1997 Dodge RAM 1500 acceleration problems

Filed Aug 14, 2011 · Acceleration, Airbags · 197,000 miles · FM

While driving 97 dodge ram my daughter almost wrecked due to vehicle sudden surge, stall and shut down causing loss of power steering and other control of vehicle. Also happened to me multiple times when I test drove it. Subsequent events found to include air bag light illumination, cruise control light on steering wheel comes on and vehicle surges with RPM's up to @ 2,000 before full stall. Code p0123 on obdii scanner. Sensor replaced and still happening. Stopped problem completely by disconnecting the clock spring connections. Researched other complaints and found many listed under vehicle speed control, clock spring, airbag, electrical etc covering many years and including injuries. The federal safety agency needs to cross reference these complaints and connect the dots as there is no place I can find to type in the actual component name "clock spring" which is an extremely poor setup for a complaint site. Also limiting mileage to 3 numbers is ridiculous. Speed ranged from barely moving @ 2mph to 45mph. Somebody is going to get killed if they haven't already.

Filed Nov 2, 2010 · Acceleration · 140,000 miles · WA

Tonight my throttle got stuck on my 97 dodge ram 1500 (all stock parts). After stopping at a light, I pulled out, then accelerated to 50 MPH, and let off the gas; but the truck kept accelerating. The throttle was stuck wide open, so pressed the brake, put the truck in neutral, shut off the engine and pulled over to the side of the road. It seems to be linked to the cruise control (which I never had on), or some sort of binding in the firewall where the cable links to the pedal in the cabin. Everything seems to be working fine now, but I'm still going to investigate this further.

Filed Jun 4, 2008 · Acceleration · 70,900 miles · IL

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 dodge ram 1500. While driving 50 MPH, the contact activated the cruise control. The speed increased to 55 MPH without him pre-setting the speed. When the contact attempted to disengage the cruise control, the engine began to rev. He applied pressure to the brake pedal, but the cruise control would not disengage. The contact had to completely turn off the vehicle in order for it to disengage. He is in the process of having the vehicle diagnosed at the dealer. The failure and current mileages were 70,900. Updated 07/08/08. *bf updated

Filed Apr 13, 2005 · Acceleration, Body · 40 miles · PA

A long list is available at humes of waterford,pa. The most amazing failure of the vehichle was when the driver's door flew open while driving around the bend and I was lucky thaat no oncoming traffic was coming. Humes(dealer) fixed it by a horrible weld on the latch.

Filed Jun 4, 2004 · Acceleration · 94,000 miles · WI · crash

While sitting at a gas station on a slight incline vehicle rolled backwards about thirty feet and collided with a fuel pump. The fuel pump was demolished, and fuel flooded the immediate area. Vehicle suffered scratches, a bent bumper and several dents.

Filed Mar 17, 2004 · Acceleration · 126,000 miles · OH

I own a 1997 dodge 1500 ram p.u. I started my truck up towarm up. I then backed out of the drive. When I put truck in drive, it stalled. I started it back up and put it in drive again. The engine was going full throttle and it took off like a rocket. I cut the enging to look for a problem. Everything appeared ok so I started it up again and put it in gear. The engine was running so fast that even though I held the brake peddal to the floor the engine pulled me right thru a stop sign. I played with the gas peddal and it began to run normal. I then took it to my service station and had them look at it. They advisd me that it was a dealer problem and they could do nothing. I then proceeded towards to the freeway when it suddenld accelerated again. I then brought the truck home and am scared to drive it. I called chrysler corp. To see what the problem may be and they said they have never had any complaints about this and yet I have found several same or simular problems listed on your site. I also have had a problem with the cruise control. While driving on the freeway it suddenly stopped functioning, and hasen't worked since. Again chrysler claime to not be aware of any problems. The exact same thing with the cruise control happened on my 1998 plymouth van and it was taken care of under recall. It appears that either you are not relaying all these complaints to chrysler corp., or they are living in a vacuum.

Filed Jan 8, 2004 · Acceleration, Electrical · 103,000 miles · IN

Passenger side exterior mirror is defective. It will not remain stationary and move around in the wind. Within the first week of ownership, a smell of fuel became increasing stronger and a whining sound upon takeoff became louder. I found the leak at the end of the driver's side plastic! Fuel rail next to the fire wall above the intake manifold. This started after outside temperature reached 1 degree fahrenheit. Fuel falls directly onto a really hot motor. Fog lights, cruise control and horn does not work.

Filed May 14, 2003 · Acceleration · 49,900 miles · ME

Cruise-control, my cruise-control light comes on and I go to set my speed that I want and it doesn't work. I continue going and then the cruise will take over on it's own and start working and when I stop, it stops. I take off and then it will kick in and lock on and work and other times, when I want it to, it won't work at all. Would this have anything to do with the springs and set up with the air bag recall on the 1997 dodge ram pick-ups, which I never received. I did get the recall for the hood latch problem and had that fixed immediately. I own a 1997 dodge ram 1500 pick-up truck and the mileage just turned 50,000, plus I have an extended warranty on it also.

Filed Jul 23, 2001 · Acceleration · VA

It jerks when lightly accelerating.

Filed May 22, 2000 · Acceleration, Brakes · MI · crash · 3 injuries

Truck acceelrated upon putting into drive.....the pedal went to the floor ....could not stop it. The ABS activated and vehicle crashed into a building....it squeeled the tires as soon as I stepped on pedal and it went to the floor......crashed into a building and it was still revving at full throttle.........can you help us......we dont want to drive it again unless we know what caused it to do this.........the exterior damage is being repaired but we still dont know why it did that........thankyou...