1997 Dodge RAM 1500

DODGE HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WHEN THE MANUFACTURER SENT OUT A BULLETIN STATING SINCE APRIL ALL TRANSTEC GASKET SETS AND OVER HAUL KITS HAVE CONTAINED AN UPDATED SEAL FOR THE DIRECT(FRONT) CLUTCH. THIS SEAL HAS A WIDER BASE THAN PREVIOUS SEAL THIS IS TO COMPENSATE FOR THE GROOVE THAT HAS POSSIBLY BEEN MACHINED INCORRECTLY FROM THE FACTORY IT HAS BEEN PROVEN IN EXTENSIVE FIELD TESTING TO CORRECT DELAY IN REVERSE SLIPPING 2-3 AND NO 2-3 COMPLAINTS TRANSTEC #28313 IS MADE OF VITON TO RESIST WEAR AND HEAT DETERIORATION ALL TRANSTEC KITS WITH THE DATE CODE OF E99 OR LATER CONTAIN THE NEW PART. *TS *NLM *DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***769353

THIS IS THE SECOND COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS AT 66174 MILES. SO THE FACTORY REPLACEMENT LASTED ONLY 1335 MILES. THIS TRUCK IS USED PRIMARILY FOR TRANSPORTATION AND DRIVEN PRIMARILY ON THE HIGHWAY. IT HAS RARELY BEEN USED FOR OTHER THAN VERY LIGHT DUTY USE AND EVEN THEN THE MANUFACTURES RECOMMENDED LIMITS HAVE NEVER BEEN EXCEEDED. THE FIRST INCIDENCE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE WAS REPORTED DUE TO THE INABILITY OF THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AFTER FOUR REPAIR TRIPS AND UNTIL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION ALSO COMPLETELY FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN 1335 MILES.*AK

TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. TRANSMISSION GOVENOR REPLACED AT A COST OF $450 (INCLUDED A TRANSMISSION SERVICE WHICH I DIDN'T AUTHORIZE BUT ASSUMED WAS DONE AS PART OF THE REPAIR). CALLED CHRYSLER REGARDING WHAT I DEEMED AN INAPPROPRIATE FAILURE AND RECIEVED A REFUND FOR PARTS & LABOR TO REPLACE GOVENOR ONLY. WAS NOT TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP OF THE RECALL (#722) ON THE TRANSMISSION COOLANT QUICK CONNECT. WAS INFORMED OF THE RECALL BY CHRYSLER WHEN THEY CALLED ME TO TELL MY CHECK WAS BEING MAILED. HAVE SINCE EXPERIENCE ONE EPISODE OF WEIRD TRANSMISSION NOISES WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO REVERSE (BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY). HAVE SINCE RESEARCED THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND IT ENDEMIC TO 97 DODGE RAMS. WAITING ANY DAY NOW FOR TOTAL TRAMSMISSION FAILURE. I AGREE WITH THOSE OF YOU WHO RELATE TO THIS VEHICLE AS A LEMON -- WILL NEVER AGAIN BUY ANOTHER AMERICAN MADE VEHCILE UNTIL THEY BEGIN CONCERNING THEMSELVES WITH QUALITY AND RELIABILITY. NLM

MY FUEL PUMP QUIT WORKING, HAD TO HAVE TRUCK TOWED TO DEALER TO FIX,(UNDER WARRANTY) WHILE THERE I COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION (BANGING GOING INTO 3RD GEAR,DRIVE SHAFT CLUNK), WAS TOLD WE SERVICED TRANNY, EVERYTHING OK. TRUCK WAS STILL ACTING THE SAME.THEN AT 33,000/34,000 MI.TRANY STARTED SHIFTING ERRATIC FROM 2-3RD GEAR,HAD DEALER CHECK AND RESERVICE TRANY, SCAN SYSTEM, THEY ROAD TESTED VEHICLE, SAID EVERYTHING IS OK. NOW THE NEXT DAY,TRANY SLIPS GOING INTO 3RD GEAR,(ENGINE OVERREAVES BETWEEN 2-3RD GEAR). CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CHARGE ME TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN. I TALKED TO A COUPLE OF TRANY SHOPS AND WAS TOLD DODGE HAS DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS, FOR MY YEAR VEHICLE.*AK

ENGINE HAS ALWAYS PINGED ON REGULAR GAS - 5+ TRIPS TO DODGE FOR SERVICE AND THEY NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM. AT ONE POINT, THEY POURED FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER IN THE ENGINE WHICH IS SOMETHING THEY TELL YOU NOT TO DO WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM COMPLETELY SHOT AT 50,000 MILES IN OCTOBER, 2001. A MONTH LATER, MY REAR-END WENT UP AT A COST OF $1345. TWO WEEKS LATER, MY TRANSMISSION WENT UP AT A COST OF $1700. IN JUNE OF 2001, MY FUEL PUMP WENT UP AT A COST OF $216. I DID NOT HAVE ANY OF THESE REPAIRS DONE AT DODGE ALTHOUGH I PURCHASED DODGE PARTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NEVER FIXED ANYTHING WITHOUT EITHER SCREWING UP SOMETHING ELSE OR JUST NOT PROPERLY REPAIRING THE PROBLEMS. I CALLED THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR REPAIR PRICES AND THEY WERE MUCH HIGHER THAN INDEPENDENT SERVICE SHOPS. I WROTE THEM FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THESE REPAIR COSTS BUT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST ME BECAUSE REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE AT DODGE. THEY SAID I SHOULD HAVE ASKED THEM FOR HELP FIRST BUT I COULD NOT WAIT FOR A RESPONSE FROM THEM BECAUSE I NEEDED MY VEHICLE RIGHT AWAY. I ALSO DID NOT TRUST THEM TO PROPERLY REPAIR MY VEHICLE. OF COURSE, MY TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY FOR ALL OF THE PROBLEMS. I EVEN TOOK THEM TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT FOR THE ENGINE PING THEY COULD NOT CORRECT AND THEY BROUGHT IN 4 HIGH DOLLAR LAWYERS, SO, OF COURSE, IOST THE CASE. I HAVE NOT YET HAD MY AIR CONDITIONER REPAIRED. I AM GOING TO CONTACT THEM TO SEE IF THEY WILL REPAIR IT WITH SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ALTHOUGH I AM NOT SURE IF I SHOULD TRUST THEM AT THIS POINT. I HAVE SPENT A TOTAL OF $3,331 IN REPAIRS OVER THE PAST 3 MONTHS AND AM NOT FINISHED YET. WHAT A LEMON! THEY ALSO COULD NOT PERFORM A SIMPLE OIL CHANGE PROPERLY-THEY DID NOT REPLACE THE OIL PLUG AND THE OIL WAS LEAKING.*AK