22 of the 153 complaints about the 1997 Dodge RAM 3500 are about the braking system — 14% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 139,275 miles.
22
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID
POWER STEER/BRAKE FLUID MASTER CYLINDER LEAKED INTO CAB OF TRUCK SATURATING THE CARPETS BEFORE IT COULD BE DISCOVERED. SAFETY FEAR OF CARPET SOAKED WITH POWER STEERING FLUID.
NHTSA complaint #10608223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON. BRAKES ARE NOT LIKE THEY USE TO BE.
NHTSA complaint #10138528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DT: BRAKE LINES RUSTED. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CALLER HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES. HE WAS COMING TO A STOP SIGN AND WHEN HITTING THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE REAR BRAKES LOST ALL THE FLUID. HE PUMPED THE BRAKE AND GOT VEHICLE TO STOP. THE CALLER SAID THAT WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO FIND WHERE A HOLE WAS THE FLUID SPRAYED OUT AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.
NHTSA complaint #10132814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILURE - THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE BRAKE AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT INDICATORS ON THE DASH TO INTERMITTANTLY APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR. THE BRAKE PEDAL INTERMITTANTLY RANGES FROM SOFT TO HARD. A PERIODIC VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL IS NOTED WITH NEARLY A TOTAL LOSS IN BRAKE PRESSURE.
NHTSA complaint #10081016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
WHILE DRIVING, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT HAD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS . *AK *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10044806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT WILL NOT SHUT OFF. *JADA
NHTSA complaint #781961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE
CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT PARKING BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF. *JADA
NHTSA complaint #781961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT WILL NOT SHUT OFF. *JADA
NHTSA complaint #781961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARKING BRAKE
CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT PARKING BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF. *JADA
NHTSA complaint #781961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS. DEALER HAS ALREADY REPLACED TWO SETS OF ROTORS.
NHTSA complaint #884782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN THE PEDAL IS APPLIED IT GOES HALF WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE IT CATCHES, AND THERE IS A LATE RESPONSE FROM THE BRAKES, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS HAS RESULTED IN A REAR END COLLISION. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #848484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED FOR A SUDDEN STOP, THE VEHCILE VEERS SEVERELY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT, ALMOST CHANGING LANES. DEALER SAYS IT'S NORMAL.
NHTSA complaint #831923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING IN "EMPTY LOADS" THE REAR ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE REAR BRAKES TO "CATCH AND GO," RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND ALMOST AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #830890 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNED BRAKE FAILURE. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN AN EMERGENCEY SITUATION, BRAKE SYSTEM MOMENTARILY FAILED. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. ALSO THE CONSUMER STATED THAT MANUFACTURER INFORMED HIM THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #825558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
BRAKE PADS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #524404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS AN THEN REENGAGED.
NHTSA complaint #524404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
REAR BRAKES FAILED, FRONT BRAKES PULL TO THE RIGHT WHEN APPLIED.
NHTSA complaint #524329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN BRAKING THE LEFT REAR BRAKES LOCK WITH LIGHT PEDAL PRESSURE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT.
NHTSA complaint #527622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE APPLYING BRAKES (ABS), THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER AT LEAST 3 TIMES & INFORMED THAT ROTORS NEEDED TURNING.
NHTSA complaint #820004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHILE APPLYING BRAKES (ABS), THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER AT LEAST 3 TIMES & INFORMED THAT ROTORS NEEDED TURNING.
NHTSA complaint #820004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE APPLYING THE ABS BRKAES VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT. ALSO THERE IS A CLUNKING SOUND WITHIN BRAKES WHEN APPLIED.PROBLEM OCCURS AT ANY SPEED WHILE BRAKING. DEALERS REPLACED MANY PARTS, BUT PROBLEM REMAINS.
NHTSA complaint #818026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED BRAKE FLUID BURNING, PULLED OVER AND OPENED HOOD AND THE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #814286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.