15 of the
153 complaints about the 1997 Dodge RAM 3500 are about the
fuel system — 10% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
136,000 miles.
C
15
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Tank Assembly
533.3%
Tank Assembly
213.3%
Fuel System, Gasoline
16.7%
Fuel System, Other
16.7%
Fuel Injection System
16.7%
Mounting
16.7%
Hoses, Lines/Piping, AND Fittings
16.7%
Fuel Gauge System
16.7%
Fuel System, Diesel
16.7%
Fuel/Propulsion System
16.7%
Fuel & Propulsion across every Dodge RAM 3500 year
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK COLLAPSED TWICE WITHIN A NINE YEAR TIME FRAME. THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER EACH TIME. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS SETUP LIKE A VACUUM AND THE FUEL CAP ALLOWED AIR TO ENTER INTO THE TANK, CAUSING IT TO COLLAPSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS MANUFACTURED WITH PLASTIC AND DID NOT HAVE A VENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 175,000.
NHTSA complaint #10493027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 208,000 milesTijeras, NM
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
AT ENGINE OIL CHANGE, SERVICEMAN NOTICED FUEL TANK HANGING BY AFT FUEL HANGER STRAP ONLY. FIRST FAILURE OF THE FUEL TANK HANGER STRAP ASSEMBLY. HAD THE TANK COMPLETELY FAILED ON THE ROAD, THE 35 GALLONS OF DIESEL FUEL COULD HAVE CAUSED A BURNED UP VEHICLE AND OR INJURY/ LOSS OF LIFE.
NHTSA complaint #10321448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 29,455 milesNewton Falls, OH
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
I HAVE A 1997 DODGE RAM TRUCK 3500 WITH 5.9 LITER 6 CYLINDER DIESEL LARAMIE SLT. THE FUEL GAUGE HASN'T WORKED FOR 5 YEARS NOW AND THE FUEL SENDING UNIT IS DEFECTIVE. I WOULD PURCHASE A NEW ONE, BUT COST TO ME FOR THE FUEL SENDING UNIT PART IS $198.00. CURRENTLY, LIKE EVERYONE ELSE THAT SEEMS TO HAVE FAULTY FUEL SENDING UNITS, I SET THE TRIPMETER AND GO 300-350 MILES AND THEN FILL UP THE TANK. THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS WITH GAS AND DIESEL ENGINES AND I'M WONDERING WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL?
NHTSA complaint #10165315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 97,000 milesGlendale, AZ
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
THE FRONT AND REAR FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAPS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10007184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Glendale, AZ
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL TANK SUPPORT STRAP BROKE CAUSING TANK TO DROP TO THE PAVEMENT. UPON REMOVAL OF THE TANK, THE FRONT STRAP WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY CRACKED THROUGH.
NHTSA complaint #10007185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 65,000 milesOmaha, AR
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 TO 60 MPH TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND THE STEEL BELTS RUPTURED THE GAS TANK. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND GAS TANK WAS REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10063499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 184,000 milesBirch River, WVFire
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
FUEL SHUT OFF AND SOLENOID OVERHEATED, CAUSING A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10057525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Deer Park, WA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL GAUGE HAS BEEN INOPERATIVE SINCE 1999.
NHTSA complaint #893970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cuba City, WI
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED FUEL TANK FELL OFF, 1 STRAP WAS GONE, OTHER HAD BROKEN.
NHTSA complaint #886242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brownwood, TX
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL TANK IS HANGING ON BY ONE STRAP. DEALER SUGGESTED TO GET ONE STRAP FROMJUNKYARD AND PUT IT ON. DEALER COULD ORDER A STRAP, BUT THERE WOULD BE A CHARGE.
NHTSA complaint #875411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Springfield, VA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF PRIME-LOC (WWW.ASH-TEC.COM) FUEL FILTER RESULTED IN IMMEDIATE ENGINE SHUTDOWN, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE ASSIST (8000LBS), CAVITATION OF INJECTOR PUMP, AND ATOMIZED DIESEL FUEL COVERING WINDSHIELDS AND OBSCURING VISION OF FOLLOWING VEHICLES. SIGNIFICANT FIRE HAZARD FROM ATOMIZED FUEL FILLING ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE. OF THE THREE OTHER PRIME-LOC OWNERS I HAVE CONTACTED, EACH OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR FAILURES. DISCUSSIONS WITH PRIME-LOC ENGINEER INDICATED POSSIBILITY OF NUMEROUS OTHERS SIMILAR FAILURES....) MANUFACTURER IGNORING ALL COMPLAINTS, CONTINUES TO SELL. I HAVE RETAINED ALL HARDWARE AND IT REMAINS AVAILABLE FOR METALLURGICAL INSPECTION (SUSPECT HYDROGEN EMBRITTLEMENT DURING PLATING PROCESS).
NHTSA complaint #723792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DUE TO A DEFECTIVE FUEL STRAP WHICH BROKE, FUEL TANK DROPPED, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH OR A FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #861820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baton Rouge, LA
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
CONSUMER NOTICED GAS INDICATOR WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER SAID THEY DIDN'T SEE IT AS BEING A PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #861570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Galt, CA2 injured
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE PULLING A TRAILER WITH VEHICLE ON IT CONSUMER STARTED TO SMELL SOMETHING FUNNY, CONSUMER ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOW AND BLACK SMOKE ROLLED IN, THEN CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND VEHICLE BURNED UP.
NHTSA complaint #857792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dadger, MN
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL GAUGE IS READ INCORRECTLY.
NHTSA complaint #843447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.