1997 Dodge RAM 1500: engine stalls while driving

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 Jul 2, 2006 · Brakes · 111,422 miles · AZ · crash · 6 injuries

On december 14 2005 my son was driving my dodge ram 1500, he tried to stop and the ABS system locked and he rear ended the car in front of him. The engine stalled and he had no control over the vehicle. The truck slid approximately 20 feet. There was a child injured in the car that he hit.

Filed Apr 14, 2004 · Transmission · 49,600 miles · NV · crash · 2 injuries

Right rear axle assembly sheared causing engine to stall/loss of steering/control of the wehicle. Truck bed was empty and traveling at approx. 60mph; upon occurence vehicle rolled 3 times on busy highway; both driver and passenger injured

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 Dec 4, 2003 · Engine · 31,000 miles · FL

While driving, the vehicle would stall. The consumer managed to pull over, but was unable to restart the vehicle and had it towed. The dealership stated the problem was due to the fuel pump module. He tried to repair 3 times,but was unable to resolved the problem.

Filed Dec 4, 2003 · Engine · 31,000 miles · FL

While driving, the vehicle would stall. The consumer managed to pull over, but was unable to restart the vehicle and had it towed. The dealership mechanic informed the consumer that the problem was due to the fuel pump module. He tried to repair the vehicle 3 times, but was unable to resolve the problem.

Filed Apr 3, 2001 · Brakes, Electrical · NY

After replacing transmission, transmission failed again. Consumer was driving approximately 65mph and vehicle just gradually started slowing down. Consumer coasted to side of road with engine still running, but not able to go in any gears. Transmission was replaced 1-22-00. *ak vehicle experiences several transmission problems, there have been recalls amongst the repairs, driveshaft broke while driving, consumer states that chrysler corp has no records of a transmission being sent to new country dodge where the replacement took place, transfer case was retorqued, consumer had taken vehicle to dealer many times prior to complete transmission failure and dealer could not remedy problems. Clunking noise under vehicle, dealer replaced front swaybar links. O2 sensor replaced. Consumer stated at times he hadto hit the starter with a hammer to get it to work, ignition coil failed, and battery failed. Vehicle stalls when coming to a stop, check engine light illuminated. Excessive amounts of fuel used, distributor cap was replaced, vehicle also backfiring. Brakes grinding, front brake pads were metal to metal, rotor was scored badly, dealer replaced front pads and both rotors.

Filed Jul 10, 2000 · Transmission · NC

Since january I have been having problems with it stalling when I put it in reverse if I had it idle for awhile or warming up. I took it back to auto nation and they could not find anything wrong. They took it to dickinson dodge (910) 864-2411 and they could not get it to duplicate. The problem continued periodically until april when the transmission started slipping. This would only happen when I was in reverse then would try to put it in drive. The transmission would hesitate and it was like I was in nuetral. After a few seconds the drive gear would kick in and it was fine. A few times I had to put it in d2 then pull out and put it in drive. I had dickinson dodge check this again and they could find no problem. In late june I took it in for service and told dickinson to check the transmission again and they could not find anything or get it to duplicate the slipping and stalling. They di replace the serpentine belt and told me that could have been the problem but it wasn't. Two ddays after on july 1st I was driving around fayetteville and the check engine light came on. I contacted dickinson dodge again and on 5 july took it in. Initially they said the fault registered as a drop in RPM's. They could not find the source of the problem and thought it was electrical initially. Then on 6 july they decided to drop the transmission pan and found the torque converter was separating and putting metal fragments in the transmission. They said this ate away the seal for the gear box and allowed oil in the clutches. That was causing the slippage and the transmission would have to be rebuilt. They also said my overdrive gear was already out. They said it would cost approximately $1500 to rebuild it. I have already spent $95 for testing which showed nothing and another $80 for the serpentine belt replacement. I would think a truck with only 48,000 miles on it the transmission would be in excellent condition. I am suspecting it may be a flood vehicle.

Filed Oct 20, 1998 · Transmission · MO

Driver was making a left turn when the transmission started slipping, causing the driver to stall in oncomming traffic.