17 of the
645 complaints about the 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 are about the
doors, latches and locks — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
92,400 miles.
B
17
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Latch
847.1%
Latches/Locks/Linkages
529.4%
Latch
423.5%
Doors, Latches & Locks across every Dodge RAM 1500 year
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN THE HOOD LATCH BECAME DISENGAGED, CAUSING THE HOOD LID TO RELEASE AND STRIKE THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CLOSE THE HOOD LID. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES AND THE HOOD WOULD NOT REMAIN LATCHED SECURELY. THE DEFECT RESULTED IN THE HOOD HINGE BECOMING BENT AND THE WINDSHIELD EXHIBITED NUMEROUS CRACKS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V040000 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10508762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 114,863 milesNorth Augusta, SC
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TAILGATE CABLE FAILURE. DRIVER'S SIDE TAILGATE CABLE ON MY 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 BROKE INTO TWO PIECES. THE CABLE UNDERNEATH THE PROTECTIVE PLASTIC SLEEVE RUSTED THROUGH AT THE FLEX POINT. THIS TRUCK IS NOT ABUSED AND IS AN OCCASIONAL USE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10279794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 102,040 milesSaegertown, PA
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
SECONDARY HOOD LATCH STUCK IN OPEN POSITION, CAUSING HOOD TO FLY UP WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. DAMAGED HOOD HINGES. SO FAR, HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE, BUT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN.
NHTSA complaint #10273482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 117,270 milesSchenectady, NYCrash
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
'ON MAY 26, 2003 I TOOK MY PICKUP TO DENOYER DODGE 2242 CENTRAL AVE, SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK AND HAD THEM HANDLE THE RECALL SITUATION. 'ON DECEMBER 4, 2008 TRAVELING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 87 THE HOOD FLEW UP SMASHED THE WINDSHIELD. THE GRILL WORK FLEW OFF THE HOOD AND LANDED IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK. 'I CALLED 911 AND THE NEW YORK STATE POLICE ARRIVED AND FILED A REPORT. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED. 'ON DECEMBER 5, 2008 I CALLED DODGE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-992-1997 AND SPOKE TO RHYS. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO WOULD DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE HOOD LATCH DISENGAGING. SHE SUGGESTED I COULD CALL LANGON CHRYSLER JEEP OR GOLDSTEIN CHRYSLER. SHE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT IF IT WAS THE LATCH THAT THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND I WOULD ALSO BE GIVEN A LOANER VEHICLE TO DRIVE. SHE GAVE ME A REFERENCE NUMBER OF 18144145 I CALLED LANGON AND SPOKE TO MIKE. HE INFORMED ME THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A BODY SHOP. HE ALSO TOLD ME I NEEDED TO CALL A DIFFERENT 800 NUMBER TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. HE GAVE ME 1-800-283-5882 I CALLED THE 1-800-283-5882 WHICH THE RECORDED NUMBER GAVE ME 1-800-856-5545 WHICH I CALLED. SPOKE TO DAVE WHICH TOLD ME I WAS SPEAKING TO CHRYSLER AND HE TRANSFERRED ME BACK TO AUSTIN AT THE ORIGINAL 800 NUMBER (1-800-922-1997) AUSTIN ASKED ME FOR MY REFERENCE NUMBER (18144145) AND HE REPEATED WHAT I HAD ALREADY BEEN TOLD BY RHYS. HE SAID THAT IF THIS ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THE RECALLED LATCH THAT DODGE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND I WOULD GET A LOANER CAR. I THAN CALLED GOLDSTEIN CHRYSLER I SPOKE TO MORGAN AND REPEATED THE WHOLE STORY. MORGAN TOLD ME BASICALLY THE SAME THING I HAD BEEN TOLD BY THE OTHER CHRYSLER DEALER. HE SAID THEY WOULD INSPECT THE TRUCK AND SEE IF ANYONE HAD LEFT THE HOOD OPEN. FEELING LIKE I AM GETTING THE RUN AROUND I CALLED LISA AT SCATUB MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I WAS TOLD TO CALL KEMPER INSURANCE TO START THE PAPERWORK. THE HAD THE ADJUSTER CALL ME AND SHE SUGGESTED THEY HAVE THE TRUCK TOWED TO METRO FOR.
NHTSA complaint #10251171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Watertown, NY
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
1998 DODGE RAM HOOD FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE WAS DRIVING 65 MPH. HE ALSO STATES THAT THE GRILL, HOOD HINGES, AND INSULATION ARE DESTROYED. HE STATED THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10213864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 124,170 milesWatertown, NY
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
ON 1 DEC 2001 I LEFT WATERTOWN, NY TO DRIVE TO SYRACUSE, NY VIA I-81 SOUTH. JUST AFTER THE CENTRAL SQUARE ENTRANCE RAMP MY HOOD BLEW OPEN AT 65MPH. THIS NEARLY CAUSED ME TO CRASH BUT I MANAGED TO FINALLY GET THE TRUCK PULLED OVER WITHOUT A CRASH. I AM A HANDICAPPED MEMBER OF THE US ARMY SO I CALLED MY WIFE TO HELP ME GET THE HOOD DOWN AND STRAP IT DOWN WITH A RATCHET STRAP AND BUNGIE CORDS. THE HOOD, GRILL, HINGES AND HOOD LINER ARE ALL DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. UPON RETURNING HOME I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND A "SAFETY RECALL" #973 FOR THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH FAILURE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN 2006 AND NEVER RECEIVED A WARNING. TODAY I WENT TO DEALMAKER DODGES SERVICE DEPT AND IT WAS VERIFIED THAT THE REPAIR SERVICE HAD NEVER BEEN COMPLETED. AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN MARK (315)-779-5725 I WAS INFORMED THAT THE DISTRICT MANAGER MR. DAVID LITTLEJOHN DISAPPROVED THE REPAIR OF THE DAMAGE, HOWEVER WOULD AUTHORIZE THE RECALL TO BE PERFORMED. I WAS TOLD THAT CHRYSLER DODGE WAS NOT LIABLE FOR INHERIT DAMAGED CAUSED BY THE HOOD OUT OF NOWHERE POPPING OPEN. I CONTACTED THE CHRYSLER CUSTOMER RELATIONS (800) 992-1997 AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. I ASKED FOR THE PROOF IN WRITING AND WAS REFUSED THE DOCUMENT STATING THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR INHERED DAMAGED CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE PART THAT CAN CAUSE SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH TO MANY PEOPLE IF THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO HANDLE SUCH PROBLEMS. MY CHRYLER CORPORATION REFERENCE NUMBER IS 16995780.
NHTSA complaint #10210731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 55,440 milesSpencerville, MD
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
1998 DODGE RAM 1500 4 WD SHORT BED STANDARD CAB HOOD LATCH FAILED. WHILE DRIVING (AFTER A COUPLE MILES) THE HOOD BEGAN TO SHAKE UP AND DOWN. I PULLED OVER AND SLAMMED THE HOOD CLOSED. COMPLETED MY TRIP (30 MILES ROUND TRIP). 2 WEEKS LATER I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. AFTER 1/2 MILE THE HOOD BEGAN TO SHAKE UP AND DOWN. I BEGAN TO SLOW BUT IT WAS TOO LATE (40 MPH), THE HOOD FLEW OPEN AND SLAMMED AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD. SINCE I WAS ONLY 1 MILE FROM MY HOUSE I STOOD ON TOP OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND PULLED THE HOOD BACK DOWN WITH MY 200 POUND FRAME AND INCHED BACK TO HOME WHERE IT SITS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A FAILURE OF THE SECONDARY LATCH. THERE WAS MINOR YARD DAMAGE WHEN I DROVE OFF THE ROAD. DAMAGE TO THE HOOD (CREASED) AND THE HINGES, AND FRONT FENDERS.
NHTSA complaint #10181897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10 milesChicago, IL
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I HAVE HAD MY VAN SINCE 98 GOT IT NEW THE DEALERSHIP HAD MY VAN MORE THEN I HAVE, THEY FIXED ONLY A FEW PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS THEY COULDN'T FIND. THE SIDE PASSENGER DOORS WOULDN'T UNLOCK, WHEN COMING TO A STOP SECONDS AFTER STOPPING I WOULD FEEL A HICK COMING FROM THE BACK END, ON VACATION AFTER RESTING AT A WAYSIDE WHILE ENTERING HIGHWAY THE YOU HEARD A CLICK FROM THE ENGINE THEN YOU LOSS ALL POWER IT WOULDN'T GO ANY FASTER THEN 30-35 MPH, TOOK VAN IN AFTER THIS ONE GUY AT SHOP SEEN MY HANDICAP DAUGHTER AND WENT IN BACK TO GET A PAPER HE THEN GAVE ME, PAPER WAS FROM DODGE TELLING OF THIS PROBLEM AND NOT TO SHOW TO ANY CUSTOMERS,HE GAVE THIS PAPER TO ME,AND TO THIS DAY I STILL HAVE SAME PROBLEMS,ALL PLASTIC LINING INSIDE OF VAN HAS CRACKED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER GETTING VAN, GO THROUGH BRAKES LIKE CRAZY, AND VAN ALWAYS PULLS TO RIGHT . THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VAN I CAN'T LIST THEM ALL,TRIED TO RETURN VAN AFTER 7 MONTHS THEY WOULDN'T TAKE IT BACK.
NHTSA complaint #10098662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 82,760 milesIndianapolis, IN
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY HOOD LATCH FAILED. HOOD OPENED DURING TRAVEL CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO HOOD AND HINGE ASSEMBLIES.
NHTSA complaint #10052474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 18,000 milesWoolwine, VA1 injured
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
98 DODGE HI TOP CONVERSION VAN; THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS' RELEASE MECHANISM HAS BROKEN FOR THE FOURTH TIME. THIS TIME THE MIDDLE SIDE PASSENGER DOOR LOCK BROKE. WHEN THE DOOR LOCKS' BRAKE, THEY ARE JAMMED LOCKED, AND WE CAN NOT OPEN THE DOOR AT ALL. WE CONTACTED THE DODGE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IF THEY UNJAM THE DOOR, THE DOOR WOULD THEN STAY OPEN! WE HAVE TO WAIT TILL NEXT WEEK TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO ORDER THE PART. THIS WILL END UP COSTING US OVER $200/00 - AGAIN. I AM AMAZED AT YOUR QUESTION "NUMBER OF FATALITIES" . BUT IT DOES BRING A CHILLING THOUGHT - IF I WAS TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH MY FIVE CHILDREN IN THE BACK - THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT, AND IF A FIRE WAS TO IGNITE, I WOULD NOT EVEN LIKE TO THINK OF THE RESULTS!!!!!! YOUR QUESTIONS SHOULD BE "NUMBER OF POSSIBLE FATALITIES" - THEN YOU WOULD GET A MORE ACCURATE NUMBER OF THE SEVERITY OF THE DEFECT. MY (FIVE) CHILDREN NOW HAVE TO ENTER AND EXIT THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. MY SIX YEAR OLD DAUGHTER HAD TO GET OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE THIS MORNING TO GO TO SCHOOL. SHE FELL OUT AND HURT HER WRIST! AS MENTIONED BEFORE, THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME ONE OF THE LOCKS BROKE ON THE DOORS. TWICE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, AND ONCE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR. IT IS OBVIOUS TO US THAT THE LOCKS ARE DEFINITELY DEFECTIVE - AND LIFE THREATENING! I SEE FIRST HAND WHAT HAPPENS IN WRECKS, BEING A CAPTAIN OF THE LOCAL VOL. FIRE DEPT AND A MEMBER OF THE RESCUE SQUAD.
NHTSA complaint #10038760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Russell, PA
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. DEALER STATES LATCH HAS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10037668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 54,000 milesNewport, TN
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED. DOOR FLEW OPEN, AFTER BEING LOCKED, AND WOULDN'T LOCK BACK.
NHTSA complaint #10026870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fitchburg, MA
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
WHILE DRIVING, THE HOOD LATCH BROKE AND CAUSED THE HOOD TO FLY UP.
NHTSA complaint #10019504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Council Bluffs, IA
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WOULD NOT LATCH PROPERY AND PREVENTED THE DOORS FROM CLOSING. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10015328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Council Bluffs, IA
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
WHILE DRIVING HOOD FLEW OPEN RESULTING IN LOSS OF VISIBILITY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LATCH BUT THE PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10015330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
North Justin, IN
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
RECEIVED RECALL LETTER FROM DODGE REGARDING SECONDARY HOOD LATCH, AND THEY WERE REFUSING TO HONOR RECALL LETTER. DODGE STATED THAT REPAIRS WOULD HAVE TO BE PERFORMED ON A WEEKDAY. CONSUMER STATED IT WOULD HAVE TO BE A WEEKEND, AND DODGE WILL NOT HONOR THAT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8000667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Allen Park, MI
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
HOOD LATCH FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #9002864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.