1996 Dodge RAM 2500

THE VACUUM SYSTEM WAS REPLACED TWICE DUE TO OIL CONTAMINATION. CONSUMER WAS TOLD ABOUT A RECALL ON THE CHECK VALVE. PER MANUFACTURER. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED. HOWEVER THE CHECK VALVE WAS MISSING ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK RECALL# 97V068000. THIS CAUSED THE HEATER/A/C CONTROLS TO FAIL AND THE VACUUM HOSE LEADING TO THE MASTER CYLINDER BOOSTER SYSTEM. (FULL OF OIL AND NOT FUNCTIONING) THE HOSE WHICH LEAD TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS SOFT. THE CONSUMER HAD WORK DONE TO THE BRAKE WIRING SYSTEM BUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BRAKE LIGHT HAD COME ON AS THE CONSUMER WAS LEAVING THE SERVICE DEALER. THE DEALER DIDN'T ADDRESS THE VACUUM OIL PROBLEM, BUT WANTED TO FIX THE UNRELATED PROBLEMS. THE AIR VENT WOULD NOT CLOSE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. *SCC *JB

THE STEERING PITMAN WORN OUT AT 74,103 MILES. THE PART WAS FULLY FILLED WITH GEASE. THE SYMPTOMS WERE VEHICLE STEERING WAS WONDERING (L)& (R) BY ITS SELF. THIS COMPONENT SHOULD LAST AT LEASE 200,000 MILES IF PROPERTY MAINTAINED WITH GEASE. THE MANUFACTURER IS TRW PART #MA-12-1 EY3 . DODGE 981/2 YR. MODEL #25000 24V DIESEL L-6 DIESEL ENGINE CUMMINS VIN#[XXX] VEHICLE MILEAGE IS (74,103). THE PART REPLACEMENT COST IS $60.00. INSTALLED BY OWNER. THE PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY 1996 DODGE RAM 2500 CAME NEW WITH 5 GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S 245/75 R16 TIRES. I REPLACED 4 TIRES AT 78,000 MILES WITH 3 NEW RT/S TIRES AND ROTATED IN THE ORIGINAL SPARE. I KEPT THE BEST 2 TIRES FOR SPARES.*AK I USED AN OLD SPARE FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND NOTICED SOME VIBRATION. THE GOODYEAR DEALER INDICATED THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING. WHILE ON THE TURNPIKE, THE TREAD ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED CATASTROPHICALLY AT 75 MPH AND DAMAGED THE QUARTER PANEL, WHEEL WELL, LOWER PASSENGER DOORFRAME, STEERING MECHANISM (TRACK BAR), FRONT BUMPER COWLING, AND DENTED THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL. THE TIRE DIDNT GO FLAT, BUT THREW OFF ALL THE TREAD. FORTUNATELY, I RETAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE TIRE THAT SEPARATED WAS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SPARE, MANUFACTURED IN 1996. THIS TIRE FAILED AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES. I BROUGHT THE FAILED TIRE TO THE LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALERSHIP, PERRY TIRE AND ALIGNMENT IN STILLWATER, WHERE THE OWNER FORCED ME TO SEND IT TO GOODYEAR FOR ANALYSIS. AS THE TIRE WAS OVER 4 YEARS OLD, HE CLAIMED GOODYEAR WOULD NOT WARRANTEE THE TIRE, BUT MIGHT MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENT. I STUPIDLY DID THIS, ACTING IN GOOD FAITH AND TRUSTING THE INTEGRITY OF BOTH COMPANIES. ITS ONE YEAR LATER, AND GUESS WHAT: I HAVE RECEIVED NO NOTIFICATION FROM EITHER COMPANY, PERRY TIRE HAS CHANGED OWNERSHIP, AND GOODYEAR HAS "LOST" MY TIRE. BY THE WAY, GOODYEAR'S REPRESENTATIVE SAID THEY NEVER DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE CUSTOMER - DEALERS DO THAT, THEN GOODYEAR DEALS WITH THEM. AT ABOUT 55,000 MILES, ONE OF THE NEWER TIRES HAD TREAD SEPARATION; ANOTHER HAS WORN UNEVENLY TO SHOW THE BELT. BOTH WERE DETECTED BEFORE FAILURE ON THE ROAD. THE BOTTOM LINE: 3 OF 8 OF MY GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S TIRES FAILED DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION, ONE PROVIDING SIGNIFICANT RISK TO MY FAMILY AND OTHERS. I AM WITHOUT THE TIRE THAT DISINTEGRATED, AND AM CONSIDERING SEEKING LEGAL ACTION. I UNDERSTAND TIRES WEAR OUT, BUT THEY SHOULD NOT FAIL IN THIS MANNER EVEN IF WORN DOWN TO THE BELTS.

GAS GAUGE INSIDE ON THE DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL ENGINES CORODES AND FALLS OFF AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. OUR TRUCK IS A 1996 AND THE GAUGE BROKE IN 1997. THE PRICE IS TOO MUCH TO FIX IT AND IF FIXED, WAS SAID THAT IT WOULD JUST BREAK AGAIN. IT IS VERY HARD TO DRIVE WITHOUT KNOWING HOW FULL OR EMPTY YOUR GAS TANK IS. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. *AK

DODGE 1996 2500 CUMMINS DIESEL - VIN - [XXX]. STARTED TRUCK, STARTER REMAINED ENGAGED, TURNED KEY OFF, STARTER REMAINED ON AND ENGINE RUNNING, SMOKE ROSE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, ONLY WAY ENGINE COULD BE STOPPED WAS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERIES. BY THE TIME BATTERIES WERE DISCONNECTED, THE STARTER, FUEL SHUTDOWN SOLENOID, SOME WIRING WERE BURNT UP, HAD TO BE REPLACED. LUCKILY ELECTRICAL FIRE WENT OUT BEFORE IGNITING DIESEL FUEL. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR