1995 DODGE RAM 1500 Electrical System Problems

VEHICLE WAS OFF AND PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, UPON ENTRY THE NEXT MORNING FOUND A SMOLDERING FIRE AND A BURNED IGNITION/STEERING COLUMN W/ EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE. *TR

Mileage: 194,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH BURNED OUT AND CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 264,000.

Mileage: 264,000

I WAS WORKING AND A COUPLE OF EMPLOYEES CAME IN YELLING THE MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE.THE KEYS WAS OUT OF THE VEHICLE YET A ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN BURNING ALL THE DRIVERS SIDE DASH. CRAKED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND BUBBLED IT UP. IT TOOK LESS THEN 10 MIN TO DO ALL OF IT IF IT WASN'T FOR PEOPLE AT MY WORK THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK...AT APPROX 40MPH MY LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE OF THE DASH BOARD TO THE LEFT OF THE STEERING WHEEL...I WAS ABLE TO SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN AND NO OTHER DAMAGE WAS CAUSED HOWEVER AFTER GETTING THE TRUCK HOME IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAD OVER HEATED AND MELTED DOWN AFTER MY EXPERIENCE AND OTHER REPORTS I HAVE READ ONLINE I WOULD LIKE TO ASK THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V024000 BE UPDATED TO INCLUDE 1500 MODELS AS WELL. *TR

Mileage: 165,394

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE TWO MAJOR CRACKS IN THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD THAT EXTENDED TO THE DRIVERS SIDE. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED THE DASHBOARD WOULD EMIT SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LIGHT SWITCH BOX, PIGTAIL CONNECTOR AND THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 168,356.

Mileage: 168,356

THE DASHBOARD IN MY 1995 DODGE RAM 1500 IS CAVING IN. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE. I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE ANYTHING THAT FALLS IN THE SINKHOLE IN THE DASH COULD CAUSE A SHORT AND ELECTRICAL FIRE.*TR

THE DASH IS MADE FROM HARD PLASTIC AND IT STARTED CRACKING AND IS SO BAD NOW THAT IT IS FALLING APART PLUS THE WIRING IN THE DASH IS SHORTING OUT BIG HUNKS OF THE DASH ARE COMING APART. *TR

DASHBOARD ON MY 1995 DODGE RAM TRUCK IS BADLY CRACKED. I AM CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE TRUCK. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE TRUCK HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED. *JB

ABOUT A MONTH AGO MY DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCKS DASH BOARD CRACKED DOWN THE MIDDLE FROM THE WINDOW TO THE FRONT EDGE AND ALL WAY THROUGH, THEN EVERYDAY IT JUST STARTED CRACKING ALL OVER THE PLACE, TWO LARGE PIECES ARE COMPLETELY CRACKED OUT, LEAVING TWO HUGE HOLES. NOW I'VE A CRACK GOING FROM PASSENGER SIDE TO DRIVERS SIDE! I CALLED DODGE AND THEY SAID NO ON RECALL AND IT WOULD COST ME OUT OF MY POCKET ABOUT 400.00 TO REPLACE IT, ASIDE FROM THIS WHEN THE FIRST CRACK HAPPENED MY STEREO QUIT THE NEXT DAY AND MY AIR CONDITIONING! *TR

Mileage: 79,000

MY 1995 DODGE RAM 1500 BURNT UP-TOTALED-2 YEARS AGO. DEALER DID NOT, WOULD NOT, DO THE RECALL IN 3 YEARS OF ACCESS. NOT FINDING ANY REFERENCE FROM CHRYSLER OR YOU, I SUGGEST HAVING TALKED TO A MECHANIC 2 DAYS AGO, THERE ARE STILL MANY TRUCKS BURNING UP, WITH OR WITHOUT THE RECALL, THEREFORE THERE NEEDS A NEW CAMPAIGN, BUT ALSO CHECK INTO THE TOXICITY OF THE SITUATION. IT IS MELTING AND BURNING PVC'S AND OTHER PLASTICS, VERY TOXIC AND CANCER CAUSING. I AM FIGHTING TERMINAL CANCER ALSO, PROVEN TO BE LINKED TO THE DIOXINS, HEAVY METALS,AND VINYL CHLORIDES FOUND IN MELTING AND INCINERATING PVC'S. WHILE IT MIGHT NOT BE CONSIDERED YOUR FUNCTION, THE PROPER AGENCY NEEDS TO BE INFORMED SINCE THESE ARE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES WHEN INCINERATED OR BURNED, AND PER THE TOXIC SUBSTANCE CONTROL ACT AND THE SARA LAWS AND THE 'PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW', CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE INFORMED OF THE DANGERS AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MELTING AND INCINERATING OF THE PVC'S AND OTHER PLASTICS WHEN USING THE BLOWER ON HIGH, AND/OR THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN OR THE WIRING IN THE DASH IS OVERHEATING GROSSLY. *NM

Mileage: 88,000

MY DODGE DEALERSHIP IGNORED A LIFE THREATENING ' SAFETY' RECALL ON MY 1995 RAM 1500, AND IT BURNT UP AND I BELIEVE THE 8+ YEARS OF BREATHING TOXIC HYDROCARBONS HAS CAUSED ME A VERY SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION. THE FIRE TOTALED THE VEHICLE. *NM

Mileage: 88,000

ON 3/09/05 WE BOUGHT A 1995 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP FROM LEE DODGE IN FARMINGDALE, NY. ON 7/01/05 THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HAVE SMOKE COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND THEN PROCEEDED TO IGNITE INTO FLAMES. THE ENTIRE TRUCK WAS ENGULFED IN MINUTES AND THIS TRUCK WAS TOTALLED. AFTER THIS INCIDENT WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BACK IN THE YEAR 2000 FOR IGNITION WIRES THAT WERE OVERHEATING! THE DODGE MANUFACTURER INFORMED US THAT THE RECALLS WERE NEVER DONE AND IT WAS VERY POSSIBLE THAT THIS PROBLEM CAUSED THE FIRE AND IS SENDING AN INSPECTOR ON 7/10/05 TO DETERMINE THIS FACT. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER LEE DODGE WAS RESPONSIBLE TO HAVE DONE ALL THE RECALLS BEFORE THEY SOLD THE VEHICLE. LEE DODGE HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO DATE. THIS TRUCK IS A TOTAL LOSS AND OUR NEIGHBOR'S TREE WENT UP IN FLAMES AS WELL. IT COULD HAVE BEEN OUR HOMES AS WELL AS FAMILY MEMBERS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED AND LEE DODGE NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR IGNORING THESE RECALLS BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE IS INJURED OR DIES. WHO KNOWS HOW MANY OTHER TRUCKS/CARS THEY SELL WITH SAFETY ISSUES!

Mileage: 140,000

ON 3/09/05 WE BOUGHT A 1995 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP FROM LEE DODGE IN FARMINGDALE, NY. ON 7/01/05 THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HAVE SMOKE COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND THEN PROCEEDED TO IGNITE INTO FLAMES. THE ENTIRE TRUCK WAS ENGULFED IN MINUTES AND THIS TRUCK WAS TOTALLED. AFTER THIS INCIDENT WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BACK IN THE YEAR 2000 FOR IGNITION WIRES THAT WERE OVERHEATING! THE DODGE MANUFACTURER INFORMED US THAT THE RECALLS WERE NEVER DONE AND IT WAS VERY POSSIBLE THAT THIS PROBLEM CAUSED THE FIRE AND IS SENDING AN INSPECTOR ON 7/10/05 TO DETERMINE THIS FACT. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER LEE DODGE WAS RESPONSIBLE TO HAVE DONE ALL THE RECALLS BEFORE THEY SOLD THE VEHICLE. LEE DODGE HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO DATE. THIS TRUCK IS A TOTAL LOSS AND OUR NEIGHBOR'S TREE WENT UP IN FLAMES AS WELL. IT COULD HAVE BEEN OUR HOMES AS WELL AS FAMILY MEMBERS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED AND LEE DODGE NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR IGNORING THESE RECALLS BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE IS INJURED OR DIES. WHO KNOWS HOW MANY OTHER TRUCKS/CARS THEY SELL WITH SAFETY ISSUES!

Mileage: 140,000

1995 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCK, VIN [XXX]. WHEN DROPPING THE TILT WHEEL TO IT'S LOWEST POSITION THE RADIO/TAPE PLAYER WOULD SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTART AS IF THE POWER WAS CUT OFF. *AK POWER FOR THE RADIO CAME FROM BATTERY POSITIVE, FUSE # 3 (40 AMPS) TO THE IGNITION SWITCH CONNECTOR C212 POSITION 1 WIRE (A1 12 RED) WHERE IT IS SWITCHED IN RUN AND ACCESSORY TO FUSE #7 (10 AMPS) TO THE RADIO AND OTHER FUSES TO OTHER SYSTEMS. RECALL # 875 PERFORMED ON 8/8/2000 INVOLVED THE BLOWER MOTOR, A RELAY WAS ADDED FOR POWER SWITCHING USING THE RELAY CONTROLLED BY THE IGNITION SWITCH RATHER THAN FEEDING THE POWER THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. I OBSERVED THE MOTION OF ALL THE WIRES GOING TO ALL THE SWITCHES ON THE STEERING WHEEL AS IT WAS MOVED. CLEARLY OBSERVABLE WAS THE CONNECTOR C212 POSITION 1 WIRE (A1 12 RED) MOVING OUT OF THE CONNECTOR ACCOMPANIED BY THE RADIO MOMENTARILY LOSING POWER. OBSERVATION SHOWED THE STRIPPED WIRE BEING HELD ONLY BY THE INSULATION CRIMP PART OF THE METAL CONNECTOR, THE WIRE DID NOT FRAY AWAY FROM THE CONNECTOR BECAUSE IT WAS CLEAN CUT AND THE ORIGINAL SMALLER GAUGE WIRE WAS STILL IN THE CRIMP PART OF THE CONNECTOR. NOTE I HAVE PICTURES OF THE PROBLEM. I REMOVED THE SMALLER CRIMPED WIRES, SPREAD THE CRIMP WINGS AND SOLDERED THE RED WIRE TO THE METAL CONNECTOR. MOST LIKELY THE DAMAGE WAS DONE AS PART OF RECALL #875, AS THE WIRING DIAGRAM INDICATES A 12-GAUGE WIRE AND THE WIRE I RECONNECTED WAS AT A MINIMUM OF AN 8 OR A 6 GAUGE. THANK GOD THIS DID NOT FEED A CRITICAL SYSTEM LIKE THE ANTILOCK BREAKS OR CAUSE OVERHEATING AND OR A FIRE. UPDATED 07/2012 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Mileage: 45,000

THE PROCEDURE THAT DEALERSHIP PERFORMED FOR RECALL 00V135000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH IS CAUSING OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPONENTS TO FAIL. *AK THERE WERE TWO POWER FAILURES, THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAD GONE OUT ALONG WITH THE CLOCK AND RADIO. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT ALL OF THE WIRES THAT HAD COME FROM THE BACK OF THE FUSE PANEL HAD BEEN CUT VERY SHORT AND SPLICED INTO THE WIRING HARNESS THAT THE DEALER REPLACED. *SCC *JB

Mileage: 102,552

HAD A RECALL ON IGNITION WIRING & ABS---REPLACED WIRING HARNESS UNDER DASH ONLY WITH THE STEERING COLUMN---A MONTH OR SO LATER BATTERY COMPLETELY MELTED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STAYING ON---THEY WERE TO RESET THE COMPUTER--INSTEAD WITHOUT BEING CONSULTED TOOK THE TRUCK MOTOR APART

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND SMELLED SMOKE INSIDE OF VEHICLE. HE PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDERS, AND NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM REAR DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT. *AK

AIRBAG & ABS LIGHT CAME ON, NO POWER WINDOWS, NO RADIO, WOULD NOT START, SHORTED WIRES IN STEERING COLUMN AND HEAT DAMAGE TO COLUMN COVER AND IGNITION SWITCH TERMINALS, NO FIRE. *AK

CONSUMEER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 20MPH ON HIGHWAY. HORN PAD IS ON STEERING WHEEL. CONSUMER WAS SITTING IN TRAFFIC GETTING READY TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, HE APPLIED TURN SIGNAL, AND FRONT CENTER OF HORN PAD FELL OUT AND JAMMED WHEEL BECAUSE HORN PAD WAS ATTACHED BY WIRES AND JAMMED BY SPOKE OF WHEEL AND TURN SIGNAL ARM. THERE WAS NO INJURIES.*AK

VEHICLE DIED WHILE ENTERING MOVING TRAFFIC, GOING 30 MPH, 2ND TIME THIS HAPPENED. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THIS WAS "NORMAL. " *AK FUEL CELL FAILED. *YH

VEHICLE HAS BEEN TURNED OFF APPROXMATELY 30 MINUTES; THEN, IT BURSTED INTO FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED CAUSE WAS ELECTRICAL. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT,CAUSING POWER WINDOWS TO GO OUT, AIR BAG LIGHT/ ABS LIGHT TO COME ON ,AND CONSOLE TO BURN OUT. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WIRING HARNESS FAILED AND MELTED CAUSING A/C, POWER WINDOWS, AIR BAG LIGHT FAILURES. MJS

WIRING HARNESS IN THE DASH FAILED, OVERHEATED AND CAUSED DISCOLORING IN STEERING COLUMN. MJS

SHORTED IGNITION WIRING DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING OF WIRE SIZE AND AMP DRAW FROM HVAC FAN. WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE TRUCK STALLED. THE TRUCK COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. AFTER DISCUSSING THE FAILURE WITH THE DEALER, I WAS ABLE TO RETAIN THE DAMAGED IGNITION SWITCH AND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THERE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT DUE TO AN UNDERSIZING OF THE WIRE WHICH FEEDS POWER TO THE HVAC FAN, THROUGH THE IGNITION NO LESS, THE INSULATION HEATS UP AND DETIORATES TO THE POINT AT WHICH IT SHORTS WITH THE SURROUNDING THE WIRES. THE TECHNICIAN HAD CUT THE WORST WIRES AWAY FOR OBVIOUS REASONS BUT THE REMAINING WIRES SHOW SIGNS OF OVERHEATING. I HAVE READ A COUPLE OF INCIDENTS LIKE THIS EXACT ONE ON THE NHTSA TROUBLE PAGE. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT I WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT 5MPH BECAUSE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH BIGGER INCIDENT. CHRYSLER HAS NO INTENTION ON REIMBURSING THIS OR FIXING OTHER OWNERS WHICH WILL ULTIMATELY HAVE THIS FAILURE. THEY NEED TO REASSESS THE POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE THIS FAILURE COULD CREATE. THANKS CRAIG DIXON. *AK

VEHICLE SHUT OFF DURING TURN IN TRAFFIC DUE TO ELECTRONIC COMPUTER MODULE.

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH CONSUMER STARTED TO SMELL SMOKE AND GAS. GOT OUT OF VEHICLE TO CHECK TO SEE WHERE THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM,SUDDENLY FLAMES STARTED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH DASH INSIDE VEHICLE. DUE TO DEFECT ,TRUCK WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED AND BURNED BY THE FIRE. *AK

HORN FAILED.

DROVE TRUCK HOME, GOT OUT, WENT IN HOUSE AND HEARD HORN BLOWING OUTSIDE, SAW SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE TRUCK, MANAGED TO PUT FIRE OUT AND WAS TOLD BY INVESTIGATOR THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE RELAY BOX STARTER CABLE. *AK *JB

WHILE DRIVING WITH THE A/C ON HIGH SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, NO FIRE WAS SEEN. CONSUMER STATED HE PULLED OVER AND PULLED THE WIRES APART. ALSO STATES THAT THE WIRES WERE NOT CHARRED, JUST SUPER HOT. *AK

WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLS. ELECTRICAL WIRING IN STEERING COLUMN WAS BURNED AND REPLACED.*AK