2001 Dodge RAM 1500

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK WHEN IT BEGAN MAKING A NOISE AND THE WHEEL BEGAN TO WOBBLE. WHEN SHE STOPPED, THE WHEEL WAS WOBBLY. HER DAD INVESTIGATED THE CAUSE THINKING IT WAS A BEARING GOING OUT BUT FOUND OUT THAT THE SPINDLE NUT THAT HOLDS THE WHEEL ON HAD BACKED OFF. THE WHEEL HAS NEVER BEEN WORKED ON AND IT HAD THE NEW TYPE OF NUT THAT DOES NOT HAVE A KOTTER PIN IN IT AND IS THE TYPE THAT IS "SELF LOCKING". NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT DID NOT LOCK AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IF THE WHEEL HAD COME COMPLETELY OFF.*AK

IS A 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 SUSPOSED TO COME OUT OF PARK WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL? THE TRUCK CAME OUT OF GEAR FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND CAUSED $2500 WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING IN THIS CASE. HOWEVER, MY 3 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO TAKE THE TRUCK FROM PARK TO REVERSE WHILE STANDING ON THE SEAT. THE TRUCK WAS PARKED AT THAT TIME ON A INCLINING DRIVEWAY SO IT ROLLED ONLY TO THE STREET. CHEVROLET PRODUCTS, I KNOW, HAVE A SAFETY FEATURE WHICH REQUIRES THE BREAK PEDAL TO BE PRESSED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME OUT OF PARK. *AK

ENGINE VALVE CLATTER. THE ENGINE HAS A HIGH PITCH VALVE CLATTER WHEN ANY LOAD IS PUT ON THE VEHICLE SUCH AS PASSING A VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS PERFORMED SERVICE BULLETIN ITEMS. THE DEALER TELLS ME TO BURN 93 OCTANE FUEL. THE OWNERS MANUAL SAYS TO USE 87 OCTANE. TALKED WITH NUMEROUS DODGE OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME CONCERN. DOES THE ENGINE CLATTER MEAN AN ENGINE PROBLEM NOW OR IN THE FUTURE? DEALER NOT CONCERNED.*AK

TRUCK BRAKES CONTINUE TO GO SOFT. THE DEALER(S) HAVE WORKED ON THE BRAKES. CHANGED MASTER CYLINDER. AT LOW SPEEDS THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, BUT NOT EVERY TIME. NOW THE BRAKES ARE SIMPLY SLOW TO ENGAGE. FEELS LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO PUT YOUR FOOT THROUGH THE FLOOR. OF COURSE, THE DEALER HAS ONLY BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM ONCE! ANY OTHER REPORTS OF PROBLEMS? SOLUTIONS? NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. HAVE HAD TO TAKE THE SHOULDER SEVERAL TIMES TO AVOID COLLISIONS. JUST STARTED THE LEGAL ROUTE SINCE CHRYSLER HAS BEEN LESS THAN COOPERATIVE. *AK

HAD TO REPLACE CYLINDER HEADS AT 68000 MILES, NOT DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR ACCORDING TO REPAIR SHOP. 10 OUT OF THE LAST 12 DODGE TRUCKS INTO THE SHOP HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE SAME THING DONE. I WAS TOLD TO KEEP MY PEPERWORK, BECAUSE THERE IS AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM AND THEY ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE DODGE TRUCKS WITH AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE BEING BROUGHT IN. REPAIR SHOP FEELS THERE PROBABLY WILL BE A RECALL ON THEM. MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE DODGE TRUCKS.*AK

WHILE TRAVELLING AT AN APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 45/50, I HAD REASON TO RAPIDLY DECREASE FORWARD AND APPLY MORE THAN NORMAL BRAKE ACTION TO AVERT ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD OVERRUN A STOP SIGN. MY WIFE, WHO WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND PROPERLY BELTED, WAS THRUST FORWARD TO A POINT WHERE HER RIGHT SHOULDER MADE CONTACT WITH THE DASHOARD AND HER HEAD MADE LIGHT CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD. SHE WAS SHAKEN BUT HAD NO NOTICEABLE INJURY AT THAT TIME.WE DROVE HOME, AND DURING THAT 7 MILE TRIP WE DECIDED TO RECHECK THE BELT ACTION. ON SEVERAL INSTANCES WE ACCELERATED TO 45/50 AND COMMENCED HARD BRAKING ACTION TO CHECK WHETHER WE COULD DUPLICATE THE PREVIOUS SEAT BELT FAILURE. OF THE TIMES THAT WE PERFORMED THIS ACTION, THE SEAT BELTS FAILED OVER HALF THE TIME. THIS TIME I REALIZED THAT THE DRIVERS BELT WAS ALSO FAILING.DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE. NLM