2003 DODGE RAM 3500 Complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER HIT THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING A BLOODY LIP. THE NON-SERVICE DEALER EXPRESSED THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN.

2003 3500 DRW 4X4 DIESEL WHILE TRAVELING ON IMPROVED ROADS/HIWAYS ABOVE 40 MPH VEHICLE HITS POTHOLE, EXPANSION JOINT OR UNEVEN ROADWAY, FRONT END STARTS TO JUMP VIOLENTLY, WHOLE VEHICLE RATTLES AND SHAKES UNTIL BRAKES ARE APPLIED, SERVICE TECH. FROM DODGE DEALER WAS PRESENT DURING DUPLICATION OF EVENT, HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR OVER 1 WEEK AND THEY HAVE REPLACED TIE ROD ENDS AND BALL JOINTS AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, CONTACTED DAMILER/CHRYSLER AND THEY STATE THAT CUSTOMER REPLACED SHOCKS WITH AFTERMARKET PRODUCT. VEHICLE UNUSABLE IN THIS CONDITION, VERY GOOD POSSIBILITY OF INJURY OR DEATH AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM

A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BEGAN TO HAVE FORWARD MOVEMENT DURING VEHICLE LAUNCH AND STOPPING. UPON INSPECTION OF THE SEAT MECHANISMS, A CRACK IN ONE OF THE SIX WAY SEAT ADJUSTMENT GEAR HOUSINGS WAS OBSERVED. ON OCTOBER 28, 2006, THE GEAR HOUSING COMPLETELY FAILED CAUSING DRASTIC MOVEMENT OF THE SEAT. AT THIS TIME, RESOLUTION APPEARS TO BE TO REPLACE THE EFFECTIVE PARTS AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. THIS FAILURE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. A SEAT FAILURE IN AN ACCIDENT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. I KNOW FROM WEBSITES SUCH AS TURBO DIESEL REGISTER THAT THIS PROBLEM IS FAIRLY COMMON. A SAFETY RECALL WOULD SEEM TO BE IN ORDER. JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE STEERING COLUMN IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER WAS ALERTED NO INSPECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 7/13/2006 - THE STEERING COLUMN IGNITION SWITCH (PART # 56045112) BURNED BETWEEN WIRE TERMINAL 1 AND 8. THE IGNITION SWITCH CONNECTOR (PART # 5183441AA) WAS ALSO BURNED BETWEEN TERMINAL 1 AND 8 IN CIRCUIT C1. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT STATED UPON INSPECTION OF THE WIPER, THE KEY WAS MISSING FROM THE KEYWAY SLOT THAT KEEPS THE WIPER ARM ON THE SHAFT WHICH ENABLES THE WIPER TO TURN. THIS MISSING PART CAUSED THE GEARS TO BE STRIPPED. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/27/06. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE GOING OVER A HILL AT 5 MPH THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

WHEN TOWING WITH THE VEHICLE IT DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. HAVE TO PULLOVER LET TRUCK REST FOR ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES BEFORE TRUCK WILL MOVE WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, WITH THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING IN PARK, IT BEGAN TO REVERSE DOWN THE BOAT DOCK. THIS DAMAGED THE BOAT TRAILER AND THE DOCK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL LETTER #05V462000, FOR THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ALTHOUGH THE RECALL WORK HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED, THE CONTACT BELIEVES THIS WILL REPAIR THE PROBLEM.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS INITIALLY STARTED, THERE IS A HESITATION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THIS IS INTERMITTENT AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE A PROBLEM. THE COMPUTER HAS BEEN CHECKED FOR CODES AND THE WIRING WAS CHECKED.

UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS AND BEARINGS OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION ON A DODGE RAM 3500 4X4 TRUCK. MUCH LIKE THE DODGE DAKOTA TRUCKS AND THE DODGE DURANGO. *NM