2001 Dodge RAM 3500

PULLED INTO FUELING STATION, STOPPING AT PUMP, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR BOARD. CHECKED BRAKE RESERVOIR IT WAS EMPTY, ADDED 1 PINT OF BRAKE FLUID. NO SIGNS OF LEAK. FOUND SIGNS OF FLUID ON FRAME DRIVER SIDE BEHIND FUEL TANK, PULLED TANK TO FIND A VERY RUSTED BRAKE LINE AND A HOLE IN BRAKE LINE. CHECKED OTHER BRAKE LINES, ALL ARE BADLY RUSTED. THE GAS LINES RUNNING NEXT TO THE BRAKE LINE ARE NOT RUSTED AT ALL. TRUCK PARKED IN BARN ALL THE TIME, VERY SELDOM DRIVEN IN WINTER.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF FAULTY METAL USED FOR THE BRAKE LINES. THERE WAS NO RUST OR CORROSION ON THE LINES INSTEAD THEY WERE JUST BRITTLE AND BROKEN. THE REAR BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED FIRST AND THEN THE LOWER AND UPPER BRAKE LINES IN THE FRONT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79000. UPDATED 1/12/11*LJ THE MASTER CYLINDER HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. UPDATED 03/02/11

2001 DODGE RAM 3500 DIESEL. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES *TGW THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT EACH TIME HE TRIED TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD FLUCTUATE AND THEN LOCK UP. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK OFF THE HIGHWAY, BUT THE BRAKES WERE STILL LOCKED. THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

DT: CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE PADS SPIT OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL. BOTH FRONT WHEELS WERE CHECKED, AND THE BRAKE PADS WERE COMPLETELY DISSOLVED. THEY DUG DEEP HOLES IN THE ROTORS. AT THE SAME TIME AS THIS HAPPENED THE BRAKE LINE THAT WENT TO THE REAR WHEELS HAD HEAVY CORROSION AND THEY BLEW OUT AT THAT POINT. OTHER HEAVY CORROSION ON OTHER BRAKE LINES CAME OUT OF THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORN OUT, BUT THEY TOTALLY DISSOLVED. VEHICLE WAS NOT USED FOR HEAVY TOWING, AND IT HAS NOT BEEN USED IN THE WATER.*AK

WHILE BRAKING CONSUMER EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT ALL THE BRAKES WERE WORN. THE CONSUMER REFUSED SERVICE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME TO INSPECT IT. HE DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WERE ALRIGHT, BUT THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE CALIPER WAS STUCK AND THE LEFT REAR BRAKE SHOES WAS WORN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER OCTOBER 2003 AT 16,000 MILES FOR A SAFETY INSPECTION AND PASSED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THEY FAILED TO PROPERLY CHECK THE BRAKES. *NM

CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE FRONT BRAKES, ROTORS, AND REAR DRUMS EVERY 6000-7000 MILES. CONSUMER DID NOT DO ANY HAULING OR HEAVY TRANSPORTING WITH VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM WAS SERIOUS BECAUSE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AT TIMES, ONCE ALMOST HIT A CHILD. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT REAR DRUMS HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE. HE WAS AFRAID THAT HE COULD BE INVOLVED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT. *AK

VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER A MINIMUN OF 8 TIMES BETWEEN SEPT AND DEC. 02. STEERING AND BRAKE PROBLEM HAVE NEVER BEEN CORRECTED. DEALER HAS REPLACED POWER STEERING / BRAKE FULID WHICH HAD TURNED BLACK. REPLACED LOWER BALL JOINT, TIE ROD, POWER STEERING PUMP, STEERING GEAR BOX. WITH MY PERMISSION THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DODGE TECH CENTER WHERE THE TECH / TRAINER USED MY VEHICLE FOR DEMONSTRATION LESSON /DIAGNOSIS AND DETERMINED THAT THE HYDRA PUMP (BRAKE CYLINDER) WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS TOO WAS REPLACED WITH NO BETTER RESULTS. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT HYDRAULIC BRAKES AND STEERING ARE A PART OF THE SAME SYSTEM AND SHARE 1 PUMP. THE TECH ADVISOR AS WELL AS THE SERVICE MANAGER TOGETHER WITH THE MECHANIC AGREE THAT THIS SYSTEM IS INADEQUATE. DT