1999 Dodge RAM 3500

MY VEHICLE FAILED BY SHIFTING ERRATICALLY WHILE PULLING OUT ONTO THE FREEWAY IN HOUSTON, TX DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC AND IF NOT HANDLED IN A QUICK RESPONSIVE MANNER, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT CAUSING INJURIES OR DEATHS TO MANY PEOPLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADRESSED PROMPT AND STRAIGHT FORWARD. NATURALLY THE WARRANT HAD JUST GONE OUT ON THE VEHICLE AND AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM MYSELF, THIS IS A PROBLEM OF WIDESPREAD PROPORTION AND A POOR DESIGN ON THE PART OF DODGE MOTOR COMPANY KNOWING THESE VEHICLES WERE MASS PRODUCED WITH THIS PROBLEM AND NOT CARING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, APPLIED ON BRAKES AND VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. DEALER HAS SERVICED VEHICLE BEFORE FOR SAME PROBLEM; HOWEVER HAS NOT FOUND REMEDY FOR MALFUNCTION.*AK CONSUMER ADDS AFTER FRONT PADS WERE REPLACED FRONT/REAR BRAKES CONTINUE TO LOCK UP. WHILE OPPOSITE END WHEELS ROLL FREE. MANY ATTEMPTS MADE TO CORRECT PROBLEM, BUT LOCK UP STILL HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. STEERING SEEMS VERY LOOSE AND IS HARD TO KEEP VEHICLE STRAIGHT. POWER STEERING GEAR AND STEERING GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED HOWEVER TRUCK CONTINUES TO WANDER. DRIVER SIDE SEAT CUSHION SAGGS. SEAT BOTTOM CUSHION REPLACED. CAB SQWAKS ON UNEVEN GROUND. BLACK SMOKE FROM EXHAUST WHEN COLD OR WARM. CLUTCH SLIPS. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. DIMMER ON DASH LIGHTS BURNS FINGERS. WHEN TURNING ON TURN SIGNALS, WIPERS WILL ACTIVATE AND RAPID FLASH IS HEARD. DIFFICULTY GETTING INTO FIRST GEAR. ABS JAMS WHEN UNDER A HARD STOP AND DURING COLD START. LUMBAR IS INOPERATIVE. TRANMSISSION LEAKING OIL. REPLACED OUTPUT SHAFT SEAL. MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED. MOST GEARS DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE. REVERSE IS VERY STIFF. SHIFTING 2-3RD WILL CAUSE SHIFTER TO LOCK UP AND WON'T MOVE AT ALL. NO PROBLEM FOUND. OVERHEAD CONSOLE INOPERATIVE AND REPLACED. *TT

THE FAILURE OF THESE ITEMS OCCURED ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS AT MAXIMUM LEGAL SPEED AND HAD I NOT BEEN A SKILLED PROFESSIONAL DRIVER 8 TO 10 PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER DRIVERS WITH THIS PROBLEM MANY OF US HAVE BEEN KEPT QUIET BY HAVING OUR TRUCKS REPOSSESED AND SUED OUT OF BUSINESS. SOME OF THE OTHER DRIVERS WERE NOT AS LUCKY AS I AND HAD NASTY ACCIDENTS. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED. *AK

THE 5TH GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION HAS A RETAINING NUT THAT BACKS OFF AND ALLOWS THE 5TH GEAR ASSEMBLY TO BECOME DISENGAGED WHILE RIDING DOWN THE ROAD. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS FROM TOWING WITH THE VEHICLE IN 5TH GEAR. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL ABOUT THIS BEING AN ISSUE. I ALSO CONTACTED SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE AND THEY HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. ALSO THE DEALER WANTED $1200 DOLLARS TO MAKE THE REPAIR AND I SAID NO THAT WAS TOO HIGH. THEY CALLED ME BACK LATER AND SAID IT WOULD BE $760 DOLLARS. I STILL SAID NO AND THAT I WAS COMING TO INSPECT THE BAD PARTS. UPON ARRIVAL THEY SHOWED ME SEVERAL PARTS AND SAID THAT DODGE MADE THEM REPLACE CERTAIN PARTS TO COVER ANY OTHER WARRANTY CLAIMS. THE ONLY PART DAMAGED WAS THE RETAINING NUT FOR THE 5TH GEAR AND THAT IS ALL THAT I WOULD ALLOW THEM TO REPLACE. THE FINAL COST FOR MY REPAIR WAS $460, MOST BEING LABOR. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT DODGE HAS HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS THAT THEY NOW HAVE REDESIGNED THE RETAINING NUT TO ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM. TO ME FOR THIS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT HAS REQUIRED PART REDESIGN, IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A SAFETY RECALL. IF SOME ONE HAD BEEN BEHIND ME THE NIGHT MINE FAILED THEY WOULD HAVE REAR-ENDED ME. DODGE IS MAKING MONEY ON REPAIRS THAT THEY CAUSED FROM USE OF FAULTY PARTS.*AK