1999 Dodge RAM 2500

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL. THIS STALLING OCCURRED SIX TIMES. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL, AND ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONSUMER KEPT HEARING A PINGING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, AND THE TRANSFER CASE WAS STILL LEAKING. THERE HAD BEEN A MYRIAD OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. ALSO, THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP MORE THAN IT WAS IN HER POSSESSION. *AK THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: AIRFLOW NOISE/SUCKED AIR DUE TO A POSSIBLE VACUUM LEAK, THE PASSENGER MIRROR VIBRATION DUE TO THE BUG SHIELDS, ENGINE TICKING, UNDERSHIELD RUSTED ALONG WITH THE DRIVESHAFT, U-JOINTS, AND THE BUMPER, THERE WAS RUST ON THE REAR BOX PANELS, ENGINE PING/NOISE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON TWO TIMES, REAR WINDOW LEAKAGE, TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY/TRANSFER CASE LEAKED, HARD JUMPING WHEN IN REVERSE, REVVS OUT MORE RPM'S THAN NORMAL, ENGINE PING HAD GOTTEN LOUDER, AND THERE WERE MANY TIMES WHEN THE ENGINE DIED. *SCC

THE STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP DUE TO THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR A WHILE WHEN IT STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT. ALSO, WHEN MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED EXTREMELY HARD THAT IF THE CONSUMER DIDN'T HOLD IT TIGHTLY, IT WOULD JUMP OUT OF HIS HANDS. *AK THE FRONT END PROBLEMS HAD NOT BEEN SOLVED AFTER FOUR ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL HARD WHEN BRAKING. THE FRONT TIRES WERE CHANGES , BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME. *SCC *JB

WHILE DRIVING MY DODGE RAM 2500 PICKUP TOWING MY HORSE TRAILER AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE OVERDRIVE 5TH GEAR ON THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED AND WOULD NOT RE-ENGAGE. I WAS LUCKY THAT THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN I WAS NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND COULD MANEUVER SAFELY OUT OF TRAFFIC TO ASSESS THE SITUATION. ALL OTHER GEARS WOULD ENGAGE AND I HAD TO COMPLETE MY TRIP IS 4TH GEAR. AFTER AN INSPECTION OF TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE NUT THAT HOLDS THE 5TH GEAR IN PLACE ON THE TRANSMISSION OUT-PUT SHAFT HAD BACKED OFF, CAUSING 5TH GEAR TO SLIDE REARWARD AND DISENGAGE. DODGE HAS CIRCULATED A SERVICE BULLETIN CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM (21-10-98A) AND HAS DEVELOPED A REPAIR KIT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. DODGE FAILED TO NOTIFY ME OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. AFTER RESEACHING COMPLAINTS FILED WITH NHTSA ON THIS SITUATION, I QUICKLY FOUND 10 COMPLAINTS THAT RELATE TO THIS PROBLEM. ALSO AFTER TALKING WITH LOCAL TRANSMISSION MECHANICS, I FOUND THAT SEVERAL SIMILAR REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE LOCALLY ON DODGE PICKUP 5-SPEED TRANSMISSIONS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND ALL OWNERS OF DODGES WITH THIS TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

TIRES MANUFACTURE BY PIRELLI FOR LIGHT DUTY PICK-UP TRUCK. THE TIRE SIZE IS LT245/75/16 LOAD RANGE E-PLY SPEED RANGE -Q STYLE IS SCORPION A/T M/S. THE PROBLEM IS ALL FOUR TIRES WERE MANUFACTURE IN BRAZIL AT SEM CAMARA. THE FAILURE TO OUTER BELT STEEL IS SEPARATING THIS HAPPENED AT 31,153 MILES. WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE IT FEEL LIKE YOU ARE WALKING ON TOP OF FOOT AND VIBRATION MOVING AT 25 TO 35 MPH HOUR. THE TIRES ARE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW. THE TIRE DEALERSHIP (DISCOUNT TIRE CENTERS) HAD NO INTEREST IN CALLING PIRELLI AREA SERVICE MANAGER AROUND THE PROBLEMS I WAS EXPERIENCING. I KNEW I HAD A DISASTER COMING IF I DIDN'T REMOVE ALL FOUR TIRES QUICKLY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE INTER TIRE CASING LOOK EXCELLENT WITH NO HOT SPOTS OR HEAT CRACKS. I HAVE FOLLOWING DETAIL INFORMATION ON THESE TIRES. LT 245/75/16, SCORPION A/T M&S, #8-36P047, SPEED Q, LOAD RANGE (E), ORIGIN BRAZIL, 2498 36PX47, DOT XL 11 8325, EUROPEAN EE0054589, INSIDE TIRE CASING BAR CODE #3003358969, #4003037116, THE THREAD DEPTH AVERAGES IS 7/32,6/32, 8/32,6/32 . *JB