******Important info for 1996-2001 Ram Truck owners******

[firefighter3931]

I recently purchased a used truck (96 Ram Sport) and found some interesting information on another forum. Apparently there is a gov't mandated extended warranty for Catalytic converters on 96-01 Ram trucks and other dodge vehicles. Daimler has been directed to replace all defective cats at no cost to the customer. 

So, i called the number and gave them the vin and sure enough mine fell into the "fix it" category. The cat is rattleing at idle so i know it's bad and the dealer confirmed this and has one on order for me. There were 2 outstanding recalls that were also corrected when i brought the truck in.

The first is a faulty ignition switch wiring harness that is prone to overheating and subsequent fire hazard  Apparently the blower motor and ignition switch are wired to the same circuit. The replacement harness has a relay in it to correct the problem. 

The second recall is for a secondary hood latch mechanism. I'd say that's pretty important, last thing you need is the hood flying open at 70mph on the freeway !

Anyway, this is just a heads up for you Ram truck owners. If your trucks haven't been fixed with these updates and your cat is rattlein it's time to make the call....

Ron

here's the link to dogeforum where i found the thread :


http://www.dodgeforum.com/m_352822/tm.htm


Ps. here's a couple of pics of the new truck 

[moparjohn]

I have a 98 Ram and replaced my cat. about 5 months ago- the part alone was $450.  I hope this means I get re-imburesed!!! Yes I have a receipt.

[firefighter3931]

I have a 98 Ram and replaced my cat. about 5 months ago- the part alone was $450.  I hope this means I get re-imburesed!!! Yes I have a receipt.

John, they're supposed to be compensating folks who've completed the repairs. One of the guys in that thread i linked was reimbursed for his cat.  There are a number of ongoing threads on this subject in that 2nd gen Ram forum....have a look. 

Ron

[694spdRT]

My '01 V10 had dual cats and both were shot in less than 20,000 miles. I got the 1st one in under warranty but, traded it shortly after the 2nd started rattling. I also had a defective airbag mechanism replaced in the steering column that was a recall item.

There is an automatic tranny cooling line recall issue on some of the years also.

[firefighter3931]

I have a 98 Ram and replaced my cat. about 5 months ago- the part alone was $450.  I hope this means I get re-imburesed!!! Yes I have a receipt.

John, check out this press release from the EPA. Look at the bottom of the page for details on reimbursement. It clearly states that owners are to be compensated.


"Chrysler will also establish procedures to reimburse owners of vehicles covered by the settlement's extended warranty or recall provisions who, before receiving Chrysler's notice of the remedial measures announced today, paid out of their own pockets for the repair or replacement of a defective original equipment catalytic converter."

Ron

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/1751045d2387854f852570de006ea56a?OpenDocument

[Todd Wilson]

Read the fine print in your owners manual. Theres an 8 yr emissions warranty they dont tell you about. It covers the CAT and the computer and a few other things. Its beyond the 3/36 or 5/100 warranty. Its its own thing.


Todd



Todd

[Charger Aficionado]

Dude thanks, I was just telling my bud to go see if there were any recalls...  Funny you brought this up...   

,Jude

[hemi68charger]

That's great !!!  I'll call tomorrow morning because my cat rattles like crazy at idle... I've pretty much have gotten used to it..  I have a '98 Ram SS/T of which I'm the original owner...

Troy

[472 R/T SE]

Amazing what you can find on the model specific forums.  I'm over at Dodge Truck World.  There's lot's of TSB's that we, the owner's don't know about without the good ol' 'net.

[moparjohn]

Yeah, now if I could find out a way for them to fix my rusted out doors!

[resq302]

John,

When I had my 97 Ram, it started to do the rusting thing on the bottom part of the doors right at where the skin folded over on the bottom.  I brought it back to the dealership with about 40,000 miles and screamed at them till they fixed it.  Actually, they warrantied it and sent me to a body shop where they replaced both doors.  The key is to keep that area clean by wiping it down occasionally.  Salt and dirt likes to get into that area and just rust it out from within.  Just curious... how many miles are on your truck?

[Highbanked Hauler]

Yeah, now if I could find out a way for them to fix my rusted out doors!

Isn't there a 100K rust through guarantee on all vehicles now?

[dart3404]

The bottom of the doors are starting to rust on my 2001 Ram. 

[Todd Wilson]

Yeah, now if I could find out a way for them to fix my rusted out doors!

    Isn't there a 100K rust through guarantee on all vehicles now?

Its perforated rust and not surface rust. 

I am surprised at some of the Rams rusting. My 95 I bought new still looks new. You guys must have some heavy duty winters.


Todd

[resq302]

Thats what happens when you live in the salt belt.  AKA, New Jersey.

[1970440RT]

    I'm with Todd.  I have a 97 and no rust problems whatsoever.  Live in western PA too.  I actually have bare metal showing on my lower passenger rear of the cab for about 4 years now and hasn't rusted through.  I'm actually using it as a test to see just how far domestic car sheetmetal has come since the 70's.  Seems to vary from Mfr. to Mfr because I also have a 96 olds that has been a grandma car the first 3/4 of its life and is rusting from the inside out, pretty badly too.  This car also has the infamous 3.1 liter v-6.  What a piece 'o sheit.

[hemi68charger]

I called, no recall.. It's depended on the particular truck....... 

Troy

[Todd Wilson]

I called, no recall.. It's depended on the particular truck....... 

Troy

If your truck is still under the 8yr 80000 mile limit  your CAT is covered under the emission warranty! This is above and beyond any other warranty you have.


Todd

[Spike]

Now if they could just warranty and replace the two piece (pos) intakes,  with the MP one piece intake I would be happy.

[hemi68charger]

I called, no recall.. It's depended on the particular truck....... 

Troy

If your truck is still under the 8yr 80000 mile limit  your CAT is covered under the emission warranty! This is above and beyond any other warranty you have.


Todd

hahaha... I'm WAY over that limit now........... 126,000 on my SS/T......

[Dave22443]

I've got 91,000 on my '98 Ram Sport 4x4.  No cat problems that I've noticed, but I too am starting to develope rust in the lower front corner of the passenger door. I didn't feel so bad the other day though when I was passed by a new model Ram that was so badly rusted that his factory installed "nerf bars" had become two-piece wind flappers!  (He had a license plate from the north east on it)

[moparjohn]

Yes it's surface rust but only time will make it a hole. I got the first bubbles last year and the truck had 102,000 miles.  Now the pass side is rusted to the lower body line and the drivers is a little less. I went to the dealer and E-mail DCX, same thing out of warranty blah blah blah.
I don't have the 2 grand plus to even patch it, little alone repalce  both doors. I wish they would at least meet 1/2 way, maybe get me the doors and I'll pay for the switching and painting.

[Todd Wilson]

Yes it's surface rust but only time will make it a hole. I got the first bubbles last year and the truck had 102,000 miles.  Now the pass side is rusted to the lower body line and the drivers is a little less. I went to the dealer and E-mail DCX, same thing out of warranty blah blah blah.
I don't have the 2 grand plus to even patch it, little alone repalce  both doors. I wish they would at least meet 1/2 way, maybe get me the doors and I'll pay for the switching and painting.

What year is the truck?


Todd

[The Mad Scientist]

Don't forget the evap emissions canister recall. 

The clockspring recall is recall  #982 if I remember right.  I think I did a thousand of them. 

And Mopar Perf. does (or at least did) make a one piece intake for the fuel injected 5.2/5.9 magnum.  As I recall it was a bit of a high rise single plane intake and it accepted the stock throttle body. 

[moparjohn]

Todd it's a 98. I do love this truck but I think they should do something.The paint, powertrain and interior are mnt. Just have the rust. I guess it could be worse. ( the rear was re-built 2 times though)

[resq302]

John,

I had a friend that has a 98 and had the same problem with the rear.  Multiple times it was rebuilt. Also had a friend that had a 98 ram 1500 series that had the trans puke on him 3 time within 60,000 miles.

[Beep Beep Dave]

Thanks!!!
My cat plugged up on the way home from Ottawa on the 401 a couple of years ago in my 1997 Ram. I was doing about 65 mph and then she really had trouble getting up a small grade, the truck pretty much lost all power and I barely made it to the next exit. Of course this was a Sunday evening about 5 hours from home   The whole family was with me too! I couldn't figure out what went wrong and fianlly figured out it was the Cat!!! Have you ever tried to cut one of those puppies open on the side of the road with a few basic hand tools. Not fun. After about what must have been a hour we were on our way home for a very loud trip! I will try and find out tomorrow if I can get refunded for mine! Luckily mine still is just barely under 200,000 at 194,000!

Dave

[firefighter3931]

Dave give them a call and quote the EPA press release highlighting re-imbursement. Here's the phone number...i just found it for another buddy who's having issues with his cat. Sounds like an epidemic, lol ! They will ask for your VIN and the mileage so have that info handy. Good luck. 

1-800-465-2001

Ron

[moparjohn]

Before I call is there a milage limit/ year limit?

[gothemipower]

hey my dads 97' ram 1500 had a small catty problem we cut it off gutted it and put it back on and now it sounds like one bad truck 

[resq302]

Before I call is there a milage limit/ year limit?

If I remember correctly, it was 8 years or 80,000 miles.  It should also be in your owners manual.

[moparjohn]

Cool, just under in years and I can get a mileage "fix"