1996 DODGE RAM 2500 Complaints

I WENT TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND THE BRAKE PETAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I REAR ENDED AN SUV. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP TO FIND THAT THREE OF THE FOUR BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT AND THE ONE THAT STAYED INTACT WAS LEAKING. I DID HEAVY DAMAGE TO THE SUV AS WELL AS PUSHED IN MY BUMPER AND DAMAGED THE HOOD. ALSO THE APPLICATION OF THE EMEREGENCY BRAKE DID NOTHING. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACTED STATED WHEN STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, A BURNING ODOR WAS NOTICED AND THE PARKING/RUNNING LIGHTS HAD FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FUSES WERE CHECKED AND FOUND TO BE GOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE MECHANIC. ON INSPECTION, THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED AS A FAILURE TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, DUE TO MELTED WIRING. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. UPDATED 12/05/06. *JB

SYMPTOMS: AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATES RANDOMLY, HORN SOUNDS INTERMITTENTLY, CRUISE CONTROL HAS STOPPED WORKING. A CASUAL SEARCH OF THE INTERNET SHOWS THESE THREE SYMPTOMS OCCUR QUITE FREQUENTLY ON CHRYSLER/DODGE AND PLYMOUTH VEHICLES. THE CAUSE IS A FAULTY CLOCKSPRING. THE RISK IS HAVING THE AIRBAG DISENGAGE, I.E. WILL NOT DEPLOY. CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED RECALLS FOR A NUMBER OF VEHICLES FOR THIS DEFECT, THE PROBLEM IS THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR MANY MORE VEHICLES THAT HAVE THIS SAFETY DEFECT. CHRYSLER CLAIMS A BAD INSTALLATION AT CERTAIN PLANTS, PROBLEM IS THE DEFECT OCCURS ON MANY MORE VEHICLES THEN RECALLED MADE AT OTHER PLANTS. COST IS IN THE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR. USER REPAIR IS NOT ADVISED SINCE THE AIRBAG MUST BE REMOVED. *JB

OIL PRESSURE GAUGE JUMPING FROM WITH THE UNIT IN DRIVE OR ON THE ROAD. WANT TO KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PLASTIC TRANSMISSION COOLER FITTINGS MELTED CAUSING ALL OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK OUT VERY QUICKLY. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 97V084000, REGARDING THE POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: COOLING UNIT AND LINES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

I HAVE A 1996 DODGE RAM 2500 4X4 WITH 5.9L TURBO DIESEL. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SPRING/SHOCK TOWER IS RIPPING FROM THE FRAME, DRIVER SIDE IS CRACKED. DODGE WILL DO NOTHING BE CAUSE IT DOESN'T FALL WITHIN THEIR RECALL DATES. SAFETY RECALL NO.835. THIS AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED MEANS NOTHING, MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT EARLY SUMMER OF 1995, NOT SURE EXACTLY. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM I AM WITHOUT A VEHICLE. CHRYSLER TOLD ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT, AND SO I AM. [XXX]. THANKS, [XXX]. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

DT: CONTACT STATED HE HAD A FUEL LEAK. HE ALSO CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS BREAKING, 6 OUT OF 7 STRANDS WERE BROKEN. THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AT THIS TIME. REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE VEHICLE. *NM UPDATED 11/7/2005. WHILE SEARCHING FOR A NEW THROTTLE CABLE THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THE CABLE IN HIS VEHICLE WAS OF THE TYPE INVOLVED IN A RECALL. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT SMELLED A GASOLINE ODOR AND WAS UNAWARE OF WHERE THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM. THIS CONTINUED FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT GASOLINE WAS DRIPPING FROM THE GAS TANK ONTO THE PAVEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE SHOP. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED A CRACK IN THE GAS TANK. THE CRACK WAS ACTUALLY ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK AT THE FASTENERS AND MOUNTS THAT ATTACHED TO THE TANK TO THE TRUCK. THE MECHANIC HAD NO IDEA WHY THIS FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MECHANIC CONTACTED CHRYSLER IN ORDER TO FIND A REPLACEMENT, AND THEY STATED THEY DID NOT HAVE THE TANKS AVAILABLE FOR THAT MODEL YEAR. THE MECHANIC ALSO SEARCHED FOR AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENTS AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. AT THIS POINT THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS DUE TO THE LACK OF PARTS. THE CONSUMER WAS WAITING IN LIMBO FOR A REPLACEMENT TANK THAT COULD NOT BE FOUND AT THIS TIME. *AK

1996 A518 DODGE RAM TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. I HAVE HEARD THAT THEY ARE AWFUL TRANSMISSIONS AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE A518 TRANSMISSION FOR 1996 DODGE RAM TRUCKS!*JB

REAR FUEL TANK STRAP BROKE ALLOWING TANK TO DRAG ON ROADWAY RIPPED FUEL LINES AT TANK. *NM