1998 Dodge RAM 1500

DT: CONTACT STATES THAT EARLY IN THE MORNING WHEN SHE GOT IN HER CAR AND WAS PUTTING THE SEAT BELT ON, THE SHOULDER PART TIGHTENED UP THE LAP BELT AND SHE NOTICED A BOLT HOLE. THERE WAS A METAL BAR AND THE BOLT HOLE HAD BROKEN. SHE CONTACTED CHRYSLER, AND THEY TOLD HER THAT THE TRUCK WAS A 1998 MODEL AND HAD A LOT OF MILEAGE ON IT. THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. *AK (THE BELT WAS IN PROPERLY BUT THE METAL STRAP HOLDING THE SEAT BELT TO THE FLOOR HAD SHEARED AT THE BOLT HOLE WHICH WAS COMING APART) *SC

PROBLEMS WITH WEAR OF BRAKE SHOES. SINCE I PURCHASED MY DODGE RAM 1500 IN JUNE 1998 I HAVE HAD CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH MY FRONT BRAKES. I AM HAVING TO REPLACE THEM AT LEAST 3 TIMES A YEAR. I UNDERSTAND THAT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THIS PART BUT HAVING TO REPLACE THEM THIS MUCH IN ONE YEAR. I DO NOT RIDE MY BRAKES LIKE I HAVE BEEN TOLD I DO. EVEN RIDING MY BRAKES I STILL DO NOT THINK REPLACING THEM THIS MUCH IS NECESSARY. *NM

DT: BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS RETRACTOR/LOCK INTERCHANGES BUCKLE ASSEMBLY BROKE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHEN TRYING TO BUCKLE UP WITH THE SEAT BELTS, NO INCIDENT WHERE THIS COULD HAVE OCCURRED. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS DEFECTIVE. SPOKE TO DEALER, WHO SAID THIS WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT WAS TOLD SOME TIME AGO SAID SAFETY FEATURES WERE COVERED. HAS NOT CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AT THIS TIME. *AK

ACCORDING TO THE NHSTA RECALL DATABASE, A RECALL (01V153000) ALREADY EXISTS FOR 1998 DODGE RAM TRUCK CONCERNING THE AIR BAG AND IS SPECIFIC TO MY VIN NUMBER OF [XXX]. HOWEVER, UPON CALLING DODGE AT THE NUMBER SPECIFIED IN THE FILING, MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL ALTHOUGH IT IS EXPERIENCING THE SYMPTOMS ADDRESSED IN THE NOTIFICATION. NO ACTION WAS AVAILABLE FROM DAIMLER CHRYSLER. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

MY GIRLFRIEND'S SON WAS DRIVING OUR 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 GOING ABOUT 35 OR 40 MILES PER HOUR (HE AND HIS GIRLFRIEND WERE TAKING A RIDE WAITING FOR A PIZZA) SO JUST MOSING ALONG THANK GOD . HE ROUNDED A CURVE AND LOST STEERING HE TRIED TO JERK IT BACK AND SAID IT MADE A CRACKING NOISE AND HE HAD NO STEERING ABILITY. HE RAN OFF THE ROAD STRIKING TREES, KNOCKED HIMSELF OUT BY HITTING HIS HEAD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. WHEN HE CAME TO, HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS KNOCKED OUT. HE GOT HER ALERT AND CALLED 911. SHE WAS LIFE FLIGHTED, 5 BROKEN RIBS, MAJOR CONCUSSION AND HE HAD CUTS AND SCRATCHES AND A CONCUSSION. HE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED. I ASKED THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER TO CHECK IT BUT HE LOOKED AT IT (NEVER TORE THE STEERING COLUMN APART) AND SAID IT LOOKED OK. THEY MOVED IT TO A SALVAGE YARD. SINCE THE ACCIDENT 3 PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR RAM 1500. NOW HER SON IS BEING FINED FOR DRIVING TOO FAST AROUND THE CURVE..GUESS IT IS ALWAYS A FINE NEVER A TRUE ACCIDENT ANYMORE, BUT I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT THE KIDS ARE BOTH ALIVE AS THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED FROM THE TREES AND STUMPS THEY HIT. HER SON FEELS HE MAY HAVE LEANED ON THE GAS PEDAL WHEN HE WAS KNOCKED OUT BUT KNOWS HE WAS ONLY GOING 40 MPH TOPS PRIOR TO THE STEERING FAILING. *JB

TRANSMISSION NO LONGER HAS REVERSE. THIS WAS REPAIRED ONCE AT DEALERSHIP IN FEBRUARY 04 AT COST OF $2135.41. NOW, TO REBUILD FOR SAME PROBLEM 13 MONTHS AND 22K MILES LATER IS $3064.47 AT SAME DEALER. THEY BLAME INCREASE IN COST OF PARTS. CONTACTED DODGE CONSUMER HELP LINE AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO DUE TO 12/12 WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEY BLAMED INCREASE COST ON INCREASED LABOR RATE AT DEALERSHIP. BOTH SUGGEST REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION AT COST OF $3857.95. CALLED LOCAL TRANSMISISON REPAIR SHOPS AND WAS QUOTED $1100 - $1700 FOR SAME REPAIR, AND BOTH OFFER SAME OR BETTER WARRANTY. SECOND SHOP TOLD ME WHAT MY PROBLEM WAS BY JUST KNOWING YEAR AND MAKE OF MY TRUCK. THERE IS A MANUFACTURER'S PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION !!!!!!!!!*AK

98 DODGE RAM 1500 PICK-UP. SEAT BELT FAILURE LEADING TO THE RELEASE OF INFANT CAR SEAT. CALLED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION ONLY TO BE TREATED LIKE A CHILD AND TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.*AK WHILE DRIVING MY PICK UP AND STOPPING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, MY SONS INFANT SEAT CAME LOOSE AND LUNGED FORWARD. HE WAS ABOUT1 YEAR OLD AT THE TIME AND AS A RESULT, HIT HIS HEAD ON THE BACK OF THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE SEAT BELTS ARE DESIGNED IN A MANNER THAT THERE IS A LITTLE PEICE OF PLASTIC THAT RETAINS THE BELT PORTION, IN TURN, THIS IS WHAT RETAINS THE INFANT SEAT. BOTH MY WIFE AND I TOOK CLASSES AT THE LOCAL DEALARSHIP SO AS TO BE ABLE TO DO THE INSTALLATION CORRECTLY LONG PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. I DID TAKE THE TRUCK IN TO TRY AND HAVE THE NOW FAULTY BELTS REPLACED ONLY TO BE TURNED AWAY. I NOW HAVE TO COMB THROUGH THE LOCAL JUNK YARDS FREQUENTLY TO FIND NEW BELTS WITH ALL THE CORRECT PIECES. I STILL HAVE THE TRUCK AND ONLY RECENTLY LEARNED OF YOUR SITE. HOW CAN FAULTY SEAT BELTS BE IGNORED. CURRENTLY, BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS BELTS DO NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. THE DATE BELOW AND THE FOLLOWING MILAGES ARE APPROX. GUESSES. I HAVE ALSO PUT (1) FOR NUMBERED OF PERSONS INJURED, BUT IT WAS NOTHING SEVERE LUCKILY.