1998 Dodge RAM 1500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING BRACKET ON BOTH SIDES WAS EXCESSIVELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000.

MY 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB IS LOCATED IN NEW ENGLAND WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED IN THE WINTER. THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS RUSTING BECAUSE OF THIS, THE MOST DANGEROUS ASPECT, HOWEVER IS THE COIL SPRING FRONT MOUNTS, OR BUCKETS THAT HOLD THE BOTTOM SPRINGS TO THE FRONT AXEL ASSEMBLY. DODGE HASN'T OFFERED TO RECALL DODGE TRUCKS TO REPAIR THIS DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW, WHEREBY THE COIL MOUNTS WERE INSUFFICIENTLY COATED, AND IMPROPERLY DESIGNED TO TRAP SALTY WATER IN THEM TO ACCELERATE THE OXIDATION PROCESS. THIS IS NOT UNLIKE THE SAFETY ISSUE FORD WINDSTAR MINIVANS HAD WITH THEIR AXLES THAT TRAPPED SALTY WATER DURING WINTER AND CAUSED THEM TO ROT OUT AND SNAP CAUSING INJURY AND DEATH. MY CLOSE FRIEND WHO OWNS A MID 1990'S DODGE RAM TRUCK, WHO HAD HIS COIL SPRING BUCKET ACTUALLY FAIL CAUSING HIS FRONT END TO LUNGE FORWARD, HE WAS DRIVING SLOWLY WHEN IT HAPPENED SO HE WASN'T INJURED. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANY DATA ON INJURIES RELATED TO FAILURE OF THE COIL SPRING MOUNTS, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY HAVEN'T OCCURRED. DODGE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO AT THE VERY LEAST, PROVIDE A KIT TO TRUCK OWNERS THAT REPAIRS THIS PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS COULD NOT BE LUBED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MAKE A LOUD SCRAPPING NOISE WHEN DRIVING. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,920.

I OWN A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 PICKUP I WAS DRIVING A FRIEND AND HER DAUGHTER TO THE DENTIST I PASSED A LOGGING TRUCK WHEN I GOT BACK IN MY LANE AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN THE TRUCK SHUDDERED AND LOST POWER I PULLED OFF THE ROAD THE ONLY PLACE I COULD PULL OFF I HIT IT THE WAS ALMOST OFF THE NUT HOLDING THE TIRE ROTOR ON THE SHAFT SNAPPED OFF THE TOW HOME WAS OVER 500 DOLLARS AFTER GETTING TRUCK I BROKE OUT MY SHOP MANUALS OUT THE BRG PACK WAS BURNED I REPLACED FROM FRONT DIFFERENTIAL OUT TO TIRES WITH OEM PARTS TO THE TUNE OF 1100 DOLLARS WITHIN A MTH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE CAME OFF AS I WAS TURNING INTO MY DRIVE WAY AGAIN REPLACED FROM FRONT DIFFERENTIAL OUT TO TIRE THIS TIME COST ABOUT 850 6 MTHS LATTER COMING HOME I FEEL FRONT VIBRATION HANG ON TO WHEEL MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE ROTOR CALIPER FLY OFF I SLIDE BETTER PART OF 75 FEET GRINDING OFF LOWER BALL JOINT AFTER BEING TOWED HOME LOOKING AT TIRE RIM CALIPER ROTOR I DECIDE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRONT END COST OF 650 DOLLARS FROM A WRECKING YARD BELIEVE THE PROBLEM FRONT TO LIGHT FOR WEIGHT ALSO THE VISCOSITY OF GREESE IN BRG PACK TO LIGHT BREAKING DOWN CAUSING BRG TO GET HOT AND SEIZE UP CAUSING TIRE RIM CALIPER H ROTOR TO FLY OFF HAVE SAVED ALL OLD PARTS. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A STOP AND TURNING EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. BOTH FRONT BALL JOINTS AND PITTMAN ARM WERE REPLACED. THERE IS NHTSA RECALL, # 04V596000, REGARDING THE SUSPENSION: UPPER BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE YEAR, MODEL AND VIN.

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCK. HE STATED THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE RIGHT SIDE BROKE. THE DEALER AND THE BODY SHOP SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A DEFECT IN THE METAL. THE BODY SHOP SAID THE ONLY PROPER WAY TO FIX IT WAS TO GET A NEW FRAME. CHRYSLER SAID THAT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *JB