54 of the
561 complaints filed about the Dodge RAM Quad CAB
are about the braking system —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2003.
THIS TRUCK IS USED TO HAUL A CAMPER AND A CAR TRAILER FOR MY SHOW CARS. TODAY I STARTED TRUCK TO HOOKUP TO CAR TRAILER FOR THE FOURTH TIME TIME THIS YEAR. THIS TRUCK IS NOT DRIVEN IN THE WINTERS YET WHILE BACKING UP TO THE TRAILER I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO HAVE THE BRAKE PEDAL GO TO THE FLOOR. I FOUND THAT THE LINE GOING TO THE REAR IS RUSTED NEAR THE FUEL TANK AND SPRAYS BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE FUEL TANK. ALSO A LINE FOR THE FRONT BRAKES COMING DOWN FROM THE ABS UNIT FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. I HAVE BRAKE FLUID SPRAYING EVERYWHERE. THIS CAUSED A COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. IT APPEARS THE OEM COATED ALL OTHER UNDER VEHICLE COMPONENTS YET LEFT THE BRAKE LINES RAW STEEL. I WRITE THIS AS A SEARCH TO WEB TO FIND THIS IS OCCURRING OVER AND OVER AGAIN. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AS IF THIS HAPPEN TO ME AFTER HIT THE ROAD WITH 9,000 LBS OF TRAILER BEHIND ME WITH NO BRAKES EITHER MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE ON THE ROAD COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10725100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN IN A PARKING LOT, GOING ABOUT 5-10MPH, WHILE I WAS TURNING, THE BRAKE PEDAL STARTED PULSATING VERY HARD - DROVE FORWARD IN THE PARKING LOT - MADE A LEFT HAND TURN STARTED GOING FORWARD AND WENT TO STEP ON BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE - PEDAL WAS ROCK HARD AND WOULD NOT STOP TRUCK. AFTER FINALLY COASTING TO A STOP I PUT TRUCK IN REVERSE - BACKED UP IN VACANT PART OF THE PARKING LOT SO I COULD PUT TRUCK IN DRIVE AND THEN SWING WIDE INTO A PARKING STALL AND COAST TO A STOP - HOWEVER WHEN I WENT TO SWING THE TRUCK I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO STEERING AT ALL -FRONT WHEELS WOULD NOT TURN. HAD TO HAVE TOWED.
NHTSA complaint #10465926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2001 DODGE RAM 4X4 DRIVERS SIDE REAR BRAKE LINE RUSTED THROUGH CREATING A LEAK WHEN TRYING TO STOP IN DRIVEWAY AT HOME. HAD BUSHES IN FRONT OF PARKING SPOT BLOCKED BY RAILROAD TIES AS A LANDSCAPE DIVIDER. THE TRUCK RAN INTO AND PARTIAL THROUGH RAILROAD TIES INTO BUSHES TO STOP THE TRUCK. NO REPAIR MADE YET ON TRUCK.
NHTSA complaint #10341756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY REAR BRAKE LINE BROKE AND IN THE PROCESS OF LOOKING UP TORQUE SPECIFICS ON THE NEW ONE I BOUGHT I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS HAPPENING A LOT WITH DODGE. THE LINES ARE RUSTING THROUGH BECAUSE I BELIEVE REGULAR STEEL IS BEING USED INSTEAD OF A TREATED OR STAINLESS WHICH WOULD RESIST CORROSION BETTER. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO DOWNSHIFT AND USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKE INSTEAD OF FACING A TRAGEDY. I CAN SEE WHERE SOME PEOPLE WOULD PANIC AND NOT THINK TO DO THIS TO PULL OF THE ROAD SAFELY. IT IS A SCARY FEELING TO PUSH THE BRAKES AND HAVE NOTHING HAPPEN. THE WAY THE BRAKE LINES ARE RUN IS ALSO VERY INCONVENIENT AND MOST OF THE TIME REQUIRE THE GAS TANK TO BE REMOVED WHICH IS DIFFICULT FOR MOST AND CAN BE COSTLY TO HAVE A MECHANIC DO IT. I WAS FORTUNATE IN THAT THE LINE BROKE JUST ABOVE THE GAS TANK SO I WAS ABLE TO PULL IT THROUGH THE RETAINING CLIPS.
NHTSA complaint #10298499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNING THIS TRUCK I HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS RESURFACED TWICE AND WITHIN THE FIRST 18 MONTHS HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS AND CALIPERS REPLACED. DEALER DENIED WARRANTY COMPLETELY (NOT COVERED) CALLED CHRYSLER SOMEONE NAMED MIKE SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT. IT WAS PROBABLY THE WAY I DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10212512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN IN TO BE LOOKED AT BECAUSE THERE WAS A VIBRATION. I TOLD THEM IT WAS A U-JOINT OR BEARING GOING OUT. THE TRUCK HAD BEEN IN THE SAME SHOP 4 TIMES, FOR THE SAME THING -THE U-JOINT OR BEARING. THE MECHANIC AT THE SHOP SAID THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE BALANCED BUT THEY DID NOT DO THAT AT THIER SHOP. I TOKK IT TO ANOTHER PLACE, THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE TIRES DID NOT NEED TO BE BALANCED,BUT THEY BALNCED THEM ANYWAYS. SO I HAD TWO OPINIONS ON THE TRUCK. THE NEXT NIGHT I PICKED UP THE GUYS I WORK WITH AND WE WENT TO WORK. ON THE WAY HOME THE DRIVE SHAFT, DRIVE LINE,YOLK, AND TRANSFERCASE CAME APART AND TRIED TO COME UP THROUGH THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING HOLES IN THE FLOORBOARD, AND IT PULLED THE ELECTRICAL WIRING OUT WHICH CAUSED ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS TO COME ON. ANYONE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT. I GOT THE THE TRUCK TO A NEARBY CONVIENENT STORE AND I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TOW MY TRUCK TO THE SHOP. I CALLED MY WIFE AND WE WENT AND PICKED UP ALL THE PARTS OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE TRUCK, WHICH IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THEY TOOK PICTURES AND SENT THEM TO THEIR REPS. THEIR REPS IN ANOTHER STATE SAID IT WAS IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE IN 4 LOW UNDER EXTENSIVE TORQUE IN A MUD HOLE. IT HAD NOT RAINED HERE IN OVER A MONTH. SO THE DIRT ROAD I WAS ON WAS DRY AND SMOOTH. I DID NOT HAVE IT IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. WHY BUY A 4 WHEEL DRIVE IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO USE IT. THEY SAID I WAS DRIVING FAST CAUSING EXTENSIVE TORQUE!? I WAS DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT AND PEOPLE DRIVE FAST AND THEIR VEHICLES DON'T FALL APART. THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T COVER THE DAMAGE, EVEN THOUGH THEIR MECHANIC MADE A WRONG DIAGNOSIS. IT IS THEIR FAULT AND THEY SHOULD TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX IT, WITH NO MONEY COMING OUT OF MY POCKET. I GET PAID TO DRIVE TO AND FROM WORK. NOW I DON'T HAVE A TRUCK TO GET ME TO WORK. THE SHOP SAYS THEY WILL PAY HALF THE COST TO FIX IT AND I CAN PAY THE OTHER HALF. THEY SAY THEY ARE DOING ME A FAVOR BY DOING THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10165342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
AT 65 MPH USING CRUISE CONTROL, DAYTIME, DRY PAVEMENT, GOOD WEATHER, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH WARNING CHIME. AT NEXT EXIT, OPERATOR TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP. TECHNICIAN FOUND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY WORN, ALLOWING TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO BE MOVED 1-2'' FROM VERTICAL. VEHICLE HAD BEEN CHECKED DURING STATE INSPECTION LESS THAN 400 MILES PREVIOUSLY AND PASSED. A TOTAL FAILURE IN TRAFFIC AT SPEED MIGHT HAVE RESULTED IN A LOSS OF HANDLING/BRAKING THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED OR WORSENED AN ACCIDENT. FAILED PART IS AVAILABLE. VEHICLE HAS ALSO SUFFERED NUMEROUS PREMATURE FAILURES INCLUDING: FAILURE OF DRIVER HEATED SEAT, FAILURE OF ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP, NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENT DUE TO ENGINE STOPPAGE AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING, FAILURE OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, FAILURE OF FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, AND DAMAGE TO SPARE TIRE DUE TO MIS-ROUTED TAIL PIPE. SOME OF THESE ARE MANUFACTURER DESIGN DEFECTS, OTHERS ARE TROUBLESHOOTING OR REPAIR ERRORS AT DEALER. TWO EVENTS (FUEL PUMP, WHEEL BEARING) MIGHT HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT WITH INJURY/DEATH POSSIBLE OUTCOME.
NHTSA complaint #10164931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE LEES THAN 45000 MILES ON MY TRUCK AND THE BREAK PADS ON THE FRONT HAVE BEEN CHANGED SIX TIMES. ROTORS ARE FINE, THE LAST THREE TIMES THE PADS WERE CHANGED IN LESS THEN 18 MONTHS. WHEN GETTING THE PADS FROM A NATIONAL AUTO STORE THE COMPUTER BROUGHT UP BIGGER PADS THAT WOULD BE FOR MY QUAD CAB. THEY DIDN'T FIT AND I HAD TO GO WITH THE REGULAR CAB BRAKE PADS. I CONTACTED THE DEALER THEY CHECKED THEM OUT AND SAID IT WAS THE RIGHT SIZE CALIPER ON THE TRUCK. WHEN I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE AUTO STORE ONLY BRINGING UP THE LONGER PADS THEY OFFERED TO CHANGE MY ROTORS AND BREAK FOR A GREAT DEAL OF $400. NO THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10160783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
I WAS REQUIRED TO PAY $198.03 TO THE DEALERSHIP TO RESURFACE THE FRONT ROTORS OF MY 2003 DODGE 1500 LONESTAR PICKUP. THE SERVICE TECH VERIFIED THAT I STILL HAVE 8MM OF ORIGINAL BRAKE ON THE FRONT AND 10MM OF ORIGINAL BRAKE ON THE BACK. SINCE I AM PAST THE 12000 MILES REQUIRED BY CHRYSLER THEY FEEL THAT THIS IS A NORMAL WEAR PROBLEM. BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES PULSATING EACH TIME I APPLIED THEM I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED AS IT WAS BECOMING WORSE. I FAIL TO SEE THIS AS NORMAL WEAR IF MY BRAKES ARE IN SUCH GOOD CONDITION. I FEEL THAT IT IS A POOR DESIGN OR MATERIAL PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BY CHRYSLER AND NOT THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE VIEWED WEB SITES THAT SHOW MANY OWNERS OF 2003/2004 DODGE 1500 WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THE SERVICE TECH STATED THE SAME THING.
NHTSA complaint #10160596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKES START TO SQUEAK AND SHIMMY. SQUEAKING VERY LOUD WHEN COMING TO STOP. SQUEAK LASTS FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS THEN SOUNDS LIKE METAL TO METAL AND CAN FEEL IN PEDAL. TRUCK STARTS TO SHIMMY AT HIGH SPEED THEN APPLYING BRAKES TO STOP. I HAVE DOWN 3 COMPLETE BRAKE JOBS FRONT AND REAR, BEST PADS, ROTORS, EVERYTHING. NEW REPLACEMENT ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE DUE TO WARPING. THE BRAKES SHOULD LAST LONGER THE 3-4 MONTHS WHICH IN MILES TERMS IS LESS THAN 25,000 MILES. I AM NOW ON MY 4TH BRAKE JOB AND I SHOULDN'T BE. THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM. NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THIS IS BECOMING EXTREMELY COSTLY.
NHTSA complaint #10158888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V185000 CONCERNING THE ANTI LOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE . THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. *AK UPDATED 12/27/2005 - WHEN THE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS TAKEN OFF THE GAS PEDAL THE VEHICLE ALMOST COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE BRAKES WERE LOCKED AND THAT THE PART TO REPAIR THEM WAS RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #10143637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRUCK DEVELOPED WARPED ROTORS @ 13K MILES. ROTORS WERE TURNED AND FRON T CALIPERS REPLACED DUE TO TSB. LATER SHUDDER REAPPEARD @ ABOUT 22K MILES. DEALER TURNED REAR ROTORS. SHUDDER REAPPEARED ~6K MILES LATER. REPLACED REAR DISCS SINCE OLDER ONES WERE BEYOND TURNING. SHUDDER REAPPEARED @ 34K. AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION WITH DEALER AND DODGE CUST NO-SERVICE, FRONT HUBS WERE REPLACED AND FRONT ROTORS TURNED DUE TO TSB. NOW AT 38K MILES SHUDDER IS BACK.
NHTSA complaint #10133521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AT 3,000 MILE THE BRAKES BEGAN TO SHUDDER, THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE, THEN AT 9,000 MILE SERVICE BULLETIN REPAIR WAS COMPLETED, NOW AT 22,000 I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM, DEALERSHIP STATES THAT ONCE SERVICE BULLETIN IS DONE DODGE WILL NOT REPAIR AGAIN, AND NOW WARRANTY IS EXPIRED ON BRAKES
NHTSA complaint #10127228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
VEHICLE VIBRATED/SHOOK WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTORS AND THE CALIPERS. WITHIN 9,000 MILES OF WEAR THE PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AGAIN, BUT REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10117271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
VEHICLE VIBRATED/SHOOK WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTORS AND THE CALIPERS. WITHIN 9,000 MILES OF WEAR THE PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AGAIN, BUT REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10117271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
I DRIVE A DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB SLT 4X4. AN ELECTRICAL FIRE WAS OBSERVED IN THE WIRING HARNESS LEADING FROM ABS CONTROL UNIT. IN THE PAST, I HAVE HAD TWO PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS SENSOR AND WIRING HARNESS. ON ONE OCCASION, THE HARNESS WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE SENSOR. ON THE FIRST OCCASION, ONLY THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. IN A DOCUMENTED DIAGNOSIS, THE DEALER'S MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS MOISTURE PRESENT IN THE WIRING HARNESS NECESSITATING REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AWAITING AUTHORIZATION FOR REPAIR. I HAD FOUND A RECALL NOTICE ON AUTORECALLS.ORG (NHTSA NUMBER 04V18500), BUT APPARENTLY MY VEHICLE'S VIN IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10116223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.