10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 7 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 4 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 7,903 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 stated while parking the vehicle, the brakes were applied and the pedal went freely to the floor. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed the brake lines were deteriorated and there was brake fluid all over the engine. The dealership and manufacturer have not been alerted.
- Columbia, MD, USA
I purchased a 1997 Dodge 2500 Ram pickup truck in November of 1996. Within a few weeks I experienced a brake failure when I hit the brakes hard. I managed to change lanes to avoid an accident and tried many times after that to get the brakes to fail. But it didn't happen again until almost a year later. Same result, no accident and couldn't repeat the problem. I brought the vehicle to the dealer for some warranty work and reported the brake failure to the service manager. They tested the vehicle many times and still could not produce brake failure. The problem occurred eleven times more since the last failure and this time I had an accident. Fortunately, I was able to miss the stalled vehicle in front of me by changing lanes and hitting a car along side going the same speed. This resulted in property damage to both vehicles but no bodily injury. If I had continued straight into the stalled vehicle, going about 30-35 mph, I would have caused serious bodily injury to the passengers of the stalled car. My truck has the diesel option and weighs over 9000 pounds. It would have crushed the stalled Honda and injured all the occupants. To date, only normal parts replacements have been done on the brake system and the brake computer has never been replaced. The vehicle will be going in to the local dealer for replacement of the brake computer at my cost and my request for replacement.
- Crossville, TN, USA
While driving 45mph the atni-lock rear brake warning light came on. A few minutes later, while pulling out at a stop sign the rear differential made a loud noise. The rear differential had "came out" for lack of a better term. I have all the parts and pieces from the differential. The pinion gear was in pieces in the bottom of the housing. The ring gear had several teeth missing and/or damaged. The anti-lock brake sensor/equipment was also damaged.the only parts that were not replaced were the axles and the housing. Cause of the defect is still yet undetermined.
- Taylorsville, NC, USA
Had to make a accident avoidence manuever. The brakes would not stop the truck, had to run off the road to avoid impact. Resulting in damaging a front lawn in a residential neighborhood. The next episode was pulling a small 8' trailer with a Honda 4-wheeler. Light turned red and when I went to stop, I ended in the middle of the intersection. After the second incident I contacted the dealership and took it in for inspection. No problems were found. The service manager Mr. Web ( I believe that's his name) drove my truck and agreed it seemed to take longer to stop, but upon inspection no problems were found. After 3 more incidents of the same nature, the dealership did replace all the brakes, telling me there was an update to a different pad for the rear brakes. The truck at the time had approximately19000 miles. I then was tols it was normal for the brakes to wear out at 19000 miles. I do not believe that. I still have the stopping problem, and I am extremely careful when I tow my 17' boat and trailer. The weight is less than 3000 lbs. The truck now has barely over 40000 miles. I had the brakes check by a qualified mechanic, and was told that the brakes have about 75% of pad left. Are ther any other complaints about the braking system on the 1997 Dodge 4X4 Ram 1500 trucks?
- Louisville, KY, USA
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.
- West Bend, WI, USA
All three have been in to the dealer regarding the same exact concern. Different drivers operate each of these vehicles. This will bee the second time this vehicle will be going back to the dealer for the same repair. We are concerned about all like vehicles having the same concern. With the rear brakes getting severely out of adjustment like they do with these vehicles it is very possible that a crash occurs during a panic stop due to the vehicle swerving.
- Oakland, CA, USA
Brakes pulled hard right, replaced brakes and had them serviced, now they pull hard left. Requires major steering correction to maintain intended vehicle course. Occurrs every time brakes are applied, and I fear a collision every time I use the brakes. Servicing has not helped, problem lies within the design of the brake system.
- Austin, TX, USA
Due to design of brakes it constantly pulls one direction or the other when braking.if making hard stop it pulls more.the only way to keep this at bay is to constantly remove and relube slide pins on the front calipers.when dealer replaced front brake pads, they were adviced about the pull and as usual response was could not duplicate or fix.
- Flagler Beach, FL, USA
While driving at approximately 45 mph consumer applied brake and skidded about 10 feet, hit another vehicle head-on. Upon impact, driver airbags did not deploy which have caused injuries. The inspectors from the manufacturer indicated that the air bags did not deploy because the impact dissipated.
- Newport Ritchie, FL, USA
While braking, vehicle will not stop, dealer states brakes are withing specification. Front tires keep wearing, dealer can not find reason for wear.
- St. Clare Shores, MI, USA
Power steering and brakes went out at the same time while driving, no accident. Tried to use emergency brake, did not work either. Consumer used gears to stop vehicle. Repaired, Dodge will not reimburse because repair not done at Dodge dealer. Dealer replaced steering pump and het assembly for emergency brake.
- Butler, PA, USA
Consumer ran into the back of another truck because brakes did not catch.- also, airbags did not deploy. Driver side seat belt failed.
- Sand Lake, MI, USA
Vehicle sways and pulls to the left and right when applying brakes. Chrysler rep said that this is a common problem, but so far no solution.
- Girard, PA, USA
While driving about 65 mph and barely touching the brakes to slow down, all four wheels locked up. Truck was towed to the dealership. Brake failure had occurred once before, and resulted in an accident. Dealer could not duplicate the problem, but they replaced the power brake booster. Brake failure has not occurred since.
- Evanston, WY, USA
Anti-skid brake control failed to work. Dealer informs this is not a warranty repairable item, nor is it covered under Chrysler 100, ooo mile maximum wrap warranty. Non wear safety components such as air bags, anti skid brakes, should be covered the length of the service contract period. This is a safety defect.
- Jackson, MO, USA
Vehicle makes a hard left turn when braking. Dealer advised it to be front end alignment, ( which they don't do) or brakes or tire problem. Brakes were replaced, front end aligned, tires were replaced without any impact on condition. Further research and time and $ spent finds Chrysler has a tsb #05-03-97 that tells you to put a spacer between the hub and wheel of varying sizes untill you find one that changes the front end geometry till it nolonger pulls. This is after you have filed brake componets. If this does not cure the problem, then you are to replace the entire hub assy which then may cause you to have to go through the trial and error shim business again. This vehicle is dangerous to drive and warranty including Chrysler maximum wrap warranty will not cover this fix accourding to auffenburg and a dealer in olathe ks I stopped at last week. A person, if they had the funds could literally spend thousands of dollars on trial and error fixes on this braking problem on Dodge 4X4 pickups. Also cape girardeau mo atty don thomason had a client that was injured in an accident with a pickup that had the same problem after multiple attepmt to fix it. Chrysler needs to fix this before people are killed.
- Jackson, MO, USA
The brake problem has been on going since the first few month of service. The first brake failure was at 9557 miles, the second failure was at 23,744 miles and the third failure of the brakes was at 29, 875 miles. The brakes have been replaced, rotors ground, , new rear axle seals, and new calipers, pads, and brake shoes have been installed. The problem still exists and the dealer in turlock auto center, turlock, ca. Is ordering new parts again making the fourth brakes on this pickup including the original ones.
- Ceres, CA, USA
Truck continues to roll when brakes are applied and it goes to the floor. Truck will not stop on an emergency.
- Miami, FL, USA
Brakes don't stop at low speeds and lock up under wet conditions, ring and pinion due to premature wear at 19500, dead battery (H.D.) after 2 years
- Vineland, NJ, USA
- Lexington , IN, USA