I'm startin to hate this truck!!

[DPelletier]

Are you so sold on the Cummins that you'll overlook the foil that it's wrapped in?

Hardwick,

It sounds like you've definitely had more than your share of small problems. And I will be the first to admit that the Dodge pickup isn't perfect. I guess I have these points;



- Many of your problems have been minor.

- Many of your problems are wear issues that frankly, I just don't think are a big deal.

- The problems you are experiencing are not typical of most of our trucks

- Ford and Chevy have thier share of problems with thier trucks (I'm not talking about motors, here).

- statements like yours quoted above seem to say that the 3rd gen dodge p/u is a pce of crap. The wrapper isn't perfect, but I'd say its pretty good.



The reason I dislike threads like this is for exactly the reason that OTD has stated. Reading this thread would have people believe that these problems are common and you can expect to experience them on any Dodge truck. I just don't believe that is the case.

For the record, I do wish their were more grease nipples! But as I said before, If I have to change every u-joint on the truck and the balljoints by 60,000 mi, I would consider it normal. Now if, say, you were on your 3rd engine at 25,000 mi like some of the Ford guys, I'd tend to be more sympathetic.

My '03 has zero warranty issues. My buddies '03 has had one warranty issue (door felt replacement required due to scratching of aftermarket tinting) and my '04. 5 has had zero warranty issues. I remain impressed so far and for the record I have owned all three brands for a total of thirteen pickups and still have 6 of them. My '96 F-250 PSD was the worst with a host of mechanical problems totalling almost $10,000. 00 in 3 years followed closely by my '93 GMC 6. 5TD which is on its third rebuild and currently has about 130,000 miles on it (can't get it to start in the cold, either! )



Cheers,



Dave

 

[DPKetchum]

The chimes and check gauges wasa early 03 bug. Theres a reflash for it. Just a few (tsb)mins correct. The BLEND door problem I bet is a TECH not doing or following the TSB correctly or working on unfamilier territory. ONE tech at the dealer I use said he's done a number of these and their a piece of cake to do. He's had 0 rechecks on the ones he's done. I bet the shafts that were replaced had the same dry u/joints as the original ones. Call D. c. I get a appointment with the REP and discuss this to a final repair. Incluing the MOPAR acc.

 

[WNowlan]

I have three friends that all have a 04. 5. Total miles on these trucks including mine are over 50,000. 2 guys have the 2500 SLT and the other is just a different color from mine. I tow a 13,000lb horse trailer, the others tow race trailers (6-9000).



Bottom Line- Just oil changes on all of them. I may yet have some problems with my truck but it will not tarnish my opinion of what I have.



IMO we have great trucks . These were first Dodge trucks for all of us. It's all my friends fault for letting me drive his truck.



I had an 03 Quadrasteer 2500 Suburban and it was in the shop two different times. The complete wiring harness had to be replaced to the rear steering once (14 days in shop), and the front solenoid for the four wheel drive had to be replace the second time (2 days in shop). I was stuck on the ramp to the beach at Hatteras when I found it did not work. This was a great vehicle and I would buy another!



All manufacturers have some problems, I believe it is how they address the problems with the customer that makes the difference.

 

[roadking]

i 2nd tommygun 35,000 not one problem

 

[MMotschman]

I'll put mine out there too. I have 35,000 miles in 9 months and no significant problems. I have a vibration at idle which the dealer thinks is the powersteering pump. Their ready to replace it but I need to leave my truck with them and haven't had a chance to be truckless for a day.

 

[Rosco]

As some of you may know I have had three 3rd gen trucks since Sept '02. My early build '03 with a SO/47re needed the reflash for the check gauges light but otherwise was flawless in the 8,000 miles I owned it. The second '03 needed the gauge light reflash, a front shock, and track bar replacement in roughly 9,000 miles. The shock and track bar were kind of weird and I think it was a fluke.



My current '04 has 18,000 miles on it and it has only been in the shop for the high idle reflash (which I asked for), the trans cooler line recall, the installation of the dampened PS hose, and a new drivers door speaker. The door speaker was replaced due to my complaint regarding clarity of the Infinity sound system which is just garbage. The new speaker did nothing to improve the sound so the old speaker was probably fine. I also tow a 10,000lb fifth wheel so this is no grocery getter either. I'll admit I currently need to schedule a service appointment for an annoying popping sound in my steering column but other than those above issues this been a good truck.



My wifes '03 Tahoe has been reflashed for an erratic shifting transmission, had the intermittent steering shaft replaced, and has a squeak in the rear that is heard when going over bumps that the dealer can't find or fix.



All vehilcles eventually have some issues. Do I think our Dodges have crappy seats, yes. Do I think out ball joints and U-joints are garbage and will prematurely fail, most likely. Do I dislike the overpriced Infinity sound system, you bet. However, I have just returned from TheDieselStop.com and those new Fords are 1000 times worse than our trucks. Almost every thread is a major problem and so many guys have had trucks bought back or are going through the process that it's not even funny. Also, for the record, the '05 Ford is no better. I even visited the dieselstop.com and the Gm's are no perfect prize either. They are certainly better than ford but appear slightly worse than Dodge.



I am not saying our trucks are without faults. What I am saying is that I feel the Dodge is definitely the best of the three in the heavy duty diesel pick up segment.

 

[GregTaylor]

i've gor over 50 k on my o3 and have yet do have any problems. i drive 2 hours every day in la traffic and havent gone back to the dealer since the 2 week i bought it . only work done so far is regular oil changes and some mods to suspension and ad a egt gauge. not even a reflash.

 

[DPKetchum]

Had my alternator bracket replaced today(TSB)and service writer commented that they have had bad u/joints on two (under warranty)1500s. Said that a message came down to them saying ALL u/joints replaced to please remove caps and inspect and add grease to them. Commented about a VENDOR problem.

 

[JHardwick]

I never said Ford or GM was better. I don't dispute the figures either. But, the figures don't help me when I'm in the shop all the time for what I consider mechanical items gone bad that have been around since dirt!

 

[DPelletier]

I never said Ford or GM was better. I don't dispute the figures either. But, the figures don't help me when I'm in the shop all the time for what I consider mechanical items gone bad that have been around since dirt!

Fair enough.



Dave

 

[jnelson]

wanna talk replacement parts

Bought my 3500 '01 in March 1, 2000.

Traded in on June 7, 2004

I replaced:



2 VP44's

3 lift pumps

1 power steering pump

1 hydro booster

2 AC clutchs

2 thermostats

1 lower radiator hose (top hose was original)

4 belts

3 sensors (various)

1 exhaust manifold

2 alternators (had it rebuilt twice)

1 APPS sensors

2 torque convertors

1 2nd gear band

1 valve body

1 seal on rear of transmission

2 rear seals on diff.

3 sets of shocks

12 ujoints (approximate)

1 carrier bearing

1 left rear wheel seal

3 front hub bearings (2 on right 1 on left)

4 front rotors

1 left tow mirror glass (broke trying to adjust)

Seals and O rings between ps pump and vacum pump

Ball joints went out before 100,000 but I didnt give in and rotated more often



Im sure I did a few more things but I cant remember them all. It took 433,000+ miles to get all these parts replaced. She was still a great truck.

 

[Jeremiah]

Dodge breaking down after 40K

just so people dont get the wrong impression,



I have an 03 with 35K on it, and not a hint of these problems... I can only hope this is a rare case of how a dodge HD will last



Jhardwick: sorry to hear of your problems, I would trade that lemon off and get a new one, and roll the dice that you get the other 99. 9% (a good/reliable truck)

Tomeygun, my truck ran beautifully until 45,000 miles. Then the first rear u-joint went out. Because EZ voided the warranty, I didn't even question the dealer charge of $600 to replace all three. Then, at 47,700 miles the heater/defrost door broke. Dealer said $700, please. Someone on the forum suggested I call DC customer service about this KNOWN PROBLEM. DC gladly told the dealer to fix it for $100. I purchased the $2900 extended warranty but think I am going to pull the EZ off to eliminate future problems.

 

[Rosco]

It is good practice to remove the fueling box before service is performed. My dealer has seen my gauges and aFe intake and has said nothing. However, Boxes are a different story. As far as the EZ goes, should DC revoke your warrenty it should only be the powertrain portion. Your EZ has nothing to do with blend doors or the other 60% of the truck.

 

[Jeremiah]

It is good practice to remove the fueling box before service is performed. My dealer has seen my gauges and aFe intake and has said nothing. However, Boxes are a different story. As far as the EZ goes, should DC revoke your warrenty it should only be the powertrain portion. Your EZ has nothing to do with blend doors or the other 60% of the truck.

I'm gonna take it off. No need to worry about it. I like it a lot, but when the u-joint went south, I barely made it to the dealer's. It was Sunday, I had my suit on, hadn't watched the EZ box being installed and didn't want to chance taking it off improperly, so I just left it. The dealer didn't say anything but he did charge me for the u-joints. I figgered I'd lose if I asked him why it wasn't covered under warranty, so I didn't bother to ask. From what I read on this forum, they'll go out again. Won't have the EZ to worry about then.

 

[DPKetchum]

You never know. They or who ever you deldt with might have not REMEMBERED that u/joints are 7/70. I would have asked! When I wrote service I would have ignored the box. I would have run a warranty check on computer(suppose too on every thing that comes into the shop) and if it was in warranty oh well. (no restricksons)

 

[Jeremiah]

You never know. They or who ever you deldt with might have not REMEMBERED that u/joints are 7/70. I would have asked! When I wrote service I would have ignored the box. I would have run a warranty check on computer(suppose too on every thing that comes into the shop) and if it was in warranty oh well. (no restricksons)

You're probably correct. I didn't want to make an issue of it and get called on it. Someone on the forum said awhile back the service writer can "flag" a truck in the computer as having a box and then it becomes an issue no matter where the truck is serviced. Next time I take it in the box won't be there.

 

[DPKetchum]

D. C. has to flag it. The writer can make a note in HIS in house system but its not transfered to D. C. or any other dealer. D. C. has to make a decline of warrantry and put it on the system that comes on nation wide. All a writer can do is in house. Me thinks a good writer unless its shoved in his face would just roll and fix it and be done. Its also another one of those KNOWN problems.

 

[Jeremiah]

D. C. has to flag it. The writer can make a note in HIS in house system but its not transfered to D. C. or any other dealer. D. C. has to make a decline of warrantry and put it on the system that comes on nation wide. All a writer can do is in house. Me thinks a good writer unless its shoved in his face would just roll and fix it and be done. Its also another one of those KNOWN problems.

Perhaps I should have asked about warranty then. The truck only had maybe low 40,000 miles on it. I knew the box invalidated the drivetrain warranty, so didn't argue when the bill was presented.



OTOH, when the dealer suggested replacing ALL THREE rear u-joints, it's possible the warranty only paid for one and not the other two.



I also suggested balancing the driveshaft, which the dealer didn't do because they'd have to send it out. Sure enough, there was a slight vibration, so back it went. The truck ran like a top when it came out the second time.

 

[DPKetchum]

Bet the writer just assumed you were paying for it or thought(or didn't think) it was a 3/36 item not a 7/70

 

[Jeremiah]

He's been around awhile but he does have stuff on his mind. You're probably right. I'll ask him casually one of these days. He's been good in the past of working me in on a moment's notice. The kinda guy you don't want to beat over the head, you know? I get along with both those guys, and the parts guy too. I think they would help me if I needed a favor. You don't work as a service writer anymore, huh?