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.
1998 Dodge Ram 1500. Consumer writes in regards to seat belt issues. Consumer sent additional correspondence. The consumer stated three years ago, the seat belt on both sides would not pull down out of the seat. The dealer informed the consumer the seat belts needed to be replaced at a cost of $1000. The consumer stated he went to a junk yard and purchased a seat belt module for $35. 00. updated 08/24/15
Seat belt control module will not release retracted belts to allow driver or passenger to wear seat belts. This makes the vehicle unsafe and illegal to properly operate. Module is no longer manufactured or carried by any national parts warehouse. Dodge advised for me to call a dedicated supplier of parts for older vehicles and was told these were not available anywhere on a database any longer. There are several blogs with owners stating same issues with their trucks and Dodge has not recalled this safety item or accommodated anyone with these problems as of date.
Truck was park both times..one time over night..then second time parked at work for 8 hours..went to get into truck, nothing happen, no seat belt was working.. why there no recall on something like seat belt a big safety issue?? there was nothing I did wrong.
Drivers side seat belt retractor has broken three times since 2003 (approximate date), leaving the seat belt paid-out (unable to retract) and useless. I replaced it last month for $185 plus tax. Parts salesman wasn't confident that it would be available for purchase (as some seat belts are discontinued). Safety items should have no expiration!
The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while parked, the neither front seat belt would extend from their retractors. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.
- Hudson, FL, USA
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The passenger and driver seat belts are locked in the retracted position. There wasn't any event that led to the failure, they both just quit working. I researched the issue on the internet and apparently it is something that happens quite often leaving both the driver and occupant without safety restraints. This is very dangerous and a safety recall needs to be issued to both notify and to protect the public.
1998 Dodge Ram 1500 seat belts remain in retractable position and cannot be used on both passenger and driver sides. Mileage 80500 this is a safety hazard because no matter how hard you pull on the seat belts they will not come loose from the retractable position.
No accident as of yet. No reasonable cause of condition found at present time. Safety belts locked in fully retracted state, and are unable to extend for fastening. No accident has happened at current time to owners knowledge.
1998 Dodge Ram 1500 4WD - driver and front passenger seatbelts do not work. This vehicle has never been wrecked, they just quit working one day. We called the local dealership and they said we could replace each seatbelt for $198.
The driver seat belt became unbuckled various times. I have replace the buckle side of it on my own. Also the rear end is making noise right after warranty expired, now I'm supposed to replace it onmy own.
Contact states that early in the morning when she got in her car and was putting the seat belt on, the shoulder part tightened up the lap belt and she noticed a bolt hole. There was a metal bar and the bolt hole had broken. She contacted Chrysler, and they told her that the truck was a 1998 model and had a lot of mileage on it. They couldn't fix it. (the belt was in properly but the metal strap holding the seat belt to the floor had sheared at the bolt hole which was coming apart)
My husband ordered this truck in late 1997. We purchased it new and have had numerous problems with the vehicle. The biggest problem we have faced is the transmission. Mid-April 1998 the first problems occured with slippage, the transmission cooling lines were replaced, one month later the torque converter went and repairs were made. Now at 51,000 miles and very little driving for the last 2 yrs (since my husband has been sick with cancer) it has blown again. The front seals are leaking profusely. The rear window was leaking so badly at one point the entire ceiling inside was soaded. The ABS computer went wacky on us early on also. The seatbelt has been twisted since we purchased the vehicle and we have not successfully fixed it. The extended warranty we purchased has gone out of business. I will not likely buy another Dodge ever again. Mercedes takes the cake.
While driving at normal speed vehicle was involved in a frontal collision, and neither of the air bags deployed. Also, seat belts failed to hold driver and consumer. No air bag light warning light appeared prior to the crash.
Seat belt retractor is defective. Passenger front belt will not retract. Driver's front belt extracts intermittently. Retractors are motorized. Consumer states motor makes strange grinding noise.
While driving 50 mph vehicle was hit head-on, and left rear passenger's seatbelt did not restrain child. Child hit his face on front passenger's seatback. One of the child's teeth cut through the lip.
Driver seatbelt will locks up without applying brakes/with or without the key in igniton, or if the consumer is sitting still or moving, causing consumer to be trapped against seat. Dealer has replaced seatbelt, but defect is still occurring. The dealer is unwilling to correct the problem. The unpredictability of when the belt will lock makes it particularily dangerous.
When system failed, we were unable to put seat belts on due to computers loss of programing. This is not only unsafe, but illegal in this state and many others.there sould be a default to a mechanical locking system, not just go inop. And leave us in a very unsafe situation.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Winston-Salem, NC, USA