2004 DODGE RAM 3500 Visibility Problems

MESSAGE: I DRIVE A 3500 DODGE RAM PICK UP TRUCK. RECENTLY I WAS BEGINNING TO HAVE DIFFICULTY SEEING DUE TO WINDSHIELD FOGGING UP. I TURNED ON THE DEFROSTER ON AND THERE WAS NO HELP IN THE VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. MY VISIBILITY WENT TO ZERO VERY QUICKLY. I VEERED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A DITCH BEFORE I COULD GET MY VEHICLE STOPPED. UPON INVESTIGATION OF THE PROBLEM, I DISCOVERED THAT THE BLEND DOOR IN THE HVAC SYSTEM HAD BROKEN. THE BLEND DOOR DIRECTS THE AIR TO THE APPROPRIATE VENTS AS DIRECTED BY THE VEHICLE OPERATOR. THE DOOR BEING BROKEN WOULD PREVENT THE DIRECTION OF AIR TO ANYWHERE EXCEPT THE DEFAULT LOCATION WHICH IN THIS CASE WOULD BE THE DASH VENTS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE. THE DEFAULT LOCATION OF THIS DOOR SHOULD WITH OUT A DOUBT BE THE DEFROST LOCATION. AFTER HAVING THIS NEAR MISS I HAVE INVESTIGATED OTHER REPORTS OF THIS VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THEY ARE NUMEROUS. MY DETERMINATION OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD IMMEDIATELY HAVE A SAFETY RECALL TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR

MESSAGE: I DRIVE A 3500 DODGE RAM PICK UP TRUCK. RECENTLY I WAS BEGINNING TO HAVE DIFFICULTY SEEING DUE TO WINDSHIELD FOGGING UP. I TURNED ON THE DEFROSTER ON AND THERE WAS NO HELP IN THE VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. MY VISIBILITY WENT TO ZERO VERY QUICKLY. I VEERED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A DITCH BEFORE I COULD GET MY VEHICLE STOPPED. UPON INVESTIGATION OF THE PROBLEM, I DISCOVERED THAT THE BLEND DOOR IN THE HVAC SYSTEM HAD BROKEN. THE BLEND DOOR DIRECTS THE AIR TO THE APPROPRIATE VENTS AS DIRECTED BY THE VEHICLE OPERATOR. THE DOOR BEING BROKEN WOULD PREVENT THE DIRECTION OF AIR TO ANYWHERE EXCEPT THE DEFAULT LOCATION WHICH IN THIS CASE WOULD BE THE DASH VENTS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE. THE DEFAULT LOCATION OF THIS DOOR SHOULD WITH OUT A DOUBT BE THE DEFROST LOCATION. AFTER HAVING THIS NEAR MISS I HAVE INVESTIGATED OTHER REPORTS OF THIS VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THEY ARE NUMEROUS. MY DETERMINATION OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD IMMEDIATELY HAVE A SAFETY RECALL TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR

THE VENTS ON MY 2004 DODGE 3500 DIESEL STAY ON THE FRONT VENTS AND WILL NOT CHANGE WITH THE KNOB. AFTER READING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IT APPEARS TO BE THE BLEND DOORS AS WELL AS THE HVAC COMPONENT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON DODGE WEBSITES ABOUT THIS. THE COST IS OVER $600 DOLLARS DUE TO THE LABOR OF PULLING THE ENTIRE DASH OUT OF THE TRUCK AND REPLACING THE PARTS. THE PARTS ARE AROUND $50 DOLLARS. THEY USED CHEAP PLASTIC THAT WEARS OUT. *TR

THE VENTS ON MY 2004 DODGE 3500 DIESEL STAY ON THE FRONT VENTS AND WILL NOT CHANGE WITH THE KNOB. AFTER READING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IT APPEARS TO BE THE BLEND DOORS AS WELL AS THE HVAC COMPONENT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON DODGE WEBSITES ABOUT THIS. THE COST IS OVER $600 DOLLARS DUE TO THE LABOR OF PULLING THE ENTIRE DASH OUT OF THE TRUCK AND REPLACING THE PARTS. THE PARTS ARE AROUND $50 DOLLARS. THEY USED CHEAP PLASTIC THAT WEARS OUT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THEWINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURERS RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 168000. UPDATED 09/22/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/23/10

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THEWINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURERS RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 168000. UPDATED 09/22/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/23/10

STARTED TRUCK UP LET WARM AND DEFROST WINDOWS. SNOWING AND FREEZING COLD TEMPS. AFTER WARMING UP TRUCK LEFT HOUSE ABOUT 1/2 MILE WINDOWS FROZEN OVER AND COULD NOT SEE OUT. PULLED OFF ROAD DEFROSTER WAS NOT SWITCHING TO BLOW AIR ON WINDOW. JUST BOUGHT TRUCK USED. LOCAL DEALER INFORMED ME DID 2-3 REPAIRS A WEEK FOR THIS BUT NO RECALLS YET. WANTED 750.00 TO FIX. DODGE RAM TRUCKS ALL SERIES. *TR

STARTED TRUCK UP LET WARM AND DEFROST WINDOWS. SNOWING AND FREEZING COLD TEMPS. AFTER WARMING UP TRUCK LEFT HOUSE ABOUT 1/2 MILE WINDOWS FROZEN OVER AND COULD NOT SEE OUT. PULLED OFF ROAD DEFROSTER WAS NOT SWITCHING TO BLOW AIR ON WINDOW. JUST BOUGHT TRUCK USED. LOCAL DEALER INFORMED ME DID 2-3 REPAIRS A WEEK FOR THIS BUT NO RECALLS YET. WANTED 750.00 TO FIX. DODGE RAM TRUCKS ALL SERIES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN THE HEATER SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED; HOWEVER, THE BLOWER FAN FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000. UPDATED 01/29/10. *LJ THE BAD CONNECTION AT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS CAUSING AN ARC AND BURNING THE INSTALLATION AT THE END OF THE WIRE HARNESS . THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSING THE BLOWER FAN TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. UPDATED 01/29/10 UPDATED 03/30/10 *BF UPDATED09/28/10

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS WHEN THE HEATER SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED; HOWEVER, THE BLOWER FAN FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000. UPDATED 01/29/10. *LJ THE BAD CONNECTION AT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS CAUSING AN ARC AND BURNING THE INSTALLATION AT THE END OF THE WIRE HARNESS . THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSING THE BLOWER FAN TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. UPDATED 01/29/10 UPDATED 03/30/10 *BF UPDATED09/28/10

WIPERS FAIL TO GO INTO HIGH SPEED OR FUNCTION ON INTERVAL DURING PERIODS OF HIGH HUMIDITY OR RAIN. *TR

WIPERS FAIL TO GO INTO HIGH SPEED OR FUNCTION ON INTERVAL DURING PERIODS OF HIGH HUMIDITY OR RAIN. *TR

CONDITIONS: 45*F +/- HEAVY RAIN, TORNADO WARNING IN EFFECT. 3:30PM MY VEHICLE HAD IT'S HEADLIGHTS, DRIVING LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON. CONDITIONS: 45*F +/- RAIN, TORNADO WARNING IN EFFECT. 3:30PM MY VEHICLE HAD ITS HEADLIGHTS, DRIVING LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON. VEHICLES INVOLVED: 2004 DODGE RAM 3500 CREW CAB LONG BED 4X4 DIESEL (MINE) MID 90'S CHEVROLET LUMINA SEDAN I WAS TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON YELLOWSTONE ROAD BEHIND A MID 90'S CHEVROLET LUMINA. I WAS TRAVELING BEHIND THEM AT OR BELOW THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 55MPH WHEN THE LUMINA SIGNALED TO TURN RIGHT AND BRAKED; AS SOON AS THEY BRAKED I BEGAN TO BRAKE JUST AS A PRECAUTION. THEY THEN PROCEEDED TO PULL ALL THE WAY PAST THE WHITE LINE ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THEIR VEHICLE BEING COMPLETELY SITUATED ON THE SHOULDER WITH THEIR RIGHT TURN SIGNAL STILL ON AT WHICH POINT THEY WHERE APPROACHING A DRIVEWAY ON THEIR RIGHT SIDE. I DID NOT ACCELERATE AND THEN I SAW THE CHEVROLET'S FRONT WHEELS BEGIN TO TURN LEFT AT WHICH POINT I TURNED LEFT AS HARD I AS POSSIBLE. THEY WERE MAKING IN ILLEGAL U-TURN ON A STATE HWY WITH DOUBLE YELLOW LINES. I TURNED AS HARD AS POSSIBLE BUT THE ACCIDENT WAS UNAVOIDABLE AND MY DODGE'S PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BUMPER MADE CONTACT WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR OF THE CHEVROLET WHEN THE FRONT END OF THEIR CAR WAS HALFWAY ACROSS THE SOUTHBOUND LANE OF TRAFFIC. UPON IMPACT MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I DID NOT HOWEVER TOUCH THEM OTHER THAN MY LEFT ARM BEING BRUSHED UP AGAINST IT UPON DEPLOYMENT. AT WHICH POINT THE BUCKLE OF MY SEATBELT CAME UNDONE AND THE TENSIONER DID NOT RETRACT. I THEN PROCEEDED TO GO DOWN A SMALL RAVINE, THROUGH A CULVERT WITH MY PASSENGER SIDE AND THROUGH A WOOD FENCE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAVINE. ALL WHILE BEING UNBELTED DUE TO THE SEATBELT FAILING. I WAS ABLE TO SELF EXTRICATE FROM MY VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN TREATED FOR BACK,NECK, AND HIP PAIN AND WILL BE BEGINNING REHABILITATION. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED AND IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION UPON REQUEST. *TR

CONDITIONS: 45*F +/- HEAVY RAIN, TORNADO WARNING IN EFFECT. 3:30PM MY VEHICLE HAD IT'S HEADLIGHTS, DRIVING LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON. CONDITIONS: 45*F +/- RAIN, TORNADO WARNING IN EFFECT. 3:30PM MY VEHICLE HAD ITS HEADLIGHTS, DRIVING LIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON. VEHICLES INVOLVED: 2004 DODGE RAM 3500 CREW CAB LONG BED 4X4 DIESEL (MINE) MID 90'S CHEVROLET LUMINA SEDAN I WAS TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON YELLOWSTONE ROAD BEHIND A MID 90'S CHEVROLET LUMINA. I WAS TRAVELING BEHIND THEM AT OR BELOW THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 55MPH WHEN THE LUMINA SIGNALED TO TURN RIGHT AND BRAKED; AS SOON AS THEY BRAKED I BEGAN TO BRAKE JUST AS A PRECAUTION. THEY THEN PROCEEDED TO PULL ALL THE WAY PAST THE WHITE LINE ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THEIR VEHICLE BEING COMPLETELY SITUATED ON THE SHOULDER WITH THEIR RIGHT TURN SIGNAL STILL ON AT WHICH POINT THEY WHERE APPROACHING A DRIVEWAY ON THEIR RIGHT SIDE. I DID NOT ACCELERATE AND THEN I SAW THE CHEVROLET'S FRONT WHEELS BEGIN TO TURN LEFT AT WHICH POINT I TURNED LEFT AS HARD I AS POSSIBLE. THEY WERE MAKING IN ILLEGAL U-TURN ON A STATE HWY WITH DOUBLE YELLOW LINES. I TURNED AS HARD AS POSSIBLE BUT THE ACCIDENT WAS UNAVOIDABLE AND MY DODGE'S PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BUMPER MADE CONTACT WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR OF THE CHEVROLET WHEN THE FRONT END OF THEIR CAR WAS HALFWAY ACROSS THE SOUTHBOUND LANE OF TRAFFIC. UPON IMPACT MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I DID NOT HOWEVER TOUCH THEM OTHER THAN MY LEFT ARM BEING BRUSHED UP AGAINST IT UPON DEPLOYMENT. AT WHICH POINT THE BUCKLE OF MY SEATBELT CAME UNDONE AND THE TENSIONER DID NOT RETRACT. I THEN PROCEEDED TO GO DOWN A SMALL RAVINE, THROUGH A CULVERT WITH MY PASSENGER SIDE AND THROUGH A WOOD FENCE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RAVINE. ALL WHILE BEING UNBELTED DUE TO THE SEATBELT FAILING. I WAS ABLE TO SELF EXTRICATE FROM MY VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN TREATED FOR BACK,NECK, AND HIP PAIN AND WILL BE BEGINNING REHABILITATION. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED AND IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION UPON REQUEST. *TR

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO OPERATE PROPERLY ON MY 2004 DODGE RAM 3500 IN THE INTERMITTENT OR DELAY SETTINGS. SOMETIMES WHILE IN INTERMITTENT SETTINGS, THE WIPER QUIT WORKING ALTOGETHER. I CAN GET THEM TO WORK AGAIN BY PLAYING WITH THE WIPER SWITCH AND PLACING IT IN THE HIGH SPEED MODE. HOWEVER, THIS CAUSES ME TO BE DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN THE RAIN, WITH NO FUNCTIONING WIPERS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 6 MONTHS, WITH 11 REPAIR ATTEMPTS BY ANCHORAGE CHRYSLER. TO DATE THERE HAS BEEN NO RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY WITH MORE MOISTURE AND MORE HEAT (IE. THE LONGER IT BEEN EXPOSED TO RAIN AND THE LONGER THE ENGINE HAS BEEN RUNNING). *NM

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO OPERATE PROPERLY ON MY 2004 DODGE RAM 3500 IN THE INTERMITTENT OR DELAY SETTINGS. SOMETIMES WHILE IN INTERMITTENT SETTINGS, THE WIPER QUIT WORKING ALTOGETHER. I CAN GET THEM TO WORK AGAIN BY PLAYING WITH THE WIPER SWITCH AND PLACING IT IN THE HIGH SPEED MODE. HOWEVER, THIS CAUSES ME TO BE DISTRACTED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN THE RAIN, WITH NO FUNCTIONING WIPERS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 6 MONTHS, WITH 11 REPAIR ATTEMPTS BY ANCHORAGE CHRYSLER. TO DATE THERE HAS BEEN NO RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY WITH MORE MOISTURE AND MORE HEAT (IE. THE LONGER IT BEEN EXPOSED TO RAIN AND THE LONGER THE ENGINE HAS BEEN RUNNING). *NM

THERE IS AN EXHAUST LEAK COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS WHEN THE HVAC FAN IS TURNED ON. I WAS A LITTLE DIZZY & HAD A HEADACHE AFTER A LONG DRIVE BACK HOME FROM SAN ANTONIO. AFTER TALKING TO A PHYSICIAN ABOUT MY CONDITION, HE FELT THAT THE CAUSE WAS MOST CERTAINLY CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. I HAVE MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP & THEY HAVE BEEN UNRESPONSIVE. THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE & THERE IS NO FIX. I'VE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET & FOUND MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM SO I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE. THERE IS EVEN ONE GENTLEMEN THAT BELIEVES HE HAS THE FIX. APPARENTLY DODGE DIDN'T COVER SOME OF THE HOLES BETWEEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT & WERE THE HVAC SYSTEM DRAWS FRESH AIR FOR THE CAB. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS THIS MAY INJURE SOMEONE TERRIBLY.

THERE IS AN EXHAUST LEAK COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS WHEN THE HVAC FAN IS TURNED ON. I WAS A LITTLE DIZZY & HAD A HEADACHE AFTER A LONG DRIVE BACK HOME FROM SAN ANTONIO. AFTER TALKING TO A PHYSICIAN ABOUT MY CONDITION, HE FELT THAT THE CAUSE WAS MOST CERTAINLY CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. I HAVE MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALERSHIP & THEY HAVE BEEN UNRESPONSIVE. THEY SAY THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE & THERE IS NO FIX. I'VE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET & FOUND MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM SO I KNOW I'M NOT ALONE. THERE IS EVEN ONE GENTLEMEN THAT BELIEVES HE HAS THE FIX. APPARENTLY DODGE DIDN'T COVER SOME OF THE HOLES BETWEEN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT & WERE THE HVAC SYSTEM DRAWS FRESH AIR FOR THE CAB. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED AS THIS MAY INJURE SOMEONE TERRIBLY.