1996 Dodge Ram 1500 engine and engine cooling problems

“MY SON DIED IN DEC 12,2002 IN A 1996 DODGE STEALTH TWO DAYS AFTER HE DIED I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE. CAR LOST CONTROL ON FREEWAY AND WENT OFF ROAD AND ROLLED. HE JUST PUT A TRANSMISSION AND REPLACED CLUTCH, AND PUT IN NEW ENGINE THROUGH TRACY DODGE IN TRACY, CA. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 DODGE RAM 1500. THE EIGHTH CYLINDER ON THE ENGINE IS FAILING AND THE ENGINE HEAD IS ALSO CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT PAID $700 FOR THE PREVIOUS REPAIRS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 114,000. THE VIN IS NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.”

“WHILE DRIVING FROM COLD START ENGINE PERFORMED ROUGHLY, AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST TAIL PIPE. CONSUMER CHANGED FUEL, BUT THERE WAS NO IMPROVEMENT IN PERFORMANCE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY A DEALER THAT THE INTAKE PLENUM GASKET WAS THE CAUSE. CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. *AK *TC”

“SLUDGE BUILD UP IN ENGINE STOPPING UP THE OIL PAN PICK UP,CAUSING TRUCK TO LOOSE OIL PRESSURE. NOW AT 121000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION BLEW. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN LOSING OIL PRESSURE FROM THE SLUDGE SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW IN 1996, I WAS TOLD SEVERAL TIMES BY THE DEALER,THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE LACQUER THAT THE ENGINE BUILDER USED TO SHIP THE ENGINE TO THE USA, 318CUI BUILT IN JAPAN. THE DEALER CLEANED THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES, THE LAST TIME WAS IN JULY 2003 COSTING ABOUT $1000 TO ME. I HAVE BEEN GETTING THE RUN AROUND FROM DODGE AND THE DEALER, SINCE THE TRUCK WAS UNDER WARRANTY WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED AND NOW AT 121000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION BLEW UP. THE SLUDGE BUILD UP HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES OVER THE PAST YEARS, SEEMS LIKE ABOUT EVERY 30000 MILES, INSTEAD OF FIXING TRUCK ALL THEY DID WAS CLEANUP THE MESS AFTERWARD. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION BLEW THE MOTOR LOST OIL PRESSURE AGAIN, SO THIS MAKE 5 TIMES THE TRUCK HAS DONE THIS, THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO DODGE SEVERAL TIMES BUT NO HELP FROM THEM, THEY DON,T WANT TO STAND BY THEIR TRUCK AND IT DON,T LOOK LIKE I CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THANKS JAMES C. ROSE. *NM”

“AIR CONDITION WORKS OFF AND ON THE PAINT ON THE TRUCK IS BLUE .IT HAS BEEN COMING OFF FOR SOME TIME .FIRST IN SMALL AREAS AND NOW LONGER. LOOKS LIKE A BAD SUN BURN.DON'T THINK IT WAS DONE RIGHT AT THE MANUFACTORS.”

“VEHICLE IS ON FOURTH ENGINE AND ONLY 44,000 MILES ON PRESENT ENGINE. DEALER SAYS ENGINE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. EXCESSIVE BLOW BY FROM ENGINE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. ALSO THE TRUCK WANDERS ON THE ROAD, AND HAS A RUMBLING RATTLE NOISE ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE THAT SOUNDS LIKE ITS COMING FROM THE SHOCKS AREA. BUT MY MECHANIC SAYS SHOCKS ARE OK. THE DEALER DID NOT CHECK INTO PROBLEM WHEN I PURCHASED THE TRUCK BUT IT IS LISTED AS COMPLAINT WHEN THE FIRST ENGINE WAS REPLACED. HAVE REPLACED TRACKING BAR, U-JOINTS, REAR SPRINGS, STABILIZER SHOCK & TIRES. WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE JERKS THE STEERING WHEEL TO SIDE RAIL FAST GIVING A FISHTAIL EFFECT. DRIVE SHAFT HAS ALSO BEEN REPLACED. *LA”