10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
5 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
1,761 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1999 Dodge Ram Van 3500:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #26

Oct 172000

Ram Van 3500 4WD Diesel

  • miles
I have been having problem with the front brakes on my Dodge truck. When you brake the truck pulls to the right. To avoid an accident, in a panic stop I had to turn the steering wheel 3/4 to the left to keep from jumping into the right lane. I've had this machine in for repairs 8 plus times. The front rotors have been replaced three times resurfaced at least 9 times. Six sets of new brake pads on the front new drums on the front. Three sets of rear drums. Two new sets of rear shoes. This machine is a hazard. I've talke to other owners about this problem and it seems I am not the only one this is happening to. I need help getting this corrected the dealer and Dodge can't seem to solve this problem.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #25

Oct 122000

Ram Van 3500

  • miles
Defective rotors and pads/excessive wear of front rotors and pads at 18,000 miles. Informed that possible replacement maybe needed. Dealer notified, and informed consumer that was a normal condition for that vehicle. Feel free to provide any further details.

- Littleton, CO, USA

problem #24

Sep 032000

Ram Van 3500

  • miles
Recurring brake failures on front driver's side. Dealer "repaired" 2X prior. Abnormal pad wear -- inner pad, okay -- outer pad ground down to bare metal. Brakes pull to left. Dealer uncooperative in repairing under warranty. Wants us to pay for new pads (even though only 5,000 miles or so since last repair).

- Castaic, CA, USA

problem #23

Aug 272000

(reported on)

Ram Van 3500

  • miles
Brakes release during hard braking and crossing payment buckel.

- Bolingbrook, IL, USA

problem #22

Jan 012000

Ram Van 3500

  • miles
When traveling on the road and applying brakes vehicle will pull to the left or right intermittently. Consumer took vehicle to the dealership, and mechanic couldn't duplicate the problem.

- Lebanon, IL, USA

problem #21

Apr 242000

Ram Van 3500

  • miles
Was traveling 45-50mph & would apply brakes, and they would lock up. Rear ABS brakes do not work properly. Rear ended another vehicle. Air bags failed to deploy due to a lack of brakes. Vehicle slide 100 ft before the impact happened. There were no injuries.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #20

Mar 112000

Ram Van 3500 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While towing a trailer hitch bent. Then consumer received recall 00V107000 concerning trailer hitch bracket cracking due to fatigue. Dealer could not replace hitch because it was not cracked. They could put a bracket on according to the recall. Consumer felt this was unsafe. Also, when using anti-lock brakes, consumer would lose braking power if going over a bump or over some gravel.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #19

May 092000

(reported on)

Ram Van 3500

  • miles
When applying brakes vehicle severely pulls to the right or the left. Dealer cannot identify or duplicate the problem.

- Woodbury, MN, USA

problem #18

May 042000

(reported on)

Ram Van 3500 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When brake pedal is applied it goes to the floor, and the brakes don't respond for at least 30 econds to 1 minute. This happens intermittently. Dealer cannot duplicate the problem.

- Skiatook, OK, USA

problem #17

Apr 202000

Ram Van 3500

  • miles
When he applying brakes ABS brake system doesn't adjust to the system. Consumer will add more information.

- Aurora, CO, USA

problem #16

Apr 032000

(reported on)

Ram Van 3500 4WD Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When applying brakes vehicle will pull to side, either a very mild or a severe pull. Chrysler claims it is a normal characteristic of vehicle.

- New Bedford, MA, USA

problem #15

Jan 141999

Ram Van 3500 4WD Diesel

  • miles
Brakes when applying if you hit a bump they will release also pulls to the right feels like you have no brakes. Steering pulls to the right vehicle sways all over the road unable to keep straight jerks to the left & right.

- Rolling Hills Est., CA, USA

problem #14

Dec 121999

Ram Van 3500

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Anti-lock brakes are designed for the rear wheels only. The front brakes do not have anti-lock brakes. If driving in snow or ice and applying the brakes, front brakes lock up. Rear brakes will release, allowing engine power to go to the rear wheels, and continue to power the vehicle forward. Very dangerous to drive on snow/ice. Parked vehicle under these conditions. Consumer has filed a report with NHTSA auto safety hotline line. Also, the dealership Chrysler/Dodge has not corrected the problem.

- Fryeburg, ME, USA

problem #13

Feb 182000

(reported on)

Ram Van 3500

  • miles
While driving vehicle severly pulls to the right or the left. Also, when applying the brakes. ABS system locks up, causing extended stopping distance.

- Belchertown, MA, USA

problem #12

May 051999

Ram Van 3500

  • miles
When applying the brakes trucks will pull to the left or to the right. This happens when braking normally. T dealer has been notified about the problem. The dealer tried to fix the problem, but it was never fixed rightly, and only lasted a couple of days.

- Hampshire, IL, USA

problem #11

Jan 222000

Ram Van 3500

  • miles
When driver applies brakes pedal goes all the way to the floor.

- Fedalia, MS, USA

problem #10

Dec 261999

Ram Van 3500

  • miles
While driving about 65 mph the right front brakes locked when making an emergency stop. This condition caused a rear end crash. This happened while pulling a 16 foot trailer and a dry sunny day. The problem was reported to the dealership. Dealership could not find a prolem with the truck. No repairs have been made to the truck.

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #9

Jan 082000

Ram Van 3500

  • miles
On January 8, 2000, I was a passenger in a 1999 Dodge Ram pickup westbound on interstate 44 near milemarker 274 in Missouri. A fenton fire department pumper truck cut from the center lane across the passing lane (which we were in) and tried to get onto the shoulder. This maneuver was done without any emergency lights, sirens, turn signals, etc. We had approx. 2 seconds to react and the driver only had time to slam on the brakes. We hit the right rear corner of the fire truck where it protruded into the passing lane at approx 50 mph. The Dodge pickup we were in was totalled per safeco insurace company. Seatbelts saved our lives, but we were injured much worse than we would have been if the airbags had gone off. Neither airbag deployed during the accident. The airbags remained undeployed up until the vehicle was last seen on 1-13-2000. Dodge clearly made a defective product if a crash of this magnitude did not set off either airbag. I have pictures of the Dodge, and can E-mailthem if requested. The ambulance report also documents the non-deployment. This needs looked into. The odds of even one airbag not going off in a crash this hard must be astronomical, but for both to not go off, something was seriously wrong.

- Saint Peters, MO, USA

problem #8

Nov 041999

Ram Van 3500

  • miles
When applying the brakes, the pedal went to the floor, causing vehicle to slid into another vehicle.

- Modesto, CA, USA

problem #7

Dec 121998

Ram Van 3500 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving vehicle at 65 mph, consumer had to make a sudden / emergency stop. The brakes failed to grab. Stopping distance was extended. Took vehicle to dealer & the mechanic had the rear shoes/ rotors and pads replaced. The pads were glazed over. Brakes had faded out at 35 mph. The vehicle would drift from left to right. Had steering gear box replaced & wheels realigned. The computer systems failed to register correct gas mileage per gallon. Brakes still do not function properly.

- Naperville, IL, USA

Read the next 6 complaints »