1998 Dodge Ram Electrical Problems

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

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

I HAVE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH PREIGNITION (SPARK KNOCK) IN MY 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 WITH THE 318 CID/5.2L MOTOR. .AT 24,896 MILES, MY DEALER RE-PROGRAMMED THE PCM AND RE-ROUTED THE SPARK WIRES. THE SPARK KNOCK CONTINUED. AT 35,067 MILES, THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE TIMING; I DIDN'T THINK THIS COULD BE DONE. THE SPARK KNOCK CONTINUED. AT 43,281 MILES, THE DEALER REPLACED THE INTAKE PLENIUM GASKET. THE SPARK KNOCK CONTINUED. AT 45,093, THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH ENGINE HEADS. THE SPARK KNOCK CONTINUED. AT 57,452 MILES, I INSTALLED A COLDER THERMOSTAT AND THIS HELPED SOMEWHAT, BUT THE SPARK KNOCK RETURNED. AND, TODAY AT 74,834 MILES I INSTALLED A SET OF TRUCK SPARK PLUGS TO SEE IF THAT WILL HELP. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THIS TRUCK HAS AN INHERINT DEFECTIVE DESIGN IN THE ENGINE WHICH IS BEING PREMATURELY WORN OUT DUE TO SPARK KNOCK. I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE, AND HELP ME IN SECURING A REPLACEMENT FOR MY PROBLEM PLAGUED LEMON. THANK YOU!

NHTSA ID

766138

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM KEPT BURNING OUT, CAUSING DASHBOARD AND TAIL LIGHTS TO GO OUT, WITHOUT WARNING. *AKHEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS CHECKED AND DEALER FOUND MELTED PLASTIC WIRE TO THE SWITCH CONNECTOR. SWITCH WAS REPLACED, THEN THE TAIL LIGHTS WENT OUT. STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. *JG

NHTSA ID

8008258

Incident

Dec 12, 2001

HORN BUTTONE (THE AREA YOU PRESS IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL) WILL NO PRESS IN TO HONK, DUE TO DESIGN PROBLEM, DUE TO AIR BAG. THERE IS NOT WAY TO HONK THE HORN

NHTSA ID

9006435

HORN IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HONK, DEALER SAYS IT IS BECAUSE OF AIRBAG HOUSING AND THERE IS NOT ROOM FOR HORN CONTACTS TO WORK, SO NO MATTER WHERE YOU PUSH OR HOW HARD YOU HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WILL NOT ALLOW THE HORN TO HONK!*AK

NHTSA ID

757041

SPARK KNOCK NOTICED, VEHICLE TAKEN TO NEAREST DODGE DEALERSHIP(COLONIAL DR., ORLANDO,FL). VEHICLE WAS EVALUATED BY COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND ROAD TEST: REPORTED AS NORMAL. ON FURTHER INSISTANCE AND DISCUSSION, SERVICE TECH FOUND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT. IT WAS ALSO MENTIONED BY THIS DEALERSHIP, AS WELL AS BY SEVERAL OTHER MECHANICS, THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM DODGE IS HAVING ON V-6 AND V-8 STYLE ENGINES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BECOME SO WIDESPREAD THAT DODGE HAS PUBLISHED BULLETINS ON REPAIR OF THIS DEFECT. DODGE HAS ALSO AGREED TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT IN THE V-6 ENGINES. SINCE I AM THE OWNER OF A V-8 ENGINE THAT THIS DEFECT ALSO EXISTS, I FEEL DODGE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THE PART IN MY ENGINE AND I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND REPAIR OF ENGINE MANIFOLD PLENUM PAN GASKET. THANK-YOU FOR YOUR ASSISSTANCE IN THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ID

753560

Incident

Oct 19, 2001

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS NOT OPERABLE. PARK LIGHTS WOULDN'T COME ON, AND CONSUMER SMELLS LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THERE IS A FUEL LEAK LEAKING FROM BACK OF ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID

889024

Incident

May 1, 2001

HORN DOES NOT SOUND WHEN DEPRESSED; BACKUP LIGHTS LENS COVER IS TINTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

722317

Incident

Nov 16, 1998

HORN IS VERY HARD TO LOCATE ON STEERING COLUMN, AND IT IS VERY HARD TO DEPRESS TO GET IT TO BLOW. *AK THIS VEHICLE HAS NARROWLY MISSED BEING INVOLVED IN 2 OR 3 ACCIDENTS BECAUSE THE DRIVER COULD NOT USE THE HORN. *YH

NHTSA ID

860880

HORN IS LOCATED ON TOP OF STEERING WHEEL WHERE THE AIRBAGS COME OUT. CONSUMER CANNOT PLACE ENTIRE HAND ON THE HORN TO MAKE IT WORK . ONLY A SINGLE POINT HE CAN PRESS WITH HIS FINGER ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY HE CAN HEAR THE HORN. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

860752

Incident

Aug 11, 1999

HEADLIGHT WIRES MELTED. REPLACED BY DEALER. PROBLEM RENTURNED ON SECOND SET. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

858968

THE HORN IS VERY DIFFICULT TO APPLY. OWNER HAS TO ADD EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO GET HORN TO FUNCTION. DLR SAYS IT'S NORMAL. *AK

NHTSA ID

855552

THE DESIGN OF HORN BUTTON HARDENS IN COLD WEATHER CAUSING DIFFICULTIES LOCATING HORN IN A EMERGENCY. OCCASIONALLY THE HORN FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD GRADUALLY DECREASE WITHOUT BRAKES BEING APPLIED. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK. *YC

NHTSA ID

844798

Incident

Dec 12, 1998

FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO ENGINE DYING OUT. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON & THEN DIED OUT. HAD FUSE REPLACED DUE TO BLOWING OUT CONSTANTLY. ENGINE & CATALYTIC CONVERTER AFFECTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

846156

Incident

Jul 4, 1999

HORN HAS TWO SMALL BUTTONS ON BOTH SIDE OF AIRBAG COVER WHICH ARE TOO SMALL TO LOCATE AND HARD TO PRESS, NOT ALLOWING DRIVER TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER DRIVERS. MANUFACTURER STATES THERE IS NO PLAN TO REVISE HORN. *AK

NHTSA ID

845992

HORN DIFFICULT TO OPERATE; TRANS SHIFTS OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS AND ENGINE IS UNDER LOAD

NHTSA ID

710353

MANY OF MY FRIENDS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 1998 DODGE TRUCKS, CHRYSLER SAYS IT IS "NORMAL" AND WILL NOT FIX. HORN BUTTON WAS RE-DESIGNED FOR 1999 AND DOES NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

707088

Incident

Jan 1, 1999

HORN DIFFICULT TO ACTIVATE, REQUIRES EXTREME FORCE IN VERY SPECIFIC LOCATION.

NHTSA ID

706679

HORN SENSOR WAS DIFFICULT TO LOCATE IN AN EMERGENCY. IT CAUSED A COLLISION IN WHICH SOMEONE WAS KILLED. *AK

NHTSA ID

834342

THE PASSENGER'S OR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. ALSO, YOU ALMOST HAVE TO PUNCH THE HORN PAD TO GET IT TO WORK. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELT OR THE HORN. OWNER HAS 2 OTHER TRUCKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. PLEASE LIST VIN #S FOR OTHER 2 TRUCKS. *AK

NHTSA ID

836291

Incident

May 5, 1998

THE HORN IS VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THROUGH THE AIRBAG. MANY TIMES IT HAS FAILED TO SOUND AT ALL.

NHTSA ID

704147

Incident

Apr 20, 1998

WITHIN 3 DAYS OF BUYING THE DODGE TRUCK, WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD THE GAUGES WOULD MALFUNCTION AND THE TRUCK WOULD DIE. YOU COULD PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART IT. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP AND NOTHING WAS FOUND WRONG. THIS CONTINUES. THEN WE STARTED BLOWING BREAKERS AND FUSES THAT RUN BRAKE LIGHTS AND BLINKERS. TOOK TO THE SHOP. FOUND NOTHING. JUST REPLACED BREAKERS AND FUSES 3 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS. NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND MOTOR DIES GOING DOWN THE ROAD. WE HAVE NOW HAD TO BUY A NEW APPS SENSOR WHICH COST US 613.61 BECAUSE TRUCK IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY WITHOUT EVER BEING FIXED. THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAS BEEN AND STILL IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO EVERYONE. IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHICH CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. I KNOW OF ANOTHER VEHICLE LIKE MINE IN CALIFORNIA THAT HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MINE AND ALSO ONE IN FAYETTEVILLE, AR. THE MAN IN ARKANSAS WAS HAVING HIS TRUCK WORKED ON AT THE SAME TIME MINE WAS IN THE SHOP. THIS IS TOO MANY PROBLEMS FOR A NEW VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

704004

Incident

Aug 22, 1998

HORN CAN NOT BE SOUNDED IN A QUICK EMERGENCY SITUATION DUE TO AIRBAG CONFIGURATION. CAN ONLY BE SOUNDED IF THUMB IS PRECISELY PRESSED EXACTLY ON TWO SPOTS INDICATED WHILE LOOKING AT THOSE SPOTS IE: CAN NOT HAVE EYES ON ROAD..

NHTSA ID

703668

Incident

Feb 10, 1999