1996 DODGE RAM 3500 Complaints

CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO SHOULDER 0FF ROAD AND LEFT VEHICLE RUNNING TO ASSIST ANOTHER MOTORIST. WHEN HE RETURNED TO VEHICLE, THERE WAS SMOKE INSIDE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH DASHBOARD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT HEADLIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHEN THIS PROBLEM FIRST HAPPENED IN 1998, WE TOOK IT TO THE DODGE DEALER HERE IN CHEYENNE, WY AND THEY SAID THE CALIBRATER WAS BAD AND FIXED THE RIGHT SIDE ONLY. WHEN IT STARTED PULLING ON THE LEFT SIDE, IT WAS WORSE. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE FRONTAGE ROAD WHEN A CAR STOPPED SHORT IN FRONT OF HER TO MAKE A TURN AND SHE HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES HARD AND IT JERKED HER INTO THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THERE WAS ALMOST A HEAD ON COLLISION. WE TOOK IT TO OUR MASTER MECHANIC AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND HE TOLD US THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. HE ALSO SAID YOU CAN'T ONLY FIX ON SIDE. THE FACT THAT MY WIFE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THAT CHRYSLER REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT IS VERY UPSETTING. THE COST TO FIX THIS WAS $500.00 AND THAT WAS ONLY BECAUSE MY WIFE WORKS AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS FIXED. OUR MECHANIC HAD COME FROM THE DODGE DEALERSHIP AS A MASTER TECHNICIAN AND ALSO DRIVES A DODGE. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH CHRYSLER AND THEY NEED TO HELD RESPONSIBLE AND FIX THE PROBLEM. WE DON'T NEED TO LOSE OUR LOVED ONES BECAUSE CHRYSLER DOES'NT FEEL THIS IS A PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY FIVE MPH AND PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY A-FRAME WELD BROKE, CAUSING FRAME TO DISCONNECT AND DROP TO GROUND. DEALERSHIP IS IN POSSESSION OF VEHICLE, AND NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE FOR REASON OF THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN VEHICLE RUNS OVER A BUMPS OR POTHOLE IT CAUSES A SEVERE VIBRATION. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK

DURING WHEEL ALIGNMENT IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE WELDS ON THE RECTANGULAR TUBING HAVE DISINTEGRATED, LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEELS ON FRAME .*AK A WELDER AND FRONT END SPECIALIST AGREED THAT THE WELD WAS IMPROPERLY DONE, THE FRAME HAD SEPARATED ENTIRELY ON THE LEFT FRONT, APPROXIMATELY HALF WAY ON THE RIGHT, THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS THE STABILIZER AND THE TIE ROD. *SLC

TOW PACKAGE BENEATH VEHICLE BROKE AWAY, CAUSING BOLTS TO LOOSEN AND HITCH TO BREAK AWAY. METAL THAT GOES TO THE FRAME WAS BREAKING AWAY DURING TRAVELS OVER 5 YEAR PERIOD. NOT COVERED BY MANUFACTURER. *AK

I AM REPORTING A DEFECT ON A ORIGINAL FRAME WELD. THE STABILIZER BAR THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE FRAME THAT KEEPS YOUR VEHICLE FROM SHAKING HAS SEPARATED. I HAVE HAD 3 WELDERS LOOK AT THIS VEHICLE TO REPAIR IT AND THEY ALL SAY THEY WONT FOR THEY DONT WANT TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR IT, BE CAUSE IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN GOING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE INJURED. I CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND THEY STATED TO ME THAT I SHOULD CONSIDER THE MILEAGE, WELL I HAVE NOT HAD ONE PROBLEM WITH MY ENGINE AND WITHOUT A FRAME A ENGINE IS REALLY NO GOOD. THEY ALSO STATED TO ME THAT MINE WAS THE FIRST ONE THEY EVER HEARD OF, WHICH I DONT HARDLY BELEIVE THAT. THANK YOU FOR YOU RTIME IN ADVANCE. *AK

FUEL HOSE FROM GAS TANK TO FUEL HAS DETERIORATED, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO START, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND STEERING FELT REAL LOOSE. VEHICLE WAS NOT CONTROLLABLE. WOULD DRIFT FROM SIDE TO SIDE. HEARD GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. EVERY TIME VEHICLE HIT A BUMP IT WOULD JERK EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS REPAIRED. CURRENTLY, WOULD NEED REPAIRING FOR SAME PROBLEM.*AK STEERING GEAR WAS REPLACED TWICE. *SLC

DOT INSPECTION FOUND CRACKS ON THE HITCH PLATFORM, WHICH WAS A FACTORY INSTALLED COMPONENT. *JB