1996 Dodge Ram problems

What is wrong

Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with diesel engines. The throttle cable could unravel (fray) or break resulting in loss of throttle control.

Risk

A throttle that does not return to idle could result in unexpected acceleration, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the throttle cable and upper bell crank lever. Owner notification began august 3, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1‑800‑853‑1403.

Recall number 01V037000 · Recall details

What is wrong

On certain pickup trucks originally sold in or currently registered in the following "salt belt" states: maine, new hampshire, vermont, massachusetts, rhode island, connecticut, new york, new jersey, pennsylvania, delaware, maryland, the district of columbia, west virginia, ohio, indiana, michigan, illinois, wisconsin, minnesota, iowa, and missouri. Corrosion of the return spring on the hood secondary latch could cause the mechanism to bind in the "release position."

Risk

If the primary latch is not engaged, the hood could open unexpectedly.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the secondary hood latch. Owner notification began september 17, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact daimlerchrysler at 1‑800‑853‑1403.

Recall number 01V040000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. The affected vehicles were built with an ignition switch and wiring that could overheat. High electrical current loads pass through the switch when the blower motor is operated on high for an extended periods of time.

Risk

This could cause the ignition switch and wiring to overheat.

Remedy

Dealers will install a relay and overlay harness.

Recall number 00V135000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with manual transmission, v10 engines and four-wheel-drive transfer cases. Under sustained maximum rated vehicle load, while driving up a steep grade in four-wheel-drive low range in hot ambient conditions, the local exhaust temperature proximate to the hydraulic clutch line can generate line temperatures that exceed the temperature limit of the clutch line material. If this condition occurs and the clutch is depressed, the line could rupture.

Risk

The fluid could ignite on the hot exhaust possibly resulting in a vehicle fire.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the hydraulic clutch assembly.

Recall number 99V115000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: van and wagon model passenger vehicles. If water/road salt gets on the interior floor of the vehicle in the proximity of the air bag electronic control module (aecm), the aecm can corrode. The resulting corrosion can cause the driver side air bag to deploy inadvertently.

Risk

Deployment of the air bag without warning could cause a driver to lose vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash and personal injury.

Remedy

Dealers wil replace the aecm with an aecm that is sealed from moisture intrusion.

Recall number 99V023000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks equipped with gasoline engines. The fuel tank mounted rollover valve can allow liquid fuel to leak onto the ground under certain vehicle operating conditions.

Risk

Fuel leakage could result in a fire if an ignition source was present.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the fuel tank rollover valve with a float type rollover valve.

Recall number 97V199000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Under certain high load operating conditions, the transmission fluid temperature can exceed the melting point of the material used in the connector to retain the fluid line to the transmission.

Risk

When these temperatures occur, the fluid line will not stay connected with the transmission and fluid can spray onto the exhaust manifold, resulting in smoke or fire.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the high temperature side of the transmission fluid cooler line connector fittings with connectors that incorporate a stainless steel retainer.

Recall number 97V084000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Vehicle description: pickup trucks equipped with diesel engines. The engine driven vacuum pump can allow engine oil into the vacuum hoses due to the absence of an internal check valve. The oil can cause the hose to deteriorate and partially collapse, reducing the vacuum supply to the brake booster.

Risk

Reduced power brake assist can result increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy

Dealers will add a vacuum pump check valve to the vacuum pump. In addition, the vacuum hose connected to the vacuum pump will be replaced with a hose that is engine oil resistant.

Recall number 97V068000 · Recall details

What is wrong

The involved vehicles have tire/wheel specification information on the vehicle certification label which indicates a smaller size tire than required. This does not comply with label requirements of fmvss no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."

Risk

Consequence of non-compliance: the smaller tires would not have sufficient load capacity for the vehicles specified gross weight rating, increasing the potential for a premature tire failure and an accident.

Remedy

Owners will be mailed an overlay label with the correct tire/wheel certification information and instructions for installing the label on their vehicles. If owners prefer, their dealer can install the label for them.

Recall number 96V027000 · Recall details

What is wrong

The fasteners which secure the generator cartridge fuse to the power distribution center may have an improper clamp load. Improper clamping can result in arcing at the connection.

Risk

This condition can potentially cause a fire in the engine compartment.

Remedy

Dealers will tighten the generator cartridge fuse fasteners properly.

Recall number 95V237000 · Recall details

Odi has identified 30 incidents where it is alleged the seat back collapsed in a rear impact crash.these incidents are alleged to have contributed to 23 injuries and two deaths.the data presented to odi show that the seat back strength of the front seats comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 207. Seating system.according to daimlerchrylser the front seats were designed to collapse rearward in rear impact crashes as part of the energy absorptioncapabilities of the seating system to reduce the chance of serious injury to the occupant.rates of occurance were compared to peer vehicles, and it was shown that the performace of the subject vehicle was comparable to those vehicles.in view of the forgoing, it is unlikely that the federal safety agency would issue an order for the notification remedy of a safety defect in the subject vehicles as defined by the petitioner at the conclusion of the investigation requested in the petition.therfore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize the federal safety agency's limited resources to best accomplish the agency's mission, the petition is denied.for further details, refer to odi's response to the petition published in the federal register vol.69, no. 60 , dated march 29, 2004.

DP03006

Onmarch 20, 1995, daimlerchrysler filed a defect report for 181,008 1994 and 1995 dodge ram trucks manufacturedc from january 21, 1994 - october 25, 1994 at the dodge city assembly plant and from march 26, 1994 - december 8, 1994 at the lago alberto assembly plant.the secondary hood latch rod could bind on the guide bracket and prevent engagement of the secondary latch.if this occurs when the primary latch is not engaged, the hood could fly up when the vehicle is being driven and obstruct the drier's vision increasing the potential for a crash.the recall remedy was to replace the sedcondary hood latch.owners were notified in august of 1995.this recall rate as of 2/97 was 68%

RQ00012

Alleges that the poor design of the ignition switch assembly and//or the key cylinder assembly in the model year 1991-2000 vehicles may cause the steering column to catch fire

DP00002

ODI has received 33 complaints alleging excessive heat in the ignition switch and related circuitry in 1994-1996 Dodge Ram trucks.The root cause is an excessive current draw through the ignition switch result in fire, smoke, melting of surrounding plastics, stalling and the illumination of air bag and anti-lock brake system (ABS) warnig lights. DaimlerChrsler has been aware of the potential for this failure and implemented a design change to reduce the current draw through the switch.This design change involved the installation of a relay in the blower motor circuitry for all Ram trucks built after March 15,1996.DaimlerChrysler also made available an ignition switch repair package (PN 4874996) which includes the necessary components to upgrade vehicles built prior to the implementation date.DaimleChrysler also issued a correspondence to its zones instructing technicians to replace failed ignition switches in the subject population with the sevice kit only.An Engineering Analysis is necessary to determine if a safety defect trend exists.ODI will focus its investigation on fires in the steering column area as well as the effects of switch failure on the ABS and air bag system.

EA99027

Complainants allege fires, melting, smoke or excessive heat in the vicinity of the ignition switch

PE99031

On april 17, 1997, the chrysler corporation filed a defect information report concerning approximately 800,000 1994 through 1997 dodge ram pickups equipped with v6 or v8 engines and automatic transmissions, 1995 through 1997dodge ram pickups equipped with the v10 engine and automatic transmission, and the 1995 and 1996 dodge ram van/wagon equipped with automatic transmission.odi has received eleven reports concerning transmission leakages from the quick connector joints resulting in eight fires.the reported vehicles included are the 1994 and 1995 jeep wrangler, 1995 and 1996 cherokee, 1993 through 1996 grand cherokee, and 1994 and 1995 dodge dakota.the purpose of this investigation is to examine the scope of recall 97v‑084.closing summary: further investigation of consumer reports revealed that some of the transmission leakage was due to other connections along the cooling lines.in the fire incidents, there were indications that some of these vehicles were either used beyond the vehicle's towing capability or had improper transmission repair.in addition, the recalled ram pickup trucks, 98v‑084, have an exhaust manifold near the plastic quick connector joints which effectively presents a heat source to ignite the hot transmission fluid in the event of a leakage.the subject vehicles' quick connector joints are either too far, or positioned completely away, from a heat source or exhaust components.consequently, the fire reports of the subject vehicles are significantly less than those of the dodge ram pickup trucks.based on the available information, a safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by future circumstances.

RQ98002

Alleged plastic clutch tube may fail from exposure to exhaust heat, resulting in loss of clutch function and possible vehicle fire.

EA98005

Alleged clutch line may melt and leak hydraulic fluid in the vicinity of the exhaust manifold.leaked hydraulic fluid could ignite and cause a vehicle fire.

PE97043

TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE AT COOLER TUBE DISCONNECTS IS ALLEGED TO HAVE RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRES.(this resume was revises on 12/3/96 to include the 1996 model year truck equipped with the subject equipment)

PE96070