1997 DODGE RAM 2500 Power Train Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN AND NEARLY CAUSED NUMEROUS CRASHES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT A NUT ON THE FIFTH GEAR WAS DISENGAGED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. DODGE STATED THAT THERE WAS A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 01/02/08.*LJ UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

Mileage: 57,000

MY ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST MY ABS. IN SEARCHING FOR THE PROBLEM, I FOUND OIL DRIPPING FROM MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL COVER. I REMOVED THE COVER AND FOUND THAT A RING GEAR BOLT HEAD HAD SHEARED OFF AND DAMAGED THE ABS EXCITER RING. THE DIFFERENTIAL COULD HAVE LOCKED UP AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. A MECHANIC ADVISED IT APPEARED THE BOLT FAILED DUE TO A STRESS FRACTURE. THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY NOR WOULD A DAIMLER CHRYSLER REP. I TELEPHONICALLY SPOKE WITH. I HAVE THE FAILED PART AND PHOTOS.*JB

Mileage: 87,300

DT: WHEN SHIFTING FROM FOURTH TO FIFTH GEAR THE BOLT HOLDING 5TH GEAR IN PLACE CAME OFF THE SHAFT WHICH ALLOWED THE 5TH GEAR TO MOVE AND NO LONGER BE IN POSITION TO FUNCTION. THIS PROBLEM FEELS AS IF YOU WERE SHIFTING FROM FORTH GEAR TO NEUTRAL INSTEAD OF 5TH GEAR. DEALER WAS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM AND INDICATED THAT IT'S COMMON TO THESE VEHICLES.*AK CONSUMER FEELS THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A RECALL AND SHOULD COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS.*SB *NM

Mileage: 107,540

THE OUTER DASH SILENCER PAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED THE CLUTCH AND FUEL LINES. IT FRIED THE COMPUTER, THE OCCUPANTS WERE ALMOST KILLED. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED #737, IN AUGUST 1997. THE CUSTOMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER PAID ALL REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE CLAIM WAS DENIED. CHRYSLER WILL NOT HELP THE CONSUMER WITH THE REPAIR BILLS, TOM KELLY MADE A DECISION AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HE DOES NOT COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE AND HIS DECISION WAS FINAL. THE CONSUMER HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE BEFORE THE INCIDENT AND WAS OUT OF STATE WHEN IT HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER REALIZED THE RECALL WAS FOR DODGE TRUCKS BUILT MARCH 7, 1997 THROUGH MAY 15, 1997 AND THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS BUILT ON MAY 16, 1997. *JB THE ALTERNATOR WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO A BAD PCM WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE A/C HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE AFTER THE PCM WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB

Mileage: 161,000

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT REAR AXLE BROKE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK

TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE NEEDS REPLACING. THE COOLER LINE HAS A PLASTIC COUPLING IN IT THAT COULD MELT AND CAUSE A FIRE OR SUDDEN LOSS OF TRANSMISSION UNDER LOAD. DEALER WILL REPLACE A COOLER LINE ON A GASOLINE ENGINE PER RECALL BUT NOT ON A DIESEL. MY TRUCK IS A DIESEL, AND THINK THAT THE LINE SHOULD BE REPLACED AS THE PLASTIC COUPLING MELTED ON A FRIENDS TRUCK THAT IS THE SAME AS MINE (DIESEL). I CALLED THE DODGE DEALER AND THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE COUPLING/LINE AS NOT GASOLINE ENGINE. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD EFFECTING ALL MODLES WITH THIS PLASTIC COPULING. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO A LEAK. *NLM

THE TWO METAL TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES WERE INSTALLED DURING TRUCK ASSEMBLY WITHOUT SUFFICIENT SPACERS TO PREVENT ABRASION AGAINST EACH OTHER. THIS ALLOWED ONE LINE TO RUB A HOLE INTO THE SIDE OF OTHER LINE RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FLUID BEING SPRAYED AGAINST HOT ENGINE COMPONTENTS AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSON OR A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.*AK

5TH GEAR FAILED WHILE GOING DOWN A SLIGHT (~4%) GRADE WHILE USING THE ENGINE AND THE EXHAUST BRAKE. FORTUNATELY THE SPEED WAS SLOW ENOUGH THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE TO DOWNSHIFT. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY HAZARD. IF THE SPEED HAD BEEN HIGHER OR IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO DOWNSHIFT AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE EASILY OCCURRED. THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION IN THE DODGE CUMMINS DIESEL TRUCKS.THERE IS SOME INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET INDICATING THAT THIS IS RATHER COMMON.THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW. THE REPAIR INVOICE INDICATES THAT A 'NUT PACKAGE" WAS REQUIRED TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURING AGAIN. THIS INDICATES THAT THE ORIGINAL DESIGN IS FLAWED. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM, BUT PROBABLY ISN'T AND WON'T BE BECAUSE OF THE COST TO FIX ($675.) I HAVE SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT AND REQUEST FOR REPAIR REIMBURSEMENT TO CHRYSLER. IT HAS BEEN DENIED BECAUSE OF THE TIME OR MILEAGE LIMITATIONS HAVE BEEN EXCEEDED. HOWEVER, IT IS BOTH A SAFETY ISSUE AND A DESIGN FLAW, AND BOTH SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.

ONE OF THE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE TANK UP TO VEHICLE BROKE AND CAUSED REAR OF TANK TO HANG DOWN. CONSUMER COULD HEAR METAL SHIELD OF DRIVELINE HITTING GROND. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 45MPH THE ATNI-LOCK REAR BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. A FEW MINUTES LATER, WHILE PULLING OUT AT A STOP SIGN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD "CAME OUT" FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM. I HAVE ALL THE PARTS AND PIECES FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL. THE PINION GEAR WAS IN PIECES IN THE BOTTOM OF THE HOUSING. THE RING GEAR HAD SEVERAL TEETH MISSING AND/OR DAMAGED. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR/EQUIPMENT WAS ALSO DAMAGED.THE ONLY PARTS THAT WERE NOT REPLACED WERE THE AXLES AND THE HOUSING. CAUSE OF THE DEFECT IS STILL YET UNDETERMINED.*AK

TRANSMISSION SLIPS AFTER PARKED FOR THREE DAYS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE WENT INTO NEUTRAL, AND WOULDN'T GO INTO FIFTH GEAR. ALSO, A NUT FELL OUT OF TRANSMISSION. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED IT WAS COMMON ACCURRENCE IN THAT TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. *AK *SLC

ON FOUR OCCASIONS AFTER ENCOUNTERING ROUGH PAVEMENT OR RAILROAD TRACKS THE FRONT END OF THE VEH HAS STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, NECESSITATING COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP TO REGAIN CONTROL. HAD STEERING DAMPER AND TRACTION BAR REPLACED AT 36768 MILES. AGAIN AT APPROXIMATELY 45100 MILES HAD SAME VIOLENT SHAKING OF FRONT END WHEN CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS. FEELS AS IF TRUCK IS FLYING APART AND OUT OF CONTROL UNTIL ABLE TO COME TO COMPLETE STOP. SELLING DEALER HAS RECOMMENDED REPLACING STEERING STABILIZER. WILL *AK

VEHICLE WAS MAKING A HOWLING NOISE IN REAREND. CONSUMER WAS REFERRED TO CONTACT A DODGE DEALER ONCE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC COMPLETED REPAIR. MECHANIC HAD SEEN ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THAT MODEL. MECAHNIC HAD TO REPLACE BOTH PINION BEARING AND AXLE BEARINGS. *AK

VEHICLE WAS MAKING A HOWLING NOISE IN REAREND. CONSUMER WAS REFERRED TO CONTACT A DODGE DEALER ONCE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC COMPLETED REPAIR. MECHANIC HAD SEEN ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THAT MODEL. MECAHNIC HAD TO REPLACE BOTH PINION BEARING AND AXLE BEARINGS. *AK

OIL LEAKS FROM REAR AXLE AND CAUSES REAR BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION.*AK

THIS IS FIFTH TIME THAT HIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN REPAIR SHOP FOR TRANSMISSION. WHEN SHIFTING GEARS THERE IS A CLUNKING NOISE, AND THERE IS LEAKING UNDERNEATH. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. *MJS

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED PREMATURELY. *MJS

WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEED 5TH GEAR SUDDENLY LETS GO; ACTS LIKE SUDDENLY PRESSING CLUTCH WHILE AT SPEED. PROBLEM APPEARS WITHOUT WARNING, STARTLES DRIVER AND LEAVES DRIVER WITHOUT POWER TO AVOID VEHICLES APPROACHING IN REAR. ONLY RESPONSE IS TO MOVE TO RIGHT WITHOUT POWER TO AVOID ACCIDENT. HAD REPAIRED BY AZ DEALER FIRST TIME WITH "NEW REDESIGNED" PARTS AND SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED EXACTLY ONE YEAR LATER ON 2/10/00 AT 87615 MILES. PROBLEM FIXED WITH SAME PARTS AGAIN BY CA DEALER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE TRUCK IS NOT CAPABLE OF DRIVING IN 4TH GEAR AT FREEWAY SPEEDS (TRUCK HAS 4:10 RING AND PINION). BOTH TRANSMISSION MECHANICS HAVE REPAIRED SEVERAL VEHICLES WITH SAME PROBLEM.*AK

ON THREE OCCASIONS REAR AXLE SEAL HAD LEAKED OIL ONTO THE BRAKES, CAUSING BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION. A TECHNICIAN FOUND THIS OUT ON A ROUTINE INSPECTION.*AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT CORRECTLY UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CIRCUMSTANCES. VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO WE TOOK IT TO WESTER DODGE IN SEASIDE, CA FOR REPAIR. SERVICE DEPT CHANGED THE VALVE BODY, WASN'T AT SEALS HAD INTERNALLY FAILED. REPLACED THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION. TWO YEARS LATER SAME PROBLEM ARISES AT THIS TIME VEHICLE WARRANTY IS UP. DODGE DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR AND WARRANT PROBLEM. TOOK TRUCK TO CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION IN GILROY, CA . THEY FOUND THAT THE SEALS WERE BAD IN TRANSMISSION AND BROKEN BELL HOUSING AND OVERDRIVE HOUSING BOLT HOLES WERE STRIPPED. *AK

THE BRAKE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE THE FIRST FEW MONTH OF SERVICE. THE FIRST BRAKE FAILURE WAS AT 9557 MILES, THE SECOND FAILURE WAS AT 23,744 MILES AND THE THIRD FAILURE OF THE BRAKES WAS AT 29, 875 MILES. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, ROTORS GROUND,, NEW REAR AXLE SEALS, AND NEW CALIPERS, PADS,AND BRAKE SHOES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND THE DEALER IN TURLOCK AUTO CENTER, TURLOCK, CA. IS ORDERING NEW PARTS AGAIN MAKING THE FOURTH BRAKES ON THIS PICKUP INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL ONES. *AK

ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS TOO LOOSE OR SOFT, AND ON A ROUGH TERRAIN PULLING A TRAILER, IT MAKES THE TRUCK START TO HOP. WHEN IT MAKES THE TRUCK HOP, IT CAUSES THE REAR AXLE DRIVELINE SEAL TO LEAK OIL. THE FACTORY INSTALLED THERMOSTAT IS FAULTY AND MAKES THE TEMPERATURE GO UP AND DOWN BY ABOUT 40 DEGREES. HAD IT REPLACED AND IT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. *AK

TRANSMISSION SEAL FAILURE.

FRONT AXLE AND BRAKES SYSTEM HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. WHEN CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLIED THE BRAKES THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS BOUNCING. DEALER COULDN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

REAR AXLE SEAL LEAKING. YH

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AXLE AND DRIVESHAFT. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THEIR VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AXLE AND DRIVESHAFT. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, THEIR VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

FOUR WHEEL DRIVE UNIT JERKING.

TRANSMISSION SLIPS. DEALER CONTACTED, PUT ON COMPUTER AND STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. DRIVING DOWN A HILL REPRESENTS A BIG PROBLEM WHEN PULLING A TRAILER. IT WILL NOT HOLD BACK. CONSUMER HAS TO RELY ON BRAKES IN ORDER TO COME OFF OF A HILL. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK TORQUE CONVERTER UNLOCKS AT ANY SPEED WHEN DECELERATING, VEHICLE WILL NOT HOLD BACK EVEN WHEN IN FIRST GEAR, WHEN TOWING A TRAILER AND TRAVELING DOWNHILL, THE BRAKES HAVE TO BE USED, DEALER STATES THIS IS THE WAY THEY ARE BUILT. *SLC

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SERVICED OR REPAIRED FOUR TIMES.

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SERVICED OR REPAIRED FOUR TIMES.

TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION.