1998 DODGE RAM 1500 Complaints

FRONT AXLE STARTED MAKING A NOISE AT 35,000 MILES. IT WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, BUT PROBLEM COULDN'T BE DULPICATED FOR REPAIRS. CURRENTLY, AT 39,000 MILES BEARINGS ARE SHOT AT U-JOINT. DEALER OFFERS TO PAY FOR PART AT BOTH SIDES.*AK

TRANSMISSION GEAR CAN BE PUSHED INTO DRIVE WITHOUT PUTTING FOOT ON BRAKE FIRST. CONCERNED BECAUSE CONSUMER HAS SMALL CHILDREN. *AK CONSUMER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THIS FEATURE PRIOR TO PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. *SLC

RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH WITH DRIVER AND ONE PASSGENER IN A 1998, DODGE, RAM 1500; AFTERMARKET TIRE INSTALLED AT 35,000 MILES, TIRE SIZE P265/75R15, DOT# 7BHPUB286; TIRE CTR. NOTIFIED AND WILLING TO EXCHANGE TIRE AT A PRORATED DEAL. *AK CONSUMER STATES SINCE TIRE FAILURE, THE OTHER TWO REMAINING TIRES HAVE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE TREAD SEPARATION, ALL TIRES HAVE VISIBLE BULGES ON THE RUNNING TREAD, CAUSING OSCILLATIONS OF THE VEHICLE AT SLOWER SPEEDS AND VIBRATIONS AT HIGHER SPEEDS, ONE OTHER TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING PRIOR TO THE ONE REPORTED, THIS OCCURRED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2000. *SLC

TRANSMISSION FAILED IN OVERDRIVE WHICH CAUSED FAILURE TO THE REST OF THE TRANSMISSION WHICH REQUIRED THE TRANSMISSION TO BE REBUILT.*AK

CONSUMER HEARD A HUMMING SOUND FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. DEALER FOUND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE ALL CHEWED UP, MECHANIC STATED THEY WERE TOO TIGHT.*AK EVAPORATOR CORE FAILED. BEARINGS, PINION BEARING, AND AXLE SEALS WERE REPLACED DUE TO POSSIBLY BEING PUT ON TOO TIGHT AT THE FACTORY. *SLC

ROAD CONDITIONS WERE FOGGY, LOST CONTROL, AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE AT 20 TO 25 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

WHILE STARTING TO PROCEED THROUGH INTERSECTION AT APPOX. 5 MPH, FELT JOLT FROM REAR OF TRUCK AND HEARD SOMETHING BREAK. WHEELS LOCKED UP AND TRUCK CAME TO IMMEDIATE STOP. IT HAD TO BE DRUG ONTO FLATBED AS REAR-END WAS LOCKED-UP. DEALER CLAIMS THAT PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE GEAR.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH CONSUMER HEARD LOUD NOISE. VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, AND REAR END LOCKED UP. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND LOOKED UNDERNEATH VEHICLE, AND NOTICED DRIVESHAFT WAS MISSING.*AK

CONSUMER HAD RECEIVED A RECALL FROM MANUFACTURER TELLING CONSUMER TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR CHECK AND REPAIR OF CRACKS ON T TRAILER HITCH, OR TO ATTACH SUPPORT TO AVOID CRACKS ON HITCH. BUT, DEALER NOR MANUFATURER HAD TRIED TO ANSWER HELP.*AK THE DEALER POINTED OUT THAT THE HITCH WAS INSTALLED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND THE RECALL DOES NOT APPLY. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER SAYS THIS WAS MANUFACTURER INSTALLED HITCH AND THE DEALER MUST DO THE REPAIR. *YH

CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN SHE HEARD A BANG, STOPPED AND GOT OUT, AND TIRE HAD EXPLODED, CAUSING IT TO RIP OFF TIRE. *AK