1997 DODGE RAM 1500 Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE REVERSING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V02300 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

ALRIGHT SO AS I BOUGHT MY TRUCK AND HAVE ASKED AROUND MANY PLACES AND ALL HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF RUST AND MOST OF IT IS WHERE THE IDLER ARM BRACKET MEETS THE FRAME AT THE FRONT FRAME RAIL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE ONLY AND ALSO THE FRAME HAS BEEN WELL TAKING CARE OF YOU CAN LOOK DOWN THE REST OF THE WHOLE FRAME AND ITS BARELY TOUCHED BY ROT AND WHAT HAPPENS IS IT TENDS TO RUST OUT AND THEN BREAKS AND CAN CAUSE A ACCIDENT MANY PEOPLE CONSIDER PATCHING IF ITS NOT TOO BAD AND MANY HAVE JUNKED IT DUE TO IT BEING NOT REPLACE ABLE DODGE HAS BEEN CONTACTED MANY TIMES ALSO AND REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT SOMETHING NEEDS DONE ABOUT THESE CHEAPLY MADE FRAMES I'VE OWNED VEHICLES 9 YEARS OLDER AND THE FRAMES WHERE NO WHERE NEAR ROTTED. *TR

DASH STARTED WITH SMALL CRACKS, NOW HUGE HOLES AND NOTHING REALLY HOLDING THE DASH UP NOW!! *TR

UPON EXITING VEHICLE AFTER SHORT TRIP (2 MILES), NOTICED STRONG FUEL ODOR. LOOKED UNDER TRUCK AND OBSERVED FUEL STREAMING DOWN OVER HOT EXHAUST PIPE BENEATH ENGINE COMPARTMENT. INSPECTION OF ENGINE REVEALED BURST LINE CONNECTING FUEL RAILS, CAUSING FUEL TO SPRAY OVER HOT ENGINE/EXHAUST, EXTREME FIRE HAZARD. CANNOT BE DRIVEN DUE TO FIRE HAZARD. LINE IS NOT RUBBING ON ANYTHING OR FLEXING TO CAUSE FAILURE. *TR

STEERING WHEEL MECHANISM LOCKED IN PLACE AT 50MPH CRASHING INTO A TELEPHONE/ELECTRICAL POLE WITH LIVE WIRES COMING DOWN AROUND VEHICLE. INJURIES SIGNIFICANT. CHP AGREED MECHANISM LOCKED. DODGE/CHRYSLER CORPORATION SAID THEY HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP WHILE AT 50MPH. *TR

MY REPORT IS NOT NECESSARILY CONCERNING A SPECIFIC INCIDENT. APPROXIMATELY THE DATE AND TIME SPECIFIED ABOVE I NOTICED MY DASH CRACKING, SINCE THAT TIME THE ENTIRE DASH OF MY TRUCK HAS CRACKED AND BROKEN. I HAVE HAD THE CUPHOLDERS BREAK AND SPILL ON ME AND NOW MY DASH BACKLIGHT HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL IT COMPLETELY FALLS APART. I HAVE APPLIED ADHESIVE TO A DASH COVER TO PREVENT FURTHER DEGRADATION OF THE PLASTIC. FROM WHAT I SEE ON MY TRUCK AND MY FATHER-IN-LAWS 2003 DODGE RAM IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL FLAW IN THE MATERIAL THE DASH COMPONENTS ARE MADE FROM. I FEAR IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE SINCE I DON'T KNOW WHEN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WILL OCCUR. NUMEROUS OTHER DODGE TRUCKS THAT BELONG TO FRIENDS AND COWORKERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. ANY ATTENTION YOU CAN GIVE TO THIS ISSUE WILL BE APPRECIATED. *TR

DRIVING TRUCK IN TOWN AT APP 30MPH WHEN FUEL TANK FELL FROM TRUCK STRIKING PAVEMENT. OPENED A 5INCH HOLE IN TANK LETTING FUEL ESCAPE ONTO ROAD & VEHICLE. TANK FELL BETWEEN TRUCK FRAME AT ANGLE MAKING CONTACT WITH ROAD. FUEL SPRAY ON ROAD & TRUCK UNTIL ABLE TO STOP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A SERVICE BAY, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FRONT SENSOR CIRCUIT FAILED HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE HOW THE FAILURE CAUSED THE ERRONEOUS AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 EQUIPPED WITH A FIRESTONE DESTINATION TIRES, SIZE P265/75/16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE FAILED AND CAUSED THE RIM AND ROTORS TO BECOME DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,088.

BRAKE LINE BURST BEHIND FUEL TANK ON DRIVER'S SIDE, LEADING TO LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID, AND LOSS OF BRAKE USE. *JS