My husband and I bought a 2005 dodge ram 3500 in May of 2012. Everything we read, and everything that everyone told us was to buy the dodge with the 5.9 cummings motor in it. When we first looked at the truck, we noticed it had a little blow by, but from what we read, that wasn't uncommon. The engine had 123,000 miles on it. We had never went in debt for a truck that cost more than $3500 before, and this was also our first time buying from a dealer. We were never offered any type of insurance (will tell you more about this later on). We were informed later, about 7 months later when the engine blew (we believe) that we could have been offered insurance and paid monthly, which we definitely would have done if we had known since we were using this as a way to make a living.

Three weeks after we bought it, we heard what I can only describe as a "Jake Brake" sound. It kept doing it for 50 or so miles. By the time we made it back to our destination, we took it into a shop and talked to a few people. They had no idea. They told us it may be dirty injectors, and to buy some additive to put in it. Which we did. I called the dealer that we bought the truck from, spoke with our salesman, he was going to check into it, and call me back, which he never did. It happened two more times, each time was less, so we thought that it was just dirty injectors.

After that, it started "using" oil. One quart every 1,000 miles at first (which again, we read could be normal). It went down to one quart every 750 miles. Approximately in November, it started blowing oil out at one quart every 100 miles. We knew the truck needed major work then. We had never had a diesel before (and yes, we do learn from our mistakes).

The truck has now been down since the Monday before Thanksgiving. The dealer we bought it from is telling us that it could cost anywhere from $3500.00 (two fuel injectors and fix leaks (from the pressure blowing oil all over the engine)) to $12,000.00 for a new motor. Unfortunately, the truck will have to sit as it is. We do not have the money to put into the truck now.

We went to the dealer hoping they may help us. They said they would give us $7k trade in for the truck. We changed the oil every 6,000 miles or so at first, then we were told because we were putting on highway miles, we could wait till 8,000 miles. Towards the end, we went 10,000 miles due to the fact we were putting in so much oil to begin with. It smokes like a steam engine out of the oil fill cap. The back pressure blows oil out the valve cover, rear main seal and every other place where it can escape. I am at a loss since this truck was purchased for work and this is how we made out money, and we can't get help from anyone.

I wish the dealer had offered the insurance, cause I would have taken it in a heartbeat. Being new to all of this though, it all happened so fast, I didn't think until it was too late :(

So, now I have a truck I'll be paying on for 5 years, and can't even afford to fix it :(

brought to the dlr in avondale,az with oil blowby at 89,000. i had my gooseneck horse trailer on, they looked and said it was overfull. (NO service record because it was never physically in their shop). had the oil changed again, condition seemed to get worse so i went back with 108,000 miles, this time they took it the shop, along with my 135 dollars and told me i needed a new longblock to the tune of 13,800. remember there was no service record of my trip there with 89,000. fought them and dodge, but i'm just a speck of dirt to the corp. giants. THET REALLY PISSED ME OFF. had it rebuilt by a cummins expert. they will never get me again. i'm really impressed with dodge's so-called customer service.