16 of the
644 complaints about the 1998 Dodge RAM are about the
seat belts — 2% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
55,000 miles.
THE TODDLER WAS STRAPPED IN THE BOOSTER SEAT BY THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS IN THE REAR OF THE QUAD CAB. CONSUMER HAD TO HIT BRAKES SUDDENLY TO KEEP FROM BEING INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES THE SEAT BELT ALLOWED THE TODDLER TO STRIKE HIS HEAD ON THE FRONT SEAT. DEALER STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WORKED PROPERLY.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONSULTED BUT DOES NOT HAVE A REMEDY.
NHTSA complaint #10109049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,100 milesAustin, TX
SEAT BELTS
MY HUSBAND ORDERED THIS TRUCK IN LATE 1997. WE PURCHASED IT NEW AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE HAVE FACED IS THE TRANSMISSION. MID-APRIL 1998 THE FIRST PROBLEMS OCCURED WITH SLIPPAGE, THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES WERE REPLACED, ONE MONTH LATER THE TORQUE CONVERTER WENT AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. NOW AT 51,000 MILES AND VERY LITTLE DRIVING FOR THE LAST 2 YRS (SINCE MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN SICK WITH CANCER) IT HAS BLOWN AGAIN. THE FRONT SEALS ARE LEAKING PROFUSELY. THE REAR WINDOW WAS LEAKING SO BADLY AT ONE POINT THE ENTIRE CEILING INSIDE WAS SOADED. THE ABS COMPUTER WENT WACKY ON US EARLY ON ALSO. THE SEATBELT HAS BEEN TWISTED SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WE HAVE NOT SUCCESSFULLY FIXED IT. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WE PURCHASED HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. I WILL NOT LIKELY BUY ANOTHER DODGE EVER AGAIN. MERCEDES TAKES THE CAKE.
NHTSA complaint #10070595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mechanicsburg, PA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT PERFORMS ERRATICALLY, NOT BEING ABLE TO EXTEND FROM HOLSTER AROUND DRIVER OR MAY TIGHTEN WHILE BEING WORN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #8016403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Merritt Island, FLCrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH SPUN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE OUT OF CONTROL, HITTING A CONCRETE WALL. CONSUMER STATED SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK, AND AIR BAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #893731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wyandotte, OK
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS HAVE FAILED TO RETRACT WHEN EXITING THE TRUCK. THIS HAS CAUSE THEM TO GET CAUGHT IN THE DOOR LATCH WHEN THE DOOR WAS CLOSED. BOTH BELTS HAVE BEEN CUT AND SEVERELY DAMAGED.
NHTSA complaint #743339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Camarillo, CA
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELT CONTROL MODULE CAUSED CURRENT DRAW THAT DEPLETES BATTERY. DISCONNECTING THE MODULE STOPS CURRENT DRAW BUT DEACTIVATES THE SEAT BELTS.
NHTSA complaint #726425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mclean, VA
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER SEATBELT WILL LOCKS UP WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES/WITH OR WITHOUT THE KEY IN IGNITON, OR IF THE CONSUMER IS SITTING STILL OR MOVING, CAUSING CONSUMER TO BE TRAPPED AGAINST SEAT. DEALER HAS REPLACED SEATBELT, BUT DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING . *AK THE DEALER IS UNWILLING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE UNPREDICTABILITY OF WHEN THE BELT WILL LOCK MAKES IT PARTICULARILY DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #866941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Coal Valley, ILCrash
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
QUAD CAB; CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH,HIT A VEHICLE THAT HAD PULLED OUT IN FRONT, AND DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCK, CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT WINDSHIELD. NO PRIOR WARNING OF DEFECTS.
NHTSA complaint #855632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brunswick, GACrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHERE IT FLIPPED OVER FIVE TIMES. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND RESTRAINTS DID NOT RETRACT, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES AND EJECTION FROM VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #850670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Harker Height, TX
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS BROKEN AND CRACKED.
NHTSA complaint #844967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Whitewater, WI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE PASSENGER'S OR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT. ALSO, YOU ALMOST HAVE TO PUNCH THE HORN PAD TO GET IT TO WORK. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELT OR THE HORN. OWNER HAS 2 OTHER TRUCKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. PLEASE LIST VIN #S FOR OTHER 2 TRUCKS.
NHTSA complaint #836291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grand Junction, CO
SEAT BELTS
WHEN SYSTEM FAILED, WE WERE UNABLE TO PUT SEAT BELTS ON DUE TO COMPUTERS LOSS OF PROGRAMING. THIS IS NOT ONLY UNSAFE, BUT ILLEGAL IN THIS STATE AND MANY OTHERS.THERE SOULD BE A DEFAULT TO A MECHANICAL LOCKING SYSTEM, NOT JUST GO INOP. AND LEAVE US IN A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #701889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greenville, TXCrash2 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
HAD CRUISE CONTROL ON AT 60MPH. ROAD WET/SLICK. VEHICLE STARTED HYDROPLANING. MADE FUNNY NOISES. LOST TRACTION. SPUN AROUND & FRONT END HIT GUARD RAIL. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER HAS BRUISES FROM SEAT BELT. PASSENGER NOT RESTRAINED. HIT WINDSHIELD. EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT.
NHTSA complaint #830144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wood River, IL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
RETRACTORS ON SEAT BELTS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #539103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
YT Y1A 5W6, CD
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DRIVER'S SIDE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION.
NHTSA complaint #540224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Niagra Fall, NY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBELTS WILL NOT COME OUT IN ORDER TO USE THE SEATBELT SYSTEM. IT WILL NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT SEATBELTS WILL NOT EXTRACT FROM LOCK UP IN SEATS AT ALL WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE ONLY WAY TO UNLOCK IS TO RESTART THE ENGINE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #826863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.