1999 DODGE RAM 1500 Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKING INTO MULTIPLE PIECES. HE DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE DASHBOARD PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

VEHICLE'S BRAKING SYSTEM SEEMED NOT TO BE WORKING PROPERLY, TAKING LONGER DISTANCES TO STOP. A CHECK OF EQUIPMENT SHOWED ALL MECHANICAL PARTS TO BE FIT, AND ADJUSTED CORRECTLY. CONTINUED TO DRIVE VEHICLE BUT THEN HAD SMALL ACCIDENT INVOLVING BRAKING WHILE GOING DOWNHILL. AT THIS TIME IT WAS DETERMINED I HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS. DIAGNOSTICS OF THE BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM DETERMINED THE COMBINATION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS THE CULPRIT AND HAD FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE LIGHTS AND FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION TO GO INTO COAST MODE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THIS ALSO RESULTS IN THE CRUISE FUNCTION TO NOT CANCEL WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THERE IS NO INDICATION OF FAILURE THROUGH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOR THIS FAULT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A REGULAR PROBLEM, AS THIS PART IS BACK ORDERED AT THE CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS FAULT I FEEL IT SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE IS NO FACTORY PART AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE CONDITION. MY VEHICLE IS STILL NOT REPAIRED. *TR

CRACKED DASH BOARD, 1999 DODGE RAM WE HAD IT REPLACED THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO. *TR

NOTICED BRAKES VERY SPONGY ON 1999 DODGE RAM WHILE COMING TO A STOP LIGHT. WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT ACCIDENT, ALTHOUGH STOPPING DISTANCE WAS ABOUT 15 FEET PAST THE LINE. WAS NEAR HOME, SO DROVE VERY SLOWLY TO MY RESIDENCE WITH VERY LITTLE BRAKING ABILITY. FOUND BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING FROM DRIVERSIDE VEHICLE FRAME. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND SEVERELY CORRODED BRAKE LINE HAD RUPTURED. I REPLACED THE BRAKE LINE AND HAVE SINCE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THESE VEHICLES, AS INDICATED ON MANY INTERNET FORMS FOR THESE TRUCKS. I STILL HAVE THE CORRODED BRAKE LINE. *TR

DASHBOARD IS CRACKING AND CONTINUES CRACKING - LARGE CHUNKS ARE FALLING IN BELOW THE DASH WHERE MOST CRUCIAL WIRING IS LOCATED. *TR

FRONT END DRIVE AND SUSPENSION ALSO STEERING COLUMN MOVE AND MAKE A NOISE WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT FEEL LIKE THE FRONT SUSPENSION IS GOING TO GIVE WAY. *TR

1999 DODGE RAM DASH CRACKING WHICH COULD LEAD TO FAILURE OF ELECTRICAL SAFETY FUNCTIONS SUCH AS AIR BAGS, HEADLIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS. DODGE AND DODGE DEALERSHIPS ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM DUE TO THE TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS. REPORTS OF LARGE CHUNKS FALLING INTO ELECTRICAL WIRING. *TR

I HAVE A 99 DODGE RAM 59XXX MILES. THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED IN MULTIPLE PLACES. THE TRUCK HAS A DASHMAT AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PARKED UNDER A CANOPY. I NEVER PUT ARMOR ALL ON THE DASH.(IN A FORUM THIS IS WHAT SOME SAID WHAT CAUSED THE DASH TO CRACK). I'VE HAD 3 TO 4 COMPANY VEHICLES IN 11 YRS AND NEVER HAD THIS HAPPENED. I REFUSE TO PAY THE DEALER $800 TO $1000 TO REPLACE. THIS HAPPENED APPROX. 2 YRS AFTER I HAD THE TRUCK. *TR

ALSO REFER TO NHTSA COMPLAINT 10002464. I WAS DRIVING MY '99 DODGE RAM AND ALL 5 LUGS ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SHEARED OFF AND THE WHEEL CAME OFF AND CAREENED ACROSS A PARKING LOT. THE SAME WHEEL FELL OFF THE SAME WAY IN 2002. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS SIMILAR TO THE ONES DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V153000 (AIR BAGS). THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM TO TAKE HIS VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND ALL REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000.