1997 DODGE RAM 1500 Complaints

FUEL GAUGE ISN'T WORKING, AND WHEN THE CONSUMER FILLS TANK UP, GAUGE INDICATES THE WRONG AMOUNT OF GAS. IT SHOWS THAT TANK IS ONLY HALF FULL. CONSUMER CAN'T DETERMINE HOW MANY MILES PER GALLON OF GAS THEY ARE DRIVING. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR ,AND THE VEHICLE DOES NOT REGISTER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

TRANSMISSION DOSN'T SHIFT, IT BOUNCES IN AND OUT OF GEAR BETWEEN 45-60 MPH. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME GOING BACK FOR SERVICE. *AK

AS PER NHTSA #SB049106,BULLETIN #96-40,SEQUENCE #152.THE DESCRIPTION IN THIS REPORT DESCRIBES HOW MY TRUCK HAS DRIVEN SINCE I RECEIVED IT.I WENT THROUGH ALL THE HOOPS AND RINGS THAT THE DEALER AND THE REGIONAL MANAGER REQUIRED AND FINALLY ENDED UP IN ARBITRATION ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT MY TRUCK DIDNT HAVE A PROBLEM,WHAT I FELT (AND EXPERENCED) WAS INHERENT TO THE VEHICLE AND ALL THE VIBRATION, CLUNKING AND HESITATION JUST BOTHERED ME MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE WAS BECAUSE I WAS SENSATIVE TO IT.AFTER 2 YEARS OF BATTLING WITH THIS AND BRAKE PROBLEMS(WHICH I WILL SAY ,THEY FIXED AFTER 32000 MILES AND $400+ OF MY MONEY) I COULDNT AFFORD THE TIME OFF TO CONTINUE BATTLING. NOT ONCE WAS THIS BULETIN EVER BROUGHT UP,INFACT,DURING ARBITRATION,IF WAS ASKED IF ANY BULLETINS REFERED TO PROBLEMS LIKE THIS AND THE ANSWER WAS A FLAT "NO".I STILL HAVE ALL MY RECORDS AND COPIES OF THE DEALER SERVICE RECORDS.I'LL TRY TO CALL MONDAY,07/19/99.MY HOME #IS 623-878-2138(RECORDER/FAX) CELLPHONE IS 602-321-0921.THANK YOU PHIL LOBINS. *AK

CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAILED WITHIN TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

THE TRUCK WAS DELIVERED WITHOUT A CERTIFICATION LABEL ON THE DOOR, DODGE WILL NOT PUT THE LABEL ON. *AK

POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE FAILURE IN THE WIRING HARNESS UNDERDASH CAUSING VEHICLE FIRE. MJS

DUE TO IMPROPER UNDER ENGINEERING FOR THE SIZE OF VEHICLE, THE REAR BRAKE SHOES BURN, WHICH CAUSES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND MAY RESULTIN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

I HAVE HAD EXTENSIVE BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH MY 97 DODGE RAM. THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A RATTLE FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL AREA. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN A INTERMITTENT BRAKE PULL TO THE DRIVER SIDE. IT BECAME A SERIOUS PROBLEM AFTER THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED AT 12000 MILES. THE TRUCK HAS ALSO HAD EXCESSIVE PAD WEAR. THE FIRST SET WAS REPLACED ON5/15/98 WITH 12314 MILES ON THE TRUCK. THE SECOND SET WAS REPLACED ON6/1/98 WITH 13093 MILES. THE THIRD SET WAS REPLACED ON 8/13/98 WITH 16336 MILES ON THE TRUCK. THE FOURTH SET OF BRAKES WAS REPLACED ON 4/6/99 WITH 25323 MILES ON THE TRUCK. COUNTING THE ORIGINAL SET OF BRAKES, WHICH STARTED SQUEALING AT APPROXIMATELY 12000 MILES, I HAVE HAD FIVE SETS OF FRONT BRAKE PADS AND THREE SETS OF ROTORS PUT ON THIS TRUCK. NOT TO MENTION THAT THE INTERMITTENT BRAKE PULL HAS NOT GONE AWAY. EVEN AFTER INSTALLING THIS LAST SET OF PADS. I WENT TO ARBITRATION. I HAD WITNESS STATEMENTS, BUT THE ARBITRATOR DENIED MY CLAIM TO HAVE DAIMLER CHRYSLER PURCHASE MY TRUCK BACK. I HAVE ALSO HAD MANY CLOSE CALLS WHEN THE TRUCK WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE TRUCK HAS ALSO BOUNCED OFF OF THE CENTER MEDIAN MORE THAN ONCE. THE PATTERN IS ALWAYS THE SAME. I GET THE TRUCK BACK FROM A BRAKE REPAIR AND IT IS FINE FOR ONE TO TWO WEEKS. AFTER A SHORT WHILE, ONE TO TWO WEEKS, THE TRUCK STARTS TO MAKE A RATTLING NOISE FROM THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL WELL, THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GET SOFT. THEN THE INTERMITTENT BRAKE PULL STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP THAT YOU COULD GIVE ME. I HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THIS VEHICLE, AND WILL NOT DRIVE IT ANY MORE THAN I HAVE TO. I ALSO WILL NOT LET MY WIFE DRIVE IT OR LOAN IT OUT TO ANY FRIENDS. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL SERVO LOCATION IMMEDIATELY BEHIND LEFT FRONT BUMPER CAN CAUSE SERVO TO BEND AND OPEN THROTTLE UNINTENTIONALLY. ALSO, A STUD FASTENED TO SIDE THAT HOLDS HEAT SHIELD IN PLACE BECAME DETACHED. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK