1997 Dodge RAM 1500

CONSUMER COMPLAINT IN REFERENCE TO A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCK WITH DEFECTIVE PAINT AND HEADLIGHT SWITCH, REQUEST A RECALL INVESTIGATION. *TS THE PRIMER WAS NOT BONDING TO THE METAL AND AS A RESULT THE PAINT WAS PEELING OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND FOUND THAT THE DODGE 3500 SERIES PICKUP WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES HIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE IT IS SAFETY RELATED. *NM

WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY NEAR PHILADELPHIA, PA AT THE 65 MPH SPEED LIMIT, TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING. PUMPING IT DID NOTHING. I HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN THE TWO LANES TO THE RIGHT OF ME, I SWERVED AND GOT THE TRUCK ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN VEHICLES TO MY RIGHT, I WOULD HAVE REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, CAUSING A MULTIPLE VEHICLE CHAIN-REACTION TYPE OF CRASH. INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE ALONG THE HIGHWAY SHOWED BRAKE FLUID RUNNING OUT OF THE BRAKE LINE THAT RUNS FROM BELOW THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE BRAKE PROPORTIONING VALVE NEAR THE PROPORTIONING VALVE. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT BRAKE SYSTEMS COULD HAVE A TOTAL, ABRUPT FAILURE AS THIS SYSTEM DID. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. THEIR DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE STEEL BRAKE LINE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND HAD RUSTED THROUGH. ALL STEEL BRAKE LINES ON THE VEHICLE WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY ALL WERE RUST COLORED AND SHOWED CORROSION. THIS TRUCK HAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS USED AS A SECOND VEHICLE AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND WELL MAINTAINED. THE GARAGE ALONG WITH MYSELF ARE AMAZED THAT THE BRAKE LINES SHOW THIS TYPE AND AMOUNT OF CORROSION. HOW MANY OTHER FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED WITH THESE TRUCKS? THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SEVERE CRASH WITH EXCESSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE AND/OR BODILY INJURY. *JB

WE OWN A 1997 DODGE RAM TRUCK. WHILE I WAS BUCKLING TWO INFANTS SEATS IN OUR REAR SEAT USING THE OVER THE SHOULDER BELTS, THE LOCKING PLATES THAT KEEP THE BELT TIGHT AROUND THE CAR SEATS POPPED OFF. THEREFORE I AM NOT ABLE TO USE THOSE SEAT BELTS CURRENTLY FOR CAR SEATS. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $130 PLUS LABOR TO HAVE EACH BELT REPLACED. I DO NOT THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THESE PLATES WILL POP OFF WITH ME TIGHTENING, WHO IS NOT TO SAY THEY WILL NOT COME OFF IN AN ACCIDENT. CURRENTLY I HAVE TO HAVE ONE CAR SEAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT (WHICH IS NOT THE SAFEST PLACE) AND THE OTHER IN THE MIDDLE BACK (WHICH IS OKAY). PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR CAN HELP ME IN ANY WAY. THANK YOU. *JB

I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN A DAMAGED CONDITION AFTER REPLACING PARTS THAT WERE NECESSARY ON FRONT SUSPINION INCLUDING TRACK BAR WHICH WAS WORN BADLY FOR A TRUCK WITH ONLY 65000 MILES TRUCK WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT EVEN AFTER THIS TRUCK HAS TENDENCY TO WANDER ON ROAD I BELEAVE THIS IS CAUSED BY INCORRECT PRELOAD ON STEERING SECTOR WHICH CAN BE ADJUSTED UPON RESEARCHING THIS ON INTERNET I FIND THIS TENDS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE TRUCKS I CALLED CHRYSLER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD DO ANY KIND OF POLICY ADJUSTMENT ON BOX THEY SAID NO I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NOT A WEAR PROBLEM AND SENSE TRUCK WAS WREAKED BY PREVIOUS OWNER I WONDER IF THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR AS THE LOOSENESS IN STEERING BOX IS NOT CONNECTED TO ACCIDENT AND WITH NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING CANNOT BE COINSIDENTIAL

DT: CONSUMER STATES THE STEERING GEARBOX ON THE VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM. WHILE PULLING FROM THE DRIVEWAY CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STEER. VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 20MPH. LUCKILY CONSUMER MADE IT BACK TO THE DRIVEWAY. CONSUMER FEELS THIS WAS THE STEERING GEARBOX. VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER FELT AS THOUGH IT IS THE GEARBOX. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT PLANS TO HAVE DEALER TO DOUBLE CHECK THIS ISSUE. *TT

DODGE RAM WITH 65,000 MILES DASH HAS SPIT IN SEVERAL PLACES THIS IS UNCALLED FOR ON A 20,000 DOLLAR TRUCK. THERE WAS A MALFUCTION IN THE PRODUCTION OF THESE DASHES AND CHRYLSLER SHOULD MAKE THEM GOOD. I TOOK IT TO THE CHRYLSLER COMPANY THAT I PURCHESED IT FROM, AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST ME AROUND 200 DOLLARS. ITS ALSO A SAFETY HAZZARD, I HOPE NO ONE GETS CUT FROM THE SHARP EDGES.*AK