1999 Dodge Ram Van Problems

THIS VEHICLE BELONGS TO VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS. THE VAN HAD AN UNDER HOOD FIRE THAT ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA WHILE PARKED. THE VAN IS DECLARED A "TOTAL LOSS". DAIMLERCHRYSLER ISSUED SAFETY RECALL D20 IN 2004 TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BUT THE RECALL REPAIR HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. VERIZON HAS HAD 30 UNDER HOOD FIRE INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND ACTION. *TR

THIS VEHICLE BELONGS TO VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS. THE VAN HAD AN UNDER HOOD FIRE THAT ORIGINATED IN THE ABS MODULE AREA WHILE IT WAS PARKED AT A JOBSITE. DAIMLERCHRYSLER ISSUED SAFETY RECALL D20 IN 2004 TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BUT THE RECALL REPAIR HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. VERIZON HAS HAD 29 INCIDENTS THAT OCCURRED AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND ACTION. *TR

VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, FRAME AROUND STEERING COMPONENTS VERY RUSTY

SEVERE RUSTING IN UNIBODY CONSTRUCTION. HAS RUSTED SO SEVERELY VAN IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. VEHICLE HAS 133513 MILES ON IT. RUST ON UNDER CARRIAGE IS EXTREMELY EXCESSIVE. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE EXTERIOR METAL ON THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED THROUGH. THIS WAS NOTICED WHILE BEING INSPECTED BY THE CONTACT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED, BUT THE CONTACT REPLACED THE METAL BRAKE LINES. UPDATRED 05/02/06. *JB

LEFT MY HOME FOR WORK AND GOT TO THE SECOND STOP FROM MY HOME AND DID NOT HAVE SUFFICEINT BRAKES TO STOP THE VAN. BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. FTER INSPECTING FLUID RESEVOIR, I DETERMINED THE FLUID LEVEL ALMOST EMPTY AND STARTED TO LOOK FOR LEAKAGE AT WHEEL CYLINDERS, ETC. FOUND FLUID BELOW THE ABS VALVING. IT APPEARS THAT THE BATTERY BEING RIGHT ABOVE THE VALVING HAS ALLOWED BATTERY ACID TO DETERIORATE THE BRAKE LINES. AT LEAST 5 LINES APPEAR TO HAVE CORROSIVE DAMAGE. LOOKS LIKE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM. *AK

BOTH AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN FRONTAL COLLISION, RESULTING IN SEVERE STRUCTUAL DAMAGE, INCLUDING FIREWALL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE DECLARED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS BY INSURANCE COMPANY. COULD NOT BE REPAIRED TO A SAFE CONDITION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE CHEST. VEHICLE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING TO CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VAN THE STEERING BECAME UNCERTAIN, THE VAN WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE WHEEL. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE FRAME IN FRONT OF THE FRONT WHEELS HAD RUSTED AWAY LEAVING NOTHING FOR THE STEERING BOX TO ATTACH TO AND ALLOWING IT TO TURN WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE REMAINED FIXED. THIS PREVENTED THE WHEELS FROM STEERING. I ALSO HAD A BRACKET WHICH WAS PART OF THE STEERING GEAR RUST SO THAT IT BROKE OFF THE FRAME EARLIER. THE CORRESPONDING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DISTURBING AND I AM THANKFUL THAT NO INJURY OR ACCIDENT RESULTED. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES WITH RUST PROBLEMS WHICH AFFECTED THE APPEARANCE OF THE VEHICLE, BUT NOT THE SAFETY IN A CATASTROPHIC MANNER. THIS VAN IS NO LONGER ABLE TO BE DRIVEN EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH EVERY OTHER PART OF THE CAR. LOOKING ONLINE I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME SITUATION. OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE WARNED BEFORE A TRAGEDY OCCURS. *TR

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1999 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. BEING UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE HEADED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE DRIVER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES TO HER HAND. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED AND HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LINKAGE FRACTURED DUE TO THE FRAME BEING RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 136,000. MY WIFE AND OTHER DRIVERS COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. RESEARCH OF THIS VEHICLE ONLINE SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD FORCE A RECALL FOR REPAIR. MY VAN IS A RAM 1500 AND I HAVE FOUND THIS COMPLAINT FILED UNDER RAM 1500 TRUCKS AND RAM VANS. *TR

APRIL 2004 A LOSS OF OIL PRECLUDED PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE AT 46,000 MILES IN MY 1999 DODGE RAM 2500 VAN. MAY 1, 2010 THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE WITH 36,000 MILES EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF OIL THAT REGISTERED ON MY OIL PRESSURE GAUGE. THREE QUARTS OF OIL WERE REQUIRED TO BRING THE OIL TO NORMAL VOLUME. I HAVE CONTINUED REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND ENGINE MAINTENANCE. THE REBUILT ENGINE I WAS SOLD REPLACED THE FAILED ENGINE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE FAILED ENGINE I WAS TOLD THAT I FOLLOWED ALL MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES AND THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. I FEAR THIS IS A RE-OCCURRENCE OF THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM THAT WILL LEAD AND MAY BE INHERENT IN THE ENGINES USED IN THIS VEHICLE. IMPROPER LUBRICATION IN AN ENGINE CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. NHTSA ITEM 610005 AND 606035 SHOWS THAT CHRYSLER/DODGE KNOWS OF A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE THAT LEADS TO OIL LOSS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY MY OIL PRESSURE GAUGE DROPPED TO 0 PSIG. IT HAD BEEN APPROXIMATELY 2000 MILES SINCE MY LAST OIL CHANGE. WHEN I STOPPED AT THE GAS STATION TO CHECK THE OIL, I DISCOVERED MY OIL WAS ABOUT 3 QUARTS LOW. I PURCHASED 3 QTS OF OIL AND INSTALLED IT IN THE ENGINE AND CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS THE REST OF THE WAY HOME (GAUGE DROPPING TO 0 PSI, BUT NO REAL NOTICEABLE CLACKING OF LIFTERS). I EXPERIENCED THIS SORT OF PROBLEM IN 2002 WHEN MY 1999 DODGE RAM VAN (318 CI) WENT ON A TRIP TO NY AND USED ABOUT 12 QUARTS OF OIL WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. TWO MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAD TO FIGHT LIKE CRAZY WITH CHRYSLER TO COVER IT (I ENDED UP HAVING TO PAY A DEDUCTIBLE TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED). I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT WITH THE VAN WHICH IS NOW ALMOST SEVEN YEARS OLD WITH 55,000 MILES. NOT A VERY DEPENDABLE MACHINE AND PROMISE TO NEVER OWN ANOTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCT AS LONG AS I LIVE. *NM

THE SEAT BACK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE COLLAPSED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH BRACKETS, WHICH HELD THE SEAT BACK IN PLACE BROKE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME.*AK

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SEAT BACK FELL BACK, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE TEMPORARILY. *AK

THE FOLLOWING IS REGARDING A 1999 DODGE RAM 2500 VAN AND FAILURE OF TIE RODS. AT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES BOTH OUTER TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED BY A DEALER FOR TORN RUBBER BOOTS. AT APPROXIMATELY 64,000 MILES ANOTHER TIE ROD FAILURE OCCURRED. THIS TIME IT WAS THE ADJUSTING SLEEVE. THE SLEEVE HAD BECOME LOOSE ON THE TIE ROD END AND HAD DEVELOPED SUFFICIENT MOVEMENT TO WEAR THE THREADS DOWN TO THE POINT WHERE TOTAL FAILURE (SEPARATION) OF THE TIE ROD WAS IMMINENT. THIS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MILES AFTER A STATE INSPECTION AND WITH VERY LITTLE WARNING. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS POWER STEERING (WHICH HAS A VERY DEAD FEELING), THE TIE ROD HAD TO BE VERY NEAR FAILURE BEFORE ITS EFFECT COULD BE FELT IN THE STEERING. OBVIOUSLY I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT BECAUSE TIE ROD SEPARATION WHILE MOVING IS GOING TO RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL (GO RIGHT INTO THE DITCH OR WORSE GO LEFT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC). WHILE MY DEGREE IS IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, I FEEL I HAVE HAD ENOUGH MECHANICAL EXPERIENCE AND EXPERIENCE WORKING ON CARS TO OFFER THE FOLLOWING COMMENT. I THINK DODGE'S DESIGN WITH A SLEEVE THAT IS SPLIT ITS ENTIRE LENGTH AND DEPENDS SOLELY ON THE CLAMPS FOR INTEGRITY IS VERY POOR. FOR EXAMPLE, MITSUBISHI USES A SOLID ADJUSTING SECTION WITH TWO JAM NUTS. TOYOTA AGAIN USES A SOLID SECTION THAT IS SPLIT ONLY AT THE ENDS WHERE THE CLAMPS ARE USED TO PREVENT ROTATION. BOTH OF THE LATTER TWO DESIGNS ALLOW FOR A MORE POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT OF THE THREADS. *LA

BOTH AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN FRONTAL COLLISION, RESULTING IN SEVERE STRUCTUAL DAMAGE, INCLUDING FIREWALL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE DECLARED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS BY INSURANCE COMPANY. COULD NOT BE REPAIRED TO A SAFE CONDITION.*AK

SEVERE RUSTING IN UNIBODY CONSTRUCTION. HAS RUSTED SO SEVERELY VAN IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. VEHICLE HAS 133513 MILES ON IT. RUST ON UNDER CARRIAGE IS EXTREMELY EXCESSIVE. *TR

CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP FOR REALIGNMENT 7 TIMES BECAUSE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO PULL TO LEFT, AND TIRES KEEP WEARING EXCESSIVELY. DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE, AND MACHINE WAS SHOWING EVERYTHING TO BE NORMAL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

VEHICLE COMES EQUIPPED WITH P23575R15 BY GOODYEAR, ENVICTA GL WHICH IS DESIGNED FOR SMALL TRUCKS, AND PASSENGER VEHICLES . IT IS NOT MADE FOR HEAVY DUTY CONVERSION VANS. VAN WILL NOT STAY IN ALIGNMENT. CONSUMER FEELS CHRYSLER SHOULD NOT PUT THESE TIRES ON CONVERSION VANS SINCE IT DOES NOT SUPPORT WEIGHT.*AK

TIRES ARE WEARING OUT, THERE ARE BALD SPOTS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO GARAGE FOR REALIGNMENT, AND ATTENDANT TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD ON WRONG SET OF TIRES. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE.*AK THE TIRES WERE GOODYEAR INVICTA GL 15 INCH. *SLC

VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARDS WHEN PUT IN PARK. *AK *SLC

VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN DRIVE GEAR BY A 2-YEAR OLD CHILD BY SWINGING THE BACK OF HIS HAND PAST THE SHIFTER. VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL FORWARDS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND SHOWED NO CONCERN. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SEAT ANCHORAGE FAILED AND CAUSED THE SEAT TO COLLAPSE. THE CONSUMER WILL MAKE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

THE INFORMATION STICKER ON THE VAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACHIEVED 19 MPG HIGHWAY AND 13 MPG CITY HOWEVER THE VAN HAS CONSISTENTLY ACHIEVED A MERE 9 MPG CITY AND 12 MPG HIGHWAY, CONSUMER SAYS THIS EXCESSIVE GAS CONSUMPTION IS UNACCEPTABLE. NLM