This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Power loss occurs at anytime. All the time. Truck slows down to idle speed. Really bad when doing 70 on the interstate. Must shut engine off, press accelerator slowly for 5 times then restart engine. Electronic throttle controller has been replaced 6 times now. They all failed again between 7 and 40 miles. Have not been able to get it repaired.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500. While driving, the instrument panel and exterior lighting illuminated brightly and the vehicle stalled. The contact pulled over and discovered that the tipm was smoking and caused six unknown fuses to become inoperable. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and restarted. After the vehicle was restarted, it caught on fire. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 245,000.
On three different occasions, the tipm has failed on this truck. The first time the vehicle was under warranty. Second one happened in 2013. The third time in Dec of 2015. All three times the motor quit in heavy traffic and the dashboard went off. The tipm box then started smoking. I disconnected the battery cables. On the third occasion, I was delayed by heavy traffic in getting to the battery cables. The truck was on a steep grade. The horn started honking, wipers and windshield sprayer activated, and then the vehicle tried to start itself and move forward. If I had been under the hood, I would have been run over. Also, this truck was pulling a trailer on a mountain pass with no power steering, brakes, or trailer brakes due to this problem and made this extremely dangerous.
Arrived at lowes, left the truck running out front of the store while undloading riding mower to return. When we came back out vehicle had shut off and smoke coming from under the hood. Lifted the hood and noted fuse box smoking. Jumped back in truck and made sure engine turned off and key out of ingnition. While waiting for friends to towe the truck, wipers started horn and alarm started then car started up and took off across the parking lot. Luckily there were no vehicle or persons in front of the vehicle when this happened and was good thing we waited outside for friends instead of returning inside the store. My husband was able to jump in the truck, but without the key in the ignition he was unable to brake the truck or steer the truck, so because it was a manual he was able to get it out of gear and apply emergency brake. Sadly after this occurred I have discovered even more horrific incidences where this has happened to people while driving leaving them without steering or brakes. Dodge is aware of the problem and still no recall. I've even seen this described as a "common occurance".......really ! no crash or fatalities this time, but by the sound too many near misses and who knows how many have been caused by this problem.
- Holly Springs , MS, USA
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The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500. While driving approximately 70 mph, the odometer seized. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who stated that "it was not public knowledge that when a truck got to 621,000, this problem occurred"; the instrument cluster and/or the electronic control module would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 621,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500. When the ignition key was turned to the on position, the vehicle failed to start intermittently. The contact mentioned that the failure only occurred in cold temperatures. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the clutch safety ignition interlock switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included NHTSA campaign number: 14V795000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was 140,000.
After my son purchased his 08 mega cab 4X4, his signal lights started crossing, in other words when you turn on left it signaled right and wipers don, T function exactly right when changing lanes traffic thought we were going right and they went left on the interstate and we almost collided both going to the left
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that while traveling 40 mph, the windshield reservoir emitted washer fluid onto the windshield. The contact stated that the vehicle lost all electrical power and emitted a burning odor. In addition, the vehicle electrical system caught on fire. The vehicle was towed to a private mechanic where it was diagnosed that the total intergraded power module failed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 64,000.
I was turning onto another street I smelled electrical smoke. Truck started to run rough then stalled. Electrical smoke filled the cab. Everything that was electrical turned on and was either flashing blinking or running. I put truck in neutral and pulled the ignition key. The starter engaged on its own. I had to pull battery cables off to kill power to the truck by hand no tools. The tipm module burned internally. If my wife had been driving the truck would have burned. If the truck was in gear it would have taken off by itself.
Tipm (totally integrated power module) caught fire. Lost all control of the truck (steering, brakes, etc.) and the windshield washer fluid pump emptied the canister onto the windshield so I could not see the roadway.
Driving down my street. The engine shut off and windshield washer function turned on. I pulled over and tried cycling my key to restart the truck. Then with the key in off position smelled something burning. Opened the hood to see the tipm (totally integrated power module) smoking. The truck then started by itself and nearly ran me over (manual transmission truck was in 2nd gear). Truck moved about 10ft before shutting off again. Got truck in neutral before starter reengaged and could do nothing to stop starter from turning the engine over until both battery terminal were disconnected. The truck was towed back to my house and the tipm was found badly burned. About 1/4 of the main circuit card burnt up and disintegrated.
Owner of 2008 Dodge 3500 dually was driving down road when fuse box caught fire. Windshield wipers started continuously squirting and smoke came out from underneath hood. Going 75mph with horsetrailer in tow, vehicle without warning, shut off leaving owner without power, lights, steering or brakes while windshield wipers still squirting continuously and wiper blades not working. If this happened 1 hour later owner would be dead as next part of road has extreme downgrade with curves. Vehicle was towed to nearest Dodge dealer where fuse box was replaced at owners expense. Took vehicle home 6 hours later new fuse box fuse blown and wires starting to melt again. Took vehicle into local Dodge dealer and traded in for different truck. When Dodge/Chrysler engineer flew in to examine old fuse box the box was burnt to a crisp. Both local Dodge dealer and Dodge/Chrysler engineer were told vehicle in question is unsafe and will kill someone. Owner was told truck will be sold at auction "as is" and sent out of the local area. Owner still has old fuse box for evidence.
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500. No occupants were in the vehicle nor the key in the ignition when the vehicle started on its own and crashed into the garage. The bumper of the vehicle was badly damaged. He turned the battery cables off in order to stop the engine from running. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they are repairing the engine but not the bumper. He was told to call the insurance company to repair the bumper. The failure mileage was 20,000. Updated 02/24/10. The truck was in 1st gear and the vehicle was not parked on an incline. Updated 09/02/10
The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram. While driving various speeds, the instrument panel gauges and lighting will flicker and the vehicle shuts off. Occasionally, the vehicle becomes very difficult to start. The most recent failure was noticed at 25 mph. The dealer replaced the control module at least five times, but the failure still persists. The contact feels that the vehicle is unsafe to drive and a crash could occur. The current mileage was 14,300 and failure mileage was 8,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Oak Lawn, IL, USA