1996 Dodge 1500 Visibility Problems

IN THE 1994-2001 MODEL YEAR DODGE RAM 1500, 2500 AND 3500 TRUCKS THERE IS NO RELAY IN THE WIRING CIRCUITRY USE FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. WHEN THE RAM WAS REDESIGNED IN 1994, THE ENGINEERS DID NOT FIND IT NECESSARY TO CHANGE THE 40-YEAR OLD DESIGN FOR THE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM; FEELING ONLY THE NEED TO USE A LARGER GAUGE WIRE TO HANDLE THE EXCESSIVE HEAT OF THE HALOGEN BULBS. UNFORTUNATELY, NEITHER THE WIRES NOR THE SWITCH OR INTERNAL RHEOSTAT (FOR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING) COULD HANDLE THIS LOAD AND THE FOLLOWING NEAR TRAGIC EVEN HAS BEEN AN ALL TOO COMMON OCCURRENCE. A RECALL (OR AT THE VERY LEAST A TSB HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE 3500 MODEL DODGE RAMS, WHICH ARE COMPRISED OF THE EXACT SAME SWITCH AND WIRING, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN NOTED ABOUT THE 1500 OR 2500 MODELS. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND THIS, AND THIS IS THE VERY REASON I FEEL COMPELLED TO BE WRITING THIS COMPLAINT IN THE FIRST PLACE. ONE NIGHT I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 55-MPH WHEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, RELAY AND CONNECTED WIRING ALL BECAME OVERHEATED, CAUSING THEM TO MELT. BECOMING FRANTIC, I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY WIGGLE THE DIMMER SWITCH (COMBINATION/TURN SIGNAL SWITCH), THEN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH UNTIL I GOT THEM TO COME BACK ON. DURING THAT EPISODE I HAD THEM GO OUT ON ME ABOUT 4 TIMES THAT I RECALL. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE REMAINS UNFIXED AND IS NOT DRIVABLE AT NIGHT. BEING A MECHANIC, MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS TO CHECK THE RELAYS AND FUSES TO SEE IF THEY WERE BLOWN OR BAD. TO MY DISMAY, I COULD NOT FIND ANY RELAYS! THIS WAS HOW I DISCOVERED, THROUGH SOME ONLINE RESEARCH, ABOUT THE RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH- HOW I WAS NOT ALONE IN THIS SITUATION AND THE REST OF THE AFOREMENTIONED PARAGRAPH. I WILL GLADLY BE AVAILABLE FOR PHONE CALLS, QUESTIONS, AND TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE PARTS IN QUESTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10465932

Incident

May 25, 2012

Mileage

141,000 mi

WINDSHIELD CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON IN JUNE 02. IT HAD RECENTLY PROGRESSED THE FULL LENGHT OF THE WINDSHILED OBSTRUCTING DRIVERS VIEW. DURING WINSHIELD REPLACEMENT TECHNICIAN FOUND WINDSHIELD WAS SEPERATED FROM POLYURETHANE BEDDING AND WAS LOOSE. THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE WINDSHIELD IN WAS THE MOULDING AROUND THE WINDSHIELD. TECHNICIAN SAID THE WINDSHIELD WAS EITHER PREPARED INCORRECTLY OR NOT PREPARED AT ALL DURING FACTORY INSTALLATION.

NHTSA ID

10005415

Incident

Jun 15, 2002

Mileage

87,424 mi

DAMAGED HOOD,WINDSHIELD,HOOD HINGES,WIPER ARMS

NHTSA ID

744936

Incident

Apr 4, 2001

SIDE MIRRORS CHANGE POSTION WHEN THE WIND BLOWS. DEALER HAS ADMITTED PROBLEM WAS NOTICED, THEY HAVE CHANGED DESIGN IN 1997 VEHICLES. THEY HAVE ALSO OFFERED TO PUT DIFFERENT MIRRORS ON THIS VEHICLE AT CONSUMER'S COST.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

883993

Incident

Jan 1, 1998

SEVERAL OTHER DODGE RAM OWNERS I KNOW IN THE AREA HAVE REPORTED IDENTICAL WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE IN THE LAST FEW DAYS. IN EACH CASE, THE WIPERS QIUT WORKING AND REPEATED FUSE REPLACEMENT (20 A) RESULTED IN IMMEDIATE FUSE FAILURE. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM BASED ON THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS OCCURRING. *AK

NHTSA ID

737817

Incident

Dec 13, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN MIRRORS ARE FINE. BUT ON HIGHWAY, MIRRORS SLOWLY FOLD BACK TO THE WINDOW, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE REAR. DEALER IN CRESTVIEW, WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY HAVE A SOLUTION FOR IT, USING A PENNY. *AK

NHTSA ID

867350

Incident

Aug 10, 1997

LEFT OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR AND INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR VIBRATES CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY AT NIGHT CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO BE A BLUR. NLM

NHTSA ID

548300

THE MOTOR BLOWER FAN SHORTED OUT, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD.

NHTSA ID

845109

THE PASSENGER'S WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM MOTOR BROKE, WHICH MAY CAUSE VISUAL DIFFICULTY. ALSO, THE STEERING SYSTEM IS VERY LOOSE, AND DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT. PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. PRESENTLY, DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AND OTHER PARTS. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER CASE WHICH HAS BEEN REPLACE 3 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

834260

Incident

Jan 14, 1999

DRIVER'S REARVIEW MIRROR FAILED. QCAW

NHTSA ID

605239

Incident

Jul 1, 1996