1997 DODGE RAM 2500

While driving truck down road air bag exploded for no apparent reason , no large bumps or impacts to vehicle..Cab filled with dust and smoke Luckily was able to stop although my hearing is greatly impaired now..

HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS NOT SAFE TO HANDLE LOAD OF ELECTRICITY FROM THE HEADLIGHT AND MARKER LIGHT WIRES. I HAVE REPLACED SWITCH 4 TIMES AND STILL SAME PROBLEM. LIGHTS STOP WORKING BECAUSE THE SWITCH MELTS AND BEGINS TO BURN. THE RECALL FOR 1997 DODGE RAM HEADLIGHT SWITCH SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXTENDED FOR ALL MODELS BUILT IN THAT YEAR. *TR

Mileage: 129,000

HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS NOT SAFE TO HANDLE LOAD OF ELECTRICITY FROM THE HEADLIGHT AND MARKER LIGHT WIRES. I HAVE REPLACED SWITCH 4 TIMES AND STILL SAME PROBLEM. LIGHTS STOP WORKING BECAUSE THE SWITCH MELTS AND BEGINS TO BURN. THE RECALL FOR 1997 DODGE RAM HEADLIGHT SWITCH SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXTENDED FOR ALL MODELS BUILT IN THAT YEAR. *TR

Mileage: 129,000

ON ALL DODGE RAM TRUCKS, SPECIFICALLY 2500 MODELS, HAVE A DEATH WOBBLE THAT OCCURS ALL THE TIME. WHAT HAPPENS IS, WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP OR A CRACK IN THE ROAD, THE TRUCK STARTS WOBBLING OUT OF CONTROL. IT HAS TO DO WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND THERE'S NO WAY TO FIX IT. IT'S HORRIBLE BECAUSE IT USUALLY OCCURS WHEN YOU'RE ON HIGHWAYS AT HIGH SPEEDS AND IT CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MORE DETAILS INCLUDE SEVERE TRUCK SHAKING AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. TO SEE THIS HAPPEN ON CAMERA, PL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE AIR BAG SUDDENLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN IMPACT OR CRASH. THE CONTACT MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH HIS HAND WAS INJURED. HE STEERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TIED THE AIR BAG TO THE STEERING WHEEL, AND DROVE TO HIS RESIDENCE. HE THEN DROVE TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS OWNER IGNORED THE RECALL NOTICE. TH

Mileage: 175,000

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 V

Mileage: 191,110

VEHICLE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE RESULTING IN THE DESTRUCTION OF VEHICLE. *NM

Mileage: 62,716

THE OUTER DASH SILENCER PAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED THE CLUTCH AND FUEL LINES. IT FRIED THE COMPUTER, THE OCCUPANTS WERE ALMOST KILLED. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED #737, IN AUGUST 1997. THE CUSTOMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER PAID ALL REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE CLAIM WAS DENIED. CHRYSLER WILL NOT HELP THE CONSUMER WITH THE REPAIR BILLS, TOM KELLY MADE A DECISION AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HE DOES NOT COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE AND HIS

Mileage: 161,000

THE OUTER DASH SILENCER PAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED THE CLUTCH AND FUEL LINES. IT FRIED THE COMPUTER, THE OCCUPANTS WERE ALMOST KILLED. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED #737, IN AUGUST 1997. THE CUSTOMER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER PAID ALL REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE CLAIM WAS DENIED. CHRYSLER WILL NOT HELP THE CONSUMER WITH THE REPAIR BILLS, TOM KELLY MADE A DECISION AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT HE DOES NOT COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE AND HIS

Mileage: 161,000

WHILE DRIVING HOME LATE ONE EVENING IN LATE NOVEMBER 2004, THE LIGHTS ON MY DODGE RAM 2500 WENT COMPLETELY OUT. WITH THIS LOSS OF LIGHTING I WAS FORCED OFF THE ROAD, FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT SERIOUS CONSEQUENCE. THE FAULT WAS THE MAIN LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE (SHORTING OUT) CREATING A SHORT AND SMALL FIRE IN THE DASH. THIS IS THE THIRD SWITCH I HAVE REPLACED IN THIS VEHICLE. *JB I RESEARCHED THIS TYPE OF FAILURE AND HAVE FOUND THAT IS A FAIRLY COMMON OCCURRENCE

Mileage: 248,000

1997 DODGE RAM 2500 EXPERIENCING ENGINE PROBLEMS.*MR CONSUMER BACKED OUT THE DRIVEWAY AND AS THE VEHICLE REACHED THE STREET, THE ENGINE DIED. CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE, AT FIRST IT SEEMED TO HAVE CHOKED THEN WENT ON FINE. THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO GET ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS ACTING SLUGGISH. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED TO THE DIP SHE SMELLED FUMES. IT WASN'T GAS BUT AN OILY SMELL, IT LASTED A FEW SECONDS. CONSUMER WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS HER VEHICLE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HERS

WHILE PROCEEDING TO LEAVE THE MALL PARKING LOT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED CAR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *NM

ON TRIP TO CAMPING GROUND IN SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS, STARTED TO SMELL "HOT BRAKES" ALTHOUGH I HAD NOT BEEN USING THEM AT THAT POINT. THOUGHT BRAKE SHOE MAY BE DRAGGING OR THAT IT COULD BE ANOTHER MOTORIST. APPROACHED CAMP GROUND WITH GROWING CERTAINTY IT HAD TO BE MY TRUCK. AFTER PARKING IN CAMPING SPACE AND SHUTTING DOWN MOTOR, I NOTICED SMOKE ISSUING FROM UNDER HOOD. OPENED HOOD TO INVESTIGATE AND FOUND FLAMES LICKING UP FIREWALL/TOE BOARD. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT FIREWALL INSULATION HA

Mileage: 97,360

WHEN THE CONSUMER PULLED OUT OF A GAS STATION, THERE WAS A SMELL OF PLASTIC BURNING. SUDDENLY FLAMES APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE MECHANIC STATED THE MAIN BOLT FOR THE 120 AMP VIBRATED OFF, WHICH CAUSED THE WIRING TO HEAT UP AND CATCH FIRE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER SAW FLAMES UNDER HOOD. DEALER REPLACED RELAY SWITCH AND SOLENOID.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER SAW FLAMES UNDER HOOD. DEALER REPLACED RELAY SWITCH AND SOLENOID.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER SAW FLAMES UNDER HOOD. DEALER REPLACED RELAY SWITCH AND SOLENOID.*AK

THE ENGINE WOULD NOT STOP RUNNING. WIRING TO FUEL SOLENOID STARTED BURNING. ENGINE STARTED TO SHUTDOWN AND THE STARTER ENGAGED. THIS APPEARS TO BE COMMON BECAUSE A CUMMINS DEALERSHIP MENTIONED THAT IT HAPPENS OFTEN ON DODGE TRUCKS AND SO DID ANOTHER DODGE DEALERSHIP ONCE THE VEHICLE GETS AROUND OR ABOVE 75,000 MILES. THE NEW SOLENOID IS DIFFERENT FROM THE ORIGINAL. HOW EVER DODGE SAYS THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF STD WARRANTY AND WILL NOT ASSIST. IF RESERACHED YOU WILL FIND THAT IN OTHER APPLICATI

AROUND 6 MONTHS AGO A PLUME OF THICK BLACK SMOKE EXITED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I INSPECTED THE ENGINE BUT COULD NOT LOCATE THE SOURCE AND FIGURED IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING FALLING ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. RECENTLY I DISCOVERED MELTED AND CORRODED WIRES LEADING TO THE FUEL PREHEATER. NO FUSE WAS BLOWN. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THIS VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR YET, SO THE COST ESTIMATE IS SIMPLY A GUESS. IF A SHORT EXISTED IN THE PREHEATER, THEN THE FUSE SHOULD HAVE BLOWN. EITHER THE FUSE IS TO LARGE, O

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE MINIMUM COLLISION SPEED AT WHICH THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS FOR MY VEHICLE.