Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||||
| 0801301 | 06/15/2001 | 621886 | Subject regarding radio connector repair kit. *tt | 10/03/2001 | |
| 0800600REV | 12/29/2000 | 080600 | 618049 | Subject regarding wire splice repairs. *sb | 04/03/2001 |
| 082300 | 06/23/2000 | 614160 | Subject regarding plastic boot to protect the electrical harness b+ end terminal at the generator. *tt | 09/29/2000 | |
| 083299 | 10/01/1999 | 612140 | Vehicles may experience radio interference to/from two-way radio receivers. *mjs | 06/06/2000 | |
| 084399 | 12/17/1999 | 610033 | Subject regarding central timer module software update when a wiper module is replaced. *tt | 04/14/2000 | |
| 080699A | 12/17/1999 | 080699 | 6089713 | Customers may complain of radio interference to / from two way radio receivers. *tt | 02/24/2000 |
| 083997 | 11/28/1997 | 6088845 | Vehicle may experience remote keyless entry transmitter batteries discharge prematurely. *nlm | 01/10/2000 | |
| 0832097 | 09/19/1997 | 6088834 | Information regarding nhtsa authorized airbag deactivation for medical necessity. *nlm | 01/10/2000 | |
| 083597 | 09/26/1997 | 6088839 | This bulletin involves dead battery from ignition off draw (iod). *nlm | 01/10/2000 | |
| 083097 | 09/05/1997 | 6088830 | Concerns with ash receiver lamp degrades from blue-green to bright white. *nlm | 01/10/2000 | |
| 080699 | 03/05/1999 | 082198 | 604706 | Customer may complain of intermittent poor reception on two-way radio. *tt | 05/10/1999 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||||
| 184898 | 12/30/1998 | 603144 | Subject regarding ignition system cross fire/ secondary ignition wire induction. *ak | 02/04/1999 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||||
| 182198 | 06/05/1998 | 601583 | Service caution on powertrain control module ( pcm ). *yc | 08/12/1998 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||||
| 080600 | 02/25/2000 | 609995 | This bulletin provides a revised wire splice procedure and related parts. *tt | 04/12/2000 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | |||||
| 183697 | 12/31/1997 | 6089148 | Concerns on incorrect fault mature time - dtc $b7 leak detection pump solenoid circuit. *nlm | 01/13/2000 | |
| 182697A | 09/05/1997 | 18-26-97 | 6088932 | Concerns with obd ii misfire indicator. *nlm | 01/11/2000 |
| 083598 | 07/24/1998 | 602313 | Nstrument cluster bezel is retained by several snao clip retainers/ one screw located underneath power outless access door. it is imperative that singular screw is removed prior to attempting to remove the instrument cluster bezel from t | 10/26/1998 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 04/09/2010 | 115000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 12/12/2001 | 2 | 08/01/2001 | |
| 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 | |||
| 05/01/2001 | 0 | ||
| 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 | |||
| 08/22/1998 | 20 | 08/01/1998 | |
| 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. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | |||
| 05/01/2001 | 0 | ||
| 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 | |||
| Headlight wires melted. replaced by dealer. problem renturned on second set. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| 07/04/1999 | |||
| 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 | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||
| 4 | 09/01/2098 | ||
| 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! | |||
| 10/19/2001 | 12/01/1998 | ||
| 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 | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||
| 09/18/1998 | |||
| Consumer recived a letter from dealer saying that they had a recall on the enigine computer, recall #799, and also a recall on a defective fuel pump, recall #788. consumer says that the dealer does not have parts yet . *ak | |||
| 3 | |||
| In cold weather defective pcm part within computer becomes inoperative, causing the fuel/oil pump and water gauge to go out. also driver is unable to shift gears. chrsyler cannot determine problem. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||
| 10/17/1998 | 1 | 04/01/1998 | |
| The truck we purchased had a towing package as ordered. what they didn't tell us is that the wiring isn't heavy enough for prolonged use. we tow a 50' trailer with our truck for a living. right after we purchased it we had to replace the trailer relay switch and then many, many fuses. then we started smelling hot wiring. the headlight switch was hot and lights inside started going light to dark. then they went out completely. we lost all truck lights and trailer lights going down the highway at 55 miles an hour. we took it into the dealership and they had to replace the main truck wiring harness and the light switch and the short pigtail between them. dodge knows this has been a common problem with rams used for towing. the consumer was experiencing wiring problem ( not heavy enough wires) with all three vehicles owned. *yh | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | |||
| 09/19/2000 | 50 | 02/01/2000 | |
| All instrument guages and warning lights do not work consistantly. at times there is no way to know what speed i am going and how much full i have because the guages are not working. i believe this consitutes a safety problem. i have heard other owners of 1997 model year vehicles were having similar problems. *ak | |||
| 06/09/2001 | |||
| Instruments panel has failed to work due to circuit board. dealer was notified, and unwilling to assist due to vehicle being out of warranty/ not covered under manufacturer's recall. provide any further details on this matter. *ak | |||