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.
The contact owns a 1995 Dodge Ram 3500. While the contact was servicing the vehicle, he noticed cracks and corrosion in the coil spring tower. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The approximate failure mileage was 196,000.
While driving a 1995 Dodge 3500 truck around a slight left turn and running over a pothole, the truck's front end began to shake violently until coming to a complete stop. The symptoms matched that of the "death wobble".
This truck body started breaking out behind the cab soon after I bought it. The engine has never ran right from day one. It was in the Dodge shop numerous times because of poor fuel milage, and then Dodge finally agreed to send the truck to cummins. Cummins found that truck had bad milage also and wrote letter to Dodge stating the problems they found. Dodge more or less said tough, don't bother us! the engine had boken push rod at low milage and now an injector melted top out of piston ruining the engine.
While driving and if vehicle hits a bump it feels as if vehicle is falling apart. Consumer feels as if losing control, and has to slow vehicle down considerably, and pull over to side of road. Vehicle has been checked by dealer, who replaced numerous suspension components., but problem still exists.
- North Helmsford, MA, USA
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Steering shuddered while driving between 45 and 55 mph and when hitting a bump or pothole in the road. Vehicle vibrating and shuddering uncontrollably through steering wheel. Also, in order to regain control of vehicle had to drop speed around 20 mph. Contacted dealer, and dealer stated there was a tsb for that problem. Consumer complied with tsb, but still had problems.
Dodge Ram trucks have a known history of "self sustaining vibration" or "shimmy" after striking a small bump, or offset in the road. See Dodge tsb 19-05-96 and other steering related issues. We have had our vehicle worked on twice due to extremely violent shimmying that has nearly caused complete loss of control of the truck on 6 seperate occassions. Only by incredible luck and skill has there not been serious accidents and fatalities. The tsb I just referenced suggests that the service personnel "test drive the vehicle over a road that duplicates the customer complaint and if shimmying is felt perform..." this is woefully inadequate in that this problem can not be replicated by such a procedure. The fact remains that one can drive hundreds if not thousands of miles over the same road and the problem will not reproducibly appear. But, with absolutely no notice, and at random, the violent self sustaining and propagating shaking will suddenly occur and one will nearly wreck. During the last such episode which occurred last week, the violent shaking was so great that a 140 pound cardboard box about 18 inches high was nearly thrown out over the side of the truck. This incident occured at a speed of about 65 miles per hour on a curve on the interstate when the front tire of the truck hit a hole in the road that was about 4 inches wide, 1 foot long, and maybe an inch deep. In other words, the bump was nothing. Fortunately I was in the middle lane on the interstate and all of the other cars around me hit their breaks when they saw the truck bouncing and leaping down the road. To further complicate things the violent bouncing only gets worse when you apply the brakes. The only quick way to restore control of the vehicle is to violently jerk the steering wheel back and forth, unfortunately this requires both lanes of the road and the emergency lanes. There does not appear to be an adequate "fix" to this problem from Dodge.
The trailer hitch issue, I beleve, is serious. "out of sight, out of mind" a recall has been issued for 1998 to 2001.5 models. Investagtion should be extended to the 1994 models this is serious. Also the track bar issue, this effects the handling of the vehicle the so called "shimmy" this also needs to be looked in to.
Consumer received recall notice 99V214000. Service was refused by dealership(s) because dealership did not have a 'certified welder' and vehicle could not fit into their garage.
Consumer received recall 99V214000 in March 2000, and has contacted dealer 10 times. Dealer told consumer that no parts were available, and did not have a certified welder to perform recall repairs.
Received two recall notices: 00V135000/ignition switch/ wiring, and 99V214000/ suspension. Still was unable to get dealer to honor recalls. On two occasions, dealer had informed consumer that parts were available, and an appointment was set. When consumer arrived they informed him that parts were not available. Seeking help from NHTSA in this matter. Feel free to provide further details.
Consumer called dealer, and was told that tools are not available to do NHTSA recall 99V2I4 000/ manufacturer 's recall 835 repairs of suspension. No future date was given.
Recall 99V214000 DaimlerChrysler/suspension; dealer does not have the parts or machanic to correct recall campaign. Owner cantacted dealership about 3 weeks ago.
Whenever vehicle was traveling at highway speed of 40 or more and hit a bump or pothole, it caused steering wheel to shimmy violently, and vehicle to lose control. Vehicle must come down to a slow speed to regain control. Dealer was contacted.
Whenever vehicle ran over a pothole or a bump it caused vehicle to shake violently. Had to pull over until the shaking stopped. Also, caused damages to the front tires. Vehicle been in dealer shop on three occasions, and informed consumer that problem cannot be duplicated.
There is a 25 week waiting period before dealer can fix vehicle for recall 99V214000. Owner contacted Chrysler customer service and was directed to a dealership that could make the repairs. Repairs made within 1 week.
Recall 99V214000 daimler/ Chrysler/suspension; owner contacted two dealerships for recall campaign. Neither dealership has a certified welder to correct recall campaign. Dealership not able to tell owner when welder will be hired.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Lebanon, CT, USA