1997 Dodge 1500 Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE CABIN SPONTANEOUSLY FILLED WITH SMOKE AND CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 250,000.

NHTSA ID

11058073

Incident

Dec 30, 2017

Mileage

250,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE CLIP ATTACHING THE ACCELERATOR CABLE TO THE THROTTLE BODY SNAPPED CAUSING A TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING AND EFFECTIVNESS OF THE BRAKE. I HAD A 2 MONTH OLD AND MY 3 YEAR OLD IN THE TRUCK AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

10971257

Incident

Apr 7, 2017

"TAKATA RECALL" TODAYS DATE 4-29-2016,I HAVE A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ALL THE RECALLS ON THIS TRUCK.I HAVE A FEW PROBLEMS COMING ON WITH MY TRUCK.IM NEEDING A REPLACEMENT AIR INTAKE SYSTEM ITS CALLED ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. SUDDENLY I FELT SOME SHAKING IN FRONT TIRES.I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS BUT MY STEERING PUMP WITH OUT AND NOW THE STEERING GEAR BOX.EVERYTIME IM FINISH WORKING ON ONE PROBLEM THE NEXT IS RIGHT BEHIND.MY DASH BOARD IS FALL APART.DASH BOARD IS ALL IN PIECES.GETTING WORST AND WORST EVERYDAY.LAST PROBLEM MY AIR BAG BLEW OUT AND BUSTED IN MY FACE.MY TRUCK WAS PARKED WHEN IT HAPPENED WITH THE AIR BAGS,BUT I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE POWER STEERING WITH OUT. PLEASE HELP ME GET MY RECALLS ON MY TRUCK AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NHTSA ID

10862332

Incident

Mar 24, 2016

Mileage

200,000 mi

1997 DODGE RAM 1500 EXPLODED AND CAUGHT MY MOTHER IN LAWS HOUSE ON FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332070

Incident

May 21, 2010

SEATS WILL NOT RECLINE NOR FLIP FORWARD. THIS HAS CAUSED A BACK SEAT PASSENGER TO FALL GETTING OUT OF THE 1997 DODGE RAM BECOMING INJURED. VEHICLE MISSES, STUTTERS AND ENGINE PULSES AT 50 MPH. HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE FIRST ONWER. TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND STILL DOES IT. DEALER CAN NOT FIND PROBLEM AFTER SPENDING $900.00 ON A TUNE-EP AND DIAGNOSTICS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. DOING SINCE FIRST OWNER. DEALER CHECKS, CHARGED HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS AND WITHIN 8 HOURS OF USE LIGHT COMES BACK ON AND STAYS LIGHT. OCCASIONALLY IT WILL BLINK THEN REMAIN ON. TAKEN TO DEALER AGAIN AND THEY STATED THIS VEHICLE IS SENSITIVE EVEN A GAS CAP NOT TIGHT WILL TRIGGER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS LIGHT REMAINS ON, WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY ENGINE - NOTHING! *NM

NHTSA ID

10161737

Incident

Jul 1, 2006

Mileage

11,200 mi

I WAS DRVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE FRONT CAB ONLY. ME AND MY CHILDREN JUMPED OUT JUST IN TIME BEFORE IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10096460

Incident

Oct 22, 2004

Mileage

26,500 mi

I HAD THE EXHAUST SYSTEM REPLACED.WHEN I RETURNED TO PICK UP MY VEHICLE FROM THE SHOP I WAS INFORMED THAT A DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS THE CAUSE OF A RATTLE AND THAT I SHOULD RETURN TO THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE CONVERTER IS UNDER WARRANTY TO 80K MILES. THAT EVENING I CALLED DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPLAINED IN DETAIL WHAT WORK HAD BEEN DONE TO THE SYSTEM. MY SHOP TOLD ME TO MAKE SURE I INFORMED THEM OF A WELD. DODGE CS SAID NO PROBLEM THAT THE CONVERTER WOULD BE COVERED.UPON TAKING THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE CONVERTER BECAUSE I HAD ALTERED THE SYSTEM BY REPLACING THE FACTORY EXHAUST."THE ALTERING THAT WAS DONE WAS THE FRONT CLAMP WHICH WAS RUSTED IN PLACE HAD TO BE CUT OFF THE SYSTEM AND REPLACED WITH A WELDED CONNECTER" WHEN I CALLED DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE I SPOKE WITH A WOMAN NAMED BOBBI I INFORMED HER THAT THE ONLY REASON I REPLACED THE EXHAUST WAS IT SOUNDED LIKE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE MUFFLER SHE SAID "WHY DIDNT YOU TAKE IT TO THE DEALER IN THE FIRST PLACE"I RESPONED THAT THE DEALER CHARGED CLOSE TO $500 FOR THE SAME THING I HAD DONE AT AN EXHAUST REPAIR SHOP FOR $300 AND THAT IT WAS THE PREMATURE WEAR OF SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE LASTED MUCH LONGER IE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SHE SAID THAT I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND PAID FOR THE WORK IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THAT IF THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD THEY WOULD HAVE REPLACED IT ,IF IT WAS THE MUFFLER I WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY THEM $77 FOR 1 HOUR OF DIAGNOSTIC REGARDLESS OF WHAT WAS ONE. I PAID $300 FOR AN EXHAUST THAT I DIDNT NEED BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON MY TRUCK THAT SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY TO 80K MILES.I NOW HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER $250 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO BRING MY TRUCK BACK IN LINE WITH MY LOCAL EMISSIONS BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THE WARRANTY BECAUSE ONE CLAMP WHICH WAS RUSTED IN PLACE WAS CUT OFF OF THE FACTORY PIECE WHEN I HAD IT REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

10058517

Incident

Jan 13, 1997

Mileage

64,800 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE FUEL PUMP MODULE. HE TRIED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *PH

NHTSA ID

10050110

Mileage

31,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE FUEL PUMP MODULE. HE TRIED TO REPAIR 3 TIMES,BUT WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. *PH

NHTSA ID

10050109

Incident

Dec 1, 2003

Mileage

31,000 mi

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS HEADLIGHT SWITCH PROBLEMS FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY OXYGEN SENSORS PAINT CHIPPING AND FADING BURNS OIL WORST THAN ADVERTISED FUEL MILEAGE EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR PREMATURELY EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR PREMATURELY

NHTSA ID

10036777

Incident

Aug 28, 2003

1997 DODGE RAM 1500. MFG CLAIMING NEEDING ENGINE REPLACEMENT DUE TO SLUDGE BUILD-UP FROM POOR MAINTENANCE, HOWEVER, MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN KEPT BEYOND RECOMMENDATION AND IS DOCUMENTED. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE IN THE SHOP SINCE PURCHASED USED 3 YEARS AGO, ALL WITH OIL ISSUES AND ONLY NOW IS THE ISSUE W/ SLUDGE MENTIONED. AFTER CHECKING COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND THOUSANDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO THIS ONE WHERE PEOPLE WERE TOLD THEY NEED AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT DUE TO SLUDGE. MULTIPLE CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS SEEM TO BE PENDING ON THIS AS WELL. I HAVE TALKED WITH MANY MECHANICS WHO ADVISE THAT MOST DODGE RAM TRUCKS THEY SEE HAVE THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM BECAUSE THE ENGINE'S COMPRESSION IS SET TO HIGH AND IT CAUSES THE OIL TO SLUDGE UP. MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN KEPT, OIL CHANGES EVERY 1500 MILES. LESS THAN 10K MILES PUT ON THE VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASED WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY (WHICH WILL NOT COVER THIS.) . *NLM

NHTSA ID

10014353

Incident

Jan 26, 2003

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25 TO 45 MPH THERE IS A VIBRATION IN EXHUAST SYSTEM. OWNER TO VEHICLE TO DODGE AND DODGE REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER 5 TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

8022455

Incident

Nov 8, 1997

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAS BROKEN DOWN THREE TIMES, TWO OF WHICH THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THERE IS GRINDING IN THE DRIVESHAFT. *SLC

NHTSA ID

566423

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

759374

Incident

Sep 22, 1998

ENGINE HAS ALWAYS PINGED ON REGULAR GAS - 5+ TRIPS TO DODGE FOR SERVICE AND THEY NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM. AT ONE POINT, THEY POURED FUEL INJECTOR CLEANER IN THE ENGINE WHICH IS SOMETHING THEY TELL YOU NOT TO DO WHEN YOU PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM COMPLETELY SHOT AT 50,000 MILES IN OCTOBER, 2001. A MONTH LATER, MY REAR-END WENT UP AT A COST OF $1345. TWO WEEKS LATER, MY TRANSMISSION WENT UP AT A COST OF $1700. IN JUNE OF 2001, MY FUEL PUMP WENT UP AT A COST OF $216. I DID NOT HAVE ANY OF THESE REPAIRS DONE AT DODGE ALTHOUGH I PURCHASED DODGE PARTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NEVER FIXED ANYTHING WITHOUT EITHER SCREWING UP SOMETHING ELSE OR JUST NOT PROPERLY REPAIRING THE PROBLEMS. I CALLED THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR REPAIR PRICES AND THEY WERE MUCH HIGHER THAN INDEPENDENT SERVICE SHOPS. I WROTE THEM FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THESE REPAIR COSTS BUT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST ME BECAUSE REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE AT DODGE. THEY SAID I SHOULD HAVE ASKED THEM FOR HELP FIRST BUT I COULD NOT WAIT FOR A RESPONSE FROM THEM BECAUSE I NEEDED MY VEHICLE RIGHT AWAY. I ALSO DID NOT TRUST THEM TO PROPERLY REPAIR MY VEHICLE. OF COURSE, MY TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY FOR ALL OF THE PROBLEMS. I EVEN TOOK THEM TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT FOR THE ENGINE PING THEY COULD NOT CORRECT AND THEY BROUGHT IN 4 HIGH DOLLAR LAWYERS, SO, OF COURSE, IOST THE CASE. I HAVE NOT YET HAD MY AIR CONDITIONER REPAIRED. I AM GOING TO CONTACT THEM TO SEE IF THEY WILL REPAIR IT WITH SOME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ALTHOUGH I AM NOT SURE IF I SHOULD TRUST THEM AT THIS POINT. I HAVE SPENT A TOTAL OF $3,331 IN REPAIRS OVER THE PAST 3 MONTHS AND AM NOT FINISHED YET. WHAT A LEMON! THEY ALSO COULD NOT PERFORM A SIMPLE OIL CHANGE PROPERLY-THEY DID NOT REPLACE THE OIL PLUG AND THE OIL WAS LEAKING.*AK

NHTSA ID

759165

Incident

Dec 1, 1997

AFTER REPLACING TRANSMISSION, TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65MPH AND VEHICLE JUST GRADUALLY STARTED SLOWING DOWN. CONSUMER COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD WITH ENGINE STILL RUNNING, BUT NOT ABLE TO GO IN ANY GEARS. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED 1-22-00. *AK VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SEVERAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS AMONGST THE REPAIRS, DRIVESHAFT BROKE WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER STATES THAT CHRYSLER CORP HAS NO RECORDS OF A TRANSMISSION BEING SENT TO NEW COUNTRY DODGE WHERE THE REPLACEMENT TOOK PLACE, TRANSFER CASE WAS RETORQUED, CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER MANY TIMES PRIOR TO COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND DEALER COULD NOT REMEDY PROBLEMS. CLUNKING NOISE UNDER VEHICLE, DEALER REPLACED FRONT SWAYBAR LINKS. O2 SENSOR REPLACED. CONSUMER STATED AT TIMES HE HADTO HIT THE STARTER WITH A HAMMER TO GET IT TO WORK, IGNITION COIL FAILED, AND BATTERY FAILED. VEHICLE STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF FUEL USED, DISTRIBUTOR CAP WAS REPLACED, VEHICLE ALSO BACKFIRING. BRAKES GRINDING, FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE METAL TO METAL, ROTOR WAS SCORED BADLY, DEALER REPLACED FRONT PADS AND BOTH ROTORS. *SLC

NHTSA ID

884906

Incident

Jan 22, 2000

ENGINE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, AND OIL PRESSURE DROPS. A MINOR CLACKING OR TAPING NOISE COMES AND GOES AWAY. DEALER HAS NO REMEDY AND NO IDEA WHAT IT IS.*AK

NHTSA ID

882769

Incident

Jan 12, 2001

THE AUTOMOBILE SHOP THAT REPAIRED MY TRUCK SAID THAT WHEN THE DEALER REPLACED MY REAR MAIN SEAL THE JOB WAS DONE IMPROPERLY. THAT WAS MOST LIKELY THE REASON THE ENGINE FAILED. THE ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN THE NEW PARTS CAME IN THE NEW OIL PICK UP TUBE SCREAN WAS A LOT LARGER THAN THE OLD ONE. *AK

NHTSA ID

717629

Incident

Dec 20, 1999

POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE RESULTED IN FIRE. NLM

NHTSA ID

547335

CRUISE CONTROL SERVO LOCATION IMMEDIATELY BEHIND LEFT FRONT BUMPER CAN CAUSE SERVO TO BEND AND OPEN THROTTLE UNINTENTIONALLY. ALSO, A STUD FASTENED TO SIDE THAT HOLDS HEAT SHIELD IN PLACE BECAME DETACHED. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

836469

Incident

Apr 1, 1999

"SENSOR" FAILED, CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *YC

NHTSA ID

606987

Incident

Nov 1, 1998

TRANSMISSION FAILED, REPLACEMENT EXPERIENCING SAME FAILURES, EXCESSIVE VIBRATION RESULTING IN COMPONENTS LOOSENING.

NHTSA ID

541970

Incident

May 28, 1998

WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN LETTING UP OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE CUT OFF WITHOUT NO PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND VEHICLE CONTROL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

820972

Incident

Jan 24, 1998