1996 DODGE RAM Complaints

TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS AT 45 MPH, DOES NOT SHIFT AND SHAKES WHEN GOING INTO 3RD OR OVERDIRVE, AND JERKS AND SLIPS, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE VALVE BODY AND RECONDITIONED TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED CONVERTOR, TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO LOCK UP AND JERK. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE MIRRORS WERE BOTH REPLACED DUE TO BEING LOOSE. EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE CAME OFF AND WAS REPLACED. FUEL GAUGE READ EMPTY WITH 12 GALLONS IN TANK, DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP MODULE. WIPER BLADES WEREN'T CLEANING WINDSHIELD, DEALER REPLACED BOTH WIPER BLADES, WINDSHIELD WASHER WAS INOPERABLE, DEALER REPLACED WASHER MOTOR. VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE INTERIOR AND DOME LIGHTS FAILING, DOME LIGHT KEEPS BLOWING FUSE AND DEALER HAS REPLACED THE STRIP LIGHTING AND FUSE BOX DOOR AND REPAIRED THE OPEN CIRCUIT TO JUNCTION BLOCK. RADIATOR CAP WAS REPLACED DUE TO LOW COOLANT. THERE WAS A BRAKE FLUID LEAK, DEALER REPLACED CAPS FOR THE MASTER CYLINDER, THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED, DEALER REPLACED REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND WIRING. PASSENGER SIDE VENT WINDOW WOULD NOT OPEN AND LEAKED AIR. VEHICLE ONLY GETS 13MPH ON HIGHWAY, CONSUMER STATES THIS IS POOR GAS MILEAGE. *SLC

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE HAS NO POWER. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PUT VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL, AND REV THE ENGINE. TOOK SIX MONTHS TO GET PART AFTER REPEATED CALLS. FRONT BRAKES WEARING OUT PREMATURELY BECAUSE REAR BRAKES ARE NOT SELF ADJUSTING. VERY UNSAFE WHEN BRAKING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *YC THE LEFT REAR AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING. WATER COLLECTS NEAR THE PASSENGER DOOR UNDERNEATH THE CARPET. *YH

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE ISN'T SHIFTING PROPERLY. ALSO, FLOORBOARD IS GETTING HOT, AND THERE IS SOME TYPE OF NOISE COMING FROM THE FLOORBOARD. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; TRANSMISSION HAS NO REVERSE, AND WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFED, AND MANUFACTURER IS WILLING TO SHARE COST; BUT CONSUMER BELIEVES MANUFACTURER. SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FULL COST. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

BRAKE PERFORMANCE DIMINISHED, TAKES HEAVY BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE TO STOP. PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD VEHICLE, WITH PARKING BRAKE PUSHED ON HARD THE VEHICLE CAN STILL CREEP. FRONT BRAKE PADS WEARING VERY QUCIKLY, REAR BRAKE SHOES GLAZED. REAR BRAKE SHOES REPLACED THREE TIMES, A NEW SET OF "HEAVY DUTY" REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS WERE INSTALLED BY THE DEALER. THE WHEEL CYLINDERS HELPED SOME BUT THE TRUCK HAS POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, ESPECIALLY WITH A LIGHT LOAD IN THE BED OR TOWING AN EMPTY 16' FLAT BED TRAILER. REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS AND THEY WERE WORN UNEVENLY. I DON'T KNOW IF A PROPORTINING VALVE WOULD CAUSE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS TRIED WHAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THE TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY NOW SINCE OCTOBER OF 1999.

WHILE DRIVING BELOW 45 MPH OR ABOVE THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SEVERELY SHAKES AS IF THE TIRES WERE BOUNCING OFF THE GROUND. DEALER REPLACED THE TRACK BAR AND STEERING STABLIZER. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER SAYS IT WAS DUE TO A SHORT IN WIRING HARNESS. *AK

THE SEAT BELTS IN THE REAR CAB OF THE TRUCK HAVE FAILED. THEY DO NOT LOCK WHEN THE TWO PIECES ARE ATTACHED. I CAN PUT THE LATCH IN AND IT WILL NOT STAY LOCKED. IT UNSNAPPS AND THE CHILDREN CANNOT USE THE BELTS. THESE ARE LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE AND PASSANGER SIDE OF THE TRUCK IN THE REAR. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT.

THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN REPAIRED BY SANDUSKY CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP, SANDUSKY, OH, FOR THE PREVIOUS AXLE FAILURE. TRAVELING EAST ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWED, LIKE SOMEONE JUST JAMMED-ON MY BRAKES. WITHIN A MINUTE, THERE WERE TWO VERY LOUD SCREETCHES. MY WIFE, TRAVELING IN A RENTAL VEHICLE BEHIND ME, EVEN HEAR THE SCREETCHES. GIVEN OUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE, I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHILE TRYING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED, WE WERE INFORMED BY CONSTRUCTION CREWS THAT WE COULD NOT STAY, THERE, ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THEY DIRECTED US A COUPLE MILES UP THE ROAD, TO THE NEXT EXIT. ONCE OFF THE HIGHWAY, WE STOPPED TO FIND THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL STICKING OUT FROM THE FENDER BY A COUPLE INCHES. ON CLOSER INSPECTION, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND THE BACKING PLATE. THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WAS STARTING TO SEPARATE FROM THE AXLE HOUSING, AGAIN. WE CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK, TO RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIRING DEALERSHIP. UPON THEIR INSPECTION, THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE AGAIN BURNED. AND, YES, THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND AXLE SHAFT WERE LEAVING THE VEHICLE.

REAR AXLE BROKE/FELL APART CAUSING VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE AND DAMAGE UNDERCARRIAGE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). MJS