1996 DODGE RAM 2500 Power Train Problems

AFTER OPERATING VEHICLE UNDER HEAVY LOAD (SNOWPLOWING), THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE RUPTURED WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED AND THE HYDRAULIC FLUID IGNITED ON THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM. NOTE: THERE WAS A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99V115000 ) ISSUED FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR TRUCK WITH A V10 ENGINE VERSES THE V8. THE HEAT FROM THE NEARBY EXHAUST PIPE EXCEEDED THE TEMPERATURE RATING OF THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE MATERIAL CAUSING IT TO RUPTURE. *TR

Mileage: 96,998

AFTER OPERATING VEHICLE UNDER HEAVY LOAD (SNOWPLOWING), THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE RUPTURED WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED AND THE HYDRAULIC FLUID IGNITED ON THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM. NOTE: THERE WAS A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99V115000 ) ISSUED FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR TRUCK WITH A V10 ENGINE VERSES THE V8. THE HEAT FROM THE NEARBY EXHAUST PIPE EXCEEDED THE TEMPERATURE RATING OF THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE MATERIAL CAUSING IT TO RUPTURE. *TR

Mileage: 96,998

PULLING LOADED CARGO TRAILER ON A HOT DAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC KIN SAN ANTONIO, TX. ALL A SUDDEN TRUCK STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. STOPPED AND LOOKED UNDER AND TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS COMING OUT OF TRANSMISSION ON TO HOT EXHAUST. THE HOT TRANSMISSION FLUID MELTED THE PLASTIC/NYLON MATERIAL AT THE FLUID LINE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED FLUID TO SPRAY ALL OVER THE EXHAUST AND UNDER SIDE OF TRUCK AND ONTO THE PAYMENT. TRANSMISSION AND LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS RECALL AS I HAD NEVER BEEN CONTACTED. I WISH I HAD, I WOULD HAVE SAVED ABOUT $4000.00!!!!

Mileage: 155,831

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PLACED IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE IDLING, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT ABOUT 5 MPH. THE SALES/SERVICE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BUT THE CONTACT WAS PLACED ON HOLD AND EVENTUALLY THE CONTACT HUNG UP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED 3 TIMES. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE ON THE FIRST INCIDENT, BUT AN EMPTY PARKED SCHOOL BUS WAS STRUCK CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT QUARTER PANEL, RIGHT DOOR AND THE HOOD ON THE SECOND OCCASION. ON THE THIRD OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STRUCK THE BARN AND FEED TROUGH, CAUSING A BROKEN HEADLIGHT AND A DENTED BUMPER.

Mileage: 110,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PLASTIC TRANSMISSION COOLER FITTINGS MELTED CAUSING ALL OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK OUT VERY QUICKLY. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 97V084000, REGARDING THE POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: COOLING UNIT AND LINES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

Mileage: 190,000

1996 A518 DODGE RAM TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. I HAVE HEARD THAT THEY ARE AWFUL TRANSMISSIONS AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE A518 TRANSMISSION FOR 1996 DODGE RAM TRUCKS!*JB

Mileage: 72,000

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT WITHOUT TAKING FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR TO LOWER RPM. DEALER STATES INTERNAL SEAL FAILURE AND TRANSMISSION NEEDS REBUILDING. *NM

Mileage: 99,800

RECALL 97V084000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE. WHILE PULLING A 5TH WHEEL TRAILER UP A INCLINE AT 30 MPH VEHICLE STOPPED WHILE IN MOTION, AND WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL.*AK

Mileage: 106,000

VEHICLE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL#97V084000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

THE AXLE SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING. *NLM

THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR A TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE FAILURE 97 V 084. THE DEALERSHIP NOR CHRYSLER WILL HONOR THE RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. *JG

Mileage: 105,000

WHILE PULLING A TRAILER UP HILL, TRANSMISSION CONNECTOR MELTED, VEHICLE LOST ALL FLUIDS; SOME OF THE FLUIDS SPRAYED ON MUFFLER AND STARTED SMOKING. *AK *SCC

I BELIEVE THIS IS COVERED IN YOUR RECALL 97V084000 - TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE TO TRANSMISSION SPLIT AND OR FITTING FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF ALL TRANSMISSION FLUID. FACOTRY DEALER VAGUELY REFERENCED RECALL AND I LOCATED IT ON YOUR WEB SITE. I CONTACTED DAIMLER/CHRIYSLER RECALL CENTER AT 800-853-1403 AND THEY TOOK COMPLAINT REFERENCE # 9992910 AND THEN TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO SUCH RECALL ON ITEM AND YOUR 97V084000 WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. LOCAL DEALER INDICATES THIS RECALL DOES NOT SHOW ON THEIR DATABASE. SOME INDICATION THAT IT WAS OVER TWO YEARS OLD. MY INSURANCE HAD $340 TOW BILL AND I WAS OUT $278.43 IN REPAIRS. I NOTICED EXTREME AMOUNT OF SMOKE FROM UNDER VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE DAMAGING TRANSMISSION OTHER THAN RUNNING OUT OF FLUID. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL AND WHAT IS GOING ON HERE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.*AK

TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES FAILING AT THE CONNECTOR WHEN UNDER HOT TEMPERATURES

HEAT IS ON THE MODULE AND WILL CATCH ON FIRE.*AK THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND WAS REBUILT. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE MONEY HE PAID TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. *YD

THIRD GEAR LIP SEAL FAILED IN TRANSMISSION. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING UP SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN 25 TO 30 MPH AND PULLING A TRAILER, NYLON BUSHING RUNNING FROM TRANSMISSION TO OIL COOLER MELTED, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. DEALERSHIP MADE REPAIRS TO VEHICLE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY ANY RECALL. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT DEALER SAID EXHAUST SYSTEM CAUSED EXTRA HEAT, BUT THE MAIN HEAT SOURCE COMES FROM THE INSIDE AND NOT FROM THE OUTSIDE BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION FRICTION. *YH

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE FIFTH GEAR IN MY TRANSMISSION FELL OFF THE SHAFT. DODGE HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN, SEPT.25,1998, BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. I WONDER IF THAT SOMEHOW THIS MIGHT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER IS 21-10-98 REV. A. *AK

DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE IN 5TH GEAR WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING LOST 5TH GEAR.*AK

AUXILLIARY TRANSMISSION COOLING SYSTEM HOSES THAT RUN TO THE FRONT OF THE RADIATOR ARE TOO SHORT TO REACH BED OF AUXILLIARY RADIATOR, THIS CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK AND LOSE POWER AND MOMENTUM, CONSUMER STATES ALL DIESEL TRUCKS WITH AUXILLIARY TRANSMISSION COOLER'S HAVE THIS DEFECT. *SLC

AUXILLIARY TRANSMISSION COOLING SYSTEM HOSES THAT RUN TO THE FRONT OF THE RADIATOR ARE TOO SHORT TO REACH BED OF AUXILLIARY RADIATOR, THIS CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK AND LOSE POWER AND MOMENTUM, CONSUMER STATES ALL DIESEL TRUCKS WITH AUXILLIARY TRANSMISSION COOLER'S HAVE THIS DEFECT. *SLC

WHILE VEHICLE IS IN PARK, COULD MOVE THE PAWL FROM PARK TO DRIVE, BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE, AND PROVIDING NO POWER.*AK

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR MUST LET OFF OF GAS IN ORDER TO SHIFT. GARAGE TOLD ME THAT 3RD GEAR IS GONE AND MUST BE REPLACED. OTHER PEOPLE W/ 96 DODGE RAMS ARE ALSO HAVING THIS PROBLEM

TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING AT 50000 MILES, AT 70000 MILES, VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR, DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION AT 74000 MILES. *SLC

TRANSMISSION WAS DESTROYED DUE TO LOSS OF FLUID. NLM ON ONE OCCASION, WHILE PULLING UTILITY TRAILER, 2 TIRES DELAMINATED. ALL 5 TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. ON A SECOND OCCASION, TWO TIRES DELAMINATED ON THE 1996 JACO 28 FOOT 5TH WHEEL TRAILER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TRAILER. ALL FIVE TIRES ON THE TRAILER WERE REPLACED. ON A THIRD OCCASION, RIGHT FRONT TIRE (WRANGLER AT LT245/75R16 M+S DOT MD11 BTOV 197 234R) DELAMINATED ON THE TRUCK. GOODYEAR PAID 50 PERCENT PRORATE OF FOUR TIRES BASED ON TREAD DEPTH. HOWEVER, CONSUMER THOUGHT GOODYEAR WOULD PAY 100 PERCENT OF THE COST ON THE FACTORY DEFECT TIRE AND CONSUMER WOULD PAY FOR REMAINING THREE TIRES. CONSUMER PAID FOR THE FOUR NEW AT/S WRANGLERS. *TT *SLC

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HIGH TEMPERATURE LINE CONNECTOR MELTED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL TRANSMISSION FLUID. FLUID SPRAYED ON MUFFLER, TRANSMISSION, AND ALL OVER THE GROUND. VEHICLE STALLED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. MAY NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *AK CONSUMER BELIEVE THIS FAILURE IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS RECALL #722 (97V-084). *YH

THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V084000. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NEW. EACH TIME THERE WAS A LOT OF SMOKE, BUT NO FIRE. TWICE THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND ONCE IT STAYED TOGETHER, BUT WAS LEAKING BADLY. CHRYSLER CORP. SAYS THIS TRUCK IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AS DOES THE DEALER WHERE IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED. TWICE THE TRUCK CAME TO A STOP WHERE THERE WAS NO SHOULDER TO GET OFF THE ROADWAY. ANY INFORMATION I COULD GET WOULD HELP. *AK

FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE, WHICH CAUSED FRONT END TO DROP. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, OCCUPANT RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE WIRING HARNESS WHICH HE NEVER HAD REPAIRED, AND LOST THE RECALL NOTICE. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN WIRING HARNESS RECALL. ALSO, 5TH GEAR QUIT FOR THE SECOND TIME, FIRST TIME COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, THIS TIME OWNER MUST PAY FOR REPAIR. CHRYSLER HAS ISSUED AN UPDATED NUT FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK *ML

TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND VEHICLE STALLED ON THE ROAD. YH

I WAS PARKED NEXT TO A CURB IN A LOT AT WORK CARE WAS BEHIND ME. HAD TO GO OVER CURB AT 1-2MPH HEARD BANG TIRE BLEW OUT. DROVE ACROSS STREET, PULLED INTO LOT, GOT OUT, GAS TANK DRAGGING GROUND AND SLOSHED GAS ALL OVER ROAD. DRIVESHAFT HAD BEEN TURNING AGAINST METAL PLATE ON SIDE OF TANK-STRAPS BROKE-HAD NO WARNING OF ANYTHING WRONG-HAD TO HAVE TRUCK TOWED-SLOSHED GAS ALL OVER TRAILER-DRIVERS' PARTING WORDS "PRAY FOR ME". I CALLED DODGE TOLD THEM I WASN'T PAYING FOR A SAFETY DEFECT, AND THAT I WASN'T HAPPY. THEY CALLED DEALER DEALER TOOK CARE OF IT NO CHARGE. VERY UPSETTING HAVING GAS TANK FALL OFF OF WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A HEAVY DUTY TRUCK. APPEARS ONLY ONE STRAP HOLDING TANK UP -NO SECONDARY SUPPORTS. ANYBODY ELSE HAVE THIS TYPE OF THING HAPPENED TO THEM? I CAN'T IMAGINE BEING IN A WRECK IF IT IS THAT FRAGILE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FLUID IS LEAKING OUT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING UPHILL THE QUICK CONNECT DISCONNECTED LINE FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND TRANSMISSION MELTED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE COOLER LINE PRESS CONNECT AND 2 QUICK FITTINGS WERE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY.

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

I WAS TRAVELING IN CANADA TOWING MY FIFTH WHEEL WIN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. WE GLIDED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BARELY OUT OF DANGER. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO AUTHORIZE CHRYSLER DEALER IN ST. JOHNS CANADA. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THE ENGINE PRODUCERS TO MUCH TORQUE FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO HANDLE. I HAD THE TRAILER WEIGHED AND IT WAS 67 HUNDRED POUNDS WELL WITHIN THE RANGE OF THE TRUCK AND TRANSMISSION. MY MAIN CONCERN NOW IS FEAR THIS WILL OCCUR AGAIN EVEN THOUGH CHRYSLER PAYED THE BILL I NOW AN APPREHENSIVE ABOUT TOWING! HOPE YOU CAN PROVIDE SOME MORE INFORMATION AS I HAVE BEEN TOLD HIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CHRYSLER TRANSMISSION. REALLY LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT RECURRENCE. LOVE THE TRUCK! BUT IT'S LIKE A GOOD FRIEND WHO YOU HOPE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU IN A LURCH. THE OTHER PROBLEM AS I SAW ON YOUR INFORMATION SHEET WAS TIRES MINE ALSO EXPIRED IN LESS THAN 25000 MILES. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS FRONT BRAKE MAKES PADS THEY SEEN TO HAVE A LIMITED LIFE ABOUT 20000 MILES, ANY HELP OR SUGGESTION HERE?

AROUND THE FIRST OF LAST MONTH (OCT)98 I NOTICED MY AUTO TRANNY WAS ACTING FUNNY WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD. IT SHIFTS VERY LATE. SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE IT SHIFT. IN TRAFIC THIS REALLY IS A PROBLEM. PEOPLE WONDER WHY I SLOW DOWN AND I'M AFRAID I WILL GET HIT FROM THE REAR. I TALKED TO DODGE ABOUT THIS AND THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT REPLACING MY TRANSMISSION. IF THEY DON'T THIS IS REALLY GOING TO UPSET ME. A 30,000 DOLLAR TRUCK AND ONLY TWO YEARS OLD. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. I FEEL STRONGLY THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT DODGE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF. PLEASE GIVE ME SOME ADVICE IF DODGE DOES NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM. THANKS

DRIVE SHAFT/CRUISE CONTROL, AND BATTERY MALFUNCTIONED. THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WORE OUT WITHIN 20 MONTHS AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. THE KEYLESS ENTRY SYSTEM DOES NOT ALWAYS OPERATE PROPERLY. OWNER INDICATED A "2-POINT BELT"RESTRAINT SYSTEM.HOWEVER, THE EQUIPMENT LISTING A UNIBELT RESTRAINT SYSTEM.

TRANSFER CASE HAS BEEN REBUILT TWO TIMES AND OWNER HAS NOT USED 4-WHEEL SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE.

WHEN DRIVING 50 MPH CONSTANTLY, THE TRUCK LOCKS UP AND YOU HAVE NO FORWARD MOTION, THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING, BUT HAS NO POWER. THE TRUCK HAS TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER 6 TIMES. TWICE THEY PUT IN BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION, 4 TIMES THEY'VE DROPPED OUT THE TRANSMISSION AND TOOK IT APART. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE REAR AXLE DISASSEMBLED AND SEPARATED FROM THE TRUCK. DEALER SAYS NO EVIDENCE OF MALFUNCTION. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED IN REVERSE.

TRANSMISSION PRESSURE LINE BLEW OFF.

WHILE PULLING A TRAILER UP AMOUNTAIN PASS, PULLED OVER TO LET TRAFFIC GOE BY, SAW LARGE CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE, DISCOVERED THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID OVERHEATED AND DUMPED ON GROUND, RENDERING VEHICLE INOPERATIVE. *AK

PLASTIC QUICK DISCONNECT ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE MELTED, CAUSING TRANSMISSION FAILURE/FLUID LEAK.

TRANSMISSION SLIPS.

1) W/REAR ABS BRAKES APPLIED BRAKES BUT NO RESPONSE ESTIMATED SPEED 39 MPH. 2) ENTIRE AUTO-TRANS BURNED COMPLETELY W/TRUCK ONLY HAVING 120 MILES. TT