25 of the 513 complaints about the 1997 Dodge RAM are about the throttle and cruise control — 5% of everything reported for this model year.
25
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION/INJURY.*AK THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10011289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CONSUMER HAD A RECALL #B15, BUT THE THROTTLE WAS STICKING AT TIMES. THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT THE BRACKET FOR THE BELL CRANK WAS MISSING, CAUSING THE LINKAGES TO TWIST. THE ACCELERATOR WAS STICKING, AND FOUND THE TPS WIRING BRACKET NOT BOTTLED UP, THE TPS BOLTS WERE LOOSE AND REAR HALF OF THE BELL CRANK WERE BROKEN CAUSING THE BELL CRANK TO PULL SIDEWAYS, BINDING THE THROTTLE. THE BACK PART OF THE BELL CRANK WAS REPLACED. SCC
NHTSA complaint #10009905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CONSUMER HASN'T RECIEVED RECALL SERVICE TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE LINKAGE DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. (NHTSA#02V161000). *SCC
NHTSA complaint #567898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
CONSUMER STATES ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD, DEALER NOTIFIED REPLACE AND REPAIRED TS
NHTSA complaint #8022830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR RECALL 02V161000 THROTTLE LINKAGE. CONSUMER HAS MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH ANOTHER DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8016952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING, THROTTLE LINKAGE HAS BROKEN IN HALF IN SAME LOCATION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. MECHANIC HAS REPAIRED THIS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS; HOWEVER UNABLE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL 02V161. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #8014994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AFTER STARTING VEHICLE CONSUMER SHIFTED TO REVERSE, SUDDENLY VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND ENGINE REVVED. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, WHICH DID NOT STOP VEHICLE. AFTER ABOUT 100 FEET CONSUMER SHUT OFF ENGINE, AND PASSENGER SHIFTED TO PARK. *AK WHILE ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN, THE VEHICLE DAMAGED THE GARAGE DOORS AND PART OF THE HOUSE.
NHTSA complaint #8011107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH IN 5 TH GEAR ENGINE REVVED, BUT VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. CONSUMER SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL, AND THEN TRIED TO SHIFT BACK, WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT BACK INTO GEAR. PLEASE ADD FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #8004331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE THOTTLE STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO IDLE. THE BRAKES WERE JUST ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL CAUSED THE ENGINE TO GO WELL INTO THE REDLINE ON THE RPM INDICATOR. PULLING UP ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DID NOTHING. THE DEALER SAID THE LINKAGE WAS RUSTED TIGHT. THEY DON'T HAVE NEW PARTS SO THEY SCRAPPED THE RUST OFF, OILED IT AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER. THEY SAID THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS NOT THE PROBLEM AS IN THE RECALL OF "95-96 VEHICLES. THIS IS A HARD TRUCK TO GET STOPPED WHEN THE THROTTLE IS STUCK WIDE OPEN. GOOD THING MY WIFE WASN'T DRIVING IT.
NHTSA complaint #752500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
A SOLID STEEL ADJUSTING ROD IN THROTTLE LINKAGE HAS BROKEN THREE TIMES. EACH INCIDENT CAUSES VEHICLE TO FALL INTO AN IDLING GEAR DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE, AND HAS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO EXAMINE VEHICLE ON THE THIRD INCIDENT BECAUSE IT TOOK PLACE IN THAT AREA. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #896227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY Z WINK WITHIN THROTTLE LINKAGE BROKE WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #895123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
THE FIRST REPAIR TO THE ACCELERATOR STICKING WAS DONE AT THE CADILLAC TRUCK CENTER IN CADILLAC, MICHIGAN. THE LAST TWO REPAIRS WERE DONE AT BONNEY MOTOR SALES IN LAKE CITY, MICHIGAN. I NOTIFIED THE DODGE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN AUBURN HILLS, MICHIGAN, OF THIS PROBLEM IN NOVEMBER OF 1999 WITH NO RESPONSE. AT THAT TIME MY TRUCK HAD 56,000 MILES ON IT. THE LAST TIME I WROTE THEM A LETTER DATED JANUARY 5, 2001, AND ALSO SENT THEM THE BILL IN THE AMOUNT OF $86.63 FOR ANOTHER REPAIR (#3) AT 73,000 MILES. THE MAIN CONCERN I HAVE OVER THIS IS THE SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THE ACCERATOR STICKS, I HAVE TO PUT THE TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL AND WAIT FOR THE ACCELERATOR TO COME DOWN. I HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH A RED LIGHT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER NEAR-MISS ACCIDENTS. AS A RESULT OF THE ACCERLATOR STICKING SO BAD, I HAVE ALSO BEEN USING MY BRAKES MORE THAN NECESSARY RESULTING IN REPLACING THEM MORE THAN I SHOULD HAVE TO. WE DID RECEIVE A PHONE CALL FROM OUR LAST COMMUNICATION WITH THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN AUBURN HILLS LAST WEEK. THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BILL. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS RESOLVED. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #739665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
PLEASE DELETE ODI #739665. THIS IS THE REVISED COMPLAINT. THE FIRST REPAIR TO THE ACCELERATOR STICKING WAS DONE AT THE CADILLAC TRUCK CENTER IN CADILLAC, MICHIGAN. THE LAST TWO REPAIRS WERE DONE AT BONNEY MOTOR SALES IN LAKE CITY, MICHIGAN. I NOTIFIED DODGE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN AUBURN HILLS, MICHIGAN, OF THIS PROBLEM IN NOVEMBER OF 1999, AND THEY RESOLVED THIS BY "PAYING FOR THE REPAIRS." MY CONTACT PERSON AT THAT TIME WAS [XXX]. AT THAT TIME MY TRUCK HAD 56,000 MILES ON IT. THE LAST TIME I WROTE THEM A LETTER IT WAS DATED JANUARY 5, 2001, AND ALSO SENT THEM THE BILL IN THE AMOUNT OF $86.63 FOR ANOTHER REPAIR (#3) AT 73,000 MILES. WE DID GET A RESPONSE FROM THAT LETTER LAST WEEK. HER NAME WAS [XXX] AND HER PHONE NUMBER WAS [XXX]. SHE INFORMED ME THAT CHRYSLER WAS NOT GOING TO COVER THIS BILL AND IF I HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT, I SHOULD GET AHOLD OF BONNEY MOTOR SALES THAT DID THE WORK ON THE TRUCK. SHE TOLD ME THAT CHRYSLER IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR DEALERSHIP WORK. THE MAIN CONCERN I HAVE OVER THIS IS THE SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR STICKS, I HAVE TO PUT THE TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL AND WAIT FOR THE ACCELERATOR TO COME DOWN. I HAVE ALREADY GONE THROUGH A RED LIGHT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER NEAR-MISS ACCIDENTS. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS RESOLVED. THANK YOU. *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 #739669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE FUEL SOLENOID WAS REPLACED DUE TO FAILURE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN, THE REPLACEMENT WAS 1/3 LARGER WITH A DIFFERENT MOUNTING BRACKET. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #556423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT MAINTAIN SPEED, IT KEEPS ON ACCELERATING UNTIL MAX VEHICLE SPEED IS OBTAINED. DEALER NOTIFIED UNDER WARRENTY DID NOT RECEIVE PART UNTIL AFTER WARRENTY WAS OVER, WILL NOT REPAIR NOW
NHTSA complaint #734135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING ALONG ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT APPLICATION, CAUSING UNWANTED ACCELERATION. THIS HAPPENS WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGEMENT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS. DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #871723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE THROTTLE BODY AND INJECTOR SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES.YH
NHTSA complaint #782048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #606020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT SHUT OFF AT STEERING WHEEL BUTTON. ALSO, CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT SHUT OFF AT TOUCH OF BRAKES. VEHICLE IN FOUR TIMES FOR SERVICE. CHRYSLER CONTACTED, VEHICLE STILL DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #716960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #606020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN LOW SPEED. CONSUMER PUT TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE AND THEN INTO PARK, AND VEHICLE SIDESWIPED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 15 MPH0. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE AT HIGH SPEED, AND AND VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP. IT FISHTAILED. AND CONSUMER WIFE, WHO WAS PREGNANT, HAD TO JUMP OUT OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO VEHICLE VEERING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC . THEN DRIVER PUT VEHICLE INTO PARK, AND ENGINE CONTINUED RACING. TURNED KEY OFF AND JUMPED OUT AND RAN BEHIND HIS WIFE.
NHTSA complaint #842663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE THROTTLE BODY AND INJECTOR SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES.YH
NHTSA complaint #782048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SINCE JULY OF 1997, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ALSO, A THUMP IN THE FRONT END INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN ALL TYPES OF ROAD, A SPARK KNOCKED SO LOUD I SOMETIMES WONDER IF THE MOTOR IS GOING TO LAST. THERE IS OFTEN THE SMELL OF BURNING WIRES AND BURNING FLUID AND SOMETIMES THE CAB FILLS WITH SMOKE. IN ADDITION, CRUISE CONTROL GAINS SPEED (SOMETIMES 5 TO 8 MPH OVER WHAT IT IS SET AT). THE ODOMETER GAINS MILES.
NHTSA complaint #703327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AT 20,000 MILES THE THROTTLE CONTROL ROD BROKE IN HALF, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DROP TO IDLE. ROD WAS REPLACED. GARAGE SAID THAT THIS OCCURS OFTEN.
NHTSA complaint #830439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE TRAVELING 60MPH W/CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, STARTED TO PUSH COAST BUTTON TO SLOW DOWN. VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN, BUT INCREASED IN SPEED. CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #821573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.