This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
This vehicle has had an ongoing ignition problem. It finally became noticeable in front of my mechanic. After much diagnosis it was found that the #5 cylinder of the engine had zero compression. A pressure test was performed, and found that no pressure could be held in the cylinder because it was going directly out the exhaust valve. Engine was disassembled and the cylinder head was found to have cracks between the intake and exhaust valves on 3 out of 4 cylinders, with number 5 being the worst. The opposite side cylinder head was also removed and found to have cracks in the same places (between the intake and exhaust valves in at least 2 of the 4 cylinders. The heads are not reparable. Upon calling a machine shop I was informed that this is a common problem with oem cylinder heads for this engine (5.9L) 360 magnum. I also called several wrecking yards and found the same problem. None had any heads that were salvageable. They all had cracks in them. In my mind this is clearly a design problem that the daimler/Chrysler corporation. Should have known about, and probably does. Yet, no recall or tsb has been found to exist. These cylinder heads are a costly item and should have been manufactured to last much longer than they have.
Oil pressure gauge dropped to zero and lifters on engine were tapping, so I had to park my vehicle before I lost my engine. Vehicle is a 98 Dodge Ram 1500 V6 with 70K miles. Was caused by a clogged oil pump intake screen. Almost lost engine because screen is of defective design. Screen is covered by a cap that prevents all of the solids from dropping back into the pan. The oil pan itself has a half inch rise inside to receive the oil drain plug. This half inch rise prevents heavy solids from being drained during routine oil changes. The oil pump intake is located directly above these solids, trapped in the bottom of the pan, and sucks them directly into the screen. Therefore, over time the condition will reoccur. Post research I found numerous persons with identical descriptions to mine who had lost their engines on varies years and models of Dodge trucks. Although hearsay, these individuals were told by dealerships that they had sludge in the bottom of their pans, stating the reason for failure was do to not routinely changing oil. I can document my routine oil changes, and I still had solids in the bottom of the pan on my vehicle that cannot be removed by routine oil changes. I believe this to be a breach of the implied warranty of merchantability, and there should be a recall to remedy the problem. I have documented the problem on video as well.
The check engine light appear on the dasboard without prior warning. The dealership is aware of the problem. Speed sensor was on recall but the recall did not cover the consumer's vehicle.
- Lando' Lakes, FL, USA
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Engine was burning a quart of oil within 700-900 miles, dealer claimed this was a normal characteristic. Dealer did replaced intake manifold twice which stopped problem for a while, but defect has reoccurred.
I bought the Dodge June 1998, from the first month I have had problems.I had both front side windows fall down, wiper blade linkage breaks, engine surges, door lights won't come on, the air conditioning blower/motor shorted out, and the interior lights/tv/vcp/cd player will shut off at times. Everything except the interior equipment has been corrected, they still short out. The problem with electrical shorts has expanded. On the way home from vacation just outside of St. Louis on interstate 44, we were passing a diesel truck going about 70 mph with another diesel truck following us when the engine shuts off. Lucky for us the truck behind us was paying attention. The truck came within inches of hitting us, if it did my whole family could have been killed. My son managed to pull the van over to the side of the road. We had aaa tow the van to a Dodge dealer in bourbon, mo. The next day the machanic found the problem. The asd 20amp fuse blew, the asd fuse is located uder the hood in the power distribution center. The asd fuse handles engine controls/fuel pump. The dealership in burbon could not find the problem, but he did give us extra fuses to get us home. We had to stop at walmarks to buy extra fuses. On the way home the asd fuse blew out 4 times. When we got back home, I took the van back to the dealer where I bought it for repair, cumberland valley motors, they answered with their stock quote, unable to duplicate at this time. I don't know if the asd fuse blew out due to engine heat, bad wiring, or if the interior control panel which handles the interior lights/tv/vcp has a short in it. The vehicle is dangerous to drive and if I have this problem, then their might be other Dodge vans with the same problem. How many accidents happened already or will happen?
I bought the Dodge June 1998, from the first month I have had problems.I had both front side windows fall down, wiper blade linkage breaks, engine surges, door lights won't come on, the air conditioning blower/motor shorted out, and the interior lights/tv/vcp/cd player will shut off at times. Everything except the interior equipment has been corrected, they still short out. The problem with electrical shorts has expanded. On the way home from vacation just outside of St. Louis on interstate 44, we were passing a diesel truck going about 70 mph with another diesel truck following us when the engine shuts off. Lucky for us the truck behind us was paying attention. The truck came within inches of hitting us, if it did my whole family could have been killed. My son managed to pull the van over to the side of the road. We had aaa tow the van to a Dodge dealer in bourbon, mo. The next day the machanic found the problem. The asd 20amp fuse blew, the asd fuse is located uder the hood in the power distribution center. The asd fuse handles engine controls/fuel pump. The dealership in burbon could not find the problem, but he did give us extra fuses to get us home. We had to stop at walmarks to buy extra fuses. On the way home the asd fuse blew out 4 times. When we got back home, I took the van back to the dealer where I bought it for repair, cumberland valley motors, they answered with their stock quote, unable to duplicate at this time. I don't know if the asd fuse blew out due to engine heat, bad wiring, or if the interior control panel which handles the interior lights/tv/vcp has a short in it. The vehicle is dangerous to drive and if I have this problem, then their might be other Dodge vans with the same problem. How many accidents happened already or will happen?
Enigine developed a very serious knocking and banging, and recently loss of oil pressure and low over 3 quarts of oil in about 800 miles after oil change. The knocking and banging got so bad that I couldn't maintain highway speeds causing a traffic hazard. If attempting to pull out and pass the knock may prevent accelleration causing a head on collision. Continued knock will result in engine failure and damage.
The truck when bought, the sticker in the window read that it was rated to run on 87 octain, but when I run this feul, it pings and knocks and a loss of power while climing a hill.the onlly thing it will run on is hightest."this will cause a wreck."the service manager at becks told me that it is an on going problem, that they are tring to fix.
Engine starts to ping after 40 mph. Dodge dealership claims that Dodge is waiting to pass a new epa law to fix pinging problem that occurred in thousands of 1998 Dodge Ram. Dodge is unwilling to fix my truck. I feel I have the right to at least a new engine.
At approx. 7500mi. Problems began with brakes and vibrations. These problems still occur along with severe and dangerous engine stalls at any speed. After contacting diamler Chrysler I am shocked to find that hazard for my family and any innocent bystanders. It would just be nice if $42,000 could buy something that runs and stops with out risk of major injury or possible death..
"as far as I am concerned the truck is a piece of junk, the truck is currently in service for 4 days so far this week for all the above problems(this is the reason I do not have the VIN number), on top of the already accumulated 25-30 days of service. The Chrysler corporation has been notified, as well as my state's attorney generals office, oh and by the way I need 4 new tires as well, after only 25,000 miles."no safety defect listed within summary.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Ely, NV, USA