Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Dodge 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
NOTICED A HIGH PITCHED WHINE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ABOUT 30-40 SECONDS BEFORE THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY LOCKED UP. TRAVELING ON A SECONDARY TO A CITY STREET SLOWING TO 30 MPH. AXLE ASSEMBLY LOCKED UP AT 45 MPH CAUSING A SKID THAT WAS CONTROLLED. AXLE HOUSING SPLIT, DRIVE SHAFT DETACHED, GEAR LUBE DRAINED OUT AND TIRES ARE SEVERELY FLAT SPOTTED. SKID LENGTH WAS 115 FT.
THE HUB WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE AND WAS REPLACED IMMEDIATELY WITH A NEW ONE. DROVE APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES AND THE BRAND NEW HUB DID THE SAME EXACT THING. I CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT KEEPS CAUSING THE ISSUE NOR CAN I AFFORD TO KEEP REPLACING THEM. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL DODGE RAMS OVER THE YEARS AND WHILE THE HUB DOES GO OUT ON THEM I HAVE NEVER HAD ONE GO OUT RIGHT AFTER PUTTING IT ON. I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH AND NOTICED THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS YEAR MODEL TRUCK. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SHAFT AND GEAR INADVERTENTLY DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE BUT COULD FIND NO REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE HE WAS ADVISED TO LUBRICATE THE STABILIZER BAR, DRAG LINK, TRACK BARS AND ANY COMPONENT THAT COULD BE LUBRICATED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHEN DRIVING 50-70 MPH OVER ANY UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
A LONG LIST IS AVAILABLE AT HUMES OF WATERFORD,PA. THE MOST AMAZING FAILURE OF THE VEHICHLE WAS WHEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING AROUND THE BEND AND I WAS LUCKY THAAT NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS COMING. HUMES(DEALER) FIXED IT BY A HORRIBLE WELD ON THE LATCH.*AK
I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK FROM A USED DEALER IN TUPELO, MS ON JULY 5, 2004. ON AUGUST 27, 2004, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING AROUND 65-70 MPH DOWN A 4-LANE HWY IN MS WHEN I HEARD A WEIRD NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND AS HE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN TO GET OFF ON THE SHOULDER, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING SHEARED THE STUDS OFF AND MY TIRE WENT SAILING OFF THE TRUCK, SLAMMING THE FRONT END DOWN ONTO THE GROUND. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT DENTED THE FENDER AND SHOVED THE FENDER INTO THE PASSENGER DOOR PREVENTING IT FROM BEING ABLE TO BE OPENED. TRUCK WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT ON A TRAILER AND A NEW WHEEL BEARING WAS PUT IN. THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE DUE TO THE STUDS BEING SHEARED OFF ON A 4-LANE HWY. WHEN PART WAS REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING WAS CHECKED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, SHOWING NO REASON FOR REPLACEMENT. 2 WEEKS LATER ON MY WAY TO WORK, I FELT A SUDDEN VIBRATION IN THE TRUCK. I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CHECKED THE TRUCK, JUST BY A SUDDEN CHANCE OF LUCK I CHECK THE TIRE AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD ALREADY SHEARED 3 OF 5 LUG NUTS OFF. ONCE AGAIN THE TRUCK WAS TOWED IN FOR REPAIR AND A NEW WHEELBEARING WAS INSTALLED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. WHILE THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN IN OUR POSSESSION, WE HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO IT TO MAKE IT SHEAR STUDS AND BREAK BEARINGS LIKE THAT. THE PREVIOUS OWNER TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF THE TRUCK AS WELL, INCLUDING SERVICING AND REPLACING PARTS, AND MAINTENANCE.*AK
JUST HAD TO REPLACE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON MY 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP. THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING POPPING NOISED FOR OVER A YEAR I JUST DIDN'T HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. I WROTE BECAUSE I HEARD OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS GOING OUT ON THE DURANGO AND DAKOTA. ANYWAY, I AM OUT & $750.00.*AK
WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY GOING OUT. OWN THE TRUCK FOR SINCE 91,000 MILES AND HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT RT HUB ASSEMBLY 4 TIMES. IT SEAMS TO BE GOING OUT AROUND 10,000 TO 12,000 MILES. PRIOR TO THIS ONE LAST ONE WAS DONE ON 2/04 ,6/03 & 10/02 MILEAGE NOW 141,000 W/ NEW ENGINE THAT ALSO WENT .SPUN A BEARING. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE MANY OF THESE HUB ASSEMBLYS GOING BAD ON 1997 RAMS 5.9 ENGINE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC WHICH INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK *SC
HAD TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS ON MY DODGE RAM1500 AT 50,000 MILES, NEW PROGRAMS HAVE INDICATED DODGE IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BALL JOINTS. I ASKED DOGE CUSTOMER SERVICE IF THIS IS NORMAL WEAR, THEY ONLY SAID THERE ARE NO MAJOR COMPAINTS WITH BALL JOINTS. IT APPEARS THIS MAYBE A VERY WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH DODGE. *AK
THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A LOW MILEAGE.*JB
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE BRAKES DONE AND A GEAR BOX PUT ON, AND CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT FORNT COIL SPRINGS WERE BUSTED DUE TO DEFECTIVE STEEL. *AK
DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM REAR END. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT INNER RING PINION BEARING WENT OUT DUE TO A CASING DEFORMATION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK
I HAVE NOT USED THIS VEHICLE IN ANY MANNER THAT WOULD CAUSE THE WHEEL BEARINGS TO FAIL THIS EARLY IN FACT I HAVE OWNED 10 OTHER VEHICLES AND NEVER HAD THE BEARINGS GO ON ANY OF THEM. THERE WAS NO INDICATION , NOISE OR OTHERWISE THAT THEY WERE FAILING. WE HAD THE BRAKES REDONE IN DECEMBER OF 2000, WITH THE FRONT ROTORS HAVING TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE SO WORN. IF THERE WERE A PROBLEM SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE NOTICED IT WHEN THEY TOOK THE ROTORS OFF. JUST MAKES ME WONDER. *AK
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
WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE, CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER LINKED THE PROBLEM TO THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING WHICH WAS FALLING OFF THE VEHICLE, DEALER WAS REPLACING PARTS. *AK *ML
1ST TAKEN TO DEALER FOR IMPROPER TIRE WEAR @ 30704 MILES / DEALER CLAIMED TIRE ROTATION PROBLEM / CALIPERS WERE FAULTY INSTEAD / ROTORS FAILED AT 38728. *AK
CLUNK IN FRONT SUSPENSION.TRIED FIXING 14 TIMES.ALSO FOUND CRACK IN WELD AT CONTROL ARM BRACKET AND FRAME.
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FRONT TIRES NOT BEING ALIGNED. PROPERLY. CONSUMER HAD REPLACED FRONT TIRES WITHIN FIRT 26,000 MILES OF WEAR. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK
BRAKES, ROTORS, TRANSMISSION, AND ALIGNMENT MALFUNCTION.
VEHICLE PULLS PULLS TO THE RIGHT AS IF OUT OF ALIGNMENT.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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