66 of the
8,415 complaints filed about the Dodge RAM 2500
are about the seat belts —
1% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1999.
I want to apologize for the lengthy description but I feel this is quite possibly the most critical area to not be vague in. **This problem occurs every time, NOT an intermittent condition.** REAR SEAT/CENTER SEAT BELT RETRACTOR; will not extend out from the retractor. The belt is locked in the fully retracted (unoccupied) position. The vehicle can be on a flat surface, an incline, or a declined position when this occurs. There's nothing obstructing any part of the belt and retractor. In order to use that position/seat belt, I must repeatedly (sometimes in excess of 20 times) pull the belt in different rates of speed ie. pull the belt very slowly, pull it normally, pull it very fast by basically snatching the belt. I've even tried to help the belt further retract into the retractor by slowly feeding the belt rearward. There's no 1 action that seems to work better than the other. Furthermore, at times, the belt (once able to be used) will not hold its position to keep the occupant from moving forward in a panic stop or even by snatching the belt to check its operation. The buckle does function as designed so this problem is strictly related to the shoulder belt not keeping the occupant secure. Apon visual inspection, there are no noted frays, stains, foreign objects, or signs of attempted (prior) repairs. I also want to note that I am an ASE certified Master Mechanic so I am well versed on the operation, diagnosis and replacement of seat belts/retractors/sinchers buckets etc. I'm asking for assistance by any information you can share with me to remedy this issue. This is my "daily driver" routinely using the back seat for my children. I don't want to replace it with a used part because I believe this is a common issue for this platform vehicle. Thank you for your time and assistance!
NHTSA complaint #11526379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKARA INFLATORS APRIL 28TH 2019 WE TOOK OUR TRUCK TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE RECALLS FIXED AS THEY REQUESTED. MAINLY THE AIRBAGS AND THEY DID A 28 POINT INSPECTION. JULY 1ST 2019 SOMEONE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF MY HUSBAND AND THEY WERE INVOLVED IN A BAD ACCIDENT. THE AIRBAGS NEVER WENT OFF. MY HUSBAND HIT THE STEERING WHEEL SO HARD THERE'S A BRUISE AND MARK ON HIS CHEST AND THE SHAPE OF THE STEERING WHEEL. IT ALSO MESSED UP THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE GEAR SELECTOR. THE TRUCK IS TOTALED THE FRAME IS BENT THE SUSPENSIONS RIPPED OFF BUT WE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. INSURANCE IS BEING A PAIN. DODGE SAID THEY'D SEND OUT AN INVESTIGATOR SO FAR NO ONE SHOWED UP. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS.
NHTSA complaint #11231156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELT CONTROLLER FAILED AND CAUSED MY BATTERIES TO DRAIN. LEFT US STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. ONCE WE RECHARGED OUR BATTERIES WE HAD TO UNPLUG THE SEAT BELT CONTROLLER THAT WAS CAUSING THE DRAW ON THE BATTERIES. WE COULD NOT USE OUR SEAT BELTS.
NHTSA complaint #11222592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE BRACKET THAT HOLD THE BREAK LINE TO THE REAR END (AXLE) HAD RUBBED THE METAL BREAK LINE UNTIL IT WORE THROUGH THE LINE AND THEN SPLIT CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT (FAST). I NOTICED MY BREAK PEDDLE START GOING TO THE FLOOR, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I PUSHED THE BREAK PEDDLE TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE THERE WAS A SPEED ZONE AHEAD, THE BREAK PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR. THAT'S WHEN THE E BREAK WARNING LIGHT CAME ON NOTIFYING ME THAT MY BREAK FLUID WAS LOW OR EMPTY. I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION SO I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT DOWN TO SLOW DOWN, EVEN THOUGH I WAS STILL TRYING TO USE MY BRAKES THE PEDDLE WOULD TO THE FLOOR, STOPPING WAS 90% GONE, I HAD TO USE MY E BRAKE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP.. WHEN I STOP THE VEHICLE THAT'S WHEN I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK AND NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF BREAK FLUID, I COULD ALSO SEE A STREAM OF FLUID WHERE I PULLED IN AT. SO IT WAS SPRAYING OUT WHEN I WAS USING THE BREAKS TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP. WHEN I GOT HOME I LOOKED WHERE TRUCK IS ALWAYS PARKED THERE NO FLUID HAD BEEN LEAKED THERE. BETWEEN MY HOME AND THE 36 MILES TO TOWN IT HAD THE BRACKET HAD RUBBED THROUGH AND SPLIT THE BREAK LINE. MY MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BRACKET HAD BEEN RUBBING THE BRAKE LINE FOR A WHILE TO SPLIT OPEN LIKE THAT. I HAD TO REPLACE THE METAL BRAKE LINE THAT WENT TO THE REAR PASSENGER BRAKE. NOW I'M WORRIED THAT THIS MIGHT HAPPENED TO MY OTHER BRAKE LINES. IT NEVER STATES THAT I'M TO CHECK FOR WEARING ON METAL LINES. NOTHING AFTER MARKET HAS BEEN DONE TO THIS VEHICLE IT'S 100% STOCK AS IT WAS WHEN BOUGHT FROM THE DEALERSHIP. TO ME THIS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT WHICH COULD KILL OR HURT A PERSON/PEOPLE. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFAULT AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY! A SIMPLE RUBBER PROTECT PIECE NEEDS TO BE PLACE ON THE BRACKET AND/OR LINE TO PROTECT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN!!
NHTSA complaint #11184699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER RELATIVELY SHORT LIFE, THE SEAT BELT CONTROL TIMER MODULE FAILS, LEAVING SEAT BELTS INOPERABLE - A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD!! SEAT BELTS REMAIN IN A LOCKED POSITION, PREVENTING USE WHILE DRIVING. DODGE P/N 56043003AD. DODGE HAS RECEIVED REPORTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM ALONG WITH REQUESTS TO PURCHASE PART, FOR MANY YEARS BUT HAS CHOSEN TO STOP PRODUCTION OF THE PART. THAT WOULD NOT BE AS BIG AN ISSUE IF THEY HAD ENSURED AN ONGOING SUPPLY FROM THIRD PARTY VENDORS. AS IT STANDS, THEY HAVE CREATED A MAJOR SAFETY CRISIS FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF USERS OF THE LATE 90'S TO EARLY 2000'S TRUCKS.
NHTSA complaint #11162295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DEATH WOBBLE ON HIGHWAY AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE TRUCK STARTS SHAKING AND UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHILE THIS IS GOING ON. SEATBELTS WILL NOT RELEASE ONCE THIS HAPPENS, EVEN WHEN SEAT BELT IS RETRACTED ALL THE WAY.
NHTSA complaint #11141407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RELEASE OUT OF THE BUCKLES AND THE SEAT BELT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED PERIODICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
NHTSA complaint #11121845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING, MY SEAT BELTS LOCK UP AND WILL NOT ALLOW ANY MOVEMENT - HOLDING THE OCCUPANT TIGHTLY TO THE BACK OF THE SEAT, INDUCING TREMENDOUS ANXIETY. WITH EACH MOVEMENT OF THE OCCUPANT, THE SEATBELT TIGHTENS. SEATBELT MUST BE UNBUCKLED TO RELEAVE PRESSURE.
NHTSA complaint #11082641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLES IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK SLAMMED ON BRAKES. I WAS ROUGHLY 30 FT BEHIND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND THE PEDAL FELT SPONGY BEFORE GOING TO THE FLOOR. THE TIRES DID NOT LOCK UP, AND THE TRUCK SLOWED 20MPH IN ABOUT 30 FT. THE TRUCK MADE IMPACT WITH A CHEVROLET TAHOE AT 50 MPH. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEATBELT FAILED TO LOCK, THROWING MY KNEES INTO THE DASH. THE CHEVROLET TAHOE WAS TOTALED. THE CURRENT ESTIMATE TO REPAIR THE RAM IS $5,448. THE BUMPER, DRIVER FENDER, GRILLE, AND HOOD WERE DAMAGED. UPON REMOVING THOSE ITEMS THE SHOP FOUND ALMOST EVERY BRACKET IN THE FRONT END HAD BEEN BROKEN AND THE FRAME HORNS BENT UPWARDS FROM THE COLLISION. THE IMPACT WAS HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK A RATCHET STRAP IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK, SENDING A LADDER THAT I WAS CARRYING INTO THE CAB CORNER, LEAVING A SOFTBALL SIZED DENT. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY FROM THE INCIDENT AND THE BRAKES WERE FUNCTIONAL ON THE TRIP TO THE BODY SHOP, HOWEVER ANY ATTEMPT TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL RAPIDLY WOULD RESULT IN A SPONGY PEDAL. MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS 81,110. RAM WAS CONTACTED AND AFTER A WEEK OF BACK AND FORTH RAM AGREED TO SEND SOMEONE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A FAULT IN THE TRUCK.
NHTSA complaint #11047387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. UPON GETTING IN VEHICLE, I FOUND BOTH THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS LOCKED IN THE RETRACTED POSITION. I STOPPED AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR PART #P56043003AD AND WAS INFORMED THIS PART ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. THIS SEAT BELT TIMER CONTROL MODULE IS NECESSARY FOR THE SEAT BELTS TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED. TRUCK CAN ONLY BE DRIVEN WITHOUT SEAT BELTS IN USE.
NHTSA complaint #10967601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS ARE LOCKED IN A RETRACTED POSITION. THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE AFTER IT HAD BEEN PARKED. THE SEAT BELT CONTROL TIMER MODULE (SCTM) IS LIKELY THE CAUSE OF THIS MALFUNCTION. THIS PART IS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED, SO THE SEAT BELTS REMAIN UNUSABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10928898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO SECURE THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND LOWER BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND A COLLISION CENTER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE BODY DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,994. ..UPDATED 12/11/17 *BF
NHTSA complaint #10885031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT EXTEND OR RETRACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THE SEAT BELTS WERE TIED TO THE AIR BAG AND SEVERAL ELECTRICAL SENSORS IN THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10839005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE BOTH SEAT BELTS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10807678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO UNLATCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT HAD TO BE CUT IN ORDER FOR THE PASSENGER TO BE RELEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
NHTSA complaint #10690060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS LOCK AND CAN NOT BE PULLED OUT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS AND IS NOT MOVING. IT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN PASSENGERS ARE ABLE TO WEAR THEM. IT IS SO RANDOM. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT IS ON AND SEAT BELTS ARE LOCKED SO THEY CAN NOT BE PUT ON. THE SEAT BELT TIMER, LOCATED UNDER THE MIDDLE OF FRONT SEAT WHICH IS THE CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE CAN NOT BE PURCHASED FROM DODGE, IT IS ON LONG TERM BACK ORDER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT DODGE CORPORATION NEEDS TO ADDRESS AS IT IS NOT LEGAL TO OPERATE VEHICLE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10651338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE SEAT BELTS STARTING RETRACTING AND WOULD NOT RELEASE AND GETS TIGHTER WITH EVERY LITTLE MOVEMENT. THE ONLY WAY TO RELEASE WAS TO SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND OPEN DOOR. THIS HAS STARTED TO HAPPEN EVERY TIME WHEN GOING MORE THAN 25 - 30 MILES. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE PART TO FIX THIS WAS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO SEE IF I COULD FIND A PART AND WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP THAT 129 OF THESE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER AND SEEMS THAT NONE HAVE BEEN SHIPPED IN A WHILE. MY VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE WITH OUT THE USE OF THE SEAT BELTS.
NHTSA complaint #10616730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE SEAT BELTS SUDDENLY SEIZED. THE CONTACT EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY BREATHING BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT HAD ERRONEOUSLY TIGHTEN TOO MUCH. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS PRESENT WITH ALL THE SEAT BELTS IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT BELT MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED BUT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.
NHTSA complaint #10616745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.