1997 Dodge RAM 2500

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL ON ITS OWN AND NEARLY CAUSED NUMEROUS CRASHES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT A NUT ON THE FIFTH GEAR WAS DISENGAGED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. DODGE STATED THAT THERE WAS A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE, BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 01/02/08.*LJ UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

MY ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST MY ABS. IN SEARCHING FOR THE PROBLEM, I FOUND OIL DRIPPING FROM MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL COVER. I REMOVED THE COVER AND FOUND THAT A RING GEAR BOLT HEAD HAD SHEARED OFF AND DAMAGED THE ABS EXCITER RING. THE DIFFERENTIAL COULD HAVE LOCKED UP AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. A MECHANIC ADVISED IT APPEARED THE BOLT FAILED DUE TO A STRESS FRACTURE. THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY NOR WOULD A DAIMLER CHRYSLER REP. I TELEPHONICALLY SPOKE WITH. I HAVE THE FAILED PART AND PHOTOS.*JB

DT: WHEN SHIFTING FROM FOURTH TO FIFTH GEAR THE BOLT HOLDING 5TH GEAR IN PLACE CAME OFF THE SHAFT WHICH ALLOWED THE 5TH GEAR TO MOVE AND NO LONGER BE IN POSITION TO FUNCTION. THIS PROBLEM FEELS AS IF YOU WERE SHIFTING FROM FORTH GEAR TO NEUTRAL INSTEAD OF 5TH GEAR. DEALER WAS FAMILIAR WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM AND INDICATED THAT IT'S COMMON TO THESE VEHICLES.*AK CONSUMER FEELS THAT CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A RECALL AND SHOULD COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS.*SB *NM

THE OUTER DASH SILENCER PAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED THE CLUTCH AND FUEL LINES. IT FRIED THE COMPUTER, THE OCCUPANTS WERE ALMOST KILLED. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED #737, IN AUGUST 1997. THE CUSTOMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER PAID ALL REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE CLAIM WAS DENIED. CHRYSLER WILL NOT HELP THE CONSUMER WITH THE REPAIR BILLS, TOM KELLY MADE A DECISION AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HE DOES NOT COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE AND HIS DECISION WAS FINAL. THE CONSUMER HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE BEFORE THE INCIDENT AND WAS OUT OF STATE WHEN IT HAPPENED. THE CONSUMER REALIZED THE RECALL WAS FOR DODGE TRUCKS BUILT MARCH 7, 1997 THROUGH MAY 15, 1997 AND THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS BUILT ON MAY 16, 1997. *JB THE ALTERNATOR WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO A BAD PCM WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE A/C HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE AFTER THE PCM WAS REPLACED. *SC *JB

TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE NEEDS REPLACING. THE COOLER LINE HAS A PLASTIC COUPLING IN IT THAT COULD MELT AND CAUSE A FIRE OR SUDDEN LOSS OF TRANSMISSION UNDER LOAD. DEALER WILL REPLACE A COOLER LINE ON A GASOLINE ENGINE PER RECALL BUT NOT ON A DIESEL. MY TRUCK IS A DIESEL, AND THINK THAT THE LINE SHOULD BE REPLACED AS THE PLASTIC COUPLING MELTED ON A FRIENDS TRUCK THAT IS THE SAME AS MINE (DIESEL). I CALLED THE DODGE DEALER AND THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE COUPLING/LINE AS NOT GASOLINE ENGINE. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD EFFECTING ALL MODLES WITH THIS PLASTIC COPULING. *AK

THE TWO METAL TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES WERE INSTALLED DURING TRUCK ASSEMBLY WITHOUT SUFFICIENT SPACERS TO PREVENT ABRASION AGAINST EACH OTHER. THIS ALLOWED ONE LINE TO RUB A HOLE INTO THE SIDE OF OTHER LINE RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FLUID BEING SPRAYED AGAINST HOT ENGINE COMPONTENTS AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSON OR A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.*AK

5TH GEAR FAILED WHILE GOING DOWN A SLIGHT (~4%) GRADE WHILE USING THE ENGINE AND THE EXHAUST BRAKE. FORTUNATELY THE SPEED WAS SLOW ENOUGH THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE TO DOWNSHIFT. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY HAZARD. IF THE SPEED HAD BEEN HIGHER OR IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO DOWNSHIFT AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE EASILY OCCURRED. THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION IN THE DODGE CUMMINS DIESEL TRUCKS.THERE IS SOME INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET INDICATING THAT THIS IS RATHER COMMON.THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW. THE REPAIR INVOICE INDICATES THAT A 'NUT PACKAGE" WAS REQUIRED TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURING AGAIN. THIS INDICATES THAT THE ORIGINAL DESIGN IS FLAWED. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM, BUT PROBABLY ISN'T AND WON'T BE BECAUSE OF THE COST TO FIX ($675.) I HAVE SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT AND REQUEST FOR REPAIR REIMBURSEMENT TO CHRYSLER. IT HAS BEEN DENIED BECAUSE OF THE TIME OR MILEAGE LIMITATIONS HAVE BEEN EXCEEDED. HOWEVER, IT IS BOTH A SAFETY ISSUE AND A DESIGN FLAW, AND BOTH SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.