1999 Dodge RAM 1500

99 RAM 1500 CAUGHT FIRE WHILE RUNNING HEATER! CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS THE DEFECTIVE DASH MATERIAL FALLING APART AND THE INSULATION FELL ONTO THE RESISTOR LOCATED ON TOP OF THE BLOWER MOTOR CAUSING A INTERIOR FIRE. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY MYSELF A MECHANIC FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND A CERTIFIED PAINT AND BODY SHOP. TRUCK WAS IN MINT CONDITION AND NOW A TOTAL LOSS. THE TRUCK WAS IN A STATIONARY POSITION IN A COLLEGE PARKING LOT! CONTACTED MANUFACTUER ONLY REPLY WAS SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. I KNOW OF SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES IN A 5 MILE RADIUS SAME MAKE AND MODEL THAT THE SAME THING HAPPENED TOO.

FRONT SEAT BELTS ON THE DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB (DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE) ARE LOCKED - THEY WILL NOT PULL OUT OF THE RETRACTOR MECHANISM BUILT INTO THE SEAT BACK, SO THEY CANNOT BE USED. SEAT BELTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A FAIRLY SIMPLE MECHANICAL DESIGN BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUES INVOLVED, BUT APPARENTLY CHRYSLER CHOSE TO USE AN ONBOARD COMPUTER TO ELECTRICALLY COMPLICATE THE ISSUE. HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT ANY PARTS TO ATTEMPT A REPAIR ARE OBSOLETE AND UNAVAILABLE.

AM ON THIRD ENGINE EACH TIME OIL PUMP FAILED,AND NOW THIS ONE IS ACTING UP, POWERTRAIN END OF YEAR BUILT TRUCK HAS A LOT OF 2000 PARTS ON IT, REAR END SEIZED UP DRIVE SHAFT BROKE REAR YOAK SPLIT IN TWO, SUSPENSION TIE RODS AND IDLE ARMS ALWAYS BREAKING, TWO BREAK DISKS 1 LEFT SIDE 1 RIGHT SIDE BROKE, LEFT ONE SPLIT RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE, THE RIGHT SIDE THE CENTER OF THE HUB BROKE RIGHT OUT AT THE BEARINGS RIPED RIGHT OUT

DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS CONNECTED WHEN A COLLISION OCCURRED AT AN INTERSECTION INVOLVING A HONDA ACCORD. UPON COLLISION, DRIVERS SEAT BELT STRAP BROKE THE TOP RING PORTION OF BUCKLE DURING DRIVER'S FORWARD MOMENTUM WHICH CAUSED THE METAL RING TO SNAP RELEASING THE SAFETY BELT STRAP AND FAILING TO ARREST DRIVER IN HIS SEAT AND CAUSING DRIVER TO IMPACT TOP DOOR FRAME WITH HEAD. BOTH AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR SCALP CONTUSIONS AND MINOR SORE NECK AND SHOULDER PAIN. VALLEJO CA POLICE REPORT #15-06667 INSURANCE CLAIM (MERCURY INSURANCE):CLAIM NUMBER 2015 0015 003636 - 29 (CLAIM CURRENTLY IN PROGRESS)

THE DASHBOARD STARTED WITH A SMALL CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND IT HAS EXPANDED TO MANY CRACKS, WITH PIECES FALLING INTO THE DASH ITSELF. I AM AFRAID THAT THESE PIECES WILL CAUSE A MALFUNCTION OF LIGHTS OR WHATEVER IS DOWN THERE, WHILE I'M DRIVING. MY TRUCK ISN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, MOST 1999 DODGE RAMS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T SEE WHY THE COMPANY IS NOT OBLIGATED TO FIX THIS.

THE REAR HARD BRAKE LINE MOUNTED ON THE FRAME RAIL BEHIND THE FUEL TANK WAS SEVERELY RUSTED IN AN AREA ABOUT 4 INCHES LONG THAT COULD NOT EASILY BE VISUALLY INSPECTED (HIDDEN BEHIND THE FUEL TANK). THE HARD BRAKE LINE RUPTURED AT THE RUSTED AREA WHICH COMPROMISED 100% OF THE BRAKING POWER FROM THE PEDAL. SOME QUICK RESEARCH HAS REVEALED THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. MANY SUGGEST THIS WARRANTS A PRODUCT RECALL DUE TO THE DANGEROUS AND CRITICAL NATURE OF THE VEHICLE SUBSYSTEM IN QUESTION: BRAKES. I'M LUCKY TO BE ALIVE ... I HAD JUST RETURNED FROM A TRIP THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS IN TENNESSEE WITH A FULL LOAD IN THE TRUCK BED AND PULLING A MOTORCYCLE TRAILER. THE RUPTURE OCCURRED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHILE I WAS AT A FULL STOP!