1997 DODGE RAM 3500 Complaints

I BOUGHT NEW A 1998 ROADTREX, CLASS B MOTORHOME ON A 1997 DODGE 3500 MAXI-VAN. SINCE NEW IT WOULD SWAY, SOMETIMES ALMOST UNCOMTROLABLE WHEN I WOULD DRIVE IN THE RUTS ON FREEWAYS" CAUSED BY TRUCKS AND STUDDED TIRES". I TRIED DIFFRENT THINGS TO TRY TO CORRECT THIS, HD SHOCKS, HIGH TIRE PRESSURES, AIR BAGS ON THE REAR AXLE. I TALK TO OTHERS THAT HAD CHANGED TIRES AND NOTHING SEEMED TO WORK. THEN I FOUND OUT THAT THE REAR AXLE IS NARROWER THAN THE FRONT AXLE, SO THE REAR TIRES WERE NOT FOLLOWING THE FRONT TIRES. THAT IS WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SWAY WHEN DRIVING IN THE RUTS. I PUT ON A PAIR OF SPACERS FROM CORRECTRACK INC. SO THE TIRES WOULD LINE UP AND THAT ELIMIATED ALMOST ALL OF THE SWAY. MY VAN NOW DRIVES LIKE A CAR, WITHOUT HAVING TO FIGHT THE SWAY AND RUTS. I THINK THAT IT IS A SAFTEY HAZZARD, THAT COULD BE EASILY CORRECTED AT THE FACTORY WITH THE INSTALLATION OF SPACERS OR A WIDER AXLE THAT LINE UP THE WHEELS. THANK YOU.

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION LINE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION LINE WERE BUILT SO CLOSED TOGETHER THAT WITHIN THE YEARS THE TRANSMISSION LIQUID CAME OFF. TS

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SAFETY HEAD LAMP. ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE HEADLAMP THAT DID NOT INCLUDE HER VEHICLE BUT IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. TS

VEHICLE'S HEADLAMP SWITCH MELTED WHILE DRIVING, RESULTED IN THE HEADLIGHTS BECOMING INOPERATIVE. *MR TURN SIGNALS, RUNNING LIGHTS LEFT BRAKE LIGHT WERE INOPERATIVE. ALL LIGHTS WORKED EXCEPT RUNNING LIGHTS WHEN TRAILER HOOKED UP. DEALER FOUND CORRODED SOCKET AND HEADLAMP SWITCH WIRING BURNT. REPLACED SOCKET AND REPLACED HEADLAMP SWITCH AND REPLACED BURNT WIRING. THERE WAS A RECALL HOWEVER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *TT

VEHICLE SUFFERED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN SHIFTED FROM "PARK INTO DRIVE." VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THREE OTHER VEHICLES. *MR

THROTTLE LINKAGE BROKE, WE HAD THROTTLE LINKAGE WELDED BECAUSE WE WERE IN A VERY REMOTE LOCATION AT THAT TIME. WE DROVE TRUCK HOME AND PARKED IT AT WHICH TIME WE RECEIVED A RECALL FROM CHRYSLER ON LINKAGE. DEALER (RINGGOLD CHRYSLER, DODGE, JEEP,,7154 NASHVILLE ST., RINGGOLD, GA. 30736 PHONE 706-935-2328) REFUSED TO DO RECALL BECAUSE LINKAGE HAD BEEN WELDED. CHRYLSER RECALL DIVISION STATES NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH LINKAGE BREAKING AND REFUSED TO AUTHORIZE FULL REPAIR. WE ARE STILL DRIVING TRUCK ON WHICH SAFETY RECALL WORK HAS NOT BEEN PERFORMED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 40-70 MPH FRONT END OF VEHICLEWAS SHAKING. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH UP A HILL THE THROTTLE CABLE AND LINKAGE BROKE WHICH RESULTED IN THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR BOARD, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*JB

A WIRE IN DASHBOARD LIGHTS OVERHEATED AND MELTED LIGHT SWITCH. SMOKE CAME INTO THE CAB. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THERE IS A RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V02400 TO REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH/RELAY. *TT

MECHANICS ALL SAID VEHICLE IS A DANGER TO DRIVE INJURY COULD RESULT, IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED. IT HAS BEEN WORKED ON FOR THIS BUCKING PROBLEM ABOUT 15+ TIMES. NEW SHOCKS, CLUTCH ASSBLY, TIRES, STAB SHOCKS, DRIVE LINES, DRIVE LINES BALANCED, CARRIER BEARINGS, REAR END, ENTIRE REAR AXLE, SPRINGS, ETC., AND MANY OTHER STABS AT THE PROBLEM HAVE BEEN DONE. THE REAR WHEELS WILL STILL BUCK SO BAD THE WHEELS COME OFF THE PAVEMENT AT TIMES. CHRYSLER SAID THAT PERSONAL SAFETY WAS NOT A CONCERN, ONLY THE BOTTOM LINE DOLLAR IN THEM BUYING THIS VEHICLE BACK. AT LEAST 2 MECHANICS, A SERVICE MGR. AND THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS LADY AT MONTANA DODGE HAVE SAID THIS PICKUP IS UNSAFE FOR ME TO BE DRIVING. THE REAR END IS NOW GOING OUT, THE TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING NOW AND IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. CHRYSLER SAID THEY WOULD BUY IT BACK, PENALIZING ME DEARLY ON MILEAGE EVEN THOUGH THE TRUCK HAS HAD PROBLEMS SINCE IT WAS NEW. MONTANA DODGE HAS TOLD CHRYSLER THEY WILL NOT WORK ON IT ANYMORE, THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY IS STILL GOOD FOR ANOTHER 25,000 MILES OR 2 MORE YEARS. THE "LAISON" PAID BY CHRYSLER IS WHO TOLD ME THAT SAFETY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PRICE CHRYSLER PAID ME, IT WAS JUST A BOTTOM LINE DOLLAR THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT. CHRYSLER TROUBLESHOOTER TECHS SENT A VIB MACHINE TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM, IT SHOWED TO BE THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSFER CASE. A USED TRANSFER CASE WAS INSTALLED, IT STILL BUCKED. USED PARTS WERE TRADED OUT FOR THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY AND IT STILL BUCKED. THIS BUCKING IS SO VIOLENT, THAT STUFF OFF THE DASH WILL GO INTO THE BACK SEAT AREA IF I ALLOW IT TO STAY IN THIS BUCKING MODE. SOMEONE WOULD 100% WITHOUT DOUBT BE INJURED SERIOUSLY OR KILLED IF THIS VEHICLE WERE TO REMAIN ON THE HIGHWAY. CHRYSLER DOESN'T SEEM TO REALLY CARE AND SAID AS MUCH THROUGH THEIR LAISON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING. I EITHER SELL IT BACK TO CHRYSLER AT A GREAT MONEY LOSS OR DRIVE A DANGEROUS VEHICLE.