1998 DODGE RAM Electrical System Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKES ALSO FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY BUT THE FAILURES WERE CAUSING BY AN ELECTRIC COMPONENT. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

Mileage: 115,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTING FAIL TO DIM WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. PRIOR TO THE FAILURES, SHE NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WOULD NOT DIM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 132,216. UPDATED 07/28/09. *LJ UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB

Mileage: 132,216

I HAVE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH PREIGNITION (SPARK KNOCK) IN MY 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 WITH THE 318 CID/5.2L MOTOR. .AT 24,896 MILES, MY DEALER RE-PROGRAMMED THE PCM AND RE-ROUTED THE SPARK WIRES. THE SPARK KNOCK CONTINUED. AT 35,067 MILES, THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE TIMING; I DIDN'T THINK THIS COULD BE DONE. THE SPARK KNOCK CONTINUED. AT 43,281 MILES, THE DEALER REPLACED THE INTAKE PLENIUM GASKET. THE SPARK KNOCK CONTINUED. AT 45,093, THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH ENGINE HEADS. THE SPARK KNOCK CONTINUED. AT 57,452 MILES, I INSTALLED A COLDER THERMOSTAT AND THIS HELPED SOMEWHAT, BUT THE SPARK KNOCK RETURNED. AND, TODAY AT 74,834 MILES I INSTALLED A SET OF TRUCK SPARK PLUGS TO SEE IF THAT WILL HELP. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THIS TRUCK HAS AN INHERINT DEFECTIVE DESIGN IN THE ENGINE WHICH IS BEING PREMATURELY WORN OUT DUE TO SPARK KNOCK. I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE, AND HELP ME IN SECURING A REPLACEMENT FOR MY PROBLEM PLAGUED LEMON. THANK YOU!

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM KEPT BURNING OUT, CAUSING DASHBOARD AND TAIL LIGHTS TO GO OUT, WITHOUT WARNING. *AKHEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS CHECKED AND DEALER FOUND MELTED PLASTIC WIRE TO THE SWITCH CONNECTOR. SWITCH WAS REPLACED, THEN THE TAIL LIGHTS WENT OUT. STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. *JG

HORN BUTTONE (THE AREA YOU PRESS IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL) WILL NO PRESS IN TO HONK, DUE TO DESIGN PROBLEM, DUE TO AIR BAG. THERE IS NOT WAY TO HONK THE HORN

HORN IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HONK, DEALER SAYS IT IS BECAUSE OF AIRBAG HOUSING AND THERE IS NOT ROOM FOR HORN CONTACTS TO WORK, SO NO MATTER WHERE YOU PUSH OR HOW HARD YOU HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WILL NOT ALLOW THE HORN TO HONK!*AK

ALL INSTRUMENT GUAGES AND WARNING LIGHTS DO NOT WORK CONSISTANTLY. AT TIMES THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW WHAT SPEED I AM GOING AND HOW MUCH FULL I HAVE BECAUSE THE GUAGES ARE NOT WORKING. I BELIEVE THIS CONSITUTES A SAFETY PROBLEM. I HAVE HEARD OTHER OWNERS OF 1997 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES WERE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *AK

SPARK KNOCK NOTICED, VEHICLE TAKEN TO NEAREST DODGE DEALERSHIP(COLONIAL DR., ORLANDO,FL). VEHICLE WAS EVALUATED BY COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND ROAD TEST: REPORTED AS NORMAL. ON FURTHER INSISTANCE AND DISCUSSION, SERVICE TECH FOUND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT. IT WAS ALSO MENTIONED BY THIS DEALERSHIP, AS WELL AS BY SEVERAL OTHER MECHANICS, THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM DODGE IS HAVING ON V-6 AND V-8 STYLE ENGINES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BECOME SO WIDESPREAD THAT DODGE HAS PUBLISHED BULLETINS ON REPAIR OF THIS DEFECT. DODGE HAS ALSO AGREED TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT IN THE V-6 ENGINES. SINCE I AM THE OWNER OF A V-8 ENGINE THAT THIS DEFECT ALSO EXISTS, I FEEL DODGE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE OF THE PART IN MY ENGINE AND I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND REPAIR OF ENGINE MANIFOLD PLENUM PAN GASKET. THANK-YOU FOR YOUR ASSISSTANCE IN THIS MATTER.*AK

INSTRUMENTS PANEL HAS FAILED TO WORK DUE TO CIRCUIT BOARD. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST DUE TO VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY/ NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS NOT OPERABLE. PARK LIGHTS WOULDN'T COME ON, AND CONSUMER SMELLS LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THERE IS A FUEL LEAK LEAKING FROM BACK OF ENGINE. *AK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS NOT OPERABLE. PARK LIGHTS WOULDN'T COME ON, AND CONSUMER SMELLS LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THERE IS A FUEL LEAK LEAKING FROM BACK OF ENGINE. *AK

HORN DOES NOT SOUND WHEN DEPRESSED; BACKUP LIGHTS LENS COVER IS TINTED. *AK

HORN IS VERY HARD TO LOCATE ON STEERING COLUMN, AND IT IS VERY HARD TO DEPRESS TO GET IT TO BLOW. *AK THIS VEHICLE HAS NARROWLY MISSED BEING INVOLVED IN 2 OR 3 ACCIDENTS BECAUSE THE DRIVER COULD NOT USE THE HORN. *YH

HORN IS LOCATED ON TOP OF STEERING WHEEL WHERE THE AIRBAGS COME OUT. CONSUMER CANNOT PLACE ENTIRE HAND ON THE HORN TO MAKE IT WORK . ONLY A SINGLE POINT HE CAN PRESS WITH HIS FINGER ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY HE CAN HEAR THE HORN. *AK *ML

HEADLIGHT WIRES MELTED. REPLACED BY DEALER. PROBLEM RENTURNED ON SECOND SET. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE HORN IS VERY DIFFICULT TO APPLY. OWNER HAS TO ADD EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO GET HORN TO FUNCTION. DLR SAYS IT'S NORMAL. *AK

THE DESIGN OF HORN BUTTON HARDENS IN COLD WEATHER CAUSING DIFFICULTIES LOCATING HORN IN A EMERGENCY. OCCASIONALLY THE HORN FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD GRADUALLY DECREASE WITHOUT BRAKES BEING APPLIED. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK. *YC

FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO ENGINE DYING OUT. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON & THEN DIED OUT. HAD FUSE REPLACED DUE TO BLOWING OUT CONSTANTLY. ENGINE & CATALYTIC CONVERTER AFFECTED. *AK

HORN HAS TWO SMALL BUTTONS ON BOTH SIDE OF AIRBAG COVER WHICH ARE TOO SMALL TO LOCATE AND HARD TO PRESS, NOT ALLOWING DRIVER TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER DRIVERS. MANUFACTURER STATES THERE IS NO PLAN TO REVISE HORN. *AK

HORN DIFFICULT TO OPERATE; TRANS SHIFTS OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS AND ENGINE IS UNDER LOAD

MANY OF MY FRIENDS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH 1998 DODGE TRUCKS, CHRYSLER SAYS IT IS "NORMAL" AND WILL NOT FIX. HORN BUTTON WAS RE-DESIGNED FOR 1999 AND DOES NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM.

HORN DIFFICULT TO ACTIVATE, REQUIRES EXTREME FORCE IN VERY SPECIFIC LOCATION.

HORN SENSOR WAS DIFFICULT TO LOCATE IN AN EMERGENCY. IT CAUSED A COLLISION IN WHICH SOMEONE WAS KILLED. *AK

THE PASSENGER'S OR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. ALSO, YOU ALMOST HAVE TO PUNCH THE HORN PAD TO GET IT TO WORK. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELT OR THE HORN. OWNER HAS 2 OTHER TRUCKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. PLEASE LIST VIN #S FOR OTHER 2 TRUCKS. *AK

THE HORN IS VERY DIFFICULT TO OPERATE THROUGH THE AIRBAG. MANY TIMES IT HAS FAILED TO SOUND AT ALL.

WITHIN 3 DAYS OF BUYING THE DODGE TRUCK, WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD THE GAUGES WOULD MALFUNCTION AND THE TRUCK WOULD DIE. YOU COULD PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART IT. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP AND NOTHING WAS FOUND WRONG. THIS CONTINUES. THEN WE STARTED BLOWING BREAKERS AND FUSES THAT RUN BRAKE LIGHTS AND BLINKERS. TOOK TO THE SHOP. FOUND NOTHING. JUST REPLACED BREAKERS AND FUSES 3 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS. NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND MOTOR DIES GOING DOWN THE ROAD. WE HAVE NOW HAD TO BUY A NEW APPS SENSOR WHICH COST US 613.61 BECAUSE TRUCK IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY WITHOUT EVER BEING FIXED. THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAS BEEN AND STILL IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO EVERYONE. IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHICH CHRYSLER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. I KNOW OF ANOTHER VEHICLE LIKE MINE IN CALIFORNIA THAT HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MINE AND ALSO ONE IN FAYETTEVILLE, AR. THE MAN IN ARKANSAS WAS HAVING HIS TRUCK WORKED ON AT THE SAME TIME MINE WAS IN THE SHOP. THIS IS TOO MANY PROBLEMS FOR A NEW VEHICLE.

HORN CAN NOT BE SOUNDED IN A QUICK EMERGENCY SITUATION DUE TO AIRBAG CONFIGURATION. CAN ONLY BE SOUNDED IF THUMB IS PRECISELY PRESSED EXACTLY ON TWO SPOTS INDICATED WHILE LOOKING AT THOSE SPOTS IE: CAN NOT HAVE EYES ON ROAD..

HORN BUTTON DIFFICULT TO PRESS. MUST BE CENTERED. WILL NOT WORK IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. *AK

THE HORN BUTTONS ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO LOCATE/PRESS. THE RESULTING DELAY TO ACTIVATE THE HORN IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION ,COULD BE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS TO DRIVER/OCCUPANTS OR PEDESTRIANS. *AK

THE BUTTON SEEMS VERY HARD TO PUSH ESPECIALLY IF COLD. TOO MUCH PLASTIC??

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ACTIVATE THE HORN, THE COVER FOR THE AIR BAG IS A HARD PLASTIC AND YOU REALLY HAVE TO PUSH TO ACTIVATE IT. IN AN EMERGENCY, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. *AK

WHEN TRYING TO USE THE HORN, YOU HAVE TO PUSH SO HARD THAT IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET IT TO WORK WITHOUT GOING OFF THE ROAD. THE RUBBER COVERING THE STEERING WHEEL CENTER IS WAY TO HARD TO OPERATE THE HORN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY OTHER PEOPLE WITH '98 DODGE TRUCK, RAMS THAT THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO INSTALL A '99 RAM AIRBAG ASSEMBLY. I AM GOING TO BE GOING TO MY DEALER IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND I AM GOING TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT WOULD MAKE IT A LOT EASIER IF THE NHTSA WOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE HEARD THAT DEALERS REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN MANY CASES. *AK

HORN VERY HARD TO OPERATE ,AIR BAG COVER GETS TOO HARD IN COLD WEATHER

HORN IS EXTREMELY HARD TO BLOW. ECCESSIVE PRESSURE REQUIRED. ESTIMATED 25 - 30 POUNDS.

HORN IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BLOW, YOU HAVE TO TAKE EYES OFF THE ROAD TO FIND HORN BUTTON

THE HORN ON THE DODGE RAM P/U IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ENGAGE OR SOUND. A PERSON HAS TO PUSH THROUGH THE AIRBAG TO MAKE THE HORN SOUND. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS AND HAVE SEEN THE PROBLEM IN SEVERAL VEHICLES. ANY HELP YOU CAN GET DODGE TO DO IN REPLACING THE HORN WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

THE HORN IS VERY HARD TO PUSH TO MAKE IT SOUND. IN AN EMGERENCY SITUATION IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE DEALER IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

HORN BUTTON HARD TO PUSH IN PANIC SITUATION. MUST USE EXTREAM PRESSURE TO ENGAGE.

THE TRUCK WE PURCHASED HAD A TOWING PACKAGE AS ORDERED. WHAT THEY DIDN'T TELL US IS THAT THE WIRING ISN'T HEAVY ENOUGH FOR PROLONGED USE. WE TOW A 50' TRAILER WITH OUR TRUCK FOR A LIVING. RIGHT AFTER WE PURCHASED IT WE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRAILER RELAY SWITCH AND THEN MANY, MANY FUSES. THEN WE STARTED SMELLING HOT WIRING. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS HOT AND LIGHTS INSIDE STARTED GOING LIGHT TO DARK. THEN THEY WENT OUT COMPLETELY. WE LOST ALL TRUCK LIGHTS AND TRAILER LIGHTS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MILES AN HOUR. WE TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE MAIN TRUCK WIRING HARNESS AND THE LIGHT SWITCH AND THE SHORT PIGTAIL BETWEEN THEM. DODGE KNOWS THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH RAMS USED FOR TOWING. THE CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING WIRING PROBLEM ( NOT HEAVY ENOUGH WIRES) WITH ALL THREE VEHICLES OWNED. *YH

I THINK THAT A HORN THAT REQUIRES SO MUCH EFFORT THAT IT IS USELESS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER AND THE COMPANY DISTRICT REPRESENTITIVE SAY THAT THE ALL OF THE 1998 HORNS ARE LIKE THAT. SOMETHING CAN BE DONE. CHRYSLER SAYS IN THEIR SPECS THAT THE HORN SHOULD OPERATE AT 2 LBS OF PRESSURE NOT, THE 10 LBS OR MORE THAT THEY REALLY TAKE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY, IF THERE IS NO PROBLEM (THEY CLAIM) DID THEY FIX IT FOR 1999. SAME STEERING WHEEL AND PAD BUT IT NOW WORKS.

IF HORN IS NOT PUSHED IN PARTICULAR WAY THE HORN WILL NOT WORK. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THAT IS THE WAY IT WAS MADE. *AK

CONSUMER RECIVED A LETTER FROM DEALER SAYING THAT THEY HAD A RECALL ON THE ENIGINE COMPUTER, RECALL #799, AND ALSO A RECALL ON A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP, RECALL #788. CONSUMER SAYS THAT THE DEALER DOES NOT HAVE PARTS YET . *AK

HORN DIFFICULT TO HONK, OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY.

VERY HARD TO DEPRESS HORN BUTTONS. MUST USE EXCESSIVE FORCE IN CENTE ROF STEERING WHEEL TO HONK HORN.

DUE TO BUILD UP OF PRESSURE IN THE AIR BAG MODULE, THE HORN SENSORS ARE EXTREMELY HARD TO APPLY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE HORN ASSEMBLY, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE HORN PAD IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO LOCATE THE HORN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT DUE TO THE AIRBAG LOCATION, IT IS DIFFICULT TO LOCATE AND TO HONK. *SLC

IN COLD WEATHER DEFECTIVE PCM PART WITHIN COMPUTER BECOMES INOPERATIVE, CAUSING THE FUEL/OIL PUMP AND WATER GAUGE TO GO OUT. ALSO DRIVER IS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. CHRSYLER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

THE DRIVER HAS TO PRESS DOWN ON THE HORN PAD EXTREMELY HARD BEFORE THE HORN WILL BLOW. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. *AK

HAVE TO PUT EXTREME PRESSURE ON THE HORN PAD IN ORDER FOR THE HORN TO SOUND. WHEN DRIVER NEEDS THE HORN TO GO OFF QUICKLY IT IS IMPOSSIBLE. *AK