1999 DODGE RAM 3500 Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

TWO PRIMARY SAFETY RELATED ISSUES AND MANY LESS IMPORTANT QUALITY ISSUES HAVE PLAGUED THIS VEHICLE. THE PROBLEMS BEGAN TO MOUNT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE WARRANTY LAPSED. THE MOST CRITICAL ISSUE HAS BEEN THE CORROSION AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LINE THAT SUPPLIES THE PRESSURE NEEDED FOR THE REAR BRAKES TO OPERATE. THIS ISSUE RENDERED THE REAR BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE USELESS. DODGE CORPORATE AND TWO LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIPS REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE, EXCEPT BY OFFERING TO SELL A REPLACEMENT BRAKE LINE. THE FAILURE OF THE METAL AFTER ONLY 5 YEARS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE SECOND MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT THE NIPPLES ON THE ORIGINAL FUEL SENDING UNIT WERE MADE OF METAL AND CORRODED THROUGH AND BEGAN TO SPRAY FUEL ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS RESULTS IS VERY POOR MILEAGE AND A POTENTIALLY FATAL FUEL LEAK. BETWEEN THESE TWO SAFETY ISSUES AND THE BLATANT DISMISSAL OF ANY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DODGE CORPORATION I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. I HAVE CORRECTED THE ISSUE ON MY VEHICLE, BUT WHAT IF SOMEONE WAS TOWING A LARGE TRAILER WITH A SIMILAR VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES FAILED? PEOPLE COULD BE KILLED. ADDITIONALLY THE FUEL LEAK DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD EVER HAPPEN. I BELIEVE THAT IN SYSTEMS AS CRITICAL AS FUEL AND BRAKES THE MATERIAL SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO LAST LONGER THAN 4 OR 5 YEARS REGARDLESS OF THE WARRANTY. WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY TO PREVENT THIS, ITS A SIMPLE MATERIAL CHOICE ISSUE. THE BRAKES AND FUEL LINES COULD HAVE EASILY AND INEXPENSIVELY BEEN MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL OR BRASS OR ANY NUMBER OF OTHER NON CORROSIVE MATERIALS. *JB

Mileage: 115,000

BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR WHEN BRAKING. *AK BRAKE LINES WEAR ON THE FRAME UNTIL THEY RUPTURE, THERE IS NO WARNING, PART IS THE FEEDER LINE TO THE WHEEL CYLINDERS ON THE FRONT. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, APPLIED ON BRAKES AND VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. DEALER HAS SERVICED VEHICLE BEFORE FOR SAME PROBLEM; HOWEVER HAS NOT FOUND REMEDY FOR MALFUNCTION.*AK CONSUMER ADDS AFTER FRONT PADS WERE REPLACED FRONT/REAR BRAKES CONTINUE TO LOCK UP. WHILE OPPOSITE END WHEELS ROLL FREE. MANY ATTEMPTS MADE TO CORRECT PROBLEM, BUT LOCK UP STILL HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. STEERING SEEMS VERY LOOSE AND IS HARD TO KEEP VEHICLE STRAIGHT. POWER STEERING GEAR AND STEERING GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED HOWEVER TRUCK CONTINUES TO WANDER. DRIVER SIDE SEAT CUSHION SAGGS. SEAT BOTTOM CUSHION REPLACED. CAB SQWAKS ON UNEVEN GROUND. BLACK SMOKE FROM EXHAUST WHEN COLD OR WARM. CLUTCH SLIPS. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. DIMMER ON DASH LIGHTS BURNS FINGERS. WHEN TURNING ON TURN SIGNALS, WIPERS WILL ACTIVATE AND RAPID FLASH IS HEARD. DIFFICULTY GETTING INTO FIRST GEAR. ABS JAMS WHEN UNDER A HARD STOP AND DURING COLD START. LUMBAR IS INOPERATIVE. TRANMSISSION LEAKING OIL. REPLACED OUTPUT SHAFT SEAL. MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED. MOST GEARS DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE. REVERSE IS VERY STIFF. SHIFTING 2-3RD WILL CAUSE SHIFTER TO LOCK UP AND WON'T MOVE AT ALL. NO PROBLEM FOUND. OVERHEAD CONSOLE INOPERATIVE AND REPLACED. *TT

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, APPLIED ON BRAKES AND VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. DEALER HAS SERVICED VEHICLE BEFORE FOR SAME PROBLEM; HOWEVER HAS NOT FOUND REMEDY FOR MALFUNCTION.*AK CONSUMER ADDS AFTER FRONT PADS WERE REPLACED FRONT/REAR BRAKES CONTINUE TO LOCK UP. WHILE OPPOSITE END WHEELS ROLL FREE. MANY ATTEMPTS MADE TO CORRECT PROBLEM, BUT LOCK UP STILL HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. STEERING SEEMS VERY LOOSE AND IS HARD TO KEEP VEHICLE STRAIGHT. POWER STEERING GEAR AND STEERING GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED HOWEVER TRUCK CONTINUES TO WANDER. DRIVER SIDE SEAT CUSHION SAGGS. SEAT BOTTOM CUSHION REPLACED. CAB SQWAKS ON UNEVEN GROUND. BLACK SMOKE FROM EXHAUST WHEN COLD OR WARM. CLUTCH SLIPS. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. DIMMER ON DASH LIGHTS BURNS FINGERS. WHEN TURNING ON TURN SIGNALS, WIPERS WILL ACTIVATE AND RAPID FLASH IS HEARD. DIFFICULTY GETTING INTO FIRST GEAR. ABS JAMS WHEN UNDER A HARD STOP AND DURING COLD START. LUMBAR IS INOPERATIVE. TRANMSISSION LEAKING OIL. REPLACED OUTPUT SHAFT SEAL. MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED. MOST GEARS DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE. REVERSE IS VERY STIFF. SHIFTING 2-3RD WILL CAUSE SHIFTER TO LOCK UP AND WON'T MOVE AT ALL. NO PROBLEM FOUND. OVERHEAD CONSOLE INOPERATIVE AND REPLACED. *TT

FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP BACK BRAKES FAIL, NO BRAKES ON BACK AFTER BRAKES WERE REPLACED.*AK CONSUMER ADDS REAR BRAKES LOCK UP AS WELL. ABS PULSATES SLOWLY. REAR BRAKE SHOES, MASTER CYLINDER AND PROPORTIONING VALVE WERE ALL REPLACED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TT

FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP BACK BRAKES FAIL, NO BRAKES ON BACK AFTER BRAKES WERE REPLACED.*AK CONSUMER ADDS REAR BRAKES LOCK UP AS WELL. ABS PULSATES SLOWLY. REAR BRAKE SHOES, MASTER CYLINDER AND PROPORTIONING VALVE WERE ALL REPLACED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TT

ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. THE BRAKE CALIPER WERE NOT PROPERLY ATTACHED. BAD BALL JOINTS WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACE.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH KEEPER RING BROKE. SHAFT THAT GOES THROUGH BRAKE AND CLUTCH PEDALS CAME OUT. THIS CAUSED BRAKES TO LOCK UP, CLUTCH ENGAGED AS WELL.*AK *SLC

INTERMITTENTLY BRAKES LOCK UP WHITH LIGHT PRESSURE. ONE DEALER HAS DUPLICATED PROBLEM, BUT COULD NOT REPAIR IT. *AK THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS FOUND LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THE FRONT BRAKES WILL LOCK AND THE REAR BRAKES WILL ROLL FREE, SOMETIMES IT IS THE OPPOSITE THAT OCCURS, WHEN THE ABS GRABS, IT LETS GO TOO LONG BEFORE IT GRABS AGAIN, DEALER REFUSES TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX IT, DODGE CUSTOMER HOT LINE LEFT A MESSAGE FOR CONSUMER STATING NOT TO CALL THEM ANYMORE. *SLC

INTERMITTENTLY BRAKES LOCK UP WHITH LIGHT PRESSURE. ONE DEALER HAS DUPLICATED PROBLEM, BUT COULD NOT REPAIR IT. *AK THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS FOUND LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THE FRONT BRAKES WILL LOCK AND THE REAR BRAKES WILL ROLL FREE, SOMETIMES IT IS THE OPPOSITE THAT OCCURS, WHEN THE ABS GRABS, IT LETS GO TOO LONG BEFORE IT GRABS AGAIN, DEALER REFUSES TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX IT, DODGE CUSTOMER HOT LINE LEFT A MESSAGE FOR CONSUMER STATING NOT TO CALL THEM ANYMORE. *SLC

WHILE MAKE A TURN AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE LOST ALL BRAKE POWER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDR FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

BRAKES HIT TO AVOID COLLISION. AFTER WHICH ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIT ON DASH BOARD. FEESER DODGE IN HENDERSON, NC WAS CONTACTED FOR REPAIR. PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED. I WAS TOLD AT DEALERSHIP THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND INCIDENT THAT WEEK LIKE MINE. THE QUESTION IS ABS BRAKES ARE DESIGNED FOR A STEADY PREASURE VERSUS THE OLD PUMPING METHOD. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE REAR WHEEL SENSOR AND WHY DOES IT GET DAMAGED WHEN HARD PRESSURE APPLIED? MY TRUCK IS USED FOR TOWING HORSE TRAILERS A SAFE RELIEABLE BRAKING SYSTEM IS MANDATORY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING WHEELS ON FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE LOCKED UP AND SHEARED OFF. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH. BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, TRUCK WAS PULLING TO RIGHT. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER STATED THAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO AFTER MARKET BRAKE PADS. TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE. OWNER STILL WAITING ON PARTS, WHOLE WHEEL ASSEMBLY SHEARED OFF THE TRUCK. *AK *ML

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE BRAKING VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED BRAKE CALIPERS AND TURNED THE ROTORS. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK