1997 Dodge RAM 1500 body problems

Filed Sep 5, 2015 · Body, Steering · 174,387 miles · WI · crash

When driving out of a hospital parking structure, when coming to the exit on the lowest level you must make a sharp right turn into the exit booth lane. When turning right, it was as if a "tooth" inside the steering gear broke off causing a collision with the rail while exiting the parking structure. Now the steering has an excessive amount of play and while in the center of the (steering play) it is as it binds or sticks at times where the "tooth" used to be on the steering gear. It has become quite dangerous to drive, especially at high speeds or on the interstate as the vehicle tends to wander now and follow the cracks in the road. I have owned dodge ram pickups for the last 20 years since I bought my first brand new ram pickup and let me tell you, they have all had issues with loose steering boxes, even the new one. But when they break, that is a dangerous situation that people cannot see coming with a normal inspection as on the outside, wear is undetectable. I have been an ase certified technician the better part of my adult life and this is unacceptable. I am sure chrysler has investigated this issue already and found that it would just cost too much to recall all these vehicles to repair them but the least they could do is sell a part priced at cost to share the burden with the consumer. It may save someone's life

Filed Aug 26, 2015 · Body · 85,000 miles · WI

Dash board is all cracked and broken apart. With every bump in the road the dash shakes bad and worsens from the lack of no support holding it in place. With the A/C, heat, or defroster blowing out the vents plastic also blows out. Trying to clean out my eye when driving is tough. Just waiting for the day I hit a bump and the dash falls to my feet. Body would be the paint on roof and hood, discoloring and peeling off

Filed Nov 11, 2014 · Body · 167,000 miles · NC

Bare bones of dash cracking/shattering cousins buttons/ instrument cluster/ switches to fall around and on me while driving. Cannot secure any thing in dash due to the cracking/ shattering of internal dash. Cannot secure bolts or clips to bare bones of dash . Cracking/ shattering has cause there to be no were to attach parts to.all of dash is affected.

Filed Oct 17, 2014 · Body · 217,000 miles · IN

Alright so as I bought my truck and have asked around many places and all have the same type of rust and most of it is where the idler arm bracket meets the frame at the front frame rail on the passenger side only and also the frame has been well taking care of you can look down the rest of the whole frame and its barely touched by rot and what happens is it tends to rust out and then breaks and can cause a accident many people consider patching if its not too bad and many have junked it due to it being not replace able dodge has been contacted many times also and refuse to do anything about it something needs done about these cheaply made frames I've owned vehicles 9 years older and the frames where no where near rotted.

Filed Sep 19, 2014 · Body · WI

Dash started with small cracks, now huge holes and nothing really holding the dash up now!!

Filed Feb 28, 2014 · Body, Electrical · 98,000 miles · NC

My report is not necessarily concerning a specific incident. Approximately the date and time specified above I noticed my dash cracking, since that time the entire dash of my truck has cracked and broken. I have had the cupholders break and spill on me and now my dash backlight has stopped functioning. It is only a matter of time until it completely falls apart. I have applied adhesive to a dash cover to prevent further degradation of the plastic. From what I see on my truck and my father-in-laws 2003 dodge ram it is a fundamental flaw in the material the dash components are made from. I fear it unsafe to drive since I don't know when catastrophic failure will occur. Numerous other dodge trucks that belong to friends and coworkers have the same problems. Any attention you can give to this issue will be appreciated.

Filed Jul 22, 2013 · Body · 150,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 dodge ram 1500. The contact stated that the dashboard was severely cracked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis but they were unable to duplicate the problem. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Dec 29, 2012 · Body · 190,000 miles · TX

The entire dash panel has cracked and shattered. The entire top portion of the dash panel is missing, exposing the gauges and wires. The bezel around the gauges and cup holder is cracked. The remaining part of the dash panel is loose and vibrates, making noises during travel. Dash continues to crack and fall apart during travel.

Filed Sep 11, 2012 · Body · 131,000 miles · SC

My dash is literally falling apart. I bought it in february with 0 cracks and now it looks like a piece of peanut brittle. I searched and apparently this is a huge problem. I just want it fixed.

Filed Jun 13, 2012 · Body · GA

Dash has caved in and cracked.