180 of the
4,040 complaints filed about the Dodge RAM 3500
are about the body and structure —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2003.
The contact owns a 2012 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while reversing at approximately 1 MPH, the front driver’s tie rod fractured and put a whole in the aluminum wheel. The contact who works as an independent mechanic completed the repair. The contact stated that a recall repair for the driver’s side outer tie rod had been completed in July 2019. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.
NHTSA complaint #11541274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRAME RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL PLACES. SERVICE PROVIDER HAD PROBLEMS PLACING TRUCK ON LIFT DUE TO FRAME INTEGRITY TO REPLACE BRAKE LINES. UPON MY INSPECTION FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH IN SEVERAL PLACES. CANNOT DETERMINE IF TRUCK IS SAFE TO DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #11331110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD BEGAN TO FRACTURE AND WAS CURRENTLY IN SEVERAL PIECES. THE CONTACT CALLED I-10 MAC HAIK DODGE CHRYSLER (LOCATED AT 12111 KATY FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77079, 713-538-2700) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #11276861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARE TIRE CABLES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WERE RUSTED. THE FAILURE PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM PLACING THE TIRE BACK IN THE SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT, AS IT COULD FALL WHILE DRIVING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000.
NHTSA complaint #11175715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HAPPENED ON BOTH SIDES 2 MONTH APART. LOUD BANG AND RUMBLE. INSIDE TIRE, TREAD CAME OFF OF TIRE. DAMAGED INSIDE OF WHEEL WELL, RUNNING LIGHTS, FENDERS ON THE DUALLY, METAL SUPPORTS ON FENDER. NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN IN 30+ YEARS OF TOWING AND DRIVING TRUCKS.
NHTSA complaint #11013392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS PREMATURE CRACKING AND DETERIORATION OF THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION OTHER THAN FOR THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE PART. THE DEALER STATED THAT TO COMPLETE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V312000 (AIR BAGS), THE DASHBOARD WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE PARTS HAD NOT BEEN AVAILABLE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME SO THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF WHEN THE RECALL REPAIR WOULD BE COMPLETED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 01/27/17
NHTSA complaint #10924317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING DOWN THE FRWY AT REQUIRED SPEED WHEN RT REAR PASS TIRE BLEW CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL, RT REAR PANEL & TAILPIPE. THIS TIRE HAD 3,000 MI. ON IT & WE HAD CHKD PSIG ON ALL TIRES JUST PREVIOUS TO THE BLOWOUT. THIS TIRE WAS A LT265/70R-17/10 TERRAMAX HT ALL POSITION OWL MADE BY DYNAMIC TIRE. LES SCHWAB REPLACED IT WITH ONE JUST LIKE IT. WE HAD A 4,000LB ARCTIC FOX CAB OVER CAMPER ON THE TRUCK AT THE TIME. DYNAMIC STATES THERE IS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE OF POOR QUALITY OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD NAME THEM AS THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY.
NHTSA complaint #10903373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE SPARE TIRE HEAT SHIELD BROKE FROM STRESS POSING A RISK OF FALLING OFF DURING DRIVING. THIS POSES A RISK OF DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AS WELL AS A RISK OF BECOMING HAZARDOUS DEBRIS TO OTHER DRIVERS. BECOMING HAZARDOUS DEBRIS COULD RESULT IN CAUSING AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. THIS PROBLEM WAS FOUND WHILE CONDUCTING A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE UNDERNEATH OF THE VEHICLE DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10895765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CABLE THAT HELD THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE FRACTURED AND THE SPARE TIRE FELL OUT INTO THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO REPLACED THE CABLE AND FITTED THE SPARE TIRE BACK IN ITS POSITION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 231,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
NHTSA complaint #10873414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER BUILT UP IN THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EACH TIME IT RAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR GASKET LIGHT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER DAMAGE AFFECTED THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000.
NHTSA complaint #10839501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, FUEL LEAKED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED THE VEHICLE SWERVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPLETE AXLE HOUSING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10783310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I HIT A SERIES OF BUMPS AT 60 MPH AND MY TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. I THEN HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO 30MPH TO REGAIN CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #10775443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE DASH ON THIS TRUCK HAS CRACKED AND FALLEN IN, EXPOSING THE WIRING INSIDE THE DASH TO THE SUN. THE WIRING INSULATION IS NOT RATED FOR EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT (UV EXPOSURE) AND IS DECOMPOSING, PUTTING THE TRUCK AT RISK OF A FIRE INITIATING INSIDE THE CAB AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, DUE TO EXPOSED WIRING SHORTING TO GROUND. DODGE REFUSES TO REMEDY IT, DESPITE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WITH THEM. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE, YET THE NHTSB HAS NOT FORCED CHRYSLER/FIAT INTO A RECALL, CLAIMING THAT IT ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE. DO YOU NEED TO SEE DEATH BEFORE YOU ACT?
NHTSA complaint #10750341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CRACKING HAS DONE NOTHING BUT GET WORSE. THE DASH HAS BEGUN HAVING CHUCKS OF BROKEN PLASTIC FALL OFF INTO THE INSTRUMENTATION AND ON THE FLOOR. IT HAS DISPROPORTIONATELY DEVALUED THE TRUCK. THE DASH SHOULD BE REPLACED BY DODGE ALONG WITH THE BEZEL ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHICH HAS 2 CRACKS IN IT. THE CRACKS IN THE DASH ARE ALSO WERE INHIBITING THE DEFROSTER FROM CLEARING THE WINDSHIELD WHEN FOGGED UP ON THE INSIDE. THIS WAS PROVING VERY DANGEROUS UNTIL I REMOVED THE PIECES THAT WERE BLOCKING THE AIR FLOW.
NHTSA complaint #10703573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DURING TRAVEL ON INTERSTATE 40 AT EXIT 56, DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE SEPARATED CAUSING DAMAGE TO INNER FENDER, WINDSHIELD WASHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, AND FENDER AND NEARLY CAUSING CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND LOSS OF LIFE OF AN ENTIRE FAMILY. ALL TIRES WERE AT THE PROPER INFLATION AND TEMPERATURE RANGE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. WITH ONLY 20,000 MILES ON THE TIRE, THIS SEEMS TO BE MANUFACTURED DEFECT FROM THE GENERAL TIRE COMPANY. I NO LONGER CONSIDER GENERAL TIRES TO BE A RELIABLE PRODUCT AND WILL RESEARCH AND SEEK REPLACEMENTS FROM OTHER REPUTABLE TIRE COMPANIES. I DO RECOMMEND PRODUCT RECALL OF THE AMERITRAC LT235/80R17 TIRE LINE AS WELL AS PRODUCT SAFETY COMPLIANCE INSPECTIONS OF THE GENERAL TIRE COMPANY.
NHTSA complaint #10694340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.