1997 DODGE RAM 3500 Power Train Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, IT FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

Mileage: 70,000

TL* THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS 1997 DODGE RAM 3500, HAS HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS SINCE HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 1997. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE ONE IT COMES TO A STOP, AND IF HE APPLIES TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE ENGINE ENGAGES TOO QUICKLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN 1999 HE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY ROLAND CHEVROLET FREE OF CHARGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT 2 MONTHS AFTER THE NEW TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACE IT CONTINUED TO EXHIBIT THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP NOW INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT IF HE WANTS ANY REPAIRS DONE TO THE TRANSMISSION HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE IT WON'T MOVE, UNTIL HE PRESSES ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS HAPPENS EVERYDAY, AND HAS PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION AFTER COMING TO A STOP.

VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO PULL ADEQUATE TRAILER WEIGHT. VEHICLE WILL NOT EXCEED 55 MPH IN SPEED, IT WILL START DECREASING SPEED AND JERK FORWARD WHEN IT GETS TO 55 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT LOCATE CAUSE.*AK

Mileage: 15,000

FIFTH GEAR WENT OUT ON VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES AFTER REPAIR. *TS

MANUEL TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE. *AK

MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED TWICE. *AK

TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING. (6-9 INCHES FROM THE CLIP, THE TWO TUBES HAD RUBBED TOGETHER UNTIL THERE WAS A HOLE IN ONE AND ALMOST A HOLE IN THE OTHER) THE CONSUMER REQUEST(S) REIMBURSEMENT. SCC

WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION TUBES WERE RUBBING TOGETHER CAUSING A FIRE. THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH

I BOUGHT NEW A 1998 ROADTREX, CLASS B MOTORHOME ON A 1997 DODGE 3500 MAXI-VAN. SINCE NEW IT WOULD SWAY, SOMETIMES ALMOST UNCOMTROLABLE WHEN I WOULD DRIVE IN THE RUTS ON FREEWAYS" CAUSED BY TRUCKS AND STUDDED TIRES". I TRIED DIFFRENT THINGS TO TRY TO CORRECT THIS, HD SHOCKS, HIGH TIRE PRESSURES, AIR BAGS ON THE REAR AXLE. I TALK TO OTHERS THAT HAD CHANGED TIRES AND NOTHING SEEMED TO WORK. THEN I FOUND OUT THAT THE REAR AXLE IS NARROWER THAN THE FRONT AXLE, SO THE REAR TIRES WERE NOT FOLLOWING THE FRONT TIRES. THAT IS WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SWAY WHEN DRIVING IN THE RUTS. I PUT ON A PAIR OF SPACERS FROM CORRECTRACK INC. SO THE TIRES WOULD LINE UP AND THAT ELIMIATED ALMOST ALL OF THE SWAY. MY VAN NOW DRIVES LIKE A CAR, WITHOUT HAVING TO FIGHT THE SWAY AND RUTS. I THINK THAT IT IS A SAFTEY HAZZARD, THAT COULD BE EASILY CORRECTED AT THE FACTORY WITH THE INSTALLATION OF SPACERS OR A WIDER AXLE THAT LINE UP THE WHEELS. THANK YOU.

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION LINE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION LINE WERE BUILT SO CLOSED TOGETHER THAT WITHIN THE YEARS THE TRANSMISSION LIQUID CAME OFF. TS

VEHICLE SUFFERED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN SHIFTED FROM "PARK INTO DRIVE." VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH THREE OTHER VEHICLES. *MR

MECHANICS ALL SAID VEHICLE IS A DANGER TO DRIVE INJURY COULD RESULT, IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED. IT HAS BEEN WORKED ON FOR THIS BUCKING PROBLEM ABOUT 15+ TIMES. NEW SHOCKS, CLUTCH ASSBLY, TIRES, STAB SHOCKS, DRIVE LINES, DRIVE LINES BALANCED, CARRIER BEARINGS, REAR END, ENTIRE REAR AXLE, SPRINGS, ETC., AND MANY OTHER STABS AT THE PROBLEM HAVE BEEN DONE. THE REAR WHEELS WILL STILL BUCK SO BAD THE WHEELS COME OFF THE PAVEMENT AT TIMES. CHRYSLER SAID THAT PERSONAL SAFETY WAS NOT A CONCERN, ONLY THE BOTTOM LINE DOLLAR IN THEM BUYING THIS VEHICLE BACK. AT LEAST 2 MECHANICS, A SERVICE MGR. AND THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS LADY AT MONTANA DODGE HAVE SAID THIS PICKUP IS UNSAFE FOR ME TO BE DRIVING. THE REAR END IS NOW GOING OUT, THE TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING NOW AND IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. CHRYSLER SAID THEY WOULD BUY IT BACK, PENALIZING ME DEARLY ON MILEAGE EVEN THOUGH THE TRUCK HAS HAD PROBLEMS SINCE IT WAS NEW. MONTANA DODGE HAS TOLD CHRYSLER THEY WILL NOT WORK ON IT ANYMORE, THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY IS STILL GOOD FOR ANOTHER 25,000 MILES OR 2 MORE YEARS. THE "LAISON" PAID BY CHRYSLER IS WHO TOLD ME THAT SAFETY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PRICE CHRYSLER PAID ME, IT WAS JUST A BOTTOM LINE DOLLAR THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT. CHRYSLER TROUBLESHOOTER TECHS SENT A VIB MACHINE TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM, IT SHOWED TO BE THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSFER CASE. A USED TRANSFER CASE WAS INSTALLED, IT STILL BUCKED. USED PARTS WERE TRADED OUT FOR THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY AND IT STILL BUCKED. THIS BUCKING IS SO VIOLENT, THAT STUFF OFF THE DASH WILL GO INTO THE BACK SEAT AREA IF I ALLOW IT TO STAY IN THIS BUCKING MODE. SOMEONE WOULD 100% WITHOUT DOUBT BE INJURED SERIOUSLY OR KILLED IF THIS VEHICLE WERE TO REMAIN ON THE HIGHWAY. CHRYSLER DOESN'T SEEM TO REALLY CARE AND SAID AS MUCH THROUGH THEIR LAISON. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING. I EITHER SELL IT BACK TO CHRYSLER AT A GREAT MONEY LOSS OR DRIVE A DANGEROUS VEHICLE.

FIFTH GEAR OF MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS NO LONGER WORKING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH IN 5TH GEAR WHEN VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER IN 5TH GEAR, BUT IT DID HAVE POWER IN ALL OF THE OTHER GEARS. CONSUMER STATED THIS OCCURRED IN 1998 THE FIRST TIME, EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY THE FIRST TIME. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE FIFTH GEAR NUT CAME LOOSE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30-35 MPH VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT, AND WHOLE WHEEL ASSEMBLY ON THE PASSENGER'S FRONT SIDE FELL OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK RIGHT FRONT WHEEL INNER HUB OR BEARING FAILED. *YH

DIESEL ENGINE HAS REPLACEMENT PART SUCH AS TIMMING CHANGE INJECTOR PUMP. TRANSMISSION SENDER SWITCH AND SEAL HAD TO BE REPLACED. FRONT AND BACK BRAKES REPLACED. ALSO, TAIL PIPE HAD TO WELDED BACK ON. TAIL PIPE FELL OFF. THERE WAS VIBRATION. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER/CONTROL IN TRAFFIC DURING ACCELERATION AND DEACCELERATION. *AK

NUT AND GEAR FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER/VEHICLE CONTROL WHILE PULLING A TRAILER AT INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN MODERATELY HEAVY TRAFFIC.

TRANSMISSION IS NOT CHANGING OVER WHEN IT IS SUPPOSE TO. HESITATES OR SOMETIMES DOESN'T START. DEALER CONTACTED AND STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. *AK

TRANSMISSION--WON'T UPSHIFT SOMETIMES.

BOTH PROBLEMS COULD HAVE LED TO CRASHES IF NOT CAUGHT AND MAJOR INJURIES AND OR FATALITIES. WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEMS EVER SINCE THEY HAVE STARTED AND THE TRUCK HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN IT HAS BEEN OUT. WE KNOW THAT BREAKDOWNS DO EXSIST AND WILL HAPPEN BUT THIS MUCH AND THE SAME PARTS IS A LITTLE RIDICULOUS.

ONE END OF THE TRACK BAR,WHICH ALLOWS THE FRONT AXLE TO MOVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE,HAS WORN OUT CAUSING VEHICLE TO WANDER. ALSO A COUPLE OF TIE RODS ARE WEARING OUT. *AK

WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLS AND CUTS OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, RESULTING IN LOSS OF ALL POWER. ALSO, NOTICED VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS YET TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PARTS ALSO REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DUE TO DEFECTIVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION. BEEN TO DIFFERENT DEALERS, MANY TIMES, AND THEY REPLACED MANY PARTS 2-3 TIMES.. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

TRANSMISSION IN OVERDRIVE. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE GOES INTO NEUTRAL BECAUSE NUT ON SHAFT THAT HOLDS 5TH GEAR IN PLACE,UNSCREWED/ FELL OFF DUE TO VIBRATION. DEALER CONTACTED AND REPAIR WAS MADE APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

TRUCK JUST BLEW UP WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE ENGINE JUST STARTED TO BURN. DEFECTIVE DTRANSMISSION STARTED FIRE. *AK