1997 Dodge RAM: complaints, problems and recalls

NAR 1/15/2003. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE FUEL TANK METAL SUPPORT STRAPS. THE FLAW MAY CAUSE THE FUEL TANK TO DROP FROM THE TRUCK ONTO THE GROUND AND START A FIRE OR EXPLOSION. THE FUEL TANK SUPPORT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO METAL STRESS BASED ON THE POOR DESIGN OF THE HOLDING STRAPS. THE CONSUMER THIS PROBLEM WHEN HE WENT TO LOOK UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE REAR PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK WAS HANGING LOW AT THE SAME TIME HE NOTICED THE METAL STRAP WAS HANIGN LOOSE, HE CRAWLED UNDER THE TRUCK ANS SAW THE REAR TAK STRAP WAS BRO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004097 at NHTSA ↗

FLAW IN FUEL TANK METAL SUPPORT STRAPS. DODGE TRUCK, RAM, 1997. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004099 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE HEADLIGHTS WILL INTERMITTENTLY WORK. DEALER NOTIFIED. * TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005979 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE INTAKE GASKETS. CONSUMER REPLACED THEM TWICE AND THEN HAD PROBLEMS WITH CARBON BUILD UP. THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE GASKETS FAILED, WHICH CAUSED OIL TO LEAK INTO THE VALVES. *JG *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006305 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER REQUESTED THE STATUS OF 2 PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS THAT WERE SUBMITTED.*JB *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007096 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER WAS TOLD VEHICLE HAD 4-WHEEL DRIVE, BUT SOON DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL AND RUINED THE TRANSMISSION.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009097 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER HAD A RECALL #B15, BUT THE THROTTLE WAS STICKING AT TIMES. THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT THE BRACKET FOR THE BELL CRANK WAS MISSING, CAUSING THE LINKAGES TO TWIST. THE ACCELERATOR WAS STICKING, AND FOUND THE TPS WIRING BRACKET NOT BOTTLED UP, THE TPS BOLTS WERE LOOSE AND REAR HALF OF THE BELL CRANK WERE BROKEN CAUSING THE BELL CRANK TO PULL SIDEWAYS, BINDING THE THROTTLE. THE BACK PART OF THE BELL CRANK WAS REPLACED. SCC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009905 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE UNDER THE DASHBOARD, WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE. *JB THE CONSUMER HAS REQUESTED INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER VEHICLES (SAME MAKE/MODEL) WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. SCC

Owner-reported narrative. 133,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011266 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-02-12 (February 12, 2001)

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING "SALT BELT" STATES: MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, CONNECTICUT, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE, MARYLAND, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WEST VIRGINIA, OHIO, INDIANA, MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS, WISCONSIN, MINNESOTA, IOWA, AND MISSOURI. CORROSION OF THE RETURN SPRING ON THE HOOD SECONDARY LATCH COULD CAUSE THE MECHANISM TO BIND IN THE "RELEASE POSITION."

Consequence: IF THE PRIMARY LATCH IS NOT ENGAGED, THE HOOD COULD OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 17, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2001-05-08 (May 8, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS. SOUND DEADENER MATERIAL INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL COULD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE COVER AND HOUSING. NOTE: THE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS WERE BUILT AT THE WARREN ASSEMBLY PLANT ("S" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 16, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; ST. LOUIS NORTH ASSEMBLY PLANT ("J" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 19, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; LAGO ALBERTO ASSEMBLY PLANT ("M" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 23, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; AND SALTILLO ASSEMBLY PLANT ("G" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 23, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000. IMPORTANT: VEHICLES THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD THE PROPER CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS RECALL. IN ADDITION, 1997-2000 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD A SUSPECT REPLACEMENT CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THIS RECALL.

Consequence: WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE MATERIAL COULD INTERFERE WITH THE CLOCKSPRING RIBBON AND CAUSE AN OPEN CIRCUIT. THE DRIVER AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL BECOME DISABLED, AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 18, 2001. ALSO SOME 1997-200 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES THAT, ACCORDING TO WARRANTY RECORDS, HAVE HAD A SUSPECT REPLACEMENT CLOCKSPRING INSTALLED, WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 2002-06-14 (June 14, 2002)

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL ENGINES ONLY, THE THROTTLE LINKAGE JOINTS CAN CORRODE AND CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO BIND OR STICK.

Consequence: THIS COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ROD ENDS AND BALL STUDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 29, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Reported: 1997-05-05 (May 5, 1997)

UNDER CERTAIN HIGH LOAD OPERATING CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TEMPERATURE CAN EXCEED THE MELTING POINT OF THE MATERIAL USED IN THE CONNECTOR TO RETAIN THE FLUID LINE TO THE TRANSMISSION.

Consequence: WHEN THESE TEMPERATURES OCCUR, THE FLUID LINE WILL NOT STAY CONNECTED WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND FLUID CAN SPRAY ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, RESULTING IN SMOKE OR FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HIGH TEMPERATURE SIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLER LINE CONNECTOR FITTINGS WITH CONNECTORS THAT INCORPORATE A STAINLESS STEEL RETAINER.

Reported: 1997-08-18 (August 18, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH DIESEL ENGINES. THE EXHAUST PIPE CONTACTS OR IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE OUTER DASH PANEL SILENCER PAD.

Consequence: IF THE EXHAUST PIPE GENERATES SUFFICIENT HEAT, THE PAD MATERIAL CAN SMOLDER AND IGNITE ADJACENT MATERIALS RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE DASH SILENCER PAD ADJACENT TO THE EXHAUST PIPE AND REPLACE THIS PAD WITH A THERMAL HEAT SHIELD ON THE EXHAUST PIPE.

Reported: 1999-02-05 (February 5, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VAN AND WAGON MODEL PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF WATER/ROAD SALT GETS ON THE INTERIOR FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE AIR BAG ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (AECM), THE AECM CAN CORRODE. THE RESULTING CORROSION CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY.

Consequence: DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG WITHOUT WARNING COULD CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOSE VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH AND PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WIL REPLACE THE AECM WITH AN AECM THAT IS SEALED FROM MOISTURE INTRUSION.

Reported: 1999-05-06 (May 6, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION, V10 ENGINES AND FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE TRANSFER CASES. UNDER SUSTAINED MAXIMUM RATED VEHICLE LOAD, WHILE DRIVING UP A STEEP GRADE IN FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE LOW RANGE IN HOT AMBIENT CONDITIONS, THE LOCAL EXHAUST TEMPERATURE PROXIMATE TO THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH LINE CAN GENERATE LINE TEMPERATURES THAT EXCEED THE TEMPERATURE LIMIT OF THE CLUTCH LINE MATERIAL. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS AND THE CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED, THE LINE COULD RUPTURE.

Consequence: THE FLUID COULD IGNITE ON THE HOT EXHAUST POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH ASSEMBLY.