1997 Dodge RAM transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

THE PAINT ON MY 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK TURNED A MILKY WHITE COLOR ON THE HOOD AND THE TOP OF THE CAB. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR TO PAINT THE TRUCK IS $3,400. MILEAGE ON THE TRUCK IS 138,400 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10069403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

WOULD NOT SHIFT, SHIFTING ROUGHLY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON, HIGH RPMS

NHTSA complaint #10069545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING AT 35-45 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. TRANSMISSION BURNED FLUID, CAUSING IT TO FAIL. A MECHANIC ANT THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO THE COOLANT NOT CIRCULATING THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION WHEN VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN THE PARK GEAR. TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT.*AK CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS THAT REAR WHEEL DRIVE CHRYSLER VEHICLES IF IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, COOLANT DOESN'T CIRCULATE TO THE TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER PHONED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ADVISED HER TO CONTACT NHTSA FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL. CONSUMER LEARNED OF THE TRANS COOLANT CONNECT RECALL. THEN SHE RECALLED THAT PART BEING REPLACED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE FLUID WAS CHECKED BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND IT WAS THICK AND BROWN AS A RESULT OF BEING BURNT. THE CONSUMER FEELS A FAIR RESOLUTION WOULD BE FOR CHRYSLER TO REIMBURSE HER AT LEAST HALF THE COST OF THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRS. *PH *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10044586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. DEALER STATED TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED INTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.

NHTSA complaint #10037779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE 5TH GEAR TO THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. *AK IT WAS DISCOVERED THE NUT WHICH HELD THE 5TH GEAR INTO PLACE BECAME LOOSE. PH

NHTSA complaint #10024165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR OF THE FUEL GAUGE, FIFTH GEAR AND RECALL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP TWO WEEKS LATER THE OTHER WORK WAS DONE BUT THE RECALL WORK WAS NOT PERFORMED. *PH *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10011611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

CONSUMER WAS TOLD VEHICLE HAD 4-WHEEL DRIVE, BUT SOON DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL AND RUINED THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #10009097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES

DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO HONOR RECALL 97V084000 COCERNING TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF A RECALL .*AK

NHTSA complaint #8015908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

CONTINUOUS TRANSMISSION TROUBLE:MINOR SLIPPING,SEARCHING FOR A GEAR,SURGING,NOT GOING INTO PASSING GEAR,WHEN IT DOES IT DOES NOT STAY THERE,CLUNKS HARD WHEN PUT IN REV. VIBRATION AT START UP(MOVING) HEAT SHIELD OR REAR-END,@TIME OF ORIGINAL TRADE,WHEN THEY CHANGED THE OIL THEY EITER DIDNT PUT ANY IN OR VERY LITTLE I HAD TO ADD 5QTS NOW THERE IS A TICKING NOISE ON THE PASS, SIDE OF ENGINE,THE SALESMAN LIED TO ME ABOUT THE TRUCK I ASKED HIM "HAS THIS EVER PLOWED OR TOWED ANYTHING BEFORE?" HE SAID "NO" AFTER TALKING TO PREV.OWNER THEY WERE TOWING A BIG BOAT WITH IT .AT THIS TIME I HAVE A COMPLAINT WITH THE ME. ATTY GEN,DODGE,FILE#9921927 ON 4-18-02,MAY I PLEASE HAVE A COPY OF THIS WITH YOUR LETTERHEAD AS WELL AS A REPLY SO I CAN FOWARD THIS TO THE ATTY GEN. THANK YOU!!!!

NHTSA complaint #764428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONTINUOUS TRANSMISSION TROUBLE:MINOR SLIPPING,SEARCHING FOR A GEAR,SURGING,NOT GOING INTO PASSING GEAR,WHEN IT DOES IT DOES NOT STAY THERE,CLUNKS HARD WHEN PUT IN REV. VIBRATION AT START UP(MOVING) HEAT SHIELD OR REAR-END,@TIME OF ORIGINAL TRADE,WHEN THEY CHANGED THE OIL THEY EITER DIDNT PUT ANY IN OR VERY LITTLE I HAD TO ADD 5QTS NOW THERE IS A TICKING NOISE ON THE PASS, SIDE OF ENGINE,THE SALESMAN LIED TO ME ABOUT THE TRUCK I ASKED HIM "HAS THIS EVER PLOWED OR TOWED ANYTHING BEFORE?" HE SAID "NO" AFTER TALKING TO PREV.OWNER THEY WERE TOWING A BIG BOAT WITH IT .AT THIS TIME I HAVE A COMPLAINT WITH THE ME. ATTY GEN,DODGE,FILE#9921927 ON 4-18-02,MAY I PLEASE HAVE A COPY OF THIS WITH YOUR LETTERHEAD AS WELL AS A REPLY SO I CAN FOWARD THIS TO THE ATTY GEN. THANK YOU!!!!

NHTSA complaint #764428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

VEHICLE JUMPED INTO REVERSE WHILE IT WAS TURNED ON. CONSUMER WAS ON THE STANDING ON THE OUTSIDE. DEALER NOT INFORMED. PLEASE PROVIDE MOREE INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8014295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ENGINE RUNNING AND ROLLED BACKWARD INTO GARAGE. DAMAGE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA complaint #8009219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MADE THREE TRIPS TO DEALER FOR ENGINE LIGHT OVER A PERIOD OF 45 DAYS. FIRST TRIP WAS ON 10/3/01WITH A CHARGE OF $132.25 TECH FOUND TORQUE CONVERTER NOT WORKING. CLEANED TORQUE CONVERTER SOLENOID. SECOND TRIP TO DEALER WAS MADE ON 10/30/01 WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. TECH FOUND SAME PROBLEM AGAIN AND REPLACED TORQUE CONVERTER SOLINOID FOR CHARGE OF $246.58. THIRD TRIP WAS MADE ON 11/13/01 WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AGAIN ON. THIS TIME TECH SAID PROBABLY AN INTERNAL LEAK "SOMEWHERE" BUT DON'T KNOW WHERE. SAID OK TO DRIVE UNTIL TRANSMISSION STARTS SLIPPING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ON THE WAY HOME AND TRANS BEGAN SLIPPING NEXT DAY. RETURNING TO DEALER ON 11/15/01 THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT COMPLETELY AND HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALER CALLED ON 11/16/01 STATING THAT THE FRONT PLATE IN TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND PROBABLY COULD NEVER GET ALL THE METAL OUT OF TRANSMISSION. NOW COST WILL BE $2200 FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #754659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

MADE THREE TRIPS TO DEALER FOR ENGINE LIGHT OVER A PERIOD OF 45 DAYS. FIRST TRIP WAS ON 10/3/01WITH A CHARGE OF $132.25 TECH FOUND TORQUE CONVERTER NOT WORKING. CLEANED TORQUE CONVERTER SOLENOID. SECOND TRIP TO DEALER WAS MADE ON 10/30/01 WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. TECH FOUND SAME PROBLEM AGAIN AND REPLACED TORQUE CONVERTER SOLINOID FOR CHARGE OF $246.58. THIRD TRIP WAS MADE ON 11/13/01 WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AGAIN ON. THIS TIME TECH SAID PROBABLY AN INTERNAL LEAK "SOMEWHERE" BUT DON'T KNOW WHERE. SAID OK TO DRIVE UNTIL TRANSMISSION STARTS SLIPPING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN ON THE WAY HOME AND TRANS BEGAN SLIPPING NEXT DAY. RETURNING TO DEALER ON 11/15/01 THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT COMPLETELY AND HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALER CALLED ON 11/16/01 STATING THAT THE FRONT PLATE IN TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND PROBABLY COULD NEVER GET ALL THE METAL OUT OF TRANSMISSION. NOW COST WILL BE $2200 FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #754659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO TRANSMISSION FLUID NOT REACHING OVERDRIVE MECHANISM. IT STARTED SLIPPING AS I WAS DRIVING HOME LATE ONE NIGHT AND IT COMPLETELY WENT OUT TWO DAYS LATER. MECHANIC SAYS IT STARTED IN THE OVERDRIVE MECHANISM AND WENT FROM THERE. HE STATED DODGE KNOWS ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS AND WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AS FAR AS THE CUSTOMERS EXPENSES. MY HUSBANDS DODGE TRUCK IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO BE COMMON IN THESE TRUCKS FROM 80,000 - 100,000 MILES, AND DODGE REFUSES TO PAY FOR ANY OF IT, ALTHOUGH THEY APPARENTLY MADE AN UPGRADE KIT FOR IT. MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. TRANSMISSIONS ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, AND DODGE SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. I HAVE CONTACTED DODGE/CHRYSLER, AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST ME IN MY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS BECAUSE MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE TRUCK IS ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD, AND WE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT TO BE MORE RELIABLE. I HAVE NOTICED ON THE COMPLAINT SCREEN ON NHTSA THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL OF THESE COMPLAINTS REGARDING TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION OF DODGE'S DECLINATION, AS WELL AS MY EFFORTS TO HAVE THEM HELP ME. AT THIS TIME BOTH OUR DODGE TRUCKS ARE UNRELIABLE, AND BECOMING INCREASINGLY EXPENSIVE TO CONTINUE TO FIX. I HAVE REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THE U-JOINTS ALSO. ANY AMOUNT OF HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. IT'S EXPENSIVE ENOUGH TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLES WITHOUT CONTINUALLY PUTTING MONEY INTO THEM TO KEEP THEM RUNNING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE TRUCKS ARE ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP AND YOUR INTERNET SITE. I WAS QUITE RELIEVED TO FIND IT.

NHTSA complaint #747250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INTERMITTENTLY TRANSMISSION HESITATES AND THEN WILL KICK IN. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #888149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

DRIVING 45-55MPH, VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE, BUT CAN BE CONTROLLED. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR VIBRATION. HAD DRIVERSHAFT REPLACED TO CORRECT PROBLEM. ALSO BEEN TO TIRE RETAILER DUE TO POSSIBILITY OF TIRES CAUSING PROBLEM. TIRES WERE THE PROBLEM. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER , INFORMED CONSUMER NOTHING COULD BE DONE. IT WAS CHARACTERISTIC OF TRUCK, AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED.*AK CONSUMER STATES VIBRATION HAS EXISTED IN VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASED, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THE VIBRATION CAUSES HIM TO HAVE TO DRIVE UNDER 40 MPH OR OVER 50 MPH TO AVOID THE VIBRATION.

NHTSA complaint #887762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

AT 60,000 TRANSMISSION REPLACED; 68,000 BOTH U-JOINS REPLACED; 75,000 DIFFERENTIAL REBUILT; 80,000 UNIVERSAL JOINT REPLACED; NOW DIFFERENTIAL SLIPS AFTER STOPPING

NHTSA complaint #744879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AT 60,000 TRANSMISSION REPLACED; 68,000 BOTH U-JOINS REPLACED; 75,000 DIFFERENTIAL REBUILT; 80,000 UNIVERSAL JOINT REPLACED; NOW DIFFERENTIAL SLIPS AFTER STOPPING

NHTSA complaint #744879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT

AT 60,000 TRANSMISSION REPLACED; 68,000 BOTH U-JOINS REPLACED; 75,000 DIFFERENTIAL REBUILT; 80,000 UNIVERSAL JOINT REPLACED; NOW DIFFERENTIAL SLIPS AFTER STOPPING

NHTSA complaint #744879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

THERE IS NO SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM PRESENT IN VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE CAN BE TAKEN OUT OF PARK WITHOUT USE OF A KEY.

NHTSA complaint #887469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING, TRIED TO TAKE TO THE SHOP NEXT DAY. TRANS WOULD NOT SHIFT AND IT GROUND WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE. TOOK TRUCK TO AAMCO AND THEY SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY A CHECK VAULVE THAT WAS IN THE TRANSMISSION LINE THAT WAS REPLACED DUE TO A RECALL. THE REPAIR COSTED OVER $2,000.00. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. I HAVE A COPPY OF THE REPAIR BILL WITH A LISTING OF PARTS REPLACED. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #744728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION ONCE ALREADY, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

NHTSA complaint #884327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT OVERDRIVE FAILED, CAUSING COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF TRANSMISSION, TORQUE CONVERTER AND RELATED ELECTRONICS. MECHANIC ALSO MENTIONED MANY SIMILAR FAILURES IN NEWER PICKUP TRUCKS.

NHTSA complaint #742462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT OVERDRIVE FAILED, CAUSING COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF TRANSMISSION, TORQUE CONVERTER AND RELATED ELECTRONICS. MECHANIC ALSO MENTIONED MANY SIMILAR FAILURES IN NEWER PICKUP TRUCKS.

NHTSA complaint #742462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

THE TORQUE CONVERTER SHREDDED ITSELF IT COST $2000 TO MAKE ALL NECESSARY REPAIRS TO TRANSMISSION

NHTSA complaint #741722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL TO FUNCTION DURING COLD WEATHER. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR PROBLEM, AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK DEALER REPLACED VALVE BODY, HOWEVER THIS DID NOT FIX PROBLEM. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #882301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE LATE OR NO SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR CAUSING ENGINE TO REV TO HIGH RPMS NOT ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO GO OVER 45 MPH. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS THE MECHANIC INFORMED US THAT THE MANFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY AN INNER SEAL GROOVE. HAS THERE EVER BEEN A RECALL OR HAS THE MANUFACTER OFFERED ANY COMPENSATION FOR THIS DEFECT?

NHTSA complaint #741179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.