1995 DODGE RAM Complaints

I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE REGARDING THIS FAILURE, ARE TECH OR SAFETY BULLETINS BEING GENERATED, ARE OTHERS REPORTING THE FAILURE? RAM DIESEL MODEL FAILURE MODE ALLOWS STARTER TO REMAIN ENGAGED AND ENGINE RUNNING WITH VEHICLE KEY IN THE OFF POSITION. AFTER DIAGNOSING AND FAILURE ANALYSIS IT IS APPARENT THAT THIS FAILURE MODE IS NOT ONLY COMMON (INPUT FROM VARIOUS WEBSITES) BUT ALSO EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN MY OPINION. WHILE THE ROOT CAUSE (STARTER FAILURE) IS ACCEPTABLE AND UNDERSTANDABLE WITH AGE OF THE VEHICLE, THE SYMPTOM AND EFFECT IS NOT. INTERNAL SHORTING OF THE STARTER CAUSES 12VDC FEEDBACK THROUGH THE CONTROL CIRCUIT AND ALLOWS THE STARTER TO REMAIN ENGAGED AND VEHICLE TO REMAIN RUNNING WIT THE KEY ON!. IF LUCKY ENOUGH TO REACT TO THE FAILURE IN TIME PRIOR TO COMPONENTS AND WIRING BURNING UP AND MELTING, YOU MUST GET UNDER THE HOOD TO DISCONNECT "2" BATTERIES, OR CLIMB UNDER THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE STARTER TO SHUT DOWN ENGINE AND DISENGAGE STARTER, EITHER AGAIN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING WITH THE KEY OFF AND START ENGAGED IN FLYWHEEL, IF THE VEHICLE WERE TO JUMP IN GEAR (STD TRANSMISSION) BODILY INJURY WOULD CERTAINLY TAKE PLACE. AFTER MY FIRST FAILURE THE DEALER REPLACED THE DAMAGED COMPONENTS AT A COST OF >$700 BUT FAILED TO IDENTIFY THE ROOT CAUSE. ONLY AFTER INFORMATION LOCATED IN THE "TURBODIESEL WEBSITE" AND REPEAT FAILURE WAS I ABLE TO IDENTIFY AND CORRECT ROOT CAUSE!*AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 01V037OOO DUE TO VIN. DEALER DENIED REPAIRS DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. DEALER ADVISED THAT PARTS WERE 8,000 IN BACK ORDER.*AK

THE SET OF 5 TIRES WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH AND HAD 6300 MILES ON THEM. THE TIRE SEPARATED AND BLEWOUT LEAVING THE SIDE WALL INTACT AND SPLIT FROM TOP OF TIRE TO RIM. THE SEPERATION PATTERN IS CONSIDERABLY NOTICABLE. THIS BLOW OUT CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO SIDE PANEL OF TRUCK, RIPPING OUT THE SIDEWALL PLASTIC COVER AND MUD FLAP. THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF THIS TIRE HAS MADE ME VERY LEARY OF DRIVING WITH THE OTHERS.*AK (TIRESIZE: 245 75/R16)

RECALL 96 V 230 000/STEERING COLUMN: VEHICLE EXPEREINCED A LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

1. ROUGH IDLE AND SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER I'VE REPLACED PLUGS,WIRES,ROTOR, DISTRIBUTOR CAP,CLEANED INJECTORS,BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO HELP 2. THE CABLE WIRE ON THE THROTTLE BODY IS FRAYED2.

FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT INDICATE THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL, EVEN AFTER FILLING UP TANK. GAUGE WILL MOVE FROM FULL TO EMPTY INTERMITTENTLY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE ELECTRIC GAUGE WHICH IS LOCATED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK IS A FIRE HAZARD. NLM

THE TRAILER HITCH ISSUE, I BELEVE, IS SERIOUS. "OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND" A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR 1998 TO 2001.5 MODELS. INVESTAGTION SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE 1994 MODELS THIS IS SERIOUS. ALSO THE TRACK BAR ISSUE, THIS EFFECTS THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE THE SO CALLED "SHIMMY" THIS ALSO NEEDS TO BE LOOKED IN TO.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 99V214000. SERVICE WAS REFUSED BY DEALERSHIP(S) BECAUSE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE A 'CERTIFIED WELDER' AND VEHICLE COULD NOT FIT INTO THEIR GARAGE. *AK *JB

A FUEL ODOR IN PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. ALSO, VEHICLE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO START, AND FUEL IS LEAKING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, OWNER NOTICED A FUEL LEAK ON THE RUBBER FUEL LINE BEHIND THE FUEL FILTER. VEHICLE IS A 3500 SERIES.*AK WHEN THE RUBBER HOSE FROM THE FUEL FILTER TO THE FUEL RETURN LINE WAS REMOVED, IT APPEARED TO BE ROTTED THROUGH ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK OUT ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE WITH THE FRONT END DOWN, THE FUEL DRIPPED CONTINUOUSLY. *SLC

UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS IN FRONT END FAILED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED, AND WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE.*AK