1996 Dodge RAM 3500 Engine problems

Filed 23 Oct 2003 BAY City, MI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE IT STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART.

NHTSA complaint #10044578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 18 Jul 2003 at 50,000 miles Visalia, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

MY 1996 V10 DODGE RAM 3500 PICKUP HAD 3 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS PLUG UP IN A 4 YEAR PERIOD DUE TO REAR INJECTORS BEING PLUGGED. THERE IS NO FUEL FILTER IN LINE AND THE SCREEN IN THE INJECTORS PLUGS OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT A YEAR. AT A REPLACEMENT COST OF $600.00, THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT MOTIVATED TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10028583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 22 Oct 2002 Nevada City, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

FIRST ENGINE FAILURE. OUT OF WARRENTY, $8,000. MR

NHTSA complaint #768054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 23 Aug 2002 Tygh Valley, OR

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DODGE DEALERSHIPS RECEIVED A NOTICE NOT TO USE FRAME FILTERS AS THEY EXPLODE AND THROW FRAGMENTS OF THE FILTER INTO THE ENGINES. DODGE OWNERS WERE NEVER WARNED. FRAM ADVERTISEMENTS SAY THEY HAVE THE BEST FILTERS. EVIDENTLY, THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES BEFORE ACCORDING TO MECHANICS AND OWNERS AND THE WEB. OUR TIME WARRANTY ENDED 01/02, BUT THE MILEAGE ISN'T EVEN CLOSE. WE BOUGHT THE BIG DODGE THINKING IT WOULD BE THE LAST TRUCK WE PURCHASE SINCE WE ARE IN OUR 70'S. THE CUMMINGS DIESEL ENGINE SHOULD RUN 300,000 MILES, SO 38,000 IS NOTHING IN COMPARISON. WE NEED SOME KIND OF HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU, [XXX] & [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #766036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 23 Aug 2002 Tygh Valley, OR

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

DODGE DEALERSHIPS RECEIVED A NOTICE NOT TO USE FRAME FILTERS AS THEY EXPLODE AND THROW FRAGMENTS OF THE FILTER INTO THE ENGINES. DODGE OWNERS WERE NEVER WARNED. FRAM ADVERTISEMENTS SAY THEY HAVE THE BEST FILTERS. EVIDENTLY, THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES BEFORE ACCORDING TO MECHANICS AND OWNERS AND THE WEB. OUR TIME WARRANTY ENDED 01/02, BUT THE MILEAGE ISN'T EVEN CLOSE. WE BOUGHT THE BIG DODGE THINKING IT WOULD BE THE LAST TRUCK WE PURCHASE SINCE WE ARE IN OUR 70'S. THE CUMMINGS DIESEL ENGINE SHOULD RUN 300,000 MILES, SO 38,000 IS NOTHING IN COMPARISON. WE NEED SOME KIND OF HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU, [XXX] & [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #766036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 15 Aug 2002 Bedias, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT FOUND THAT THE LEFT FRONT FRAME WAS TOTALLY BROKEN AND THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE WAS CRACKED AND ALMOST TOTALLY BROKEN IN SAME AREA. THEY SAY THAT IT CAN POSSIBLY BE WELDED BUT NO GUARANTEE WOULD HOLD. WE ASK THAT THEY CONTACT CHRSYLER TO SEE IF ANYTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT, BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAPPEN. THEY SAID CHRSYLER REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, AND SAID SINCE IT WAS 6 YEARS OLD, AND HAD THAT MANY MILES ON IT THAT THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. WELL, WE FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT BECAUSE THEY ARE THE MANUFACTURER THAT BUILT THE TRUCK AND THE FRAME IS SUPPOSE TO LAST, ONE WOULD THINK LONGER THAN 6 YEARS. WE HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE WE HAVE OWNED OR ANYONE WE KNOW HAS NEVER. WE ALSO HAVE A 1987 CHEVROLET TRUCK AND IT HAS NO PROBLEMS WITH ITS FRAME. AFTER LOOKING AT THE PROBLEM CLOSER, IT APPEARS TO BE WHERE THE FRAME WAS WELDED TOGETHER IS WHERE IT BROKE AND CRACKED. IF I HAD NOT TAKEN IT IN TO GET IT ALIGNED, WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WOULD HAVE TOTALY BROKEN ON THE OTHER SIDE WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MILES PER HOUR. THE SERVICE DEPT SAID THE ENGINE WAS ABOUT TO FALL OUT THE BOTTOM AND I WAS VERY LUCKY. THEY COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED IT TO BREAK OTHER THAN SAYING IT WAS FROM STRESS. IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT , AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN MAINTAINED AS LONG AS I HAVE OWNED IT. I FEEL THAT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO HELP, BECAUSE I HAD NO PLANS TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE AND NOW I HAVE NO CHOICE UNFORTUNATLY. THIS WILL PUT A VERY BIG FINANCIAL HARDSHIP ON MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. PLEASE HELP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

NHTSA complaint #765617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.