2001 Dodge RAM 2500

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. AS I STARTED A 215 MILE TRIP TO BOULDER CO NOTICED SOME TYPE OF FASTENER ON THE FLOOR BOARD. AT THE 200 MILE MARK THE ROD WHICH WHEN PUSHED ACTIVATES THE CLUTCH WENT OUT! THANKFULLY, I WAS ABLE TO EASE THE TRUCK TO THE RIGHT LANE, MADE AN ILLEGAL RIGHT TURN AT THE LIGHT, AND KILLED THE ENGINE AS I PARKED IT AT A GAS STATION. BUT WHAT IF THAT HAD HAPPENED WHILE I WAS GOING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY? I MANAGED TO FIGURE OUT THE USE OF THE FASTENER, AND REPLACE IT ON THE ROD. AT THIS POINT I WILL BE GOING TO THE DEALERSHIP MANAGEMENT AS SUGGESTED BY THE BOOKLET PROVIDED ENTITLED CUSTOMER ARBITRATION PROCESS. I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING MORE SUBSTANTIAL THAN JUST A PART REPLACEMENT. I DO NOT TRUST THE FASTENER TO PROVIDE THE SAFETY. I WORK AS A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST FOR BOULDER VALLEY SCHOOLS. WHEN WE GET A SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL I USE THE VEHICLE FOR TRAVEL. MY CONCERN IS HAVING AN ACCIDENT IN THE PARKING LOT, WHERE IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR STUDENTS TO MINGLE IN THE PARKING LOT. *AK

1. STEREING WHEEL WOULD NOT CENTER UP, VEHICLE DROVE STRAIGHT. DEALER SAID THIS IS NORMAL TO COMPENSATE FOR TORQUE, NO WARRANTY REPAIR, TOOK TO A SUSPENSION SHOP FOR REPAIR $ 1200.00 (SEE DETAILS BELOW). 2. TRANSMISSION SHUDDERED IN TORQUE CONVERTER LOCK UP. DELAER FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, BUT CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. $ 2200.00 FOR NEW HD TORQUE CONVERTER AND HP VALVE BODY (SEE DETAIL BELOW) **ACCELERATOR STUCK WIDE OPEN WHILE TRAVELING DOWN INTERSTATE, HAD TO PUSH HARD ON BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN TO MERGE TO SHOULDER, PLACE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE REVVED TO RED LINE, SHUT DOWN THE MOTOR. MOTOR WOULD NOT START ONLY CRANK. DEALER SAID THE INJECTOR PUMP AND CONTROLLER AWERE BAD, $ 3000.00 FOR REAPAIR. REPLACED BALL JOINT 6/2002, REPLACED TRANSMISSION 10/2004, REPLACED FUEL INJECTOR PUMP 12/04. SUM TOTAL OF REPAIRS $ 6600.00.*AK

AT 41,857 MILES, MY 2001 DODGE CUMMINS DIESEL 3/4 TON 4X4 PICKUP TRUCK BEGAN TO LOSE POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW ON MAY 24, 2000 AND HAVE HAD DIFFICULTY WITH THE STIFF, RIGID GEARS AND CLUTCH EVER SINCE. I COMPLAINED BUT TO NO AVAIL. I WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO THE TORQUE, IT WAS "NORMAL". THEN, THE CLUTCH FAILED AND I BARELY MADE IT TO TOWN AND TO THE DEALERS GARAGE. THIS TRUCK WAS BOUGHT N FROM THE LOCAL DEALER, RIDGEWOOD MOTORS AND HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED EVER SINCE. IT SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. SINCE RIDGEWOOD MECHANICS REPLACED THE CLUTCH, IT DRIVES LIKE A DIFFERENT TRUCK, SMOOTH AND EFFICIENT. I CALLED AND EMAILED DAIMLER-CHRYSLER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID IT WASN'T COVERED BY WARRANTY AND IT WAS MY TOUGH LUCK. I'M OUT $898.26 AND NOW WONDER WHAT ELSE WILL FAIL IN A TRUCK THAT DODGE CALLS "RAM TOUGH"! I'M FURIOUS ABOUT THIS INCIDENT AND DAIMLER-CHRYSLER'S CONDESCENDING ATTITUDE. I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED MY COSTS TO REPLACE THIS CLUTCH, PROBLEMATIC FROM DAY ONE. *JB

MY 2001 DODGE RAM STARTED STALLING OUT SO I CALLED FOR AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE CENSOR CHECKED OUT. THEY SAID THAT WASN'T IT - IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO DROP THE PAN, THAT WAS FINE UNTIL THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS AT LEAST A 1/2 INCH OF SHAVINGS IN THE PAN AND THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THAT AMOUNT IN A NEWER TRUCK- ESPECIALLY WITH MY MILAGE BEING SO LOW. THIS SETS OFF AN ALARM THAT THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT. I CONTACTED THE MANAGER AND HE WAS SUPPOSE TO GET BACK TO ME-WHICH HE HASN'T AS OF YET...SURPRISE. OH YES, IN ORDER TO FIX THIS BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD RUN OUT 2000 MILES PRIOR IT WOULD COST ME $5,395.14. (NOW BEING DISABLE THIS IS SURE A BOOST TO ME) AND THAT ISN'T EVEN CHECKING OUT THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE WHICH IT HAS BOUND TO EFFECT ALSO. THE WARRENTY WAS FOR 36000 MILES AND I HAVE 39000 ON IT NOW. IT HAS COST ME 200.00 TO FIND THIS OUT AND ALSO THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID BECAUSE I DIDN'T USE THEIR SERVICES FOR OIL CHANGES AND TRANSMISSION CHECKS HE WOULD PROBABLY NOT GET AS MUCH HELP FOR ME AND IN THE CONTRACT IT SAID AS LONG AS I USED A LICENSE FACILITY IT WOULD BE COVERED AND I USED JIFFY LUBE. I THINK THIS IS WRONG-THEY ARE JUST ABOUT SAYING FOR NOT USING OUR FACILITY YOU ARE GOING TO BE PUNISHED AND NOT GET THE HELP YOU NEED. I AM GUESSING ON THE DATE OF PURCHASE.*AK

2001 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL MANUAL TRANSMISSION EXT. CAB - CLUTCH ASSEMBY - OUR TRUCK IS USED FOR LIGHT TOWING AND HAD ONLY 19,451 MILES ON IT WHEN THE CLUTCH WENT OUT. WE TALKED TO THE CLUTCH EXPERTS AND WERE TOLD THAT MANY OF THIS SAME TYPE OF TRUCK HAD CLUTCH PROBLEMS, BUT ALL WERE USED FOR HEAVY TOWING AND HAD WAY OVER 50,000 MILES ON THEM. *AK