Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||||
| 0200101 | 01/19/2001 | 618392 | Some customers may experience a situation in which the rear of the vehicle sits too high to attach their fifth wheel or goose neck trailer to the trailer hitch turnable. *jb | 04/12/2001 | |
| 020699A | 12/17/1999 | 020699 | 6089735 | This bulletin mentions that the front wheel bearing grease is evident on the bearing seal area. *tt | 02/24/2000 |
| 020397 | 05/09/1997 | 52962 | Rear of vehicle is to low. *yc | 11/13/1997 | |
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||||
| 021197 | 11/28/1997 | 54165 | Vehicle experiencing a clunking noise being heard in the front suspension while driving on rough roads. *yc | 03/30/1998 | |
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - WHEEL BEARING | |||||
| 020699 | 06/11/1999 | 608109 | On some vehicles the front wheel bearings may incorrectly be diagnosed as faulty due to the evidence of wheel bearing grease on the bearing seal areas. *tt | 11/03/1999 | |
| 020699 | 06/11/1999 | 606527 | Subject on the front wheel bearing grease is evident on the bearing seal area. *tt | 08/26/1999 | |
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||||
| 020397A | 08/29/1997 | 02-03-97 | 6088754 | Subject regarding rear of vehicle sitting too low. *nlm | 01/06/2000 |
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS - LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 020400 | 03/17/2000 | 021399 | 610616 | Some customers may comment on a squeaking / clicking noise from rear leaf springs. *tt | 05/08/2000 |
| 021399 | 09/10/1999 | 020396 | 607905 | Experiencing squeaking noise from rear leaf springs. *tt | 10/15/1999 |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||
| 06/15/1996 | |||
| 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 | |||
| 02/26/2002 | 2 | 11/01/1995 | |
| While driving vehicle kept pulling to the right. owner stopped vehicle and checked it. noticed cracks on driver's side, shock tower mounts were cracking and getting worse. passenger's side was also cracking. tower mounts were separating from frame. contacted dealer who informed consumer that this vehicle was not on recall. vehicle being repaired. *ak | |||
| 01/14/2002 | 0 | ||
| While driving, could hear noise coming from rear of vehicle wich sounded like suspension was out of place. had taken vehicle to dealer, and they had to replace rear pinion bearing on differential. please provide more informatinon.*ak | |||
| 08/01/1999 | 2 | 09/01/1995 | |
| In august of 1999 with approximately 70,000 miles on odometer while driving 35 mph, there was a vibration, and the driver lost all steering control before crashing into a ditch. dealership examined vehicle and replaced steering gear box to remedy the problem. since replacement of original steering gear box, vehicle wanders all over the road during normal operation. steering gear box has to be replaced again by an independent repair shop. *ak *yh | |||
| 06/01/1997 | |||
| Intermittently vehicle would shake/ wobble while driving at approx. 40 or more mph once it started it continued until speed come down to 25 mph. vehicle been in / out of repair shop on four occasions, and condition remained unresolved. manufacturer notified and informed consumer that a correction can be made. but, the cost would be at consumer's expense. can nhtsa provide information concerning this matter. *ak | |||
| While driving below 45 mph or above the front end of the vehicle severely shakes as if the tires were bouncing off the ground. dealer replaced the track bar and steering stablizer. please give any further details. *ak | |||
| While driving the vehicle vibrates and steeering is very unstable, cause unknown. dealer replaced shock absorber bar which did not correct the problem. please give any further details. *ak | |||
| 02/03/1997 | 1 | 02/03/1997 | |
| Vibration, repairs made, however vibration continues. | |||
| 05/07/1998 | |||
| Vehicle shook badly whenever hitting a bump during 25 mph or more. dealer notified. *ak | |||
| 08/13/1997 | 2 | ||
| Suspension system problem/rough riding, repairs made however still experience. | |||
| 10/17/1996 | 3 | ||
| While driving on freeway, consumer applied brakes & vehicle pulled left, across 2 lanes. at a much lower speed, pulled right. took to dealer several times for brake problem & was corrected 75%. was informed normal for truck to pull right. *ak consumer states that the vehicle is now constantly pulling to the left at any speed. *slc | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||
| 10/01/2000 | 3 | 06/15/1996 | |
| Under normal operating conditions when traveling around 50 to 60 mph and hitting a bump, front end will vibrate violently. consumer must stop vehicle in order to get vibration to go away. dealership has examined vehicle twice: during first incident dealership replaced track bar, and at second incident, dealership could not determine cause. *ak the steering damper has been replaced and consumer hopes that this solves the problem. *slc | |||
| Driving at 15 mph or more front end will shake uncontrollably causing a loss of vehicle control. consumer replaced tires, but defect still occurs. *ak | |||
| 01/01/1996 | |||
| I have had this dodge into the dodge dealership many times explaining that the pickup pulls to the right or pulls to the left. they said on each time they have installed spacers to correct it but it is still not corrected. i am in need of getting this resolved. *ak | |||
| 03/01/1999 | |||
| While driving 60 mph front end vibrates or shakes, causing the wheel to feel like a wave in which the occupant may lose control which could result in a crash. manufacturer is aware of the problem, but consumer has to pay for repairs. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| 04/01/1999 | 12/01/1995 | ||
| When driving over a bump or pothole, front suspension will shimmy violently. shimmying continues until vehicle is pulled to side of road and speed is reduced. shocks have been replaced, and did not resolve problem. there is no rhyme or reason to cause. some bumps and potholes cause, some do not. sometimes, shimmy starts mildly and progressively gets worse. although occurred at 65, also occurs at slower highway speeds. if you know of a fix that is available (e.g., dealer retrofit), please e-mail me! although this has not caused an accident, chances are it eventually will! *ak | |||
| 04/01/1999 | 1 | 12/01/1995 | |
| At highway speeds, vehicle has vibration. feels like tire slightly out of balance, but tires have been balanced repeatedly, wheels have been checked for true, and tires have been checked for out of round. dealer stated that stock goodyear tires are known for having a rough ride but are not covered by warranty because they are wear items. dealer suggested replacing wheels and tires, both of which were done, but not at dealer; problem was not resolved and cost nearly $2000. vibration is significant enough that front passenger seat can be seen vibrating. this is more of a nuisance than a safety hazard, but can make for an uncomfortable ride. dealer's comment has been that that's the way a truck rides, and stated that there was nothing that they could do to resolve it. *ak | |||
| 11/20/1998 | 1 | 07/01/1998 | |
| The front tracking bar that holds the front axle in place is very loose and is about to break which may cause an accident. cause unknown. *ak | |||
| 15 | 01/15/1996 | ||
| Front end misalignment. in addition, rear axle seals/axle bearings/steering drag:link/front brake calipers/rotors and pads/rear brake shoes and drums and rear brake cylinders and brake vacuum booster failed/replaced. | |||
| Steering in the vehicle gets extremely sloppy when driving and makes it hard to steer. the steering column has been replaced and the upper and lower control arms. *ak | |||
| 05/03/1996 | 8 | ||
| Alignment: pulls to the right and wearing the tires out. the alignment has been repaired eight time since may of 1996. *ak | |||
| 11/24/1996 | 1 | ||
| Front end misaligned, causing tire wear. | |||
| 07/01/1996 | 1 | 06/30/1996 | |
| When traveling on rough road conditions or at a high rate of speed, vehicle bounces and seems to bottom out on the frame. both front shocks and tires were replaced but unstable conditions still exist. | |||
| 12/10/1996 | 1 | 03/27/1996 | |
| The car pulls to right when brakes are applied. | |||
| 04/29/1997 | 2 | 06/26/1996 | |
| Vehicle experienced a transmission overheating problem. also, vehicle pulled to the left upon braking/front end misalignment pulled vehicle to the right. *ak | |||
| 12/31/1996 | 1 | 02/01/1996 | |
| Front end misaligned. | |||
| 05/11/1996 | 1 | 02/17/1996 | |
| Suspension problem, causing vibration. | |||
| 01/12/1997 | |||
| Vehicle vibrates while in motion. dealer tried to readjust it but that did not work. *ak | |||
| When hitting a bump the whole vehicle shakes, coming from the trackbar. *ak | |||
| 04/01/1996 | 1 | 04/01/1996 | |
| When brakes are applied vehicle pulls sharply to the right. | |||
| 03/06/1996 | 1 | ||
| Vehicle vibrates excessively at all speeds. | |||
| 05/21/1996 | |||
| Due to no front suspension, the vehicle front tires are wearing often. *ak | |||
| 02/16/1996 | |||
| Parts in the front end has to be replaced, including steering knuckles, vehicle only has 1.8 k miles. *ak | |||
| 11/15/1995 | |||
| Traveling at certain speeds or making a panic stop vehicle pulls to the left or right. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM | |||
| 03/27/2001 | 1 | ||
| Front control arm bushings are worn and all ball joints are loose. nlm | |||
| 10/20/2000 | 05/01/1996 | ||
| There is a service bulletin number 020496, sequence number 49, date of bulletin 9606, nhtsa item number sb047743 out on this problem of the suspension;independent front control arm; ball joints being rusted and needing replacement. the dodge people told me it will cost me $880 to fix and the truck only has 26,000 miles on it. it is a defect that needs to be recalled. thank you. | |||
| 09/01/1996 | |||
| While applying the brakes the vehicle will move to the right lane unexpectedly. has to release the brakes in order to move back into the orginal lane, which may cause an accident. dealer cannot determine problem. dealer replace control arms, brake pads etc. please provide details. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT | |||
| 11/20/2001 | |||
| 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. | |||
| 04/18/1998 | 2 | 06/01/1996 | |
| Loud clunking noise and sensation in steering linkage while braking and turning corners. dealer had same problem with another ram pickup. dealer replaced upper and lower ball joints. fixed problem. however, after additional 10,000 miles problem is re-occurring. also, three of original five tires had defects including significant bulging and ply separation. resulted in poor traction, excelerated wear, and bouncing. owner replaced two tires. when third tire failed, owner replaced all the tires. dealer stated they receive many tire complaints from new vehicle owners with goodyear tires.( dot number: tire size: p245 75r16 ) | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SHOCK ABSORBER | |||
| 08/23/1996 | 1 | 06/07/1996 | |
| Front shock absorbers failed. | |||
| 05/07/1996 | 1 | 05/02/1996 | |
| Shocks failed. | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - TORSION BAR | |||
| 10 | 01/15/1996 | ||
| Front brake pads failed, causing vehicle to drift to the left on stops sometimes so severely that vehicle pulls out of lane; also replaced calipers/ rotors/torsion bar. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - STABILIZER BAR | |||
| 11/20/1998 | 1 | 07/01/1998 | |
| The front tracking bar that holds the front axle in place is very loose and is about to break which may cause an accident. cause unknown. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - WHEEL BEARING | |||
| 05/12/2000 | 02/01/2000 | ||
| The throttle cable unraveled, front differential seals leak oil, transmission plastic connections leaked, and an alignment needed t offset bushing. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||
| 01/11/2001 | 1 | ||
| Was driving home when vehicle started to slow down, applied more gas, but vehicle was not going anywhere. motor would rev up. managed to get vehicle to side of road. placed vehicle in park and was getting out when vehicle almost ran over driver. vehicle did not have park/drive or reverse. vehicle was towed. was informed, it had no rear end. *ak | |||
| 06/05/1999 | 1 | ||
| Rear axle broke/fell apart causing vehicle to collapse and damage undercarriage. (ohio traffic crash report). mjs | |||
| 7 | |||
| Rear end failed. | |||
| 10/14/1996 | 1 | 03/27/1996 | |
| Axle seals failed. | |||
| 05/28/1996 | 1 | 02/17/1996 | |
| Rear end noise. | |||
| At 50 mph the rear end shakes. please describe . *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR - SPRINGS | |||
| 04/17/1996 | 1 | 04/17/1996 | |
| Rear springs insufficient to tow trailer, causing loss of control. | |||