1994 DODGE RAM 1500 Complaints

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH A LOOSE IGNITION SWITCH FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I HAVE NOT REPORTED IT UNTIL NOW BECAUSE I WAS UNAWARE THAT IT HAD BEEN A PROBLEM FOR OTHER OWNERS. I HAD SMOKE COME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN BUT THOUGHT THAT IT WAS JUST A FLUKE. THE FAN MOTOR FOR THE VENTILATION SYSTEM QUIT WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. UPON MOVING THE STEERING COLUMN UP AND DOWN WITH THE TILT FEATURE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE FAN GOING AGAIN AND THE SMOKE STOPPED. THIS HAS HAPPEN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITHOUT SMOKE HOWEVER. THIS HAPPENS ON A RANDOM CYCLE WITH NO APPARENT PATTERN OF FREQUENCY. IT ONLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN TILTING THE WHEEL FROM TIME TO TIME . AFTER HAVING READ ABOUT OTHERS VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE DECIDED TO REPORT THIS TO A LOCAL DEALER. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT 7/6/00 TO REPLACE THE VAPOR CANISTER WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED. I WILL REQUEST A REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR FREE BASED ON THE REPORTS IN YOUR WEB SITE WITH PREVIOUS OWNERS COMPLAINTS. NEW ISSUE THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED FAILING TO IDLE WHILE COMING TO A STOP AND THE ENGINE COMES TO A STOP OR DIES. THIS HAS NEARLY CAUSED TWO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE THE POWERING STEERING AND POWER BRAKES FAIL DUE TO THE ENGINE DYING IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC. I MANAGED TO AVOID ACCIDENTS THANK GOODNESS. THE TRUCK THEN REFUSES TO START DISPITE THE ENGINE TURNING OVER WHEN ATTEPTING TO RESTART. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO MOVE THE TRUCK OUT OF TRAFFIC BOTH TIMES WITHOUT INCIDENT SO FAR. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED 6/28/00/TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO HAS DONE REGULAR MAINTINANCE ON IT FOR SOMETIME. THIS TOW WAS THE RESULT OF THE SECOND FAILING OF THE ENGINE. THE SHOP HAS YET TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE AS OF THIS WRITING. NEW ISSUE THE STEERING COLUMN ALSO HAS A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND WILL HAVE THE DEALER LOOK AT IT THE SAME TIME THE RECALL WORK WILL BE DONE AND WILL LET YOU KNOW FROM THERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER. I DID'NT KNOW YOU COULD HELP PRIOR TO THIS DAY.*AK

OPERATER COULD RUN OUT OF FUEL NOT KNOWING HOW MUCH IS IN TANK. COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT.

VACUUM BRAKE SYSTEM RESERVOIR THAT HOUSES THE BRAKE FLUID ON TOP OF THE MASTER CYLINDER APPEARS TO BE DETERIORATING FROM THE INSIDE DUE TO THE BRAKE FLUID. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

PITMAN SHAFT SHEARED OFF, RESULTING IN LOSS OF ALL STEERING.DURING MY PHONE CALL TO ORILLIA DODGE IN ORILLIA ONTARIO CANADA TO ORDER A NEW PART INFORMATION WAS GIVEN BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT DODGE NO LONGER USES THIS PIECE OF ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WHICH IS THE COMPLETE STEERING BOX ASSEMBLY. ORILLIA DODGE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT A NEW UPGRADED MODEL IS NOW BEING USED FOR REPLACEMENT PART. THE SHAFT BROKE A NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS ,COUNTRY ROAD FRESHLY GRADED AT 30 KILOMETERS PER HOUR.THERE HAS BEEN INCIDENTS OF SIMILAR NATURE KNOWN OF ACROSS CANADA. ISEEM TO FEEL IF ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT IS NO LONGER RECOMMENDED FOR REPLACEMENT A RECALL SHOULD BE WARRENTED TO PREVENT FURTHER ACCIDENTS AN INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OWNER,PASSENGERS,AND OTHER PUBLIC ON OUR ROADS AND SIDEWALKS. PLEASE NOTE THAT MY ADRESS IS IN ORILLIA ONTARIO CANADA, POSTAL CODE L3V-6H2 P.S. I (KEVIN DRAPER) HAS ALSO FORWARDED A LETTER OS SIMILAR NATURE TO THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION OF CANADA. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME HOPE TO HEAR BACK FROM SOON ON YOUR INTENTIONS TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS MATTER.I FEEL I SHOULD BE ENTITLED TO HAVETHIS VEHILCE REPAIRED PARTS ALL BODY WORK AND LABOUR BACK TO THE CONDITION BEFORE THE ACCCIDENT COVERED BY CHRYLSER CORPORATION,BUMPER ,RIGHT FENDER,PASSENGER DOOR CAB CORNER,PASSENGER SIDE OF BOX,PLUSANY DAMAGE TO THE REST OF THE STEERING COMPONENTS LESS THE NORMAL WEAR . THE TRUCK IS NOT NEW BUT IT WAS NOT SMASHED UP BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. THANK YOU AGAIN. *AK

POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSED A FIRE BURNING THE WIRE LOOM TO THE IGNITION SWITCH & THE FUEL PUMP BURNED UP. *YC

WHIL EDRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH HOOD LATCH POPPED OFF INADVERTENTLY, SMASHING THE WINDSHIELD AND DENTING THE HINGES TO THE HOOD. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM VEHICLE. PULLED OVER AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER CUT OFF THE VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE WAS NOT SMOKING. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE BACK UP AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. *AK

SEAL ON PITMAN ARM STEERING BOX COMPONENT FAILED, FLUID LOSS CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL AND ACCIDENT. MJS

IN SUDDEN STOPS, THE BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND MAY RESULT A CRASH. DLR CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH OF VACUUM TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER., BUT CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THE DODGE IGNITION HAD LESS WIRES GOING TO IT THAN MANY OTHER VEHICLES HE HAD WORKED ON. TWO OF THE PRONG IN THIS MODULE WERE CHARRED AND TWO WIRES WERE SLIGHTLY DAMAGED.