995 of the
5,489 complaints filed about the Dodge RAM
are about the braking system —
18% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1996.
The contact owns a 1996 Dodge Ram. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 97V068000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), 01V037000 (Vehicle Speed Control), and 00V135000 (Electrical System); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
NHTSA complaint #11627321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
The contact owns a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at various speeds, the ABS warning light illuminated and the vehicle seized. The contact managed to coast the vehicle to the shoulder of the road and place the vehicle in park. The contact exit the vehicle to inspect the engine and without warning when the front hood was open 4-foot flames shoot out from the hood. The contact sustained burns to the right hand. No medical attention was sought. The contact ran to the rear of the vehicle open the trunk and poured water that he had in a bucket on the flames. No police report was made. The fire department was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. No dealer was contacted nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. Damages were to the wire harness, ABS module, and connecting rod. The failure mileage was approximate 220,000.
NHTSA complaint #11430600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM VAN WITH AFTERMARKET BENDIX BRAKES (MODEL NUMBER: 13481).THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND, CAUSING THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VEHICLE OR THE BRAKES IN REGARD TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10444690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
AT 39,000 MILES RIGHT ROTOR BECAME WARPED BEHIND TURNING HAD TO REPLACE. A FRIEND HAD SAME THEN HAPPEN ON SAME KIND OF VEHICLE. DEALER CLAIMS MAINTENANCE ITEM. NEVER HAD TO HAVE ROTOR REPLACED ON NEW VEHICLE BEFORE. BRAKE PADS WE FINE. VEHICLE ABOUT 4OMPH WOULD PULSATE WHILE BRAKING AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE.
NHTSA complaint #10425601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AT 39,000 MILES RIGHT ROTOR BECAME WARPED BEHIND TURNING HAD TO REPLACE. A FRIEND HAD SAME THEN HAPPEN ON SAME KIND OF VEHICLE. DEALER CLAIMS MAINTENANCE ITEM. NEVER HAD TO HAVE ROTOR REPLACED ON NEW VEHICLE BEFORE. BRAKE PADS WE FINE. VEHICLE ABOUT 4OMPH WOULD PULSATE WHILE BRAKING AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE.
NHTSA complaint #10425601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2007 RAM TRUCK. CONSUMER STATES BRAKE MALFUNCTION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER ALMOST REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE, BECAUSE THE BRAKE MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ON DECEMBER 15, 2010, THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN WHILE HAULING A TRAILER. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK AND THE TRAILER AND CAME CLOSE TO CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE NEXT DAY, THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10380681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2010 DODGE RAM HD DIESEL E/W NEW INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER. NEW BRAKE CONTROLLER FAILURE. THE BRAKE CONTROLLER FAILURE DISCONNECTED 3 TIMES GOING DOWN A STEEP GRADE. ALSO THERE WAS VERY LITTLE BRAKE PRESSURE COMING FROM THE INTEGRATED BRAKE CONTROLLER. FAXED ALL OF THE INFORMATION TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THEIR TECH WAS BUSY AND DID NOT HAVE TIME TO CALL DODGE TO SEE IF THERE IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE NEW CONTROLLER. DEALER IS RIO VISTA DODGE, LOCATION RIO VISTA, CA. I FEEL DEALER SHOULD HAVE LOOKED AT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10336241 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKES ALSO FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY BUT THE FAILURES WERE CAUSING BY AN ELECTRIC COMPONENT. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 115,000.
NHTSA complaint #10325497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DODGE CARAVAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE APPLIED PRESSURE ON THE BREAK PEDAL AT 55 MPH, HE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SHIMMIED. BREAK FAILURE CAN LEAD TO INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES, WHICH CAN CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, AND A TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000.
NHTSA complaint #10285006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON A MISTY MORNING OUR TRUCK BEGAN TO SKID AS WE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AFTER YIELDING TO EXITING TRAFFIC ON AN ACCESS ROAD ON IH 10. MY HUSBAND TRIED TO CONTROL THE SKID BY STEERING INTO IT, BUT WE JUST KEPT SKIDDING OUT OF CONTROL. HE PURPOSELY REMEMBERS NOT APPLYING THE BRAKE IN AN ATTEMPT TO LESSEN THE LOSS OF CONTROL. WE CONTINUED THE SKID ACROSS 2 LANES OF ACCESS ROAD TO THE RIGHT, THEN SPUN AROUND 180 DEGREES AND SKIDDED BACK ACROSS 3 LANES OF ACCESS ROAD TO THE LEFT. WE CAME TO STOP FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC AFTER HITTING A CONCRETE RETAINING WALL FIRST WITH THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE TRUCK AND THEN WITH THE RIGHT REAR OF THE TRUCK. I REMEMBER HEARING THE TIRES CONTINUING TO SPIN AND SMELLED BURNING RUBBER. THIS CAUSED OVER $6500 DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK AND HAS CAUSED OUR INSURANCE RATES TO INCREASE. AFTER MONTHS OF DISCUSSING THE WRECK AND REPLAYING IT IN OUR MINDS, WE HAVE DETERMINED THAT PROBABLY, AS MY HUSBAND CLINCHED THE STEERING WHEEL AND TRIED TO CONTROL THE SPIN, THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AND SET WHICH MADE US CONTINUE TO TRAVEL AT THE SET SPEED INSTEAD OF SLOWING AND ALLOWING HIM TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. THE CRUISE CONTROL ON/OFF BUTTON AND THE SET BUTTON ARE BOTH LOCATED ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS IS THE FIRST VEHICLE THAT WE HAVE EVER HAD OR SEEN THAT HAS THE ON/OFF CONTROL FOR THE CRUISE LOCATED ON THE STEERING WHEEL. MOST VEHICLES HAVE THIS EITHER ON THE BLINKER LEVER OR EVEN ON THE DASH BOARD. WE FEEL CERTAIN THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS INADVERTENTLY TURNED ON WHEN MY HUSBAND TIGHTENED HIS HOLD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I FEEL THAT THIS IS AN UNSAFE LOCATION FOR THIS CONTROL. WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT IN OUR TRAVELS ACROSS ALL LANES OF TRAFFIC, NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE THAT THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD THAT MORNING OR THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A MULTI CAR PILE UP. NO CHANGE HAS BEEN MADE TO THE TRUCK'S CRUISE CONTROL. WE PLAN TO HAVE IT DISCONNECTED. IN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT OTHERS FROM HAVING A WRECK, WE ARE REPORTING IT.
NHTSA complaint #10266397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE BRAKE LIGHT ON MY TRUCK HAD COME ON. I HAD TAKEN THE TRUCK INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE. THIS WEEK WHILE HAULING A TRAILER BEHIND THE TRUCK, THE WHOLE BREAK CALIPER FELL OFF OF THE TRUCK. THE BOLTS HAD NOT BROKEN, BUT WERE SIMPLY GONE. I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL, ALMOST CAUSING A WRECK. THE DEALERSHIP AND CHRYSLER WERE BOTH CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROBLEM. THE RESPONSE WAS THAT BRAKES ARE NOT COVERED PAST 18,000 MILES. THE ISSUE WITH THE TRUCK IS NOT DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE BRAKE SHOES ARE IN GOOD CONDITION. THE BRAKE MECHANISM SIMPLE FELL OFF OF THE TRUCK. THIS ALSO WAS EXPLAINED AND THE COMPANY SAID THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10241630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PARK POSITION WITH IGNITION KEY IN THE LOCK POSITION, VEHICLE SHIFTER MOVED OUT OF PARK , KNOCKED OWNER DOWN AND RAN OVER ME, CONTINUED TO ROLL BACK HIT SECOND CAR, CONTINUED TO KEEP GOING UNTIL IT HIT A CURB. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD HAVE CAUSED OTHER ACCIDENTS. CONSUMER SENT IN A FAX COPY OF THE INTERNET VOQ. *KB
NHTSA complaint #10234636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
MY 2005 DODGE RAM TRUCK WITH 31,700 MILES ON IT BEGAN SHUTTERING AND HAVING BRAKING PROBLEMS. A DODGE DEALERSHIP IDENTIFIED THAT BOTH FRONT ROTORS ON THE VEHICLE WERE WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. REPLACEMENT WAS REQUIRED AT MY EXPENSE TO CORRECT ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. IT WAS DENIED WARRANTY REPLACE DUE TO BEING A BRAKE COMPONENT AND SUBJECT TO NORMAL WARE. THE BRAKE PADS AND BRAKE COMPONENTS THEMSELVES STILL HAD 80% USAGE AVAILABLE. I DISAGREE THAT FRONT ROTORS SHOULD FAIL AT 30K MILES ON A NEW VEHICLE BUT NORMAL BRAKE COMPONENTS DO NOT. I CONSIDER THIS A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING AND A SAFETY CONCERN.
NHTSA complaint #10225352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAS A JAKE BRAKE MECHANISM THAT LEAKS WHILE IDLING OR DECELERATING. HE HEARD THE LEAK NEAR THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT IT WAS AN EXHAUST LEAK CAUSED BY THE JAKE BRAKE SYSTEM, BUT STATED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE FOR THE VEHICLE. CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES ARE ALSO ENTERING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,000.
NHTSA complaint #10211827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
(1) VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING IT, VIBRATION WHILE APPLYING BRAKES,HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM TRANS AND VEHICLE VIBRATION AT 50 TO 65 MILES AN HOUR (2) THESE PROBLEMS NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON 4 DEFERENT OCCASIONS,COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES HOW UNSAFE THIS VEHICLE IS AND THEY WON'T FIX THE PROBLEMS. (3) I FINALLY HAD TO PAY THEM TO REPLACE THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PAD FRONT AND REAR,HOW THE STALLING, THE VIBRATION ,HUMMING FROM THE TRANS AT 50 TO 65 STILL OCCURS TO DATE AND WAS REFUSED AT TWO OTHER DEALERSHIPS AND TURNED AWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10198477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE RAM. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AT 30 MPH AND ABOVE THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED CONSISTENTLY SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED ON APRIL 20, 2007. THE CONTACT HAS NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND STATED THAT THE ROTORS WEREWARPED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 12,981, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,950.
NHTSA complaint #10188798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
2005 DODGE RAM 1500 P/U TRUCK BOUGHT NEW IN 12/2005...BROUGHT TO DEALER @ 5,655 MILES WITH WARPED ROTORS, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO SHAKE WHEN BRAKING. BRAKE ROTORS WERE CUT...PROBLEM TEMPORARILY SOLVED. RETURNED TO DEALER @ 9,712 MILES....FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS TIME THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED...BUT THE ORIGINAL BRAKE PADS WERE RE-INSTALLED. AT 17,000 MILES....TRUCKS BEGINS TO SHAKE AGAIN WHILE BRAKING... RETURNED TO THE SAME DEALER @ 20,727 MILES...THEY SAID THE FRONT ROTORS WERE WARPED AGAIN...THOUGH IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. AFTER I EXPRESSED UNHAPPINESS WITH THEIR ANSWER, THEY DID TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THEY SAID THE FRONT SEEMED TO BE OK....AND NOW THE REAR ROTORS WERE WARPED, THOUGH OF COURSE IT IS NOT COVERED ANY LONGER BY THE FACTORY WARRANTY. AT THIS POINT, THE TRUCK IS 15 MONTHS OLD...HAS SLIGHTLY OVER 20,000 MILES AND IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE...WITH NO HELP FROM DODGE.
NHTSA complaint #10183287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
FRONT END SHUTTERS DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. FRONT ROTORS ARE WARPED. REPLACED THE ORIGINAL AT 7600 MILES, SECOND SET AT 12200 MILES AND NOW AT 17800 MILES THEY ARE WARPED AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10177604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE BRAKES PULSATE. THE DEALERSHIP TURNED THE ROTORS WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE ROTORS MUST BE TURNED EVERY 6,000-10,000 MILES. ALSO, AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND PUTTING IT INTO GEAR, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO NEUTRAL, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF, UPON TURNING THE VEHICLE ON; A LIGHTNING BOLT WAS ON THE DASHBOARD. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AND THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED IT OPERATED PROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE ANY CODES ON THE COMPUTER, BUT DETERMINED THE WARNING LIGHT MEANT SOMETHING TRIGGERED THE THROTTLE. THE VEHICLE SURGED A SECOND TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10152874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
2004 DODGE RAM 1500. BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AT 19800 MILES. 1 YEAR AND A HALF AFTER PURCHASE. DODGE ONLY COVERS BRAKES FOR 1 YEAR OR 12000 MILES. HAD ROTORS TURNED AT A MIDAS STORE.
NHTSA complaint #10150770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.