1998 Dodge RAM 1500: jerking or lurching

Filed Dec 16, 2008 · Transmission · 110,000 miles · 00 · crash

Truck parked on driveway in park--did not hold and rolled backwards into tree on the lawn causing damage to the rear bumper-luckily it did strike the tree other wise it would have been on the street. I have the same problem of shifting into drive--and reverse the engagement points are no where they are shown to be on the shifter. There is also a hesitation when engaged(sometimes) and will engage roughly with a jerk. I ve been told that there was a defective connector inside the steering column and that there was a safety recall on this part--cannot get a direct answer from a local dealer here --what's the score on this.

Filed Mar 12, 2006 · Transmission · TX

(1) started to pull as if it were not getting fuel (2) the trans temp light came on (3)the overdrive light came on (4) periodically there was a grinding noise (5) truck would delay or jerk when put in drive (6)will no longer go in drive or reverse (7) truck has stalled and is no longer running.

Filed Apr 23, 2005 · Steering · 58,000 miles · PA · crash · 2 injuries

My girlfriend's son was driving our 1998 dodge ram 1500 going about 35 or 40 miles per hour (he and his girlfriend were taking a ride waiting for a pizza) so just mosing along thank god . He rounded a curve and lost steering he tried to jerk it back and said it made a cracking noise and he had no steering ability. He ran off the road striking trees, knocked himself out by hitting his head on the drivers side window. When he came to, his girlfriend was knocked out. He got her alert and called 911. She was life flighted, 5 broken ribs, major concussion and he had cuts and scratches and a concussion. He was treated and released. I asked the insurance adjuster to check it but he looked at it (never tore the steering column apart) and said it looked ok. They moved it to a salvage yard. Since the accident 3 people have told me they had the same problem with their ram 1500. Now her son is being fined for driving too fast around the curve..guess it is always a fine never a true accident anymore, but I am just thankful that the kids are both alive as the truck was totaled from the trees and stumps they hit. Her son feels he may have leaned on the gas pedal when he was knocked out but knows he was only going 40 MPH tops prior to the steering failing.

Filed Aug 17, 2001 · Acceleration, Transmission · NY

Consumer can shift vehicle into any gear. Stepped on gas pedal and vehicle would not move. Rpms revved high or low before vehicle had a delayed response by lurching forward in whatever gear it was in. Diagnostic test showed no codes and shifted as normal. Problem had to duplicate to be remedied.

Filed Mar 27, 2001 · Transmission · NV

While driving 5-10 MPH consumer heard loud noise. Vehicle lurched forward, and rear end locked up. Consumer pulled over, and looked underneath vehicle, and noticed driveshaft was missing.