1996 DODGE RAM 2500 Complaints

FOR 3 YEARS AND 30,000 MILES, I HAVE MADE 3 TRIPS TO RENO DODGE FOR SERVICE UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT DRIVE STRAIGHT. IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT. FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, DODGE HAS TOLD ME THAT IT DOESN'T. AFTER MY TRIP TO KANSAS AND KEEPING THE WHEEL CRANKED 1/4 TURN TO THE LEFT TO KEEP THE TRUCK GOING STRAIGHT, ALL THE WAY THERE AND BACK, I WAS FED UP.

THE REAR BLOWER MOTOR THAT CONTROLS THE AIR CONDITIONER BURNED OUT, CAUSING THE INSIDE OF THE VAN TO BECOME FILLED WITH SMOKE, THE MOTOR MELTED THE HOUSING COVER OF THE MOTOR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING UPHILL THE QUICK CONNECT DISCONNECTED LINE FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSMISSION MELTED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE COOLER LINE PRESS CONNECT AND 2 QUICK FITTINGS WERE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

RECALL REPAIR (99V-023) COMPLETED CAUSING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN, CONTINUED HAVING PROBLEMS AND REPAIRED, AIR BAG BLEW UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON AFTER RECALL REPAIRS. MJS

IF THE VEHICLE SITS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME IT DOES NOT START. IT MAY START UP FOR JUST A SECOND THEN CUTS OFF. CONTACTED DEALER. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A STEEP HILL AND CONSUMER GOES TO START IT, IT TAKES 5-8 SECONDS FOR A VACUUM TO BUILD UP TO HOLD VEHICLE. EMERGENCY BRAKES HAVE TO BE ON OR THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKWARDS. THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF A DIESEL ENGINE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING WITH HEAVY LOAD VEHICLE EXPRENCDE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

JUST PULLED AWAY FROM GREEN LIGHT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT ALSO. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE'S ENGINE ROARED AFTER BEING HIT. TRAVELED 30FT & HIT TELEPHONE POLE. HAD NO STEERING OR BRAKE CONTROL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT WITH THE POLE. THE RIGHT FRONT END WAS ONLY HIT SLIGHTLY. *AK

DEALERSHIP AND CHRYSLER HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN FAULT AND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAS BEEN FILED WITH NHTSA YET THEY REFUSE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM CITING THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MODIFIED WITH AN AFTERMARKET LIFT KIT. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH ONE OTHER DODGE VEHICLE OWNER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HIS NAME IS RICHARD HARDY (714) 964-0483. HE HAS ALSO BEEN DENIED WARRANTY WORK. HE, ALONG WITH A LOCAL SUSPENSION SHOP HAVE WORKED TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES AND SUSPENSION. UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM, HE SUBMITTED TO DODGE'S DEMOANDS OF REMOVING THE LIFT KIT ( THIS IS A DIFFICULT 6 HOUR PROCESS). THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED WHEN THE LIFT KIT WAS REMOVED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO MR. HARDY AFTER THE WARRANTY WORK WAS COMPLETED IT STILL EXHIBITS THE SAME PROBLEM. AS THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND EXISTED PRIOR TO THE INSTALLATION OF THE LIFT KIT, I HAVE REFUSED TO REMOVE MY LIFT KIT AS IT HAS NO BEARING ON REMEDYING THE PROBLEM. I AM APPEALING TO YOU TO HELP ME RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *AK

AIRBAG SYSTEM TRIGGERING MECHANISM UNDER SEAT WAS REPLACED AND NO COVER WAS INSTALLED DUE TO INTERFERENCE OF SEAT. STATED TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET ANYTHING UNDER SEAT, OR AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY PREMATURELY. PROBLEM CANNOT BE REMEDIED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

LAST YEAR MY DODGE HEADLIGHT SWITCH STOPPED FUNCTIONING. I WAS ON THE ROAD. *AK