1996 Dodge Ram Problems

The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 97V068000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), 01V037000 (Vehicle Speed Control), and 00V135000 (Electrical System); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

THE VEHICLE VACUUM SYSTEM BECAME CONTAMINATED WITH OIL. THIS EFFECTED THE VEHICLE'S HAV SYSTEM, BRAKE BOOSTER AND DETERIORATED ALL THE VACUUM HOSES WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. *PH A RECALL WAS INITIATED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONSUMER INSTALL AN EXTERNAL BRAKE BOOSTER CHECK VALVE AND HOSE, REPLACE VENT AND DEFROSTER ACTUATOR. THE CUSTOMER DECLINED THE REPAIRS. *NM

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION FAILED TO GO FROM SECOND TO THID GEAR. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE THIRD GEAR LIP SEAL FAILED. THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE WITH THESE VEHICLES. *AK

MANUFACTURER DEFECT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR EVEN HARM. *PH PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND THE HIGH CLUTCH DRUM WAS REPLACED. *MR *JB *SC

AIR CONDITION WORKS OFF AND ON THE PAINT ON THE TRUCK IS BLUE .IT HAS BEEN COMING OFF FOR SOME TIME .FIRST IN SMALL AREAS AND NOW LONGER. LOOKS LIKE A BAD SUN BURN.DON'T THINK IT WAS DONE RIGHT AT THE MANUFACTORS.

CYLINDER HEAD'S ARE CRACKED, CAUSING TRUCK TO DAMAGE HEAD GASKETS. OVERDRIVE ON THE TRUCK WENT OUT SO TRUCK WOULDN'T SHIFT.

The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 97V068000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), 01V037000 (Vehicle Speed Control), and 00V135000 (Electrical System); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CHEMICAL ODOR COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD AND THE HEATER. THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING SUDDENLY DIMMED. THE HEADLIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY DIM. THE CONTACT TURNED EVERYTHING BACK ON, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS ONLY ILLUMINATED FOR A FEW MINUTES. AFTER DRIVING WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS, HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. HE PULLED INTO HIS RESIDENCE AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SMOKE FILLED THE VEHICLE AND PRODUCED AN AWFUL ODOR. HE REMOVED THE LAMP FUSE, BUT THE BUZZING NOISE STILL INDICATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. HE REINSERTED THE FUSE AND THE BUZZING SOUND CONTINUED. HE NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND IS PARKED AT HIS RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 180,000.

WHEN REPLACING BALL JOINTS ON FRONT END, REPLACTMENT BALL JOINTS MAY NOT FIT PROPERLY IN UPPER OR LOWER CONTROL ARMS, PARTS DEPARTMENT TOLD ME TO WELD THE BALL JOINT TO THE CONTROL ARMS.

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKE OR HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD, CONSUMER FEELS LIKE SHE IS LOOSING CONTROL. VEHICLE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER YET.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN CHANGING THE POSITION OF THE STEERING WHEEL UP THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. NLM

LEFT FRONT SPINDLE BROKE WITH LITTLE WARNING WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE.

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT A TREE HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NORMAL, AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK... THE OTHER DRIVER, A LADY WAS CITED FOR IMPROPER BACKING OUT. CONSUMER'S GRAND SON FIRST HIT HER, THEN WENT THROUGH A YARD, HITTING A TREE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES ENGINE STALLED WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A MOUNTAIN, CONSUMER LOST ALL CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND WENT OFF A 300 FT REVENE, VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED AFTER STRIKING A TREE HEAD ON, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES, A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE, RECALL REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED ON VEHICLE REGARDING BLOWER AND IGNTION, CONSUMER WAS LATER INFORMED OF ADDITIONAL RECALLS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED ON VEHICLE, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS NEVER GIVEN ANY SPECIFIC DETAILS ABOUT WHAT WAS REPAIRED/REPLACED. *JB

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE LEAKED EXCESSIVE FUEL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH VEHICLE WAS RUNNING VERY ROUGHLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO FOUND THAT FUEL TANK AND FUEL PUMP WERE CONTAMINATED. *AK

PETITION FOR FINDING OF DEFECT RELATED TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY & ORDER DIRECTING NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE DEFECT PERTAINING TO THE 1994-97 MY DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS. *PH THE CONSUMER IS CONCERN ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE SEAT BACK RECLINER. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE AND DANGEROUS FOR OCCUPANT USE DURING REAR IMPACT ACCIDENTS. *NLM

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. THE PASSENGER SIDE SAFETY BELT HAD COME UNBUCKLED WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIAMATELY 30 MPH WITH HIS/HER DAUGHTER BUCKLED IN HER CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. A YOUNG MAN WAS BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY CLAIMING HE DIDN'T SEE THE VEHICLE AND IMPACTED THE PASSENGER SIDE. UPON IMPACT, THE PASSENGER BELT HAD UNBUCKLED, PUTTING THE DAUGHTER AND HER SEAT TO THE FLOORBOARD. *SCC

1996 DODGE RAM LEFT REAR TIRE CAME OFF OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *TS *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON DRY HIGHWAY PAVEMENT THE REAR DRIVER TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD AND THE TIRE WAS CHANGED. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE INSPECTED THE OTHER THREEE TIRES AND NOTICTED THE SAME DEFECTS. UPDATED 08/21/06. *JB

MY MAIN COMPLAINT IS THE TRANSMISSION. THE PRESSURE SEAL FOR SECOND GEAR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. IT LASTS FOR ABOUT 30,000 MILES AND THEN GOES. I'VE HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR 2 OUT OF 3 TIMES. APPROX 1400.00.. THE LAST TIME I HAD PARTS PUT IN THAT WERE NOT CHRYSLER PRODUCTS.

The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 97V068000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), 01V037000 (Vehicle Speed Control), and 00V135000 (Electrical System); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE RPM'S HAD GONE INTO THE RED. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP, BUT THE MECHANIC COULD NOT REPAIR IT BECAUSE HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER HAD VIEWED ONE OF THE CABLES IN A "U" SHAPE AND IT WAS STUCK INTO A SPRING ON THE GAS PEDAL. *SCC *JB

BED HAS COMPLETELY CRACKED IN WIDTH OF VEHICLE. THIS CONDITION MAKES VEHICLE UNSTABLE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE ARE ALSO CRACKS AT EDGES NEAR TAIL GATE. TAILGATE HINGES BROKE. HANDLES ON WINDOW BROKE, CAUSING WINDOW TO OPEN WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.

MIRRORS FOLD INWARD WHEN GOING HIGHWAY SPEED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED NOTHING COULD BE DONE.*AK

CONSUMER WAS CHANGING THE ALTERANTER AND HAEARD A SQUEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHILCE. CONSUMER LOOKED DOWN AND FOUND THAT IT WAS A CRACKED FRAME ABOVE THE COIL SPRING HOUSING. CONSUMER CONTACED THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION. HOWEVER, CONSMER WAS TOLD THAT THERY WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH A CUP OF HOT COFFEE SPILLED FROM THE CUP HOLDER, SCALDING THE CONSUMER'S LEG. CONSUMER FELT THAT THE CUP HOLDER WAS NOT DESIGNED TO HOLD SECURELY. *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM PICKUP. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHILE IT COOLED OFF, AND AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES, THE VEHICLES LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE FAILURE CAUSED THE WIRING HARNESS TO MELT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS FAILURE OCCURRED TOO FREQUENTLY . IT BEGAN TO OCCUR 1 YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, AND HE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCHES OVER 12 TIMES. DAIMLER/CHRYSLER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TOO MANY MILES ON IT AND THAT IT WAS NOT RELATED TO RECALL #99V024000 DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,900 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 177,000. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED EACH TIME. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 99V024000, REGARDING THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

1996 DODGE RAM LEFT REAR TIRE CAME OFF OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *TS *JB

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE KEEPS BLOWING WHEEL SEALS WHICH CONTAMINATE THE BRAKES, CONSUMER PURCHASED LIFETIME WHEEL SEALS AND LASTED TWO WEEKS.*AK. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE THROTTLE LINKAGE HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES.*SLC

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT THE REAR SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK UP CAUSING THEM TO RELEASE. DEALER NOTIFIED

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. THE PASSENGER SIDE SAFETY BELT HAD COME UNBUCKLED WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIAMATELY 30 MPH WITH HIS/HER DAUGHTER BUCKLED IN HER CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. A YOUNG MAN WAS BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY CLAIMING HE DIDN'T SEE THE VEHICLE AND IMPACTED THE PASSENGER SIDE. UPON IMPACT, THE PASSENGER BELT HAD UNBUCKLED, PUTTING THE DAUGHTER AND HER SEAT TO THE FLOORBOARD. *SCC

A/C EVAPORATOR LEAKS. NLM

A/C MOTOR BLOWS OUT WHEN GOING UP A UPGRADE,AND WHEN GOING DOWN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND HE HAD A VACUUM SWITCH PUT IN, AND IT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK