1999 Dodge RAM 1500

LTR FM CARL SCHOENER (SC) INQUIRING ON THE STATUS OF HIS VEHICLE OWNER'S QUESTIONNAIRE RE THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION ON HIS 1999 DODGE TRUCK 1500 VAN, HE NEVER REC'D AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT RPT WAS REC'D, REPLY DIRECTLY TO CONSTITUENT. *PH *JB WHILE PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE, IT BOUNCED OFF A CENTER SUPPORT POST, VEERED TO ONE SIDE AND THEN PLOWED INTO THE CONSUMER'S BACK DOOR. *PH

THE CONSUMER ENTERED THE VEHICLE, PUT ON HIS SEAT BELT AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE HOME. WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE BELTS TIGHTENED UP. THEN, HE SMELLED SMOKE. THE CONSUMER LOOKED DOWN, AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE UNDER SEAT. THE CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, UNLATCHED THE SEAT BELT, LOOKED UNDER THE SEAT, AND SAW SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM THE PLUG. *AK THE PROBLEM OCCURRED IN THE DRIVER SEAT. THE ELECTRIC PLUG WAS UNPLUGGED TO THE SEAT BELT. THE PLUGS WERE REPLACED WITH A SINGLE STABLE PLUG. *SC *JB

POPPING SOUND HEARD COMING FROM DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL AREA. I ASKED THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE WHILE PERFORMING NORMAL MAINTENANCE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE TOP AND BOTTOM BALL JOINTS HAD FAILED AND THAT I SHOULD IMMEDIATELY HAVE THEM REPLACED. THE 1999 DODGE RAM 1500 HAS LESS THAN 70000 MILES. IT HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN OFF ROAD. IT PRIMARILY HAS BEEN DRIVEN TO SCHOOL AND HOME APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES ROUND TRIP UNTILL 2 YEARS AGO. THE MILEAGE THAT IS ON THE VEHICLE IS EITHER IN TOWN OR INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED EVERY 3,000 MILES AND HAS HAD PERIODIC MAINTENACE PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUAL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND UNLESS THE PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW. SEEMS THERE IS OTHER FAILURES OF THIS TYPE AFFECTING DURANGOS AND DAKOTAS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE DROPPED TO ZERO. CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL. THE DIP STICK WAS DRY, THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. INTAKE MANIFOLD PLENUM GASKET FAILED. WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENGINE OIL LEAKING AND GOING THROUGH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE GASKET. *AK

SEVERAL CRACKS ALL ALONG DASH BOARD FROM WINDOW SEAL TO FRONT OF AIRBAG/VENT SECTIONS, WHEN I SHOWED THE DEALER WHO I BOUGHT IT FROM, THEY BRUSHED ME OFF LIKE I WAS COMPLAINING OF COSMETIC DAMAGE. I CONSIDER THESE CRACKS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT HOLD VITAL COMPONENTS IF I OR MY PASSENGERS WERE EVER IN A WRECK, MY VEHICLE INTERIOR WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION WHEN I BOUGHT IT FROM THE USED LOT IN OCTOBER 2001, I CAN'T SAY THE SAME FOR THE MECHANICS. THE FIRST DAY I HAD TO RETURN IT FOR THE HARMONIC BALANCER, THEN THE EMERG BRAKE LIGHT STAYED ON, THEN THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT WHICH LEAD TO REPLACEMENT OF DRUMS,ROTORS, AND CALIPERS. IN FEB 2003 I HAD TO TAKE IT IN FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR BURN OUT, AND THIS LAST MONTH THE WATERPUMP WENT OUT. CAN YOU ADVISE ME AS TO WHAT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND WHAT PARTS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO HAVE TO BE REPLACED ON A VEHICLE THAT NOW HAS 82,000 MILES AND REGULAR UPKEEP? AND IF THE SOUND OF AIR BLOWING THRU LOOSE METAL IS WHAT MY TRUCK SHOULD SOUND LIKE WHEN I ACCELERATE FROM A NORMAL STOP? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME,AMBER. *AK