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.
Power brake vacuum boost failure. Hose that connects belt driven vacuum pump to the brake boost cannister was partially collapsed. Truck had been taken to the dealer 2 months earlier for loss of boost in braking system. Dealer claimed braking system was operating properly. Truck was involved in accident on 5-30-1998. Traffic situation was stop and go. Brakes had been applied once, and then had to be applied again. Truck could not be stopped from 6 car length distance from 30 mph - about 100 ft. Brakes had lost all boost and even both feet applied as hard as possible only provided marginal braking. After the accident I found out that there has been a recall (97V06800) on some 1995 Dodge Ram diesel trucks to add an external check valve to the vacuum pump and replace the hose with an oil resistant version. Chrysler claims that since my truck was not recalled (it has pump with internal check valve) they are not repsonsible to repair. It is clear that even with the internal valve, over time some amount of oil mist gets into the hose an causes it to weaken, resulting in collapse. The vacumm pump interanl bearing is lubricasted by an engine oil feed. The check valve does not completely contain all oil vapor from entering the hose. Chrysler obviously knows this by including a oil resistant hose in the recall kit. However, that trucks not included in the recall were left on the road with a standard non-oil resistant vacuum hose. I have talked to numerous other Dodge truck owner who have had the vacuum hose collapse on trucks that were not included in the recall. I have written to chryler in this matter, and all they have stated is that since my truck was not part of the recall they are not responsible. They stated that since NHTSA did not ask for recall of all 1995 trucks they have not taken any action on these models. Also have written to susan cishke director of certification compliance and saftey affairs and did not get any response. I have retained the failed hose.
When the brakes are applied they grab. The rear brakes release, causing the front brakes to do all of the work, resulting in extended stopping distance. The dealer has replaced the rear wheel cylinders and the power booster. The dealer has been made aware of the existing problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Austin, TX, USA