1998 DODGE RAM 2500 Complaints

THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE ON A 1998 DODGE RAM 2500 TRUCK. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE IT HAPPENED. THIS HAPPENED ONE BLOCK FROM OUR HOME. THE TRUCK JUST DIED AND A LOT OF SMOKE WAS RELEASED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. A FEW MOMENTS LATER FIRE ERUPTED AND THERE IS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK. *NM

THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ALREADY INSPECTED BY THE DEALER. A FEW DAYS LATER THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MEINEKE BECAUSE OF A SQUEAKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE NEVER PASSED INSPECTION DUE TO NUMEROUS PROBLEMS FOUND WITH THE VEHICLE. *TS THE MEINEKE TECH STATED THAT EH VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE PASSED INSPECT DUE TO NUMEROUS VIOLATIONS. THE VEHICLE NEEDS 2 WHEEL BEARINGS, TRACK BAR, STEERING SHOCK, 2 HUB ASSEMBLIES, BRAKE LINES, OXYGEN SENSOR AND A NEW LICENSE PLATE BULB. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER TO GET HIS MONEY BACK BUT THEY REFUSED. *NM

DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT ON HIS 2004 THOR JAZZ 5TH WHEEL TRAILER. IT IS THE ORIGINAL TIRE. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FENDER. CONSUMER CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE THE DAY BEFORE. HE TOOK THE TIRE TO A GOODYEAR DEALER BECAUSE THERE WASN'T A CARLISLE DEALER NEARBY. HE WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO SIGN OF THE TIRE RUNNING LOW AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE TIRE.*AK

HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH A 1998 DODGE RAM 2500. TRANSMISSION OVERHEATS AND "TRANSTEMP" LIGHT COMES ON AFTER OVERDRIVE SHUTS OF WHILE DOING HIGHWAY DRIVING. TRUCK HAS HIGH MILES BUT I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS ATTRIBUTED TO A POORLY DESIGNED TORQUE CONVERTER MALFUNCTIONING AND IS NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE AGE, MILES OR NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE LEARNED IT IS COMMON TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT OR REPAIRED ONE OR MORE TIMES DURING THE DURATION OF THE TRUCKS LIFE. IF WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IS TRUE THEN THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE BUSINESS PRACTICE FROM DODGE AND THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING.*AK

I DROVE THE TRUCK AS NORMAL AND THE BLOCK DEVELOPED A CRACK IN THE RIGHT SIDE THE FAILURE IS THE WATER JACKET OF THE BLOCK THAT KEEPS THE COOLING FLUID INSIDE THE ENGINE. THIS MEANS I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK WITHOUT FILLING THE COOLING FLUID EVERY 300 MILES. THIS IS A 53 BLOCK MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THESE!!!!! I CONTACTED DODGE AND THE SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I WILL NEED A NEW BLOCK/ENGINE...$6500 FOR A NEW ONE..$3500 FOR USED. *JB

THE LIFT PUMP THAT FEEDED THE INJECTOR PUMP FAILED, AND WAS COSTLY TO REPLACE IT. VEHICLE LOST POWER. *AK *SC

ON MARCH 2003 WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED, AND WAS DRIVEN TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, WHO REPLACED BOTH FUEL PUMPS AT MANUFACTURER'S EXPENSE. ONE YEAR LATER VEHICLE HAS THE SAME SYMPTOM AS THE PREVIOUS YEAR. DEALERSHIP INDICATED AGAIN IT WAS THE INJECTOR FUEL PUMP, BUT WAS NOT ANY LONGER UNDER WARRANNTY. JUST THE PART WILL COST CONSUMER $1400 PLUS LABOR. *AK *TC

HORN FAILS TO SOUND APPROXIMATELY 60% OF THE TIME. FORCE REQUIRED AND SIZE OF ACTIVATING AREA ON STEERING WHEEL WERE SEVERELY OVERLOOKED BY DESIGN ENGINEERS. I AM A 6' TALL PHYSICALLY ACTIVE MALE AND I HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME SOUNDING HORN (VERY DANGEROUS) *JB

CONSUMER PULLED UP TO A STOP SIGN WITH CLUTCH ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED THEN LURCHED FORWARD. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THE PILOT BEARING/CLUTCH FAILED.*AK THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP AND HAD A NEW CLUTCH KIT INSTALLED AND THE VEHICLE TESTED OK. *TC

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE RIGHT. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ROTORS AND CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED IT TWICE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK