1997 Dodge RAM 2500

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.

THE REAVIEW MIRRORS MOUNTED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAVE, ON A DAILY BASIS, FOLDED BACK WHILE THE VEHICLE IS GOING DOWN THE ROADWAY. IT DEPENDS ON THE SPEED BECAUSE THE WIND IS SOMETIMES STRONGER ON OTHER DAYS AND THE DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS OF THE WIND. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DODGE SERVICE SHOPS AND THEY ALL SAY THAT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE DODGE RAM VEHICLES AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO FIX/REPAIR IT TO MAKE IT STOP MOVING. IF THIS IS SUCH A PROBLEM, WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL TO KEEP AN ACCIDENT FROM HAPPENING. I CAN'T SEE THE LANES NEXT TO ME WHEN I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE MIRRORS FOLD BACK AND IT SCARES ME TO CHANGE LANES THINKING THERE MIGHT BE A VEHICLE BESIDE ME THAT I DIDN'T SEE WHEN I TURNED MY HEAD TO LOOK. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM AND COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS IF SOMETHING ISN'T DONE. IS THERE ANY WAY YOU COULD GET BACK WITH ME ON THIS AND LET ME KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL I HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT SO I CAN GET MY VAN FIXED, ESPECIALLY WITH THE UPCOMING VACATION SEASON COMING UP.*AK

ON TRIP TO CAMPING GROUND IN SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS, STARTED TO SMELL "HOT BRAKES" ALTHOUGH I HAD NOT BEEN USING THEM AT THAT POINT. THOUGHT BRAKE SHOE MAY BE DRAGGING OR THAT IT COULD BE ANOTHER MOTORIST. APPROACHED CAMP GROUND WITH GROWING CERTAINTY IT HAD TO BE MY TRUCK. AFTER PARKING IN CAMPING SPACE AND SHUTTING DOWN MOTOR, I NOTICED SMOKE ISSUING FROM UNDER HOOD. OPENED HOOD TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND FLAMES LICKING UP FIREWALL/TOE BOARD. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT FIREWALL INSULATION HAD FALLEN DOWN ONTO EXHAUST PIPE AND STARTED ON FIRE BETWEEN THE INSULATION AND THE TOE BOARD/FIREWALL. SOME EXHAUST "HEADER WRAP" WAS ON THE EXHAUST PIPE BUT IT HAD LOOSENED. THE AREA OF CONTACT WITH THE INSULATION WAS COVERED WITH THE "HEADER WRAP" BUT IT DID NO GOOD. I WAS UNABLE TO PUSH THE REMAINING INSULATION PIECE OUT OF CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST SO THE RETURN TRIP HOME *TWO DAYS LATER) WAS VERY NERVE WRECKING. THE RECALL SERVICE WAS IMPROPERLY DONE. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS***762404

WHILE DRIVING 45MPH THE ATNI-LOCK REAR BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. A FEW MINUTES LATER, WHILE PULLING OUT AT A STOP SIGN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD "CAME OUT" FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM. I HAVE ALL THE PARTS AND PIECES FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL. THE PINION GEAR WAS IN PIECES IN THE BOTTOM OF THE HOUSING. THE RING GEAR HAD SEVERAL TEETH MISSING AND/OR DAMAGED. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR/EQUIPMENT WAS ALSO DAMAGED.THE ONLY PARTS THAT WERE NOT REPLACED WERE THE AXLES AND THE HOUSING. CAUSE OF THE DEFECT IS STILL YET UNDETERMINED.*AK