Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
STEERING
07/16/20081293851
 Was driving on highway at 65 mph, i crossed a small bump in the road and lost all control of the 1996 dodge ram 1500 4x4 pickup. it shook all the stuff off of my seat as well as my cd holder. this is the second time this has happened. i am at a loss as to how to look for the problem. i love this truck but i have gone through two wheel bearings and a tie rod end and i have only had it for a year.... i want to know how to fix this problem before someone gets killed. *tr
03/05/2003106000504/05/1996
 I own a 1996 dodge ram 1500 with the 5.2 liter engine. the engine oil light would flicker when stopped at a stop sign in drive. i took it to the dodge dealership and they said that the engine would have to be replaced due to the wear. i have used mobile 1 synthetic oil since the breakin oil and never let the oil in the vehicle over 4,000 miles. each time the oil filter was also changed. the vehicle has 106,000 miles on it and the engine replacement is costing me $4.700. i've been told that the 5.2 liter engine does not handle synthetic oil well. the oil does not return to the oil pan fast enough to keep the bottom of the engine lubricated. i find this hard to believe but i've never wore out an engine before. my question is how can an engine wear out when it was taken such good care of? i've had several other failures of this vehicle dealing with u-joints, steering shaft, failed fuel pump, and an unstable suspension requiring a $500 piston assembly to repair but the repair did nothing to help. *nlm
01/01/1999103/02/1998
 Front end misaligned due to idle arm,ball joints,tie rod ends pitman arm and steering failure. yh
04/11/19971
 Vehicle has grinding noise in steering wheel when turning, replacement of new shaft did not correct the problem.
STEERING - GEAR BOX - SHAFT SECTOR
 While driving steering shaft disengaged from steering box, almost causing an accident. *ak
06/26/1996106/01/1996
 Steering shaft failed.
STEERING - LINKAGES
01/01/200496000509/13/2001
 S,bar link ,replaced twice within 3 weeks ,no good.transmission failure took to transmission shop ,replaced pressure sol,governor,gov switch,switchand seleriond,still acting the same.left controlarmandboltkit , also say needs right side .will not alligne .light under hood comes on when driving ,and horn does not work no one can fig out why ..?dodge should cover all tranny and frount sup on these trucks ,found out after purchaced all the things that go wrong with this yr of tk.96 dodge ram 4x4 1500 also the 4x4 is hard to shift into and take out and sometimes doesn not come out ,even when light indcates it is out of four wheel.never again dodge!! numerous dates of work to this vehicle. *ak
02/15/199906/01/1997
 The exhaust system and the radio were repalced with no problems from the dealer, the brake system i replaced myself, the transmission was repaired by the dealership with a $100 deductable after contacting chysler, the pitman and idler arm have not yet been repaired, i am not driving the vechicle
STEERING - LINKAGES - ARM - IDLER AND ATTACHMENT
01/01/1999103/02/1998
 Front end misaligned due to idle arm,ball joints,tie rod ends pitman arm and steering failure. yh
STEERING - LINKAGES - KNUCKLE - SPINDLE - ARM
 While driving 55 mph right knuckle arm broke, causing safety problems. consumer notes vehicle did not hit a pothole. cause unknown. *ak
STEERING - LINKAGES - TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
01/01/1999103/02/1998
 Front end misaligned due to idle arm,ball joints,tie rod ends pitman arm and steering failure. yh
STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR
08/04/1997308/01/1996
 I am on my fourth steering column with less than 25,000 miles.did i buy a lemon or can you help me? the dodge people only said they would only document it. thank you.
07/13/1999207/01/1996
 Vehicle was purchased in july of 96. in july of 97 a popping noise started coming out of the steering column.. the vehicle had 21,500 miles on it. my dealer replaced the steering column with a new one under warranty. july of 99 the steering column started making the same noise. the vehicle was taken back to the dealer again and i was told that the clock spring was bad. i had a new clock spring installed but this didnot correct the problem. the dealer refunded my money for the clock spring and the cost of the labor to install it. front end of vehicle was disassembled to find out where the noise was coming from. i was told that the steering column had gone bad again. at this time the vehicle had 55984 miles on it and it is out of warranty. the new steering column lasted just a few days shy of two years and a little over 30,000 miles. the dealer said that since the vehicle is out of warranty, i'll have to pay the full repair bill to have the vehicle repaired. i called chryslers hot line number and explained to them that the new steering column shouldn't have gone out in only two years and 30,000 miles. they told me that as a good faith messure they would go 50-50 with me on the repair. this isn't right! no way should that part go out in two years. that means, if i keep the vehicle, every two years i'll be spending $500 for a new steering column. *ak
01/14/1999
 The passenger's windshield wiper arm motor broke, which may cause visual difficulty. also, the steering system is very loose, and dealer had to replace the steering shaft. problem is still occurring. presently, dealer wants to replace the steering column and other parts. in addition, there are problems with transmission and transfer case which has been replace 3 times. please provide further information. *ak