1995 DODGE RAM 2500 Electrical System Problems

I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK THIS PAST SUMMER. I FOUND RECENTLY THAT SEVERAL SAFETY RECALLS HAD NOT BEEN PERFORMED ON THE TRUCK. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER. THEY REFUSED TO COMPLETE THE IGNITION SWITCH WIRING RECALL UNTIL I PAID THEM TO TRACE ALL OF THE WIRING THAT COULD BE AFFECTED BECAUSE ONE OF THE WIRES ON THE IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS HAD MELTED. THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW MUCH THIS MIGHT COST ME. THE DEALER CONTACTED FCA TO SEE IF THE FACTORY WOULD "CONTRIBUTE" TO THE COST. FCA DECLINED. I CONTACTED FCA AND THEY TOLD ME ON A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE THEY WERE NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING BEYOND THE EXTENT OF THE RECALL REPAIR. I SAID THAT WAS FINE - JUST DO THE RECALL. THEY REFUSED TO AUTHORIZE THE RECALL REPAIR UNLESS I AGREED TO ALLOW THE DEALERSHIP TO TRACE ALL OF THE WIRING THEY SUSPECTED COULD BE DAMAGED. I'M AT A LOSS HERE. WHO CAN I CONTACT FOR HELP? FCA KNOWS THE WIRING FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL MELT AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE. IT IS QUITE EVIDENT THE WIRING HAS MELTED - EVEN BURNT OFF. HOW IS IT THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COMPLETE REPAIR OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS KNOWN DEFECT? THEY SEEM TO BE SAYING THEY ARE NO LONGER RESPONSIBLE DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THEY ARE CALLING THE SERVICE ADVISER AT THE DEALERSHIP THEIR "TRAINED EXPERT". AND HE CANNOT CONFIRM THAT THE FAILURE IS NOT JUST "WEAR AND TEAR". IS THIS TRUE? DOES NHTSA ALLOW MANUFACTURERS TO USE THIS AS AN EXCUSE TO NOT PERFORM A RECALL?

Mileage: 202,000

NHTSA # EA198010 HEADLIGHT SWITCH RECALL EXCLUDED THE B1500 AND B2500 SERIES STATING THAT THE POWER DRAW IS NOT AS GREAT AS THE B3500 SERIES. THIS IS IN ERROR. MY 1995 B2500 BURNED OUT THIS SAME LIGHT SWITCH AND LEFT ME WITH NO HEADLIGHTS. (I HAVE NOT ADDED ANY ADDITIONAL LIGHTING). I REQUEST THAT EA98010 BE REOPENED TO INCLUDE THE B1500 AND B2500 SERIES TRUCKS AS THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHICH IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE B3500 SERIES. I REPLACED THE SWITCH AT MY EXPENSE AND CAN SEND YOU THE OLD ONE IF YOU NEED IT. *TR

Mileage: 203,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH BELOW THE STEERING COLUMN BURNED. THEREWAS A CLOSED INVESTIGATION , EA99027 AND RECALL # 00V135000 RELATING TO THIS FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000.*AK

Mileage: 120,000

LIGHT SWITCH CIRCUITRY BURNED INSIDE DASH AND CAUSED HEAT DAMAGE TO DASH AND WIRING INSIDE. VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR WIRING AND WHEN RECALL WAS COMPLETE, FUEL GUAGE AND TEMPERATURE GUAGE FAILED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE AND IGNITION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS BELIEVED TO BE RELATED.*AK

Mileage: 17,000

LIGHT SWITCH CIRCUITRY BURNED INSIDE DASH AND CAUSED HEAT DAMAGE TO DASH AND WIRING INSIDE. VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR WIRING AND WHEN RECALL WAS COMPLETE, FUEL GUAGE AND TEMPERATURE GUAGE FAILED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE AND IGNITION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS BELIEVED TO BE RELATED.*AK

Mileage: 17,000

LIGHT SWITCH CIRCUITRY BURNED INSIDE DASH AND CAUSED HEAT DAMAGE TO DASH AND WIRING INSIDE. VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR WIRING AND WHEN RECALL WAS COMPLETE, FUEL GUAGE AND TEMPERATURE GUAGE FAILED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE AND IGNITION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS BELIEVED TO BE RELATED.*AK

Mileage: 17,000

SHORTLY AFTER TURNING ON HEADLAMPS, ODOR AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE DASH. THIS OCCURRED WHILE PULLING A TRAILER. HEADLAMPS WERE TURNED OFF, BUT HAD DIFFICULTY GETTING DASH LIGHTS AND TRAILER LIGHTS TO TURN OFF ALSO. KEPT HAVING TO TURN THE KNOB LEFT/RIGHT NUMEROUS TIMES TO GET ALL LIGHTING TO TURN OFF. ALSO, WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED WITH THE IGNITION/HEADLAMPS OFF, THE BUZZER SOUNDS INDICATING THAT HEADLAMPS WERE LEFT ON, BUT NO HEADLAMPS WERE ON. I AM DRIVING A 95 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL 4 X 4 AND PULLING A 23FT SUNDOWNER GOOSENECK HORSE TRAILER.*AK

Mileage: 234,000

STARTER STAYED ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING (DODGE DIESEL 95') RESULTING IN ENGINE FIRE.

Mileage: 69,624

WITH CAMPER ON TRUCK, FOG LIGHTS ON AND ALL OTHER LIGHTS, HEAD,LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, AND CLEARANCE LIGHTS ON AN ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE DASH. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME A TRUCKER INFORMED ME BY CB RADIO THAT I HAD NO CLEARANCE LIGHTS OR TAIL LIGHTS AND I NOTICED THAT MY FOG LIGHTS ALSO WENT OUT. UPON REPLACING THE LIGHT SWITCH THE BLOCK WHICH ATTACHES THE WIRES TO THE LIGHT SWITCH HAD MELTED, THAT IS WHAT CAUSED THE ODOR. WHAT CAUSED THE OVERHEATING OF THE SWITCH I DO NOT KNOW. DODGE HAS A RECALL ON THE 3500 SERIES LIGHT SWITCH BUT NOT 2500.*AK

WITH CAMPER ON TRUCK, FOG LIGHTS ON AND ALL OTHER LIGHTS, HEAD,LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS, AND CLEARANCE LIGHTS ON AN ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE DASH. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME A TRUCKER INFORMED ME BY CB RADIO THAT I HAD NO CLEARANCE LIGHTS OR TAIL LIGHTS AND I NOTICED THAT MY FOG LIGHTS ALSO WENT OUT. UPON REPLACING THE LIGHT SWITCH THE BLOCK WHICH ATTACHES THE WIRES TO THE LIGHT SWITCH HAD MELTED, THAT IS WHAT CAUSED THE ODOR. WHAT CAUSED THE OVERHEATING OF THE SWITCH I DO NOT KNOW. DODGE HAS A RECALL ON THE 3500 SERIES LIGHT SWITCH BUT NOT 2500.*AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE RECALL REPAIR WORK PERFORMED ON VEHICLE, AFTER RECEIVING VEHICLE BACK CONSUMER STATED THE RADIO, DOME LIGHTS, MAP LIGHTS AND DOOR CHIME DID NOT WORK, AFTER VEHICLE WAS LOOKED AT, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THAT WHEN THEY WERE WELDING THE REINFORCEMENTS A SPARK HIT THE GROUND BOX.*JB

YOU HAVE A RECALL LISTED FOR THE 3500 SERIES, BUT NOT THE 2500. NO SAFETY DEFECT STATED. *AK

VEHICLE CAB WAS FILLING UP WITH SMOKE. LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, WHICH NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-135 AND AS A RESULT THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SMOLDERING AND BURN A HOLE IN STEERING WHEEL COVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CONSUMER HAD INSTALLED ADDITIONAL LIGHTS WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE AND REIMBURSED THE CONSUMER ONLY FOR THE PARTS. *YH

40 AMP FUSE HAS BLOWN TWICE, AND JUST RECENTLY BLEWOUT A THIRD TIME.*AK

I TOOK THE TRUCK IN FOR AN ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CHECK. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE FIX AND WORKED THE 3 FACTORY RECALL ISSUES, INCLUDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IGNITION SWITCH. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH DID OVERHEAT AND MELTED THE STEERING COLUMN PLASTIC SHROUD. HE ALSO NOTICED A 2-3" SECTION OF THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS BEHIND THE FUSE BOX WITH 2 WIRES THAT WERE BURNT WITH THE INSULATION COMPLETELY BURNT OFF. HE WAS HESITANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR FEAR OF IT STARTING A FIRE. THE DEALER NOTIFIED ME THAT THE REPAIR MAY COST $2000.00, AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. MAYBE A RELATED ISSUE, BUT THE RADIO SHORTED OUT 2 DAYS BEFORE THE SERVICE CALL AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID THERE WAS NO POWER TO THE FUSE BLOCK. IS THIS ISSUE (THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS REPAIR/REPLACEMENT) COVERED UNDER THE RECALL OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, OR SHOULD IT BE IF THERE IS EVIDENCE OF MAJOR FAILURE OF THE HARNESS?

I TOOK THE TRUCK IN FOR AN ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CHECK. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE FIX AND WORKED THE 3 FACTORY RECALL ISSUES, INCLUDING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IGNITION SWITCH. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH DID OVERHEAT AND MELTED THE STEERING COLUMN PLASTIC SHROUD. HE ALSO NOTICED A 2-3" SECTION OF THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS BEHIND THE FUSE BOX WITH 2 WIRES THAT WERE BURNT WITH THE INSULATION COMPLETELY BURNT OFF. HE WAS HESITANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE FOR FEAR OF IT STARTING A FIRE. THE DEALER NOTIFIED ME THAT THE REPAIR MAY COST $2000.00, AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. MAYBE A RELATED ISSUE, BUT THE RADIO SHORTED OUT 2 DAYS BEFORE THE SERVICE CALL AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID THERE WAS NO POWER TO THE FUSE BLOCK. IS THIS ISSUE (THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS REPAIR/REPLACEMENT) COVERED UNDER THE RECALL OF THE IGNITION SWITCH, OR SHOULD IT BE IF THERE IS EVIDENCE OF MAJOR FAILURE OF THE HARNESS?

WIRING HARNESS IN STEERING COLUMN WAS SMOKING AND BURNING AND REQUIRED IMMEDIATE REPAIRS, WHICH OWNER MADE WITH PARTS FROM DEALERSHIP, A MONTH LATER THE PROBLEM WAS CONSIDERED A RECALL (00V-135), CONSUMER REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. CJ

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE CAUSED FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL 00V135, CONSUMER PURCHASED THE RECALL KIT AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE KIT AND FOR INSTALLATION FEES. *SLC

DIESEL FUEL HEATER SENSOR SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED AN UNDER HOOD FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER TO CALL INSURANCE AGENCY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AT 60 MPH SMOKE CAME OUTOF DASHBOARD. HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. WIRING HARNESS HAD BURNED OUT, HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PART(HEADLIGHT SWITCH) AS 3500 TRUCK SERIES, WHICH HAD BEEN RECALLED. *AK

RECALL CAMPAIGN NO:00V135, REPLACED 2 TO 3 MONTHS AGO. *AK

CONSUMER WENT TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED ON THE VEHICLE AND WAS CHARGED WITH ADDITIONAL REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE, WHICH WERE ALL POSSIBLY RELATED TO THE RECALL DEFECT. *MJS

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH FRONT HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, AND THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OPENED THE HOOD, AND DISCOVERED THAT WIRE TO THE HEADLIGHTS MELTED. *AK

ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCCASIONS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED IGNITION FAILURE DUE TO ELECTRICAL WIRING THAT WAS MELTED / BURNT AND CORRODED, CAUSING OTHER COMPONENTS TO MALFUNCTION. *YC

THE ENGINE STARTED WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN GEAR AND NO ONE IN THE VEHICLE, STARTER WOULD NOT DISENGAGE AND THE HEATING ELEMENT ON THE INTAKE EXPLODED AND CAUGHT FIRE. THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE WITH ALL THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT TODAY. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE CAUSED OVERHEATING WHICH CAUSED BURNING AND MELTING OF WIRING RELAY HARNESS.

DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ABOUT 100 YARDS WHEN CONSUMER STARTED TO SMELL SMOKE, NOTICED THAT WIRING WAS BURNING, CAUSING A FIRE ,FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH DASH BOARD. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THE ELECTRIAL WIRING STARTED THE FIRE. *AK

FUEL SENSOR WILL FLUCTUATE AND THEN GO TO EMPTY AND REMAIN THERE. ALSO, IGNITION SWITCH BEGAN OVERHEATING, BURNING THE INSULATION AROUND THE A/C WIRING ATTACHED TO THE STEERING COLUMN. IN ADDITION, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR , WITH HEAT ON, WOULD JUMP TO 3000-4000 RPMS. *AK