1998 DODGE RAM Power Trainautomatic Transmission Problems

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR. *AK

THE RPMS INCREASED, AND THE GEARS POPPED ON THE VEHICLE ON THEIR OWN. TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP FOR CHECK UP, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

TRUCK HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS REPLACED MANY PARTS FOR LEAKS AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ENGINE LIGHT CONSISTENTLY COMES ON EVEN AFTER REPAIRS. TRUCK BUCK WHEN ACCELERATING LOOSES ENGINE POWER. WOULD LIKE IT FIXED I READ OTHER COMPLAINTS AND THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO THE TRUCK AND HAVE NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY CANT SEEM TO FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE. PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *JB

VEHICLE CHANGED GEARS ON ITS OWN. THEN, ENGINE RACED. CONSUMER FELT VEHICLE WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF. *AK

THE BOLT THAT HOLDS FIFTH GEAR IN PLACE DISLODGED AND THE GEAR CAME OFF THE SHAFT. VEHICLE WAS STILL DRIVABLE IN THE OTHER FOUR GEARS BUT FIFTH GEAR WAS INOPERABLE. MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE SHIFTING THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING LEFT TO RIGHT. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE FIFTH GEAR GAVE OUT. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE ATTEMPING TO DRIVE FROM A RED LIGHT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ANDWITH NO WARNING TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, LOCKING REAR TIRES. IT WAS HARD TO CONTROL VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND BACK UP, BUT WILL GO FORWARD. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO DEALER WHEN IT WAS FIRST PURCHASED, DUE TO A VIBRATING NOISE. AT 36041 MILES, THE OVERDRIVE UNIT FAILED WHICH HAD TAKEN OUT THE REVERSE. A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED. THIS CORRECTED THE VIBRATION NOISE WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE COMING FROM A BROKEN SNAP RING THAT HELD THE OVERDRIVE UNIT. *SCC

THE OVERDRIVE OR 5TH GEAR OF THE TRUCK SLIPPED OUT WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM A TRIP TO MYRTLE BEACH, SC. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS HAS HAPPEN TO NUMEROUS OTHER TRUCK LIKE MINE. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED PROBLEMS IF I HADN'T BEEN THE ONLY VEHICLE ON THE ROAD AT THAT TIME.

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED ,OVERDRIVE AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGED. THE ODOR OF BURNED TRANSMISSION OIL WAS EVIDENT.THIS WAS A NEW TRANSMISSION AND WAS REPLACED WITH A REBUILT TRANSMISSION BY THE DEALER AT $50 DEDUCTIBLE. THE REBUILT WILL ONLY BE WARRANTED FOR THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OR 12000 MILES.I SUSPECT THE TRANSMISSION IS EITHER UNDERCOOLED OR A FAILURE TO USE THE PROPER ATF FLUID CAUSED THIS.VEHICLE IS UNDER SERVICE CONTRACT AND IS SERVICED FOR ALL FLUID CHANGES BY THE DEALER. *AK

WE PURCHASED A 1998 DODGE CONVERSION VAN AS OUR FAMILY VEHICLE. ON SEPT 21,2000 MY WIFE LOADED OUR CHILDREN, AGES 7,6, & 2, INTO THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN WENT & LOCKED THE HOUSE DOOR. OUR 2 YEAR OLD GOT OUT OF HER CAR SEAT, WENT TO THE FRONT OF THE VAN, & PULLED DOWN ON THE GEAR SHIFT PULLING IT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER A 3 FOOT WALL, DOWN A STEEP HILL, THROUGH A 2 FOOT DITCH, AND THEN STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE. THANK GOODNESS NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED, BUT THIS CONDITION COULD HAVE TRAGIC. I OWN AN INSURANCE AGENCY SO I STARTED TO CHECK AROUND TO SEE IF THIS WAS A DEFECT THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE PUT INTO GEAR WITHOUT FIRST APPLYING THE BRAKE. WHAT I FOUND OUT WAS SHOCKING, I WAS INFORMED BY THE DODGE DEALER THAT THIS SAFETY FEATURE WAS AN OPTION ON...

MAJOR TRANSMISSION REPAIR/OVERALL NEEDED. OVERDRIVE REMAINED ON, FLUID HEATED UP QUICKLY. REPAIRS BILL OVER $1890. VEHICLE HAS 46,000 MILE AND ONLY 2 1/2 YRS OLD. *AK

TRANSMISION FAILED WITH NO WARNING, I.E. SLIPPING. *AK

VEHICLE HAS ANTIL-LOCK BRAKES. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, AND THERE IS PULSATION WITHIN THE BRAKES. ALSO, TRANSMISSION DOESN'T HAVE SPEED/GEARS SLIP, AND THERE IS A LEAK UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. *AK

TRANAMISSION FAILED DUE TO INCORRECT INSTALLATION AT FACTORY. YH

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION WHILE IN 5TH GEAR AS DESCRIBED IN TSB#21-10-98, PRIOR TO REPAIR. MJS

HAVE HAD MANY RECALLS ON THIS TRUCK, NOW TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. *AK

VEHICLE HAS A BROKEN PARK ROD WHICH IS A PART OF THE PARK GEAR. WHEN VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO PARK, IT WILL KEEP ROLLING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

"AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED THE TRUCK IS A PIECE OF JUNK, THE TRUCK IS CURRENTLY IN SERVICE FOR 4 DAYS SO FAR THIS WEEK FOR ALL THE ABOVE PROBLEMS(THIS IS THE REASON I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN NUMBER), ON TOP OF THE ALREADY ACCUMULATED 25-30 DAYS OF SERVICE. THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AS WELL AS MY STATE'S ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE, OH AND BY THE WAY I NEED 4 NEW TIRES AS WELL, AFTER ONLY 25,000 MILES."NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

MY 1998 DODGE RAM EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL WHEN HITTING HARD BUMPS IN THE ROAD. CHRYSLER DISTRICT MANAGER SAYS ALL DODGE RAMS DO THIS AND I OUGHT TO DRIVE A LITTLE SLOWER. THE ABS BRAKES HAVE ALSO FAIRLED ON A STEEP DECLINE. THE NOISE FROM THE FRONT END WAS HORRENDOUS AND THE WHEELS CONTINUED TO ROLL WITH NO EFFORT TO STOP. ALSO THE FRONT END OF THIS TRUCK CANNOT BE ALIGNED. DODGE HAS ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BY INSTALLING AFTERMARKET BALL JOINTS, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND I HAVE GONE THRU 3 SETS OF TIRES. IF ALL RAM TRUCKS SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL THEN ALL SHOULD BE OFF THE ROAD AS MINE IS. I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL CALLS FROM OTHER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NEW, IT HAS BEEN JUMPING INTO NEUTRAL WHEN WE TRAVEL,DOWN BUMPY ROADS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, CHRYSLER CANADA HAS BEEN CONTACTED, MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN CONTACTED, TRANSPORT CANADA HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE RECIEVED ANY REPORTS REGUARDING THIS PROBLEM. IF YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO E-MAIL ME WITH ANY INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE IT WOULD BE GRATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HELPING ME OUT. *AK

TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT OUT OF LOW GEAR UNTIL ENGINE IS AT ABOUT 2000 RPM AND OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT ENGAGE AT ALL WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP.

WITH ENGINE RUNNING, YOU CAN SHIFT INTO GEAR JUST BY PUSHING DOWN ON SHIFTER. ENGINE CAN BE STARTED IN ANY GEAR.

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JUMPS OUT OF GEAR, AND THE OVER RIVE LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER IS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

TRANSMISSION, 4X4 SENDING UNIT.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS SLIPPED AND FAILED TO ENGAGE SINCE PURCHASE. HAVE RETURNED TO DEALER MORE THAN ONCE AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WRONG. IWAS TOLD THAT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL IS FASTER THAN THE COMPUTER WORKING THE TRANS.

SHIFTER LINKAGE BOLTS SHEERED OFF, UNABLE TO PUT INTO PARK

HORN DIFFICULT TO OPERATE; TRANS SHIFTS OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS AND ENGINE IS UNDER LOAD

TRANSFER REPLACED W/IN 4 MTHS OF PURCHASE, TRANSMISSION NOW DOES NOT WISH TO SHIFT...DEALER IS QUESTIONING

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS LATE, JUMPING INTO GEAR ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS USUALLY BETWEEN 10-35 M.P.H. DEALERSHIP ANALYZED PROBLEM, BUT FOUND NOTHING. PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND WHILE IN REVERSE POSITION THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO STALL. ALSO, THERE IS A TRANSMISSION LEAK WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE. DEALER REPLACED PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

PLEASE REFER TO SERVICE BULLETIN 971017182997, NHTSA SB054220. THIS IS WHAT I AM EXPERIENCING ON MY TRUCK. I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS WITH THE DEALER THEY DID ALL THEY COULD. THE TORQUE CONVERTER LOCKS UP BETWEEN 40 AND 53 MPH. I WANTED THEM TO FIX IT. THEY SAID ALL OF THE DODGE RAM PICKUPS DO THIS. THE WHOLE TRUCK STARTS TO SHAKE BETWEEN 40 AND 53 AND ITS DUE TO THE GEAR SETTING IN THE TRANNY AND THE ENGINE RPM. THIS WAS DESIGNED BY DODGE FOR FUEL EFFECIENCY BUT CAUSES THE TRUCK TO SHAKE DUE TO TORQUE CONVERTER LOCK-UP. I WAS SATISIFIED THAT IT WASN'T JUST A PROBLEM WITH MY TRUCK WHEN THE DODGE DEALER LET ME PICK OUT A NEW DODGE ON HIS LOT WITH THE SAME SIZE ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN, IT HAD 6 MILES ON IT (BRAND NEW 99'). WHEN I DROVE THE NEW TRUCK IT WAS CONSIDERABLY...

CONSUMER EXPRIENCING ON GOING PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION JUMPING OUT OF GEAR INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. DEALER/MFR. NOTIFIED. *AK THE FRONT RIGHT SPRING FAILED. THE RELAY ROD AND THE CAMBER MALFUNCTIONS. *YH

I JUST BOUGHT A NEW 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK HAVE JUST PUT 100 MILES ON THE TRUCK I HAVE BEEN UABLE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF A NECK INJURIE AND THE TRUCK HAS BEEN PARK IN MY GARAGE AND NOW IT IS IN THE SHOP WITH A PIN HOLE IN TRANSMISSION CASING SO I AM WITH OUT A TRUCK BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS ON BACK ORDER AND HAVE NO IDEA WEEN IT IS GOING TO BE IN NOW I CAN DRIVE BUT I HAVE NO TRUCK TO DRIVE

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED IT JUMPS OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL WHEN HITTING A BUMP. DEALER'S INVESTIGATION REPRESENTATIVE CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL GEAR. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

IN COLD WEATHER DEFECTIVE PCM PART WITHIN COMPUTER BECOMES INOPERATIVE, CAUSING THE FUEL/OIL PUMP AND WATER GAUGE TO GO OUT. ALSO DRIVER IS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. CHRSYLER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK