1996 Dodge RAM 3500

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR A THROTTLE CABLE REPAIR MARCH 2010 BUT THE DEALER ONLY REPLACED THE THROTTLE CABLE AND NO OTHER REQUIRED PARTS THAT WOULD KEEP THE CABLE FROM FAILING. AS A RESULT, THE CABLE BECAME LOOSE TWICE AFTER THE REPAIR WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FAILED THROTTLE TWICE. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AS THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC AT THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE THROTTLE ROD BALL, THE BALL STUD, THROTTLE CABLE STUD, THE THROTTLE ROD THREAD (LEFT AND RIGHT) AND THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING. IN ADDITION TO THE THROTTLE FAILURE, CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT REPAIR PERFORMED JUNE 2009 DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM; THE HEADLIGHT PLASTIC AND SWITCH MELTED EVEN AFTER THE REPAIR. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT; THE MANUFACTURER EXPLAINED THAT THE THROTTLE FAILURE WAS NOT DUE TO A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT BUT INSTEAD TO THE DEALERS POOR WORKMANSHIP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 221,010. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 221,061.

I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN 2003 AND THE DASH WAS CRACKED. IT SHAKES AND RATTLES WHENEVER I HIT ANY BUMPS IN THE ROAD. DODGE WILL DO NOTHING BUT TRY TO SELL ME ANOTHER DASH AT A SKY HIGH RATE. I'M AFRAID THE DASH WILL COMPLETELY FALL APART WHILE MY WIFE OR I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I AM NOW EXPERIENCING A VACUUM PROBLEM WITH SOME LINES UNDER THE DASH CAUSED BY THIS SINCE THE DASH MOVES SO MUCH. MY ABS LIGHT IS ON, MY CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK AND THE AIRCONDITIONING ONLY BLOWS OUT OF THE DEFROST VENT. *TR

BRAKES PULL TO RIGHT, CALIBERS AND PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. REAR BRAKES DON'T SEEM TO WORK WELL ANTILOCK ALLOWS YOU TO ROLL TO FAR. STEERING COLUMN GOES BAD AFTER WARRANTY IS UP ( 100,000 MILES ). FUEL PUMP SHUT DOWN SOLENOID AND RELAY HAVE ALSO GONE OUT ON BOTH OF MY TRUCKS. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED ON BOTH TRUCKS AT THE 70000-75000 MILES . *NLM

FIRE IN ENGINE AREA,,,,,FUEL PRE-HEATER CATCHES FIRE IN THE WIRING BECAUSE OF BAD SEAL ON ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS THAT ALLOW RUST TO FORM IN TRUCKS IN SNOW AND SALT COUNTRY...LUCKILY I WAS GETTING HOME AND STEPPING OUT OF THE TRUCK WHEN I SPOTTED THE FIRE,,,,IF NOT THE TRUCK WOULD HAVE BURN TO THE GROUND DURING THE NIGHT,,,OR I COULD HAVE BEEN ASLEEP AT A TRUCK STOP AS I OFTEN DO WHEN I AM ON THE ROAD TO THE RACES...ACCORDING TO FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE TURBO DIESEL REGISTER (WE SUPPLIED ALL THE INFO AND DAMAGED PARTS TO YOUR ORGANIZATION LAST YEAR CONCERNING THE THROTTLE CABLE PROBLEM)),,,THIS FUEL HEATER FIRE IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THESE 94 TO 97 TRUCKS WITH THE CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINE.. HOW DOES CHRYSLER GET AWAY WITH ALL THESE SAFETY ISSUES. THIS COULD VERY EASILY CAUSE DEATH IF NOT ADDRESSED.. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.. *NLM

THROTTLE CONTROL IS STICKING IN WIDE OPEN POSITION AND WILL NOT RETURN TO IDLE AT ANY TIME. THIS IS CAUSING ENGINE TO RUN 500-600 RPM ABOVE NORMAL, WHICH IS AN EXCESSIVE LOAD ON DIESEL ENGINE. IN ORDER TO RELEASE THROTTLE, CONSUMER HAS TO TURN VEHICLE OFF, AND GO UNDER HOOD AND RELEASE THROTTLE CONTROL MANUALLY. DEFECT HAPPENS EVERYTIME THROTTLE IS PRESSED HARD, AND IS ALWAYS STIFF. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK