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.
Horn buttone (the area you press in the center of the steering wheel) will no press in to honk, due to design problem, due to air bag. There is not way to honk the horn
Horn is almost impossible to honk, dealer says it is because of airbag housing and there is not room for horn contacts to work, so no matter where you push or how hard you hit the steering wheel, it will not allow the horn to honk!
Horn is very hard to locate on steering column, and it is very hard to depress to get it to blow. This vehicle has narrowly missed being involved in 2 or 3 accidents because the driver could not use the horn.
Horn is located on top of steering wheel where the airbags come out. Consumer cannot place entire hand on the horn to make it work. Only a single point he can press with his finger on the steering column. That is the only way he can hear the horn.
- Fairmont, MN, USA
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The design of horn button hardens in cold weather causing difficulties locating horn in a emergency. Occasionally the horn fails to work properly. The cruise control would gradually decrease without brakes being applied. Taken vehicle to dealer to check.
Horn has two small buttons on both side of airbag cover which are too small to locate and hard to press, not allowing driver to communicate with other drivers. Manufacturer states there is no plan to revise horn.
Many of my friends have the same problem with 1998 Dodge trucks, Chrysler says it is "normal" and will not fix. Horn button was re-designed for 1999 and does not have the problem.
The passenger's or driver's side seat belt does not retract. Also, you almost have to punch the horn pad to get it to work. The dealership was not able to correct the problem with the seat belt or the horn. Owner has 2 other trucks with the same problems. Please list VIN #S for other 2 trucks.
I think that a horn that requires so much effort that it is useless is a safety problem. Although the dealer and the company district representitive say that the all of the 1998 horns are like that. Something can be done. Chrysler says in their specs that the horn should operate at 2 lbs of pressure not, the 10 lbs or more that they really take. I would like to know why, if there is no problem (they claim) did they fix it for 1999. Same steering wheel and pad but it now works.
Horn can not be sounded in a quick emergency situation due to airbag configuration. Can only be sounded if thumb is precisely pressed exactly on two spots indicated while looking at those spots ie: Can not have eyes on road..
Due to the location of the horn assembly, when attempting to depress the horn pad it is very difficult to locate the horn. Consumer states that due to the airbag location, it is difficult to locate and to honk.
The horn buttons are very difficult to locate/press. The resulting delay to activate the horn in an emergency situation, could be potentially hazardous to driver/occupants or pedestrians.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- White House, TN, USA