1997 DODGE RAM 2500 Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 2500. THE BRAKE LINES HAVE RUSTED IN THREE PLACES. THE FAILURES OCCURRED NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE FRAME RAIL. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE BRAKES ALSO FAILED IN HIS DRIVEWAY AND AT A DRIVE THROUGH WINDOW. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED IN PARTS SINCE THE DEALER NO LONGER SELLS THE ALL OF THE ORIGINAL PARTS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT IT OCCURS AS THOUGH IT WERE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE VEHICLE IS CONSIDERED AN 8800 DUE TO THE WEIGHT CLASS. THE VEHICLE IS UP-TO-DATE ON ITS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF THE REAR BRAKES STARTED TO LOCK UP EVER SINCE THE BRAKES LINES STARTING TO DETERIORATE. UPDATED

Mileage: 72,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 2500. THE BRAKE LINES HAVE RUSTED IN THREE PLACES. THE FAILURES OCCURRED NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE FRAME RAIL. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE BRAKES ALSO FAILED IN HIS DRIVEWAY AND AT A DRIVE THROUGH WINDOW. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED IN PARTS SINCE THE DEALER NO LONGER SELLS THE ALL OF THE ORIGINAL PARTS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT IT OCCURS AS THOUGH IT WERE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE VEHICLE IS CONSIDERED AN 8800 DUE TO THE WEIGHT CLASS. THE VEHICLE IS UP-TO-DATE ON ITS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF THE REAR BRAKES STARTED TO LOCK UP EVER SINCE THE BRAKES LINES STARTING TO DETERIORATE. UPDATED

Mileage: 72,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE PEDAL WENT FREELY TO THE FLOOR. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE BRAKE LINES WERE DETERIORATED AND THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN ALERTED.

Mileage: 163,647

I PURCHASED A 1997 DODGE 2500 RAM PICKUP TRUCK IN NOVEMBER OF 1996. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS I EXPERIENCED A BRAKE FAILURE WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES HARD. I MANAGED TO CHANGE LANES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND TRIED MANY TIMES AFTER THAT TO GET THE BRAKES TO FAIL. BUT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL ALMOST A YEAR LATER. SAME RESULT, NO ACCIDENT AND COULDN'T REPEAT THE PROBLEM. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR SOME WARRANTY WORK AND REPORTED THE BRAKE FAILURE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. THEY TESTED THE VEHICLE MANY TIMES AND STILL COULD NOT PRODUCE BRAKE FAILURE. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ELEVEN TIMES MORE SINCE THE LAST FAILURE AND THIS TIME I HAD AN ACCIDENT. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO MISS THE STALLED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME BY CHANGING LANES AND HITTING A CAR ALONG SIDE GOING THE SAME SPEED. THIS RESULTED IN PROPERTY DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES BUT NO BODILY INJURY. IF I HAD CONTINUED STRAIGHT INTO THE STALLED VEHICLE, GOING ABOUT 30-35 MPH, I WOULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS BODILY INJURY TO THE PASSENGERS OF THE STALLED CAR. MY TRUCK HAS THE DIESEL OPTION AND WEIGHS OVER 9000 POUNDS. IT WOULD HAVE CRUSHED THE STALLED HONDA AND INJURED ALL THE OCCUPANTS. TO DATE, ONLY NORMAL PARTS REPLACEMENTS HAVE BEEN DONE ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE BRAKE COMPUTER HAS NEVER BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE GOING IN TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE COMPUTER AT MY COST AND MY REQUEST FOR REPLACEMENT. *NM

Mileage: 191,110

VEHICLE LOST BRAKING WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AT 25 MPH. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY INCIDENTS. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS AN ERUPTED METAL BRAKE LINE DUE TO CORROSION. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED.*AK BROKEN BRAKE LINE WAS REPLACED. THE REST OF BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF SEVERE CORROSION AND DANGER OF BURSTING. *BF *NM

Mileage: 118,000

TRAVELING AT 40 MPH, HEARD A"POP", REAR BREAK LINE RUPTURED, DUE TO EARLY CORROSION OF GALVINIZED BRAKE LINES. NO REAR BRAKES. WAS ABLE TO GET OF ROAD. DEALERSHIP ASKED IF ITS A NORTHERN TRUCK, SAYS IT'S NON-WARRANTY. REPAIR PENDING - ESTIMATES RANGE FROM $600 TO THOUSANDS (DEALER) *JB

Mileage: 97,950

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THEY GO TO THE FLOOR AND DO NOT HOLD. THE MASTER CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. THIS IS A REOCCURING PROBLEM, AND THE CONSUMER IS AFRAID FOR HER FAMILY. CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ABOUT EVERY 10K TO 12K MILES. CONSUMER FEELS UNSURE/UNSECURE ABOUT THIS VEHICLE AND FEELS THAT CHRYSLER NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS MATTER BEFORE SOMEONE IS POSSIBLY KILLED. *SCC

BRAKES HAVE FAILED 4 TIMES WITH 49100 MILES ON VAN. *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

PREMATURE FRONT BRAKE FAILURE AND MAUFACTURER FAILS TO REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A TSB ON IT! *AK

BRAKES PULLED HARD RIGHT, REPLACED BRAKES AND HAD THEM SERVICED, NOW THEY PULL HARD LEFT. REQUIRES MAJOR STEERING CORRECTION TO MAINTAIN INTENDED VEHICLE COURSE. OCCURRS EVERY TIME BRAKES ARE APPLIED, AND I FEAR A COLLISION EVERY TIME I USE THE BRAKES. SERVICING HAS NOT HELPED, PROBLEM LIES WITHIN THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. *AK

DUE TO DESIGN OF BRAKES IT CONSTANTLY PULLS ONE DIRECTION OR THE OTHER WHEN BRAKING.IF MAKING HARD STOP IT PULLS MORE.THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THIS AT BAY IS TO CONSTANTLY REMOVE AND RELUBE SLIDE PINS ON THE FRONT CALIPERS.WHEN DEALER REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS,THEY WERE ADVICED ABOUT THE PULL AND AS USUAL RESPONSE WAS COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR FIX.*AK

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

VEHICLE SWAYS AND PULLS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. CHRYSLER REP SAID THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT SO FAR NO SOLUTION. *AK *ML

THE BRAKES SHOES ARE PREMATURLEY WEARING WHICH IS CAUSING THE BRAKES PADS TO WEAR, ALSO CALIPER PISTONS WHICH AR EMAD EOF FIBER STICK SIDEWAYS, CAUSING PADS AND SHOES TO WEAR OUT PREMATURELY. *AK

VEHICLE MAKES A HARD LEFT TURN WHEN BRAKING. DEALER ADVISED IT TO BE FRONT END ALIGNMENT, ( WHICH THEY DON'T DO) OR BRAKES OR TIRE PROBLEM. BRAKES WERE REPLACED, FRONT END ALIGNED, TIRES WERE REPLACED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT ON CONDITION. FURTHER RESEARCH AND TIME AND $ SPENT FINDS CHRYSLER HAS A TSB #05-03-97 THAT TELLS YOU TO PUT A SPACER BETWEEN THE HUB AND WHEEL OF VARYING SIZES UNTILL YOU FIND ONE THAT CHANGES THE FRONT END GEOMETRY TILL IT NOLONGER PULLS. THIS IS AFTER YOU HAVE FILED BRAKE COMPONETS. IF THIS DOES NOT CURE THE PROBLEM , THEN YOU ARE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HUB ASSY WHICH THEN MAY CAUSE YOU TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE TRIAL AND ERROR SHIM BUSINESS AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND WARRANTY INCLUDING CHRYSLERS MAXIMUM WRAP WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THIS FIX ACCOURDING TO AUFFENBURG AND A DEALER IN OLATHE KS I STOPPED AT LAST WEEK. A PERSON , IF THEY HAD THE FUNDS COULD LITERALLY SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON TRIAL AND ERROR FIXES ON THIS BRAKING PROBLEM ON DODGE 4X4 PICKUPS. ALSO CAPE GIRARDEAU MO ATTY DON THOMASON HAD A CLIENT THAT WAS INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A PICKUP THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEPMT TO FIX IT. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO FIX THIS BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED. *AK

ANTI-SKID BRAKE CONTROL FAILED TO WORK. DEALER INFORMS THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY REPAIRABLE ITEM, NOR IS IT COVERED UNDER CHRYSLER 100,OOO MILE MAXIMUM WRAP WARRANTY. NON WEAR SAFETY COMPONENTS SUCH AS AIR BAGS, ANTI SKID BRAKES, SHOULD BE COVERED THE LENGTH OF THE SERVICE CONTRACT PERIOD. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT. *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

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

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY PUT ON BRAKES LIGHTLY AND VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND JERKED TO THE OTHER LANE. *AKTHIS PROBLEM OCCURS WITH EACH BRAKING SINCE ABOUT 45000 MILES, THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET IT REPAIRED, SOMETIME THE PULLING WHILE BRAKING IS MILD YET SOMETIMES IT IS SEVERE, THE TIRES WERE CHANGED BUT THERE WAS NO EFFECT ON THE BRAKING. *NLM

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

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE BRAKES / CALIPERS / PADS / ROTORS FAILED. *YC

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE BRAKES / CALIPERS / PADS / ROTORS FAILED. *YC

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE BRAKES / CALIPERS / PADS / ROTORS FAILED. *YC

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE BRAKES / CALIPERS / PADS / ROTORS FAILED. *YC

BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED CALIPER, PAD, DRUM AND SHOE FAILED. 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

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES STEERING WHEEL IS PULLED OUT OF DRIVERS HANDS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY PULLS TO THE LEFT.

BRAKES OVERHEAT AND PULL HARD CONTINUALLY.

WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY WOULD KEEP SHATTERING. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER. MECHANIC CHECKED & REPLACED BRAKES. THIS WAS DONE 7 DIFFERENT TIMES. ALSO, THE DRUMS WERE WARPED & WORN. *AK

WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY WOULD KEEP SHATTERING. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER. MECHANIC CHECKED & REPLACED BRAKES. THIS WAS DONE 7 DIFFERENT TIMES. ALSO, THE DRUMS WERE WARPED & WORN. *AK

VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. QCAW

VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. QCAW

RIGHT FRONT BRAKES DO NOT RESPOND IN A SAFE MANER, CAUSING A HARD PULL TO THE RIGHT WHEN BRAKES ARE HOT. OWNER BELIEVES THAT THE CALIPERS ARE BAD.

STEERING WHEEL AND WHEELS LOCKS UP WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. CANNOT STOP. ALSO, CAN'T TURN THE WHEELS, HAS TO LET UP THE BRAKES BEFORE THE WHEELS WILL TURN. *AK

WHILE BRAKING ENGINE SWERVES AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT.

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE TWICE AND STILL NO SOLUTION. *AK

BRAKE COMPONENTS (PADS, CALIPERS, LINES) HAVE FAILED TWO TO THREE TIMES.

POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKE FAILURE.

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE PULLS TO EITHER THE RIGHT OR LEFT SIDE. *AKTHE FRONT BRAKES OVERHEATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL WHILE DRIVING. *NLM

THE FRONT ABS BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPALCED 3 TIMES BECAUSE THE GIVE OUT AND THEY WEAR OUT SO QUICKLY. *AK

VEHICLE PULLS WHEN BRAKES APPLIED.

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK