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.
Driver's side mirror came out of socket while manually folding in for car wash 7/02. Replaced by dealer at that time. Passenger side mirror came out of socket during manual fold in for car wash 10/02. Replaced by dealer. I was told there was no known design defect and replacement mirrors have the same design. This could become a safety issue if it occurs while driving.
Have had several problems with this vehicle. Some haven't been reported to the dealer yet. The transmission problem has been happening since I've had the vehicle. It shifts hard at about 2200 RPM's or around 25-30mph. Dealer can't duplicate. I've had other problems that were not listed including brakes and alternator. The drivers side door mirror has recently broken and now flops in the wind on the free way and is unusable. I filed a claim with my insurance company, then found that it was a huge problem with other owners of the same vehicle. The ventilation from the panel is aslo sent to the floor vents despite the dial being set to "panel" not "floor". the tailgate cables are mismatched. The dealer told me that it was normal. I won't place anything on the tailgate in fear that the cable might break. The exterior turn signals are not synched with the displayed turn signals. The simultaneous flash is not there. Also, the alternator was found to be defective at around 600 miles. It was causing a high pitched squeaking sound similar to what a defective belt may sound like. It was replaced, but started doing it again at 6750 miles. The hood has slight dents in it like someone hit it with a ball pen hammer. Apparently Chrysler knows about this. I'll be taking it in the first chance I get to try to have it fixed. I've had this truck a 3 different dealers in hope that the next one would be more help than the previous. No such luck. I've had to take time off from work (about 6 days total; had to wait at dealership since it was an out of town purchase ) and rent cars 5 times while having it worked on at a local dealership in order to get to work. I've had nothing but bad luck with this vehicle. Daimler-Chrysler has dreadful quality control and I can't say much more for the dealers. I hope I can get the issues with this truck resolved someday.
Folding side mirror spring mechanism failed causing the mirror to "flop" against the side of the vehicle. These mirrors are designed to be folded in and out for clearance at drive-up windows, car washes, etc. The passenger side mirror failed while driving in early September and was repaired under warranty by the dealer in mid-September on 10/19/2002. The driver side mirror failed, this time while folding it back out from the "in" position to the "normal" position. Since there is no way to "rig" the failed mirror in place so that the driver can use it, and because of the long wait for a replacement part, this defect presents a serious safety hazard.
We purchased this truck 2/28/02. By the end of March early April, the truck began to stall sporadically and has even jumped gears while in motion once. The truck has been returned to the dealership 8-9 times and we have been told everytime they can not duplicate the problem. Promises upon promises have been made to re-flash the computer system because we were told they (Dodge) think the trucks computer system is telling the truck to shut down. One time while riding down the road the truck lost complete power to all interior systems (I.e. air condition, stereo, windows) and we had to pull over. The truck has stalled both in reverse and in drive, the transmission has locked up on the dealership (in reverse). From Feb. 28, 02 to June 28, 02 the truck was in the shop over 25 days. On July 8, 2002, the driver side mirror completely broke and would spin around in circles. When we contacted the dealership we were told it was on a national backorder. While waiting for the passenger side mirror, the driver side mirror broke in the same fashion. All in all we had to wait until 9/9/02 to have the mirrors fixed. While waiting we had to tape the mirrors in place so we could see while driving. This was extremely dangerous at times and made it difficult to travel. We have stopped taking the truck to the dealership for now because we get now where with them or DaimlerChrysler/Dodge. I have since contacted the attorney general to help pursue this matter. When paying $30,000 for a truck and then being refused repair for a problem that can and has definetly altered the market value and our confidence that we have a safe truck to drive/ride in is in-excusable. After researching on the NHTSA web site we are not the only people complaining of these problems. Let's all get together and make Dodge stand up to their problems.
The driver's side view mirror assembly came loose at the swivel post. This allowed the mirror to move back against the side of the vehicle driver's side window when in forward motion. When stopping or moving backward, the mirror moves to the full forward position. It is almost impossible (and highly dangerous) to drive the vehicle with a malfunctioning mirror. I have had to temporarily tape the mirror in place to the door in order to drive. The vehicle will not pass Virginia safety inspection.
The drivers and passengers side breakaway mirrors broke and will no longer stay in place. The drivers side mirror broke about a month ago on 8/3/03 and has been on national backorder since. The passenger side mirror broke yesterday on 9/1/02 at the beginning of a 300 mile trip. I contacted a local dealership and was told that I was one of over 3000 mirrors that were currently on backorder. When I called the manufacturer after the second mirror broke, I was told that there were no recalls on the mirrors and that it would be another 2 weeks before I would be able to get a replacement. When I asked him if the new mirrors would have the defects fixed, he just said that they would be different than the ones that I have now and should last longer than the ones that I currently have. I asked him what I was supposed to do with the broken mirrors until then and he told me that I would just have to live with them. I now have a three month old truck that I can't use either of the side mirrors on and have to drive it like this for at least another two weeks with the current mirrors swinging around until I can get them fixed.
One mirror had to be replaced on the outside due to hinge attachment continuously weaking. Currently, other side needs replacing due to same problem. This makes it difficult for the driver to see clearly without distortion/movement.
I bought the Dodge Ram on January 6, 2002. On approximately 6/10/2002 I had folded in the passenger and driver mirrors for approximately 4 car washes over those months. About two days after the last car wash, the mirrors were folded out like normal. I was driving approximately 10-15 miles an hour in no wind and the passenger side view mirror began to "flop" back and forth. I looked at it and could lift up on it approximately one inch. Although it was still connected, it was not locking into place. I called towbin Dodge for an appointment and the female I spoke to at the service department asked me if it was the passenger side mirror. I told her yes and she stated that I would be the fifth 2002 Ram she has seen with that problem in the past two weeks. I took my truck in for the appoint ment the next week. They told me that they had lost the new mirror and did not have any more. They expalined that another would be in on 7/5/2002. I called on 7/6/2002 and made another appointment for 7/15/2002 to get the mirror fixed. On 7/12/2002, I folded the mirrors for yet another car wash. I returned the drivers side mirror back to its position. The next morning I pulled out of my driveway and the drivers side mirror started "flopping" around exactly the way the passenger side has been. I believe that because both of my mirrors have broken and after what the service department told me about other vehicles, that this is a major safety issue. This is a full size truck and it is extremely hard to drive with the mirrors flopping around and the fact that you can not see either side of you. Thank you for your time.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Brookfield, WI, USA