1998 Dodge Ram Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM VAN WITH AFTERMARKET BENDIX BRAKES (MODEL NUMBER: 13481).THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND, CAUSING THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE OR THE BRAKES IN REGARD TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10444690

Incident

Jan 10, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKES ALSO FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY BUT THE FAILURES WERE CAUSING BY AN ELECTRIC COMPONENT. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

NHTSA ID

10325497

Incident

Apr 9, 2010

Mileage

115,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTING FAIL TO DIM WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. PRIOR TO THE FAILURES, SHE NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WOULD NOT DIM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 132,216. UPDATED 07/28/09. *LJ UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10276115

Incident

Jul 8, 2009

Mileage

132,216 mi

WHILE DRIVING,THE CONSUMER TRIED TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS COMING INSIDE OF THE LANE. WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A GUARD RAIL AND FLIPPED INTO A DITCH. BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES. THE DRIVER WENT TO THE HOSPITAL ON HIS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10108778

Incident

Jan 24, 2005

CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP. IN THE PROCESS, THE VEHICLE HOPPED UP AND DOWN. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, AND THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE REAR BRAKE ADJUSTER MALFUNCTIONING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10072219

MY HUSBAND ORDERED THIS TRUCK IN LATE 1997. WE PURCHASED IT NEW AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE HAVE FACED IS THE TRANSMISSION. MID-APRIL 1998 THE FIRST PROBLEMS OCCURED WITH SLIPPAGE, THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES WERE REPLACED, ONE MONTH LATER THE TORQUE CONVERTER WENT AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. NOW AT 51,000 MILES AND VERY LITTLE DRIVING FOR THE LAST 2 YRS (SINCE MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN SICK WITH CANCER) IT HAS BLOWN AGAIN. THE FRONT SEALS ARE LEAKING PROFUSELY. THE REAR WINDOW WAS LEAKING SO BADLY AT ONE POINT THE ENTIRE CEILING INSIDE WAS SOADED. THE ABS COMPUTER WENT WACKY ON US EARLY ON ALSO. THE SEATBELT HAS BEEN TWISTED SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WE HAVE NOT SUCCESSFULLY FIXED IT. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WE PURCHASED HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. I WILL NOT LIKELY BUY ANOTHER DODGE EVER AGAIN. MERCEDES TAKES THE CAKE.

NHTSA ID

10070595

Incident

Feb 15, 2003

Mileage

50,100 mi

VEHICLE BRAKES FAILED. SCC PH

NHTSA ID

10003775

Incident

Oct 25, 2001

Mileage

97,000 mi

HAVING TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. BRAKES WORKED ONE MINUTE AND THE NEXT TIME TOTAL FAILURE. IN 2001 POWER STEERING PUMP AND GEAR BOX WERE REPLACED DUE TO TOTAL FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

768651

Incident

Aug 23, 2002

THE BRAKE FLUID RESIRVOIR WAS EMPTY, BUT THE BRAKE WARRNING LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A FLUID LEVEL SENSOR INSIDE MASTER CYLINDER. THE DEALER REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER. *YH

NHTSA ID

8018203

Incident

Aug 6, 2002

THE BRAKE CYLINDERS HAD BEEN LEAKING AND WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER IN 2000. THEN AGAIN IN DECEMBER OF 2001 WE HAD BRAKE3 TROUBLE AND THE CALIPERS AND CYLINDERS HAS BRAKES BEGAN TO SQUEAK. WE HAD JUST HAD EVERYTHING DONE LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO. WE ASSUMED THAT AT THE WORST THE PADS NEEDED CHANGING. WE TOOK IT IN THE NEXT DAY. WE WERE INFORMED THAT IT WAS NOT THE WARNING SYSTEM BUT THAT THE CALIPERS WERE FROZEN AND HAD WORN OUT SO QUICKLY THAT THE BACK CYLIDERS WERE SHOT TOO. WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR BRAKES COULD HAVE GONE OUT COMPLETELY AT ANY MOMENT THERE WASN'T ANY WARNING. THANKFULL THAT WE DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT WE SPENT THE $800.00 TO FIX EVERYTHING. THE CALIPERS, ROTERS, CYLINDERS, PADS, EVERYTHING. THIS IS THE KICKER THAT NEXT WEEKEND FIVE DAYS LATER WE WERE COMMING HOME FROM OUT OF TOWN AND GOING DOWN A LARGE HILL THEY BEGAN TO SMOKE. AND WE TRIED TO PULL OVER. WE HAD NO BRAKES!!! THANK GOODNESS THERE WAS NO ONE IN FONT OF US. WE SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR AND GRADUALLY CAME TO A STOP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. I AM STLL WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE PROB. IS NOW. I HAD CALLED DODGE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY SORT OF PROB. OR RECALL WITH THE BREAK SYSTEM BEFORE AND THEY SAID NO. THEY WOULD FIX IT BUT CHARGE US TO DO SO. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEMS. OUR LIVES HAVE BEEN IN JEPORDY TWICE AND WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY. IT IS OBVIOUS THERE IS A PROB. LOOKING AT THE COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE WHY ARE THEY NOT DOING ANYTHING. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE FIRST. WE HAVE TRIED IN VAIN TO FIX OUR TRUCK TO WORK PROPERLY WITH NO LUCK. I ONLY WISH WE COULD AFFORD TO BY ANOTHER TRUCK. I AM AFRAID THAT MINE AND MY FAMILY'S LIVES ARE IN JEPORDY. WHEN WILL DODGE STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM?*AK

NHTSA ID

762367

Incident

Dec 1, 2001

RIGHT FRONT INSIDE BRAKE PAD LOCKED AGAINST THE DISC CAUSING CONTINUOUS WEAR. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE INSIDE PADS DO NOT HAVE "SQUEALERS" AS DO THE OUTSIDE PADS SO THERE WAS NO ADVANCE INDICATION OF IMPENDING FAILURE. DAIMLER/CHRYSLER HAS INFORMED ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO DECLINE MY REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD JUST EXCEEDED THE TIME/MILEAGE LIMITATIONS OF THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY AT THE TIME ($357.78) EXPENSE WAS INCURRED.*AK

NHTSA ID

759632

Incident

Jun 9, 2001

ABS LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED WHEN DRIVING. DEALER HAS REPLACED CLOCKSPRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8005434

Incident

Jul 1, 2001

BRAKE ROTORS ARE WARPED, AND THERE IS VIBRATION. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003759

Incident

Feb 6, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AND THEN STOPPING FRONT BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE, AND VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003692

CONSUMERS VEHICLE RAN INTO A TRAILER ON HIS PROPERTY AND ABS WAS DEFECTIVE, ALSO BRAKE DRUMS WERE RUSTED, DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT HEADACHE BAR AND FUEL TANK, TIRES, FUEL FILTER, STEERING STABILIZER, FRONT SHOCKS, REAR SHOCKS, AIR FILTER, REAR AXLE SEAL AND FLUID, REAR TRANSFER CASE SEAL AND U-JOINTS IN REAR DRIVE SHAFT FAILED AND REPLACED.*YD

NHTSA ID

8001228

Incident

Dec 1, 2001

THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK AND MY WIFE CRASHED AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID

754975

Incident

Nov 27, 2001

WHILE DRIVING ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

898784

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES DOWNHILL AND GOING OVER A BUMP ON PAVEMENT ABS SYSTEM RELEASES. WILL NOT GRAB AGAIN UNTIL VEHICLE IS ON LEVEL GROUND. TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES, SAID VEHICLE OPERATED AS IT SHOULD, AND ABS SYSTEM WAS FINE.*AK DISCONNECTING SPEED SENSOR, ELIMINATES THE PROBLEM, BUT IT IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. *ET

NHTSA ID

896954

Incident

Jun 1, 1998

BRAKES WERE FAILING TO PROPERLY HOLD VEHICLE OR SLOW VEHICLE DOWN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

896864

Incident

Mar 1, 1998

SEVERE BRAKE PULL TO THE RIGHT. WORSE WHEN UNEVEN OR RUTTED ROAD. HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK IN 5 TIMES AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY CAN RECREATE THE PROBLEM. DODGE NEEDS TO FIX THIS SAFTY HAZARD BEFORE IT CAUSE SOMEONE TO BE KILLED.*AK

NHTSA ID

749861

Incident

Jul 9, 2001

VEHICLE WAS SET ON CRUISE CONTROL GOING 70 MPH. VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN, AND ABS LIGHTS/ AIR BAG LIGHT/ SPEEDOMETER WENT TO ZERO/ GAS GAUGE WENT TO EMPTY, AND TANK WAS FULL. CONSUMER TOOK IT INTO DEALER,AND CLOCKSPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER HAS NOT STATED IF IT WILL BE COVERED.*AK

NHTSA ID

893211

Incident

Jul 11, 2001

VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 98V075000. BRAKE ROTOR MATERIAL STRENGTH IS NOT SUFFICIENT, CAUSING HUB FATIGUE FRACTURE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

888220

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 01V135000 FOR DODGE RAM B350 REGARDING BRAKE LINES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOT SHOWING ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THIS DEFECT. *AK VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE BRAKE PROBLEM. (RECALL APPLIES TO PLEASURE WAY 1995-2000 EXCEL AND LEXOR CLASS B MOTOHOMES). *YH

NHTSA ID

887695

Incident

May 1, 2001

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A NORMAL STOP, PEDAL TRAVELED TO FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALSO, VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF DEALER FOR REPAIRS. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

885714

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY LOCKED UP, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE, CAUSING A COLLISION. MINOR INJURIES SUSTAINED.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID

884819

Incident

Mar 30, 2001