1997 DODGE RAM Fuel System, Gasoline Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT SHOULD HAVE PAID MORE ATTENTION TO THE STRAPS BECAUSE THEY ARE DESIGNED TO EVENTUALLY WEAR OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

Mileage: 109,000

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER SMELLED A FUEL ODOR INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND SAW FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL RAIL. *AK THE FUEL LINES WERE CRACKED. THE ORIGINAL FUEL RAILS WERE PLASTIC AND THE REPLACEMENT RAILS WERE METAL WITH DIFFERENT CONNECTORS. *SC *JB

Mileage: 104,000

BAD PLENUM GASKET. FUEL AND OIL MIX. AND STEERING OUTPUT SHAFT LEAKS A THE GEAR BOX. AND TRUCK WONT IDLE IN THE COLD

Mileage: 50,000

Mileage: 59,000

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR OF THE FUEL GAUGE, FIFTH GEAR AND RECALL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP TWO WEEKS LATER THE OTHER WORK WAS DONE BUT THE RECALL WORK WAS NOT PERFORMED. *PH *NLM

Mileage: 117,679

THE METAL TANKS STRAPS WERE WARP CAUSING THE FUEL TANK TO FALL TO THE GROUND. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR

TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE PARKED IN DRIVE WAY. TOTALLY BURNED THE TRUCK AND BURNED OUR CAR PARKED NEXT TO IT, THE CORNER OF OUR HOME AND THE REAR OF A CAR PARKED IN OUR GURAGE. THE FIRE HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED BY SEVERAL PROFESSIONALS AND THE CONSENSUS IS THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK WHERE A ELECTRICAL PUMP IS LOCATED. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO DODGE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. RECORD #9848741. I AM AVAILABLE TO FURTHER EXPLAIN OR PROVIDE DETAILS.*AK

THIS IS 2ND TIME FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED. LUCKILY TRUCK WAS NOT MOVING EITHER TIME. THIS LAST FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A SHORT CIRCUIT. ISN'T THIS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS FUEL PUMP IS LOCATED IN THE GAS TANK. I KNOW OTHER DODGE RAM OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMPS IN THESE TRUCKS?. *AK

DODGE SAID THEIR IS A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS TANK BUT WOULD NOT REPAIR IT AND THE SAME GOES WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING, THEY SAID THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR SYSTEM AND I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS WITH SEVERAL OWNERS AND MECHANICS BUT THEY AGAIN WILL NOT FIX THIS. *AK

MY TRUCK HAS HAD 3 OIL SENDING UNITS, 3 OIL PUMPS, NEW ENGINE, CRANK SHAFT SENSOR, FUEL PUMP, 8 INJECTORS, COMPUTER CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I REALLY DON'T HAVE $3000.00 FOR AN ATTORNEY THAT I CAN TIE UP FOR YEARS. *AK

MY TRUCK HAS HAD 3 OIL SENDING UNITS, 3 OIL PUMPS, NEW ENGINE, CRANK SHAFT SENSOR, FUEL PUMP, 8 INJECTORS, COMPUTER CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS. I REALLY DON'T HAVE $3000.00 FOR AN ATTORNEY THAT I CAN TIE UP FOR YEARS. *AK

I HAVE HAD TWO FAILURES IN THE PAST MONTH. FIRST IS THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AT 57K MILES AT A COST OF $498.00. SECOND, MY TRUCK IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR A BAD INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET (INTERNAL). THIS ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO BURN ABOUT A QUART OF OIL A WEEK. THERE IS A TSB 09-05-00 ON THIS KNOWN PROBLEM SINCE 1994. OUT OF WARRENTY - OUT OF LUCK.

I HAVE HAD TWO FAILURES IN THE PAST MONTH. FIRST IS THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AT 57K MILES AT A COST OF $498.00. SECOND, MY TRUCK IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR A BAD INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET (INTERNAL). THIS ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO BURN ABOUT A QUART OF OIL A WEEK. THERE IS A TSB 09-05-00 ON THIS KNOWN PROBLEM SINCE 1994. OUT OF WARRENTY - OUT OF LUCK.

WHEN FILLING TANK UP FUEL GUAGE RED EMPTY ALTHOUGH 50 MILES LATER THERE WAS STILL GAS IN TANK. DEALER SAID SENDING UNIT WAS STUCK. *AK

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION AND FOUND OUT BRAKE PAD FELL OFF. METAL TO METAL RUINED ROTOR. BOTH HAD TO BE CUT BECAUSE OTHER GOOD ONE WAS WORN DOWN. ALSO, FUEL PUMP WENT BAD FOR SECOND TIME. CONSUMER STOPPED AT A STOP AFTER RETURNING FROM STORE AND VEHICLE STALLED. IT NO LONGER STARTED RIGHT UP, IT ALWAYS HEITATED LIKE IT WAS NOT TRYING TO CATCH. DEALER SAID IT LOST ITS PROGRAM BECAUSE IT WAS NOT USED ENOUGH. CONSUMERS WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED, COVERED COST.*AK

FUEL GUAGE WAS INOPERABLE AND MISREAD AMOUNT OF FUEL IN VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

FUEL PUMP FAILURE AT 37000 MILES??? COST ME $675 TO REPLACE/REPAIR. THOUGHT THIS WAS UNUSUAL SO REPORTING IT. ALSO, REPLACED WITH A DEALER PURCHASED PART BUT INSTALLED/REPAIRED AT BACK BAY AUTO IN VIRGINIA BEACH, VA WHERE IT BROKE DOWN... OF COURSE THE WARRANTY DIDN'T APPLY IN THIS CASE! :-(

FUEL TANK ATTACHMENTS BROKE OFF AND THE TANK DROPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS FIXED VEHICLE. *AK

UPON FAILURE OF FUEL PUMP, MECHANIC DISCLOSED THAT HE REPLACES MANY FUEL PUMPS FOR THE AFFORMENTIONED MAKE AND MODEL. ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER WHO OWNS A DODGE RAM 1500 THAT WAS PURCHASED ON THE SAME DATE AS THE EARLIER MENTIONED VEHICLE WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE SAME ITEM (FUEL PUMP) AT APPROXIMATELY 48,000 MILES. IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD FOLLOW, THIS DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE MERELY COINCIDENTAL

FUEL HEATER DEVELOPED SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH BURNED UP THE WIRES THAT CONTROL THE FUEL HEATER NEAR THE FUEL LINES, PRODUCING SMOKE AND HEAT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

THE THROTTLE BODY AND INJECTOR SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES.YH

THE THROTTLE BODY AND INJECTOR SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES.YH

FUEL LEVEL ACCORDING TO GAUGE DROPS TO BELOW EMPTY AFTER 50 TO 100 MILES. FUEL LIGHT COMES ON WHEN TANK IS 80% FULL. HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL OWNERS OF LIKE TRUCKS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

AIR FILTER TUBE WAS WARPED, WOULD NOT STAY ON, REPLACED.

A CRACKED FUEL RAIL WAS SPRAYING GASOLINE ONTO THE ENGINE AND FIREWALL. PROBLEM WAS NOT FOUND FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. SERVICE ADVISER REPORTS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OF THE SAME INCIDENTS REPAIRED.