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.
The contact owns a 1999 Dodge Ram 3500. While driving 45 mph, the gear was shifted into fifth gear and the vehicle decelerated to 40 mph. There were no warning indicators present. The mechanic at the repair shop stated that a nut on the fifth gear failed. No repairs were made. The current mileage was 182,240 and failure mileage was 182,140.
Was shifting gears on I-44 on ramp to get up to speed so I could merge with the flow of traffic. When I put the truck into fifth gear it felt as if I had shifted into neutral. Was able to go to next exit driving in fourth gear so I could get the truck back home. Couldn't go over 55 mph in fourth gear plus didn't know if driving the truck like this was going to cause more problems. Called a few people I knew that had heard others say that the nut that goes onto the fifth gear shift rod would often back off. I took the truck to a mechanic and had them take the transmission apart to see if this is what happened. Sure enough when he split the tail shaft off the nut was just hanging on the shift rod. I went to a local Dodge dealership and purchased the new and improved lock nut that Dodge came out with to fix the problem. This cost me about 65 dollars and another 530 dollars to pay for the labor involved. The old nut was left in the scrap metal pile at the mechanic's shop.
The consumer has had to replace the fifth gear twice since owning the vehicle. The first time it was replaced at around 30000 miles. The second time it was replaced around 60000 miles. The vehicle is mostly driven on the highway. There was no prior warning to the gear failure. The consumer was driving on the highway with the vehicle in fifth gear when it failed. The vehicle felt as if it were in neutral so the consumer had to down shift to fourth gear. All of the other gears worked except for the fifth gear.
While traveling vehicle would not shift out of first gear to second gear until vehicle reached 25 mph - 30 mph intermittently. Dealer has been contacted.
- Dallas, TX, USA
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There was a nut in the back of the standard transmission. While driving 70 mph the nut fell off into the transmission which caused the vehicle to free wheel in fifth gear.
While driving with vehicle in fifth gear. Driver applied gas to the accelerator pedal. The vehicle did not accelerate, the engine just continue to ravv up. Vehicle has a standard transmission.
The weld in 6th gear broke causing 6th gear to be unusable. Consumer stated that when the transmission was taken apart, the mechanic found that the weld was faulty. The power steering system had leaks.
Consumer states returned van to dealership 5 times for the transmission. Dealership replaced with a rebuilt transmission but is still experiencing dragging when at a stop with cooling fan engaged.
While driving at any speed and without warning, applied on brakes and vehicle would pull to the left or right. Dealer has been notified. Dealer has serviced vehicle before for same problem; however has not found remedy for malfunction. Consumer adds after front pads were replaced front/rear brakes continue to lock up. While opposite end wheels roll free. Many attempts made to correct problem, but lock up still happens frequently. Steering seems very loose and is hard to keep vehicle straight. Power steering gear and steering gear box was replaced however truck continues to wander. Driver side seat cushion saggs. Seat bottom cushion replaced. Cab sqwaks on uneven ground. Black smoke from exhaust when cold or warm. Clutch slips. Dealer could not duplicate. Dimmer on dash lights burns fingers. When turning on turn signals, wipers will activate and rapid flash is heard. Difficulty getting into first gear. ABS jams when under a hard stop and during cold start. Lumbar is inoperative. Tranmsission leaking oil. Replaced output shaft seal. Master cylinder replaced. Most gears difficult to engage. Reverse is very stiff. Shifting 2-3rd will cause shifter to lock up and won't move at all. No problem found. Overhead console inoperative and replaced.
The 5th gear in the transmission has a retaining nut that backs off and allows the 5th gear assembly to become disengaged while riding down the road. After speaking with the dealer I was told that it was from towing with the vehicle in 5th gear. There is nothing in the owner's manual about this being an issue. I also contacted several other owners of the same vehicle and they have had the exact same problem. Also the dealer wanted $1200 dollars to make the repair and I said no that was too high. They called me back later and said it would be $760 dollars. I still said no and that I was coming to inspect the bad parts. Upon arrival they showed me several parts and said that Dodge made them replace certain parts to cover any other warranty claims. The only part damaged was the retaining nut for the 5th gear and that is all that I would allow them to replace. The final cost for my repair was $460, most being labor. It is my understanding that Dodge has had so many problems with this that they now have redesigned the retaining nut to eliminate this problem. To me for this to be a widespread problem that has required part redesign, it should be covered under a safety recall. If some one had been behind me the night mine failed they would have rear-ended me. Dodge is making money on repairs that they caused from use of faulty parts.
Transmission malfunctioned in 5 gear. Consumer has to stay at 55 mph, this was 3rd time this happened. When transmission went out for 4th time causing clutch to go out also.
Transmission continuously "slips" out of first gear, when attempting to launch after a stop light, or shifting from reverse to first. Following each and every start, the transmission will "slip" out of first gear.
I have owned this truck for less than 1 year and fifth gear has gone out 5 times. I previously had a 1998 Dodge Ram pickup and after fifth gear going out four times I had to replace the whole transmission. My son owns a 1998 Dodge Ram pick up and has had to replace the transmission and fifth gear twice. What is wrong? please help us.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Lawrenceburg, TN, USA