10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 18,876 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The contact owns a 1995 Dodge Ram 2500. While driving 40 mph, the front suspension and wheels began to bounce and shook uncontrollably. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the track bar needed to be replaced. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
- Ashland, OR, USA
The contact owns a 1995 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated while traveling 30 mph and applying the brakes, there was an extreme increase in stopping distance and time. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the coil spring tower needed to be replaced but the part was on back order and the vehicle could not be repaired at that time. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that the part was not available and was no longer being manufactured. The failure mileage was 130,000. The VIN was unavailable.
- China Grove, NC, USA
This truck body started breaking out behind the cab soon after I bought it. The engine has never ran right from day one. It was in the Dodge shop numerous times because of poor fuel milage, and then Dodge finally agreed to send the truck to cummins. Cummins found that truck had bad milage also and wrote letter to Dodge stating the problems they found. Dodge more or less said tough, don't bother us! the engine had boken push rod at low milage and now an injector melted top out of piston ruining the engine.
- Gillette, WY, USA
While driving at any speed, if vehicle hits the slightest bump in the road, it will severely jump out of control. Dealership has serviced vehicle, but could not locate problem. Cause unknown.
- Jackson, NJ, USA
While driving and if vehicle hits a bump it feels as if vehicle is falling apart. Consumer feels as if losing control, and has to slow vehicle down considerably, and pull over to side of road. Vehicle has been checked by dealer, who replaced numerous suspension components., but problem still exists.
- North Helmsford, MA, USA
Steering shuddered while driving between 45 and 55 mph and when hitting a bump or pothole in the road. Vehicle vibrating and shuddering uncontrollably through steering wheel. Also, in order to regain control of vehicle had to drop speed around 20 mph. Contacted dealer, and dealer stated there was a tsb for that problem. Consumer complied with tsb, but still had problems.
- New Fane, NY, USA
Dodge Ram trucks have a known history of "self sustaining vibration" or "shimmy" after striking a small bump, or offset in the road. See Dodge tsb 19-05-96 and other steering related issues. We have had our vehicle worked on twice due to extremely violent shimmying that has nearly caused complete loss of control of the truck on 6 seperate occassions. Only by incredible luck and skill has there not been serious accidents and fatalities. The tsb I just referenced suggests that the service personnel "test drive the vehicle over a road that duplicates the customer complaint and if shimmying is felt perform..." this is woefully inadequate in that this problem can not be replicated by such a procedure. The fact remains that one can drive hundreds if not thousands of miles over the same road and the problem will not reproducibly appear. But, with absolutely no notice, and at random, the violent self sustaining and propagating shaking will suddenly occur and one will nearly wreck. During the last such episode which occurred last week, the violent shaking was so great that a 140 pound cardboard box about 18 inches high was nearly thrown out over the side of the truck. This incident occured at a speed of about 65 miles per hour on a curve on the interstate when the front tire of the truck hit a hole in the road that was about 4 inches wide, 1 foot long, and maybe an inch deep. In other words, the bump was nothing. Fortunately I was in the middle lane on the interstate and all of the other cars around me hit their breaks when they saw the truck bouncing and leaping down the road. To further complicate things the violent bouncing only gets worse when you apply the brakes. The only quick way to restore control of the vehicle is to violently jerk the steering wheel back and forth, unfortunately this requires both lanes of the road and the emergency lanes. There does not appear to be an adequate "fix" to this problem from Dodge.
- Underwood, IN, USA
The trailer hitch issue, I beleve, is serious. "out of sight, out of mind" a recall has been issued for 1998 to 2001.5 models. Investagtion should be extended to the 1994 models this is serious. Also the track bar issue, this effects the handling of the vehicle the so called "shimmy" this also needs to be looked in to.
- Taylorsville, UT, USA
Consumer received recall notice 99V214000. Service was refused by dealership(s) because dealership did not have a 'certified welder' and vehicle could not fit into their garage.
- Jefferson, PA, USA
Consumer received recall 99V214000 in March 2000, and has contacted dealer 10 times. Dealer told consumer that no parts were available, and did not have a certified welder to perform recall repairs.
- Springtown, TX, USA
Recall 99V214000/ suspension : unable to get recall honored because of a price settlement between dealer and manufacturer.
- Raton, NM, USA
Received two recall notices: 00V135000/ignition switch/ wiring, and 99V214000/ suspension. Still was unable to get dealer to honor recalls. On two occasions, dealer had informed consumer that parts were available, and an appointment was set. When consumer arrived they informed him that parts were not available. Seeking help from NHTSA in this matter. Feel free to provide further details.
- Oakland, CA, USA
Consumer contacted the dealer for recall 99V214000 repairs concerning suspension failure. No certified welder was available to remedy recall problem.
- Baltimore, MD, USA
Consumer called dealer, and was told that tools are not available to do NHTSA recall 99V2I4 000/ manufacturer 's recall 835 repairs of suspension. No future date was given.
- Lexington, MA, USA
Recall 99V214000 DaimlerChrysler/suspension; dealer does not have the parts or machanic to correct recall campaign. Owner cantacted dealership about 3 weeks ago.
- Old Forge, PA, USA
Whenever vehicle ran over a pothole or a bump it caused vehicle to shake violently. Had to pull over until the shaking stopped. Also, caused damages to the front tires. Vehicle been in dealer shop on three occasions, and informed consumer that problem cannot be duplicated.
- Simi Valley, CA, USA
There is a 25 week waiting period before dealer can fix vehicle for recall 99V214000. Owner contacted Chrysler customer service and was directed to a dealership that could make the repairs. Repairs made within 1 week.
- Baltimore, MD, USA
Recall 99V214000 daimler/ Chrysler/suspension; owner contacted two dealerships for recall campaign. Neither dealership has a certified welder to correct recall campaign. Dealership not able to tell owner when welder will be hired.
- Watkins, CO, USA
The shocks and the springs attached to the frame have broken on the left side and the right side are cracked. Problem corrected under recall some time ago. Owner is experiencing same problem again.
- Floresville, TX, USA
- Ashland, OR, USA