES HAVE TO BE ROTATED & THE LUGS: NUTS NEED TO BE REMOVED. THEY WOULD BREAK OFF. CONTACTED DEALER & WAS INFORMED THE LUGS: NUTS WERE TORQUED TOO TIGHT. NOT USING A 4 WAY WRENCH TO TORQUE LUGS: NUTS. *AK

STEERING WHEEL BINDS AND GEAR SHIFT LEVER ON COLUMN MOVES PUTTING TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL TWICE AT HIGHTWAY SPEEDS, DEALER TESTED AND SAID THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 400 DOLLARS I FEEL THAT A VECHILE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE A STREERING COLUM REPLACED AT 50000 MILES

12-8-95 REPLACED DEFECTIVE STIRRING COLUM; 12-19-96 REPLACED DEFECTIVE FUEL GAUGE;

BRACKET FOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE HAS FALLEN OFF DUE TO NUTS ON THE BOLTS SECURING THE BRACKET BECOMING LOOSE AND BOTH FALLING OFF. NUTS ARE LOCATED BEHIND THE GAS TANK AND ARE NOT ACCESSABLE UNLESS THE GAS TANK IS REMOVED. EMERGENCY BRAKE NOT OPERATIONAL.

TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND FAILS ON INGRADES.... EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON THE FRONT TIRES AND EXCESSIVE FUEL CONSUMPTION.. AND ROUGH VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END EVEN AFTER A TIRE CHANGE AND BALANCE, AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT... GAS MILAGE IS 230 MILES TO A 26 GALLON TANK OF GAS( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P225/75R16 )

RELAY HARNESS DID NOT COME WITH TRUCK WHEN BROUGHT. WITHOUT RELAY HARNESS, VEHICKE WOULD OVERHEAT & ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD FAIL, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. ONLY VEHICLE WITH TOWING PACKAGE EQUIPPED. *AK

FUEL SHUT OFF VALVE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY; RETURN FUEL LINE LEAKING. THE PROBLEM IS CAUSING WEAR AND TEAR ON THE STARTER AND BATTERY, AND NOW THERES A STRONG DEISEL SMELL. CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND PARTS HAVE BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR 8 WEEKS. *AK

THE FUEL LINE HOSE IS BUSTED AND SPRAYING FUEL EVERYWHERE. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE TRUCK SMELLED OF FUEL AND GRADUALLY BECAME DIFFICULT TO START. ALTHOUGH THE SMELL OF DIESEL FUEL IS COMMON WITH THESE TRUCKS IT WAS GRADUALLY COVERING THE UNDERSIDE AND THE BACK OF THE TRUCK WITH DIESEL MIST. A VERY DIFFICULT INSPECTION DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL RETURN HOSE WAS LEAKING LARGE AMOUNTS OF FUEL BUT A SPLIT OR CRACK COULD NOT BE FOUND. WHEN I INQUIRED TO THE DEALER, THE MECHANIC KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT IT WAS BUT SUGGESTED THAT I DO THE REPLACEMENT MYSELF SINCE IT WAS NOT DIFFICULT BUT VERY TIME CONSUMING WHICH WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE.. A SECTION OF NEW HOSE WAS OBTAINED AND THE OLD PIECE REPLACED. THE ORIGINAL HOSE HAD TOTALLY COME APART AND IN MANY PLACES THE REINFORCING CORD WAS EASILY VISIBLE. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT THE TRUCK AGAIN STARTED EASILY AND THE FUEL LEAKAGE WAS ELIMINATED. I BELIEVE I HAVE RETAINED THE SECTION OF HOSE IF NEEDED. IN TALKING WITH THE DEALER (OYSTER POINT DODGE IN NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA) THE PROBLEM IS NOT UNCOMMON WITH THESE DODGE TRUCKS BUT SINCE THE OWNERS ARE ADVISED TO DO THE REPLACEMENT, THE DEALERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM.

THE DIESEL ENGINE HAD LOST OIL. THE OIL SPRAYED OVER THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. NO SMOKE OR FIRE WAS OBSERVED. HAD CONTACTED 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS & WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE WAS NOT GAS, BUT DIESEL & WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. HAD USED THE SAME SEAL AS THE TRANSMISSION LINE. *AK