3rd Jun 2001, 08:43

Wow, wish I found this site sooner! I have a 97 Ram 1500 ext. cab 4x4 with 5.9l and auto transmission.

45000 miles - new steering column

60000 miles - new torque converter

72000 miles - fuel pump.

Overall disappointed.

The dodge trannny will kick out of overdrive when it starts to overheat. (transmission, not the engine overheating) This was due to a failed torque converter, the dealer admitted that he has replaced a lot of these on the 1500s.

My engine runs around 210. I believe this is normal as I have never had a problem with engine overheating.

I even have the aux transmission cooler, never towed anything hauled anything over the payload limit. Good luck all. BTW, $720 for replaced torque converter.

7th Aug 2001, 14:39

I also own a 97 Ram. And I had to replace the steering column at about 40 to 45k miles. When I asked the dealer if he had seen this problem often, he said it was the first he had seen. Recently I have heard about a recall on the 97 Ram (something to do with the steering), but I haven`t been able to find any info on the Internet.

21st Sep 2001, 11:51

I own a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 with a failed rear end before 50,000 miles. The noise finally got so bad that I had to take it in to get it fixed. It turns out that 1 of the pinion gears failed from not being heat treated properly. The gear teeth were smeared on the 1 pinion. I ended up paying half of the bill, over $500.00. I should never have had to pay for this type of repair. I will go as far as I need to to get this bill paid.

22nd Sep 2001, 01:17

I have the same damn problem with my truck, not even at 42,000km (mostly highway) I have had problems with my distributer and my intake gasket

Then when my (Overdrive Off) light kept coming on and the gears started to slip, they had the nerve to tell me that what I was experiencing loss of engine power because the Bosch plugs I bought (not stock champions) weren't long enough. Yeah right.

So I took the mechanic for a test drive, he didn't say anything when the truck wouldn't switch gears at 4,500rpm. It wouldn't go above 2nd gear. I told him it was most likely the torque converter. He ordered a control module. A week later of in and out of the shop, my new torque converter was in (if not for extended warranty I would be broke). I thought buying a new Dodge would save me on repair bills, I thought wrong.

21st Jan 2002, 22:51

1999 Dodge Ram 1500 V8

48,000 miles

Torque converter bad

A man at Dodge told me the after-market converters were better than OEM... my mechanic is installing one tomorrow, we'll see what happens...

31st Jan 2002, 08:53

98 Dodge Ram 1500.

Just took to the dealer for the 5th time for transmission problems. This time it needs a new torque converter. The thing has never run correctly.

9th Oct 2002, 21:57

1998 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT.

Transmission went bad and had to replace the transmission due to locking up and would not down shift causing it to stall engine.

If enough people file a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Association about their transmission problems then they will do an investigation.

10th Dec 2002, 09:49

I own a 97 dodge ram ex. cab the truck is in the shop the transmission is ruined it has to be replaced, the mechanic said it looks like I did some heavy pulling, I never pulled a thing with this truck. 125,000 miles only and it needs a new transmission. I still have 2 years to pay on it. you tell me who has 3600.00 just laying around for something like that.

14th Jan 2003, 16:55

I have been hearing a lot of complaints about Dodge Ram 1500 trucks with their transmission problems. Why doesn't someone do something about it. I just recently had to replace my torque converter on my 2000 Dodge Ram 1500 at 59,700 miles. Thank God I got the extended warranty or else I would have had to fork out a lot of money that I feel is nobody's fault, but Dodge. I can guarantee one thing I will never own a Dodge nor will my friends own a Dodge ever.

3rd Feb 2003, 11:21

We’ll I should have listen to one of my friends who was burnt bad on a dodge Pick-Up they had. Not every auto company can produce perfect vehicles all the time, but I’m wondering if the transmission problems with Dodge trucks are an overall problem.

I have to replace our transmission and I’m out of $3,000.00. We bought this truck thinking it had the greatest towing history among all the trucks (That’s what the commercials said.) We bought a clean 97 2500 4X4 ¾ ton six months ago. We started pulling an 18ft Cargo trailer three months ago two times a month to go to computer shows. Now we’re out of all that money having to replace the transmission.

Back six months ago I looked at buying a new truck. Chevy’s were $15,000 more than Dodges. The old adage you get what you pay for. I will never buy another Dodge, EVER. I don’t know if I have a gripe being I bought a used truck, but I will file a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Association.

6th Mar 2003, 07:34

I also have a '98 Dodge 1500 4x4. I had to have the transmission rebuilt after 50,000 miles, now its only been 3 years an 4 months later and I have to have the torque converter replaced again.

First fix: $2700.00

This time: Who Knows how much.

9th Mar 2003, 15:17

Have a 1997 Short Bed Extended Cab 4X4 SLT with 130K miles. Second transmission, third water pump, & third thermostat. 2 weeks old the transmission blew. They took one off the showroom floor to replace it (none in supply). Failed again at 90K due to clogged transmission cooler in radiator. Rebuild shop would not rebuild it unless I authorized an external cooler, and some other mods to transmission. Common problem I am told. Also had freeze plugs rot out at 60k due to contaminated coolant from improperly cast engine block. Other than that a GREAT truck.!!!

23rd Mar 2003, 18:44

I bought a 1999 dodge ram and I have had the thermostat changed 4 times. The brakes replaced twice and have took it in around 10 times to check the transmission because it does not go into gear. They never find nothing wrong with it until I took it to another shop. And then they found that a the solenoid was out and fixed it. This lasted a week and it started doing the same things again I took it back and they can't find nothing wrong. It again went out now it does not go into gear at all and makes a grinding noise. They do not know if the extended warranty will cover it. Because I lost a receipt for a 30,000 thousand mile transmission tune up even though I have one for the 50,000 mile tuneup and they have all my records for everytime I have took it in. I have so many problems with it. I am sorry to say that I will never buy a Dodge again.