1997 Dodge RAM 1500

SEATS WILL NOT RECLINE NOR FLIP FORWARD. THIS HAS CAUSED A BACK SEAT PASSENGER TO FALL GETTING OUT OF THE 1997 DODGE RAM BECOMING INJURED. VEHICLE MISSES, STUTTERS AND ENGINE PULSES AT 50 MPH. HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE FIRST ONWER. TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND STILL DOES IT. DEALER CAN NOT FIND PROBLEM AFTER SPENDING $900.00 ON A TUNE-EP AND DIAGNOSTICS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. DOING SINCE FIRST OWNER. DEALER CHECKS, CHARGED HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS AND WITHIN 8 HOURS OF USE LIGHT COMES BACK ON AND STAYS LIGHT. OCCASIONALLY IT WILL BLINK THEN REMAIN ON. TAKEN TO DEALER AGAIN AND THEY STATED THIS VEHICLE IS SENSITIVE EVEN A GAS CAP NOT TIGHT WILL TRIGGER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS LIGHT REMAINS ON, WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY ENGINE - NOTHING! *NM

I HAD THE EXHAUST SYSTEM REPLACED.WHEN I RETURNED TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE FROM THE SHOP I WAS INFORMED THAT A DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS THE CAUSE OF A RATTLE AND THAT I SHOULD RETURN TO THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE CONVERTER IS UNDER WARRANTY TO 80K MILES. THAT EVENING I CALLED DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPLAINED IN DETAIL WHAT WORK HAD BEEN DONE TO THE SYSTEM. MY SHOP TOLD ME TO MAKE SURE I INFORMED THEM OF A WELD. DODGE CS SAID NO PROBLEM THAT THE CONVERTER WOULD BE COVERED.UPON TAKING THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE CONVERTER BECAUSE I HAD ALTERED THE SYSTEM BY REPLACING THE FACTORY EXHAUST."THE ALTERING THAT WAS DONE WAS THE FRONT CLAMP WHICH WAS RUSTED IN PLACE HAD TO BE CUT OFF THE SYSTEM AND REPLACED WITH A WELDED CONNECTER" WHEN I CALLED DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE I SPOKE WITH A WOMAN NAMED BOBBI I INFORMED HER THAT THE ONLY REASON I REPLACED THE EXHAUST WAS IT SOUNDED LIKE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE MUFFLER SHE SAID "WHY DIDNT YOU TAKE IT TO THE DEALER IN THE FIRST PLACE"I RESPONED THAT THE DEALER CHARGED CLOSE TO $500 FOR THE SAME THING I HAD DONE AT AN EXHAUST REPAIR SHOP FOR $300 AND THAT IT WAS THE PREMATURE WEAR OF SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE LASTED MUCH LONGER IE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SHE SAID THAT I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND PAID FOR THE WORK IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THAT IF THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD THEY WOULD HAVE REPLACED IT ,IF IT WAS THE MUFFLER I WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY THEM $77 FOR 1 HOUR OF DIAGNOSTIC REGARDLESS OF WHAT WAS ONE. I PAID $300 FOR AN EXHAUST THAT I DIDNT NEED BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON MY TRUCK THAT SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY TO 80K MILES.I NOW HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER $250 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO BRING MY TRUCK BACK IN LINE WITH MY LOCAL EMISSIONS BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THE WARRANTY BECAUSE ONE CLAMP WHICH WAS RUSTED IN PLACE WAS CUT OFF OF THE FACTORY PIECE WHEN I HAD IT REPLACED.

1997 DODGE RAM 1500. MFG CLAIMING NEEDING ENGINE REPLACEMENT DUE TO SLUDGE BUILD-UP FROM POOR MAINTENANCE, HOWEVER, MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN KEPT BEYOND RECOMMENDATION AND IS DOCUMENTED. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE IN THE SHOP SINCE PURCHASED USED 3 YEARS AGO, ALL WITH OIL ISSUES AND ONLY NOW IS THE ISSUE W/ SLUDGE MENTIONED. AFTER CHECKING COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND THOUSANDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO THIS ONE WHERE PEOPLE WERE TOLD THEY NEED AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT DUE TO SLUDGE. MULTIPLE CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS SEEM TO BE PENDING ON THIS AS WELL. I HAVE TALKED WITH MANY MECHANICS WHO ADVISE THAT MOST DODGE RAM TRUCKS THEY SEE HAVE THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM BECAUSE THE ENGINE'S COMPRESSION IS SET TO HIGH AND IT CAUSES THE OIL TO SLUDGE UP. MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN KEPT, OIL CHANGES EVERY 1500 MILES. LESS THAN 10K MILES PUT ON THE VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASED WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY (WHICH WILL NOT COVER THIS.) . *NLM