Well the quality issues are starting to pop up

[curatchko]

Upon reading these posts, all of us 3rd gen owners are now getting enough time on these trucks to start showing their weaknesses... .



I really should have at least did more investigation into the Fords and GM's.



Right now, 2 months old my truck has a list for the dealer.



-Front or Rear axle housing is howling on deceleration.



-2100 rpm Engine vibration



-70 to 75 mph Driveshaft vibration



-Cup holder is a piece of garbage. Does not open or close easily, and rattles like crazy!!! Chrysler has always sucked at this stuff.



-WINDNOISE!! I have 2 wind noise issues on the drivers door. One is the main door seal leaking badly, and the other is the window channel... . BOTH LEAK!



If all this is happening in 2 months what else is going to happen in 2 years?



The Big 3 better hope that Honda, Toyota and Nissan don't come out with Heavy Duty pickups with Diesels because they will be ALL DONE!!!! At least they would be made in America! More than we can say for our foreign trucks made in Mexico!

 

[DKupfrian]

Did they change the drink holders? I have never had a better drink holder than the one in my 2000.

 

[Firewalker]

Chris only the rear will howl on decll in 2WD In 4 WD it may be eather. .

 

[Casey Balvert]

I wouldn't get too paranoid. A lot of people here have trucks well over a year old and with lots of miles have had no significant problems. On the other hand, you could have bought a Ford, and then you really would had something to write about. FWIW



Casey

 

[robobx]

wow, I'm sorry to hear of your problems.

I've had mine for close to 14 months and 49,600 miles, and not a thing to complain about. couldn't be much happier.



Hope you get everything worked out, and nothing adds to the list

 

[BHolm]

I have two of them and couldn't be happier. The work hard and have more than one driver. The first one has been on board for 10 months and nearly 30k miles without a single dealer visit. The second about 8 months and 20k miles with just one visit for a mis-alinged drivers door. I also really like the adjustable cupholders



By comparison, my '03 Chev has been in for a t-case issue and a leaking brake booster all under 15k miles. They all seem to have their flaws but my Dodge trucks are serving dilligently.

 

[StephenThomas]

This is my 2nd RAM with CTD and yes... I have had some MINOR quality issues with both of them. All of which come with easy fixes. I'm not about to get bent out of shape over these issues because the good FAR outweighs the bad. It's so unrealistic to expect a "perfect" vehicle -- they don't exist - not in my eyes anyway. It should however be something that the manufacturers strive for.



As for the cupholders..... my 01's rattled a bit when opened and empty, but they were still the best I'd seen. My cupholders in my 04' are pretty much the same design, but they don't rattle. It does seem that I have to push on the cupholder a little harder than I should have to to get it to open/close - No big deal though.



In summary -- I love my Rams w/CTD -- even if they're not perfect. If I ever feel I could have done better with another manufacturer, then the RAM is for sale and I move on.

 

[CATCRACKER]

look at the ford and chevy websites they have the same nagging problems. I think your right about the big three. if toyota would build a true heavy duty truck with say a cat in it they would suck at least 35% of the market within 5 years! C the grass is not greener on the other side!

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

22,800 miles here and mine's been nothing short of awesome! It's not perfect, the ECM had a defect at 10,000 miles and I feel a slight surging at higher RPM, but boy howdy, you're not prying this truck out of my grubby little hands!



One thing I notice after driving my truck all the time is how old and tired late model Ford and GM HD trucks feel in comparison (rattle, creak & groan, very truckish brakes & transmission).



Vaughn

 

[Dean Upson]

Best vehicle I have ever had and absolutely no complaints other than the sticker price and I feel that I got what I paid for.



Dean

 

[JamesDennis]

I GOT 5,000 ON MY 03 CTD 2500 4X4 LARAMIE. 2 MINOR PROBLEMS, OTHER WISE, I LOVE IT. YOU COULDN'T PAY ME TO BUY A FORD. THE NEW CHEVY'S ARE UGLY. I'M STICKING WITH DODGE.

 

[coobie]

I like my new 2004 Ram

You should have looked at a chevy real hard !! Maybe you could have had the one I got rid of (2002) 1500 1/2 ton. Worse truck I ever owned. 5000 miles new transfer case,new yoke in drive shaft(15,000) miles,door locks fell off,blown radio speaker,and I don,t even listen to the radio loud,and finally piston slap in the 5. 3 motor. Chevy said the piston slap was normal. All this at 28,000 miles. They told me the would give me a 100,000 mile warranty on the motor. HA HA. Gald I just leased the hunk of junk. All of or trucks at work are the 2002, 3/4 ton chevys with the 6. 0 in them same problem,piston slap. :--) Jokes on chevy. I really like my new ram. coobie

 

[Steve M]

I just did the 22,500 mile oil change in mine tonight. The 2100rpm vibration is gone with the TSB. The 2700rpm vibration is still there but it's not keeping me awake at night. If it bugs me too much, I know where there's a silky smooth 2003 leftover 2500 with a V-10 and a gas tank. I could buy it real cheap to make up for the gas mileage...

Overall I'm happy with mine. Glad it's not a 6. 0.

 

[FastEnough]

MICHIGAN

That truck must have been built in Michigan . Those Mexicans put 100% into building the trucks down there. If they mess up at all they lose there job. They take great pride into how they build our trucks.

 

[Dean Upson]

Re: MICHIGAN

Originally posted by FastEnough

That truck must have been built in Michigan . Those Mexicans put 100% into building the trucks down there. If they mess up at all they lose there job. They take great pride into how they build our trucks.

From my own experiences with three trucks from three plants, I think you may have a valid point. I was very upset that my truck was being made in Mexico, that notion changed very quickly when I saw how well my '03 truck was made compared to my previous two (94 Michigan and 98 St. Louis).



Dean

 

[dan.poitras]

This truck is my third cummins and the best yet. No complaints here. I take care of any little problems myself.

 

[Wiredawg]

03 the best; 02 the 2nd best Vehicle...

Guys:



My wife's 03 is the best vehicle fit, finish and performance. My 02 is the 2nd best, w/ only minor complaint of occasional creak in dash.



Hoping to keep it that way.



Wiredawg

 

[JHardwick]

This is my second counting my '99 which I sold to a friend ... ... . how many used vehicles can you sell to a friend and remain friends?



Ever get the feeling that some people just aint happy unless they are *****ing?

 

[Briman]

Originally posted by JHardwick

Ever get the feeling that some people just aint happy unless they are *****ing?

My second gens were all pretty good trucks, a couple great, one poor, and the rest average in the quality control department. From what I can tell from my experience with two 3rd gen trucks is that quality control has left the building. The most recent example had no door rattles or squeaks when taken for a long test drive. After purchase, at about 250 miles the speaker rattle began. You know, I'm actually not fond of being a *****... . call a spade a spade(truck, not *****).



I agree that if Toyota or Nissan can build a truck that can pull over 10k/12k lbs. , look out Detroit.

 

[Prairie Dog]

20k here and I haven't had any of the problems you've had curatchko.

Keep in mind any make of vehicle will have (statistically speaking) at least 2-3 defects. As far as Dodge quality is concerned, it's far better than in the past and at least equal to the other guys.

Don't sweat the small stuff - just enjoy the ride



Scotty