1996 Dodge RAM 2500 equipment problems

EQUIPMENT

DODGE RAM 2500 PICK UP TRUCK: DASHBOARD HAS BEEN SLOWLY DISINTEGRATING TO THE POINT WHERE CERTAINLY ELEMENTS ARE HOLDING ONLY BY ONE SCREW ' AIR-CONDITION VENTS ARE FALLING OUT. TOP OF DASHBOARD IS 50% GONE, BROKEN IN TO SMALL PIECES AND EXPOSING ELECTRICAL WIRES TO THE HARSH SUNLIGHT. SOME CONTROLS SUCH AS DRIVER SEAT ELECTRICAL WINDOW IS NO LONGER OPENING, RPM METER IS ONLY WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. THE UNDERSIDE, EXPOSING ALL WIRES AND CONTROLS IS MISSING COVER (DISINTEGRATED). DODGE IS NO LONGER SELLING THE DASHBOARD REPLACEMENT ' WOULD BE WILLING TO PURCHASE AT ALMOST ANY PRICE. THE RIST CARKS SHOWEDUP ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO - SO FAR THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN INCIDENT, BUT I AM AFRAID,ONE DAY THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD WILL FALL DOWN, WHILE DRIVING - WHICH WILL BE VERY SERIOUS.

NHTSA complaint #10299079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

BRAKES FAILED. THE VACUMM CHECK VALUE INSTALLED BY DODGE TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON A 1996 DODGE RAM DIESEL FAILED AND ALLOWED NO VACUUM.

NHTSA complaint #10056850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

THE STEERING PITMAN WORN OUT AT 74,103 MILES. THE PART WAS FULLY FILLED WITH GEASE. THE SYMPTOMS WERE VEHICLE STEERING WAS WONDERING (L)& (R) BY ITS SELF. THIS COMPONENT SHOULD LAST AT LEASE 200,000 MILES IF PROPERTY MAINTAINED WITH GEASE. THE MANUFACTURER IS TRW PART #MA-12-1 EY3 . DODGE 981/2 YR. MODEL #25000 24V DIESEL L-6 DIESEL ENGINE CUMMINS VIN#[XXX] VEHICLE MILEAGE IS (74,103). THE PART REPLACEMENT COST IS $60.00. INSTALLED BY OWNER. THE PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10033184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE SPARE TIRE FELL FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

NHTSA complaint #8021928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TRAILER HITCHES

WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THERE IS A TRAILER ON BACK, TRAILER BLOWS THE FUSE ON REVERSE LIGHTS OF TRUCK. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY UNSAFE, COULD BE REAR ENDED. ALL LIGHTS REPLACED WERE FACTORY INSTALLED.

NHTSA complaint #8007617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TRAILER HITCHES

THE HITCH IS CRACKING NEAR WHERE IT BOLTS TO THE FRAME OF THE TRUCK. CHRYSLER HAS RECALLED 1998-2000 TRUCKS FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT SAYS MY TRUCK IS NOT IN THE RECALL. YET I HAVE A RECALL ON THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH, IGNITION SWITCH AND THROTTLE CABLE.THEY TOLD ME TO GET THE HITCH REPAIRED AND SAVE MY RECIEPT! IT IS STRESS CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES AND I THINK WELDING IT WOULD BE DANGEROUS. THERE HAVE TO BE A LOT OF HITCHES OUT THERE ON DODGE RAMS READY TO BREAK OFF - I THOUGH YOU SHOULD KNOW. P.S. I NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT TO LOOK UNDER THERE IF IT WEREN'T FOR ANOTHER DODGE OWNER ASKING ME IF I GOT THE RECALL ON MY HITCH YET. SCAREY HUH?!

NHTSA complaint #751767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TRAILER HITCHES

CONSUMER WAS HOOKED UP TO A STOCK TRAILOR WITH 20 SHEEP WEIGHING APROXIMATELY 4,000LBS. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT HITCH WAS AT A ANGLE. GOT DOWN UNDERNEATH TO FIND IT WAS CRACKED. CONSUMER WILL TAKE IT IN TO DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #890500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TRAILER HITCHES

METAL ON BOTH SIDES OF BOLTS OF TRAILOR HITCH CRACKED WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH.

NHTSA complaint #879674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT ONLY WANTED THE TRUCK FOR HALF AS MUCH TIME AND MONEY. THE EVAPORATOR COIL UNDER THE DASH FAILED AND THE EVAPORATOR DRIER ALSO FAILED( IT RUSTED OUT). I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER TRUCK OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND I DID CALL CHRYSLER AND THEY NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM, KINDA MAKES ME WONDER WHATS GOING ON. ADMITTEDLY THE TRUCK IS OFF WARRANTY, BUT I'VE NEVER HAD AN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM THAT EVER NEEDED ANY ATTENTION AND ONE IS 12 YEARS OLD. ANY HELP WITH THIS SITUATION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

NHTSA complaint #727472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #724521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

THE REAR BLOWER MOTOR THAT CONTROLS THE AIR CONDITIONER BURNED OUT, CAUSING THE INSIDE OF THE VAN TO BECOME FILLED WITH SMOKE, THE MOTOR MELTED THE HOUSING COVER OF THE MOTOR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #849390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

CHECK VALVE RECALL WORK COMPLETED HOWEVER TOO LATE, AC CONTROLLER AND ALL THE ACTUATORS BEGAN TO FAIL.

NHTSA complaint #542035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.