Phone:

(800) 992-1997

Web:

Dodge Customer Service

Mail:

Dodge Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 21-8004
Auburn Hills, MI 48321-8004

1996 Dodge Ram 3500 NHTSA Defect Investigations

• Defect Investigation #EA99027 - 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.
• Defect Investigation #PE99031 - Complainants allege fires, melting, smoke or excessive heat in the vicinity of the ignition switch
• Defect Investigation #PE96070 - 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)
• Defect Investigation #RQ98002 - The loss of quick connector joint integrity due to high automatic transmission fluid temperatures which may exceed the melting point of the connector material, allowing transmission fluid to leak or spray from the joints, possibly resulting in a vehicle fire.
• Defect Investigation #DP03006 - 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 NHTSA 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 NHTSA'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.
• Defect Investigation #EA98005 - Alleged plastic clutch tube may fail from exposure to exhaust heat, resulting in loss of clutch function and possible vehicle fire.
• Defect Investigation #PE97043 - 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.
• Defect Investigation #DP00002 - 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
• Defect Investigation #RQ00012 - 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%
• Defect Investigation #PE00048 - Alleged that the throttle cable can fray or sever during normal use resulting in the throttle not returning to idle or an inability to accelerate.