2004 Dodge Ram 3500 Visibility Problems

THIS COMPLAINT IS FOR WIPER MOTOR SUDDEN FAILURE ON A REMANUFACTURED PART SUPPLIED FROM OREILY AUTO PARTS. I REPLACE MY WIPER MOTOR WHEN THE ORIGINALS WIPER PARK FUNCTION BECAME FINICKY. I INSTALLED THE REBUILD MOTOR TO FACTORY SPEC AND IT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS AND PROCEEDED TO FAIL IN A MAJOR RAIN STORM THE WIPERS WOULD BE RUNNING FULL SPEED THEN JUST STOP AND WOULD RESUME AFTER ABOUT 20 SECONDS THIS PROBLEM ONLY OCCURRED IN HEAVY RAINFALL ON THE HI SETTING. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED MY VEHICLE PARTIALLY LEFT THE ROADWAY BECAUSE I MISJUDGED THE SHOULDER WIDTH FROM POOR VISIBILITY. I EXCHANGED THE FAULTY MOTOR AT OREILYS FOR ANOTHER REBUILD MOTOR WHICH LASTED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND IT ALSO FAILED IN THE HIGH SETTING IN HEAVY RAIN IN THIS CASE IT WENT FROM WORKING JUST FINE TO MAKING A LARGE SCREECHING NOISE ON ONE WIPE AND IT QUIT COMPLETELY THIS UNIT DID NOT COME BACK TO LIFE. I AGAIN EXCHANGED IT FOR ANOTHER REBUILT UNIT FOR OREILYS AND THE NEW UNIT LASTED ABOUT A MONTH AND ALSO HAS FAILED. IT WILL WORK FINE BUT JUST STOP WORKING AT RANDOM UNTIL YOU JERK THE WIPER ARMS THEN IT WILL START WORKING AGAIN. THIS UNIT WAS RETURNED TO OREILYS AND I PURCHASED A NEW UNIT FROM DODGE. THE FACT THE QUALITY OF THE PARTS ARE SO POOR IT PUT MYSELF AND OTHERS IN THE PUBLIC AT RISK DUE TO A HIGH RATE OF FAILURE FROM A ESSENTIAL SAFETY COMPONENT TO ALLOW ME TO SEE WHERE I AM GOING. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAYS CITY STREETS WHILE IN MOTION AND AT TIMES TURNING

NHTSA ID

10983624

Incident

Apr 30, 2017

Mileage

98,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND TOWING A TRAILER, THE FLIP UP TOW MIRRORS VIBRATED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO USE THE TOW MIRRORS DUE TO THE VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MIRRORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS NO WAY TO TIGHTEN THE MIRRORS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,419.

NHTSA ID

10926666

Incident

Nov 17, 2016

Mileage

125,419 mi

VEHICLE HAD FAULTY WIPER MOTOR. REPLACED WITH REMANUFACTRED UNIT FROM OREILYS AUTO PARTS. AFTER REPLACEMENT WIPERS WILL STOP WORKING DURING HEAVY RAINFALL. THE WIPERS WILL NOT WORK AGAIN UNTIL YOU STOP AND TUG ON THE WIPER ARMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10702337

Incident

Feb 25, 2015

Mileage

99,700 mi

MY DODGE HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BLEND DOORS FOR QUITE SOME TIME IN MY TRUCK. IT WILL NOT GO TO DEFROST SO WHEN I DRIVE MY WINDSHIELD FOGS UP AND THIS RELATES TO ME HAVING TO PULL OVER SO THAT I DO NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THEY USE A PLASTIC PIECE FOR THE BLEND DOOR THAT BREAKS AND WONT LET THE VENTS OPEN OR CLOSE. IT IS RIDICULOUS AND CHEAP PART. THE PRONGS ARE NOT EVEN MATCHED UP YOU HAVE A 5 PRONG ON THE ACTUATOR SWITCH THAT GOES INTO A 3 PRONG. THE FRICTION CAUSES IT TO BREAK. A DEALER WILL CHARGE THE CUSTOMER UPWARDS OF $1200 TO FIX BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO PULL THE WHOLE VENT BOX OUT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS DODGE FORUMS THAT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS WELL. IN ORDER TO GET THE WORD OUT TO YOU GUYS I'M MAKING THIS COMPLAINT. DEATHS CAN HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THIS CHEAP ENGINEERING THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND MY TRUCK IS 2004. I DO NOT BELIEVE DODGE HAS ADDRESSED THE ISSUE AS OF YET THEY ARE STILL USING THE SAME CHEAP PARTS EVEN THOUGHT 1000'S OF PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED, BUT POSSIBLY NOT TO YOU GUYS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10693316

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

110,000 mi

THE BLEND DOOR THAT WORKS THE DEFROSTER FOR THE WINDSHIELD IS FAULTY DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING. IN COLD WEATHER THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS DUE TO BUILD UP OF SNOW AND ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD. DODGE USES CHEAP PARTS FOR THE BLEND DOOR PRIMARILY PLASTIC FAULTY PARTS. THE MECHANISM THAT OPENS AND CLOSES THE BLEND DOOR WEARS OUT THE TWO PIECES THAT FIT TOGETHER. THIS CAUSES EITHER THE PLASTIC PIECE TO BREAK COMPLETELY OR JUST CONTINUE TO ROTATE WITHOUT OPENING OR CLOSING THE BLEND DOOR. DODGE WILL NOTRECALL THIS BECAUSE IN ORDER TO DO IT RIGHT THEY HAVE TO PULL THE WHOLE VENTILATION BOX AND HEATER CORE OUT OF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER THEY WOULD LIKE TO CHARGE CUSTOMERS UPWARDS OF $1000-1400 TO FIX IT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET ABOUT DODGE AND THEIR FAULTY BLEND DOORS NOT WORKING DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING AND CHEAP PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662164

Incident

Dec 3, 2012

Mileage

80,000 mi

HEATER CONTROL DOOR FAILURE. 2 OCCURRENCES. FIRST (AUG 2012 ) WAS THE A DOOR WHICH DID NOT ALLOW AIR FLOW TO ANY VENTS AS IT SHOULD. SECOND WAS A MODE CONTROL DOOR (12/31/2012), ONLY ALLOWING AIR TO THE DASH VENTS, NONE TO THE DEFROSTER. POTENTIAL TO RESTRICT VISIBILITY IN WINTER CONDITIONS DUE TO INABILITY TO DEFROST/MELT ACCUMULATIONS ON THE WINDSHIELD. THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY PREVALENT ISSUE ON THESE VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10490798

Incident

Aug 8, 2012

Mileage

78,000 mi

MESSAGE: I DRIVE A 3500 DODGE RAM PICK UP TRUCK. RECENTLY I WAS BEGINNING TO HAVE DIFFICULTY SEEING DUE TO WINDSHIELD FOGGING UP. I TURNED ON THE DEFROSTER ON AND THERE WAS NO HELP IN THE VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. MY VISIBILITY WENT TO ZERO VERY QUICKLY. I VEERED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A DITCH BEFORE I COULD GET MY VEHICLE STOPPED. UPON INVESTIGATION OF THE PROBLEM, I DISCOVERED THAT THE BLEND DOOR IN THE HVAC SYSTEM HAD BROKEN. THE BLEND DOOR DIRECTS THE AIR TO THE APPROPRIATE VENTS AS DIRECTED BY THE VEHICLE OPERATOR. THE DOOR BEING BROKEN WOULD PREVENT THE DIRECTION OF AIR TO ANYWHERE EXCEPT THE DEFAULT LOCATION WHICH IN THIS CASE WOULD BE THE DASH VENTS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE. THE DEFAULT LOCATION OF THIS DOOR SHOULD WITH OUT A DOUBT BE THE DEFROST LOCATION. AFTER HAVING THIS NEAR MISS I HAVE INVESTIGATED OTHER REPORTS OF THIS VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THEY ARE NUMEROUS. MY DETERMINATION OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD IMMEDIATELY HAVE A SAFETY RECALL TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10444059

Incident

Oct 7, 2011

Mileage

77,000 mi

THE VENTS ON MY 2004 DODGE 3500 DIESEL STAY ON THE FRONT VENTS AND WILL NOT CHANGE WITH THE KNOB. AFTER READING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IT APPEARS TO BE THE BLEND DOORS AS WELL AS THE HVAC COMPONENT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON DODGE WEBSITES ABOUT THIS. THE COST IS OVER $600 DOLLARS DUE TO THE LABOR OF PULLING THE ENTIRE DASH OUT OF THE TRUCK AND REPLACING THE PARTS. THE PARTS ARE AROUND $50 DOLLARS. THEY USED CHEAP PLASTIC THAT WEARS OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10382639

Incident

Jan 17, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THEWINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURERS RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 168000. UPDATED 09/22/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/23/10

NHTSA ID

10342213

Incident

Jul 1, 2010

Mileage

167,000 mi

STARTED TRUCK UP LET WARM AND DEFROST WINDOWS. SNOWING AND FREEZING COLD TEMPS. AFTER WARMING UP TRUCK LEFT HOUSE ABOUT 1/2 MILE WINDOWS FROZEN OVER AND COULD NOT SEE OUT. PULLED OFF ROAD DEFROSTER WAS NOT SWITCHING TO BLOW AIR ON WINDOW. JUST BOUGHT TRUCK USED. LOCAL DEALER INFORMED ME DID 2-3 REPAIRS A WEEK FOR THIS BUT NO RECALLS YET. WANTED 750.00 TO FIX. DODGE RAM TRUCKS ALL SERIES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10314925

Incident

Feb 15, 2010

Mileage

109,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN THE HEATER SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED; HOWEVER, THE BLOWER FAN FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000. UPDATED 01/29/10. *LJ THE BAD CONNECTION AT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS CAUSING AN ARC AND BURNING THE INSTALLATION AT THE END OF THE WIRE HARNESS . THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSING THE BLOWER FAN TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. UPDATED 01/29/10 UPDATED 03/30/10 *BF UPDATED09/28/10

NHTSA ID

10298136

Incident

Jul 7, 2009

Mileage

172,000 mi

WIPERS FAIL TO GO INTO HIGH SPEED OR FUNCTION ON INTERVAL DURING PERIODS OF HIGH HUMIDITY OR RAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10283805

Incident

Apr 4, 2006

Mileage

35,000 mi

CONDITIONS: 45*F +/- HEAVY RAIN, TORNADO WARNING IN EFFECT. 3:30PM MY VEHICLE HAD IT'S HEADLIGHTS, DRIVING LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON. CONDITIONS: 45*F +/- RAIN, TORNADO WARNING IN EFFECT. 3:30PM MY VEHICLE HAD ITS HEADLIGHTS, DRIVING LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON. VEHICLES INVOLVED: 2004 DODGE RAM 3500 CREW CAB LONG BED 4X4 DIESEL (MINE) MID 90'S CHEVROLET LUMINA SEDAN I WAS TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON YELLOWSTONE ROAD BEHIND A MID 90'S CHEVROLET LUMINA. I WAS TRAVELING BEHIND THEM AT OR BELOW THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 55MPH WHEN THE LUMINA SIGNALED TO TURN RIGHT AND BRAKED; AS SOON AS THEY BRAKED I BEGAN TO BRAKE JUST AS A PRECAUTION. THEY THEN PROCEEDED TO PULL ALL THE WAY PAST THE WHITE LINE ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THEIR VEHICLE BEING COMPLETELY SITUATED ON THE SHOULDER WITH THEIR RIGHT TURN SIGNAL STILL ON AT WHICH POINT THEY WHERE APPROACHING A DRIVEWAY ON THEIR RIGHT SIDE. I DID NOT ACCELERATE AND THEN I SAW THE CHEVROLET'S FRONT WHEELS BEGIN TO TURN LEFT AT WHICH POINT I TURNED LEFT AS HARD I AS POSSIBLE. THEY WERE MAKING IN ILLEGAL U-TURN ON A STATE HWY WITH DOUBLE YELLOW LINES. I TURNED AS HARD AS POSSIBLE BUT THE ACCIDENT WAS UNAVOIDABLE AND MY DODGE'S PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BUMPER MADE CONTACT WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR OF THE CHEVROLET WHEN THE FRONT END OF THEIR CAR WAS HALFWAY ACROSS THE SOUTHBOUND LANE OF TRAFFIC. UPON IMPACT MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I DID NOT HOWEVER TOUCH THEM OTHER THAN MY LEFT ARM BEING BRUSHED UP AGAINST IT UPON DEPLOYMENT. AT WHICH POINT THE BUCKLE OF MY SEATBELT CAME UNDONE AND THE TENSIONER DID NOT RETRACT. I THEN PROCEEDED TO GO DOWN A SMALL RAVINE, THROUGH A CULVERT WITH MY PASSENGER SIDE AND THROUGH A WOOD FENCE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAVINE. ALL WHILE BEING UNBELTED DUE TO THE SEATBELT FAILING. I WAS ABLE TO SELF EXTRICATE FROM MY VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN TREATED FOR BACK,NECK, AND HIP PAIN AND WILL BE BEGINNING REHABILITATION. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED AND IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION UPON REQUEST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228975

Incident

May 22, 2008

Mileage

68,583 mi

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO OPERATE PROPERLY ON MY 2004 DODGE RAM 3500 IN THE INTERMITTENT OR DELAY SETTINGS. SOMETIMES WHILE IN INTERMITTENT SETTINGS, THE WIPER QUIT WORKING ALTOGETHER. I CAN GET THEM TO WORK AGAIN BY PLAYING WITH THE WIPER SWITCH AND PLACING IT IN THE HIGH SPEED MODE. HOWEVER, THIS CAUSES ME TO BE DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN THE RAIN, WITH NO FUNCTIONING WIPERS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 6 MONTHS, WITH 11 REPAIR ATTEMPTS BY ANCHORAGE CHRYSLER. TO DATE THERE HAS BEEN NO RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY WITH MORE MOISTURE AND MORE HEAT (IE. THE LONGER IT BEEN EXPOSED TO RAIN AND THE LONGER THE ENGINE HAS BEEN RUNNING). *NM

NHTSA ID

10142861

Incident

May 15, 2005

Mileage

14,000 mi

THERE IS AN EXHAUST LEAK COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS WHEN THE HVAC FAN IS TURNED ON. I WAS A LITTLE DIZZY & HAD A HEADACHE AFTER A LONG DRIVE BACK HOME FROM SAN ANTONIO. AFTER TALKING TO A PHYSICIAN ABOUT MY CONDITION, HE FELT THAT THE CAUSE WAS MOST CERTAINLY CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. I HAVE MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP & THEY HAVE BEEN UNRESPONSIVE. THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE & THERE IS NO FIX. I'VE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET & FOUND MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM SO I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE. THERE IS EVEN ONE GENTLEMEN THAT BELIEVES HE HAS THE FIX. APPARENTLY DODGE DIDN'T COVER SOME OF THE HOLES BETWEEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT & WERE THE HVAC SYSTEM DRAWS FRESH AIR FOR THE CAB. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS THIS MAY INJURE SOMEONE TERRIBLY.

NHTSA ID

10095953

Incident

Oct 5, 2004