1997 DODGE RAM 3500 Complaints

1997 DODGE RAM 3500 TRUCK HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRAILER HITCH. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRAILER HITCH IS DEFECTIVE AND WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT HITCH. *NJ WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE HITCH ON THE TRUCK LITERALLY BROKE AND THE TRAILER HIT THE GROUND. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD ABOUT A RECALL, HOWEVER WHEN SHE CONTACTED CHRYSLER, THEY TOLD HER THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR HER VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *JB

HEAD LIGHTS GO OUT WIRES GET HOT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON MY MODEL TRUCK ( 1997 DODGE RAM 3500 ) BUT I WAS TOLD MY TRUCK WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,592 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND PLUG MELTED CAUSING ALL LIGHTS EXCEPT HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL. THE CONSUMER STATED REPLACED SWITCH AND PLUG BUT CAN'T FIND PARK RELAY. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

INCIDENT OCCURRED AT HOME/VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION. GOT IN DRIVER SEAT TO MOVE VEHICLE AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON/. NO ACCIDENT HAD OCCURRED. OWNER WAS INJURED BY BLOW TO THE HEAD, CAUSING BRUISING AND HEADACHES. NO PARTS REPLACED DUE TO INSURANCE COMPANY AND MANUFACTURER NOT FEELING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PROBLEM. AIRBAG) NO LONGER IN USE, AND ALL FUNCTIONS ON STEERING WHEEL DID NOT WORK.*AK

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

STRONG SMELL IN CAB SEEMINGLY ONLY AT NIGHT. GOT PULLED OVER FOR NO TAIL OR RUNNING LIGHTS BEHIND THE CAB. THEY WERE WORKING EARLIER. HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS MELTING CAUSING NASTY SMELL WHICH RESULTED IN A BAD HEADACHE. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS 1997 DODGE RAM 3500, HAS HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 1997. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE ONE IT COMES TO A STOP, AND IF HE APPLIES TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE ENGINE ENGAGES TOO QUICKLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN 1999 HE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY ROLAND CHEVROLET FREE OF CHARGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT 2 MONTHS AFTER THE NEW TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACE IT CONTINUED TO EXHIBIT THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP NOW INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IF HE WANTS ANY REPAIRS DONE TO THE TRANSMISSION HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE IT WON'T MOVE, UNTIL HE PRESSES ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS HAPPENS EVERYDAY, AND HAS PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION AFTER COMING TO A STOP.

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAS BURNED OUT TWICE WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. THE DEALER HAS TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THE REASON HE HAS TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS BECAUSE HE TOWED A TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR IN THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH HIMSELF. THE WIRING WAS MELTED TO THE SWITCH. *AK

BOTH EXTERIOR MIRRORS GET OUT OF ADJUSTMENT WHILE DRIVING OR CLOSING DOORS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AS A LONE DRIVER NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE RIGHT-HAND MIRROR. ALSO WHEN CHANGING LANES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, DISCOVERING THE LEFT-HAND MIRROR IS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT. I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE LANES BLINDLY. THE MIRRORS HAVE BEEN FALLING OUT OF ADJUSTMENT SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THEY FELL OUT OF ADJUSTMENT WHEN I WAS DOING A TEST DRIVE. THE SALESMAN SAID THEY WOULD BE TIGHTENED, BUT THEY HAVE NOT STAYED IN PLACE. I AM INQUIRING IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL NOTICE? I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OVER THE INTERNET ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AND NO ONE HAS COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH FOR 30 MINUTES ON THE HIGHWAY, HEAT AND A BURNING SMELL WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ON INSPECTION, THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE SWITCH WAS HOT TO THE TOUCH AND A BURNED RUBBER SMELL WAS NOTICEABLE. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND RECOMMENDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR AS THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHT; HEADLIGHT SWITCH (99V024000). WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.