1997 DODGE RAM 3500 Complaints

TL* THE DRIVER OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WITH THE RUNNING LIGHTS ON, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING SHUT OFF. THE INTERIOR LIGHT SWITCH ALSO BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V024000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

OWNER/DRIVER WAS MAKING A RIGHTHAND TURN INTO A PARKING LOT AND WAS GOING ABOUT THREE MILES PER HOUR. AS HE WAS TURNING WITH HIS ARM ACROSS THE STEERING WHEEL, THE AIRBAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED. DRIVER'S ARMS WERE PUSHED TO THE BACK WINDOW BY THE IMPACT. THE TRUCK FILLED WITH SMOKE. DRIVER'S RIGHT WRIST WAS FRACTURED AND OWNER SUFFERED TEAR IN RIGHT ROTATOR CUFF THAT REQUIRED SURGERY TO CORRECT. HE WILL NOW NEED PHYSICAL THERAPY. DRIVER IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING PAIN IN LEFT ROTATOR CUFF AND WANTS TO HAVE IT EXAMINED. DODGE WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE. *TT

I HAVE OWNED A 1995 DODGE 2500 AND A 1997 DODGE 3500. I HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH A STEERING PROBLEM WITH THESE MODELS. IF A POTHOLE OR RAILROAD TRACKS ARE HIT AT A SPEED OF AT LEAST 55 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENED WITH MY 1995 I SPENT OVER $400.00 IN JUST PARTS REPLACING ALMOST ALL OF THE STEERING PARTS. NOW THIS IS HAPPENING WITH THE 1997. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC AND IN MY OPINION IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD END UP RESULTING IN DEATH IF NOT CORRECTED. I HAVE YET TO HAVE THIS CHECKED OUT YET ON THE 1997. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT PARTS WEAR OUT ON TRUCKS IT SHOULD NOT PEOPLES LIVES IN DANGER WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THE ONLY TIME THIS HAPPENS IS WHEN A BUMP OF SOME SORT STARTS THE PROCESS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500 THAT SECURES A COSCO TOURIVA OVERHEAD SHIELD CHILD RESTRAINT, MODEL NUMBER UNKNOWN, MANUFACTURED JUNE 1, 2009. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A METAL COMPONENT OF THE RESTRAINT HARNESS FRACTURED AND THE CHILD WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND CHANGING LANES WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKE PEDAL EXHIBITED AN UNUSUAL CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE WITHIN THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, WHICH WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,700.

DASH STARTED TO BRAKE ON MY 1997 DODGE 3500 TRUCK LEAVING SHARP EDGES, I HAVE LOST APPROX 50% OF THE TOP OF DASH EXPOSING ELECTRICAL WIRING AT PRESENT UNABLE TO USE A/C AS SMALL PIECES OF PLASTIC FLY UP OCCASIONALLY I HAVE A DASH MAT AT THE PRESENT TIME AND STILL CANNOT USE A/C SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE CONCERNING THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE NO-ONE IN FLORIDA IS COMFORTABLE DRIVING WITH NO A/C AND I DON NOT THINK I SHOULD DRIVE WITH A MAT COVERING THE DASH FOR THE NEXT 5 OR SO YEARS I HAVE COMPLAINED TO DODGE AND THEY JUST IGNORE THE FACT THEY USE DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. *TR

I OWN A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500 AND THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT ON IT AFTER HALF AN HOUR OR LESS OF HEADLIGHT USE AND SOMETIMES IT BLOWS A FUSE AND NO TAIL LIGHTS ARE ON AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND CHANGE THE FUSE SO I CAN CONTINUE MY COURSE. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO PULL DOWN ON THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO GET LIGHTS TO STAY ON. ANOTHER THING IS THAT THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED AND THE PLASTIC IS FALLING APART AND THIS NEEDS TO GET CORRECTED BEFORE SOME ACCIDENT HAPPENS TO ALL DODGE OWNERS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THE TOP OF MY DASHBOARD STARTED CRACKING AND STICK OUT, IT SNAPPED OF EASY AS IT WAS VERY BRITTLE. I HAVE APPROX 40% OF MY DASH MISSING. IF THE FLORIDA SUN DID THIS- WHAT WILL IT DO TO THE WIRING THAT IS SHOWING THIS I BELIEVE IS A MATERIAL DEFECT AND DODGE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

AT ENGINE OIL CHANGE, SERVICEMAN NOTICED FUEL TANK HANGING BY AFT FUEL HANGER STRAP ONLY. FIRST FAILURE OF THE FUEL TANK HANGER STRAP ASSEMBLY. HAD THE TANK COMPLETELY FAILED ON THE ROAD, THE 35 GALLONS OF DIESEL FUEL COULD HAVE CAUSED A BURNED UP VEHICLE AND OR INJURY/ LOSS OF LIFE.*DT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE 3500. THE VEHICLE HAS FALCON TIRES, SIZE LT24575R16 (NA). ON JULY 3, 2009, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRE WITH A SPARE. THE TIRE HAD APPROXIMATELY 5,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE'S VIN AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 08/04/09 *BF UPDATED 08/06/09.*JB