What issues are you guys having with the new generation trucks?

[Blakers]

NO PR0BLEMS!



Small complaints: plastic dash has no room to mount anything, bed seems thinner and is not double thick in front, no fender liners, headlights are mediocre on high beam, engine speeds up after setting a few minutes in the winter even when well warmed up, no paint on much of the underside of the truck, including the transmission and drive shafts, axle ends. I wish it had another overdrive for the freeway. I guess bigger tires will solve that. That's all I can think of now.



Overall love the truck!



Blake

 

[barbwire]

Blakers, The engine speed up is a good deal for our engines. Have you ever noticed the OTR truckers speed up their engines whenever they park for any length of time? There is good reason for this.

 

[BKunic]

Absolutely no problems (knock on wood) and love this truck! Bought mine new in September of this year and have an 04 SRW 2500 QC 4x4. Seeing as how I am still in the Peoples REpublik of Kalifornya, I am "limited" to the SO engine. At first this bothered me, but for the most part it's a moot point. It's got more power than I really need, and I can easily get another 100HP out of it when I bomb it in the future. So even though our enlightened leaders in this state do not trust us with HO CTDs, I'll get there regardles. SCrew you Sacramento!



This is the first diesel I've had and couldn't be happier. I started out thinking I wanted the Ford crew cab. Then I compared just the diesel engines, and the Cummins made up my mind as it has for so many others. THat said, the Dodge was several thousand less than the F***, came with the better engine, and quite frankly, I thought it also had the best looks. Couldn't be happer. I also like the white - doesn't show the dirt as much, stays cooler in the summer, and I think just looks good.



Oh, early on in the process I discovered the TDR, and I'm sure it played a role in my going with the Dodge. The knowledge on this website is something. Plus, hardly anyone complains about their CTDs.



Hope this helps,



Bryan



PS Did I mention that we're all paid by Chrysler?

 

[IPULLRV]

DF5152

My truck pulls AND drifts to the right. Two dealers and front end shop ---still no fix.

I also had "the smell" extended the tube to rear(10ft)and added to the weather strip seal around the cowl. Turned out it was #6 injector was a little leaking.

 

[Blakers]

Re: DF5152

Originally posted by IPULLRV

I also had "the smell" extended the tube to rear(10ft)and added to the weather strip seal around the cowl. Turned out it was #6 injector was a little leaking.

Fuel oil smell is definately unique from blowby smell. My dad's 7. 3 IH - Ford gets leaky injector o-rings at least a couple times a year. Yea, that raw fuel smell is not nice!

 

[KBennett]

No real problems here..

I have the vibration and the smell but neither are a show stopper. This truck rocks!!

 

[scotty1]

This is number 24 of Cummins Diesel Dodges I have owned since 90.

Best built, best overall.



Only one complaint... I am nearly dead from the reek in the cab when on defrost.

So bad I got sick today.

Its not the breather tube... its exhaust.

Will get it towed to dealer tomorrow and let it run with defrost and take service mgr for ride in slow traffic.

Its brutal and I know its fixable... so I am very happy with the truck.



Scotty

 

[Dean Upson]

My truck has been great so far. I had the clutch rattle, alternator bracket and vibration tsbs done and the few minor complaints that I had were history.



Dean

 

[RobbieH]

Mine has a few minor issues, but mine was built in 2002, most if not all the issues I have had are fixed in the new trucks.



Mine went in today for the following:

Bump steer

Trans rattles when in neutral

Steering wheel/accellerator pedal vibe at 2000 rpm

Panel loose on right side of dash

Loud ringing/high pitch moan at 60 mph+ while under load

 

[Firewalker]

Only minor problems here

Front drive shaft had a bad u-joint, deeler put a complete new drive shaft on, and front left axel shaft ujoint needed replacement. 32,000 miles on the truck and still starts every time and pulls hard!!!!!!! Towing that is... Also edge box on setting 3 and towing 10,000 pounds almost dayley, a good 17,000 miles of towing with the 10,000 pound load, and probley 5,000 miles towing the camper which weighs 7200 pounds loaded!!!!!

 

[boonsur]

Mine will be a year old in February. I haven't had a single problem, except for a scratch by an idiot in a Surburban (rubbed right out). Hopefully, I'll have to ask directions to the dealer when I go back in a few years for another truck.

 

[bkaiser]

Mine was built in 10/02. The only problem of significance has been a keaky hydro-boost unit that was replaced under warranty. I have the oil smell for about a week after each change, but that's it. This truck replaced a '90 gasser dually - there is absolutely no comparison.

 

[Blakers]

Originally posted by barbwire

Blakers, The engine speed up is a good deal for our engines. Have you ever noticed the OTR truckers speed up their engines whenever they park for any length of time? There is good reason for this.

It would be good if they put a manual idle adjustment like my old Benz has. I think my brain is smarter than the truck's, but Dodge doesn't think so.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Three "issues" applied to the second gen as well: single wall front of bed, thin metal (pretty much across all brands), unpainted components like transmission, driveshafts. I spent a whole $3 on paint and $2 on spray solvent. Now my driveshafts, transmission, etc. are black. Hopefully the Line-X will take care of bed metal thickness.



I've made one trip to the dealer to get the keyless entry programmed differently and plugs for underneath to replace the tape. Twenty years ago we were grateful if there were only 4-6 warranty repairs needed. I've had my 2004 almost 3 months and needed no repairs. I feel for those with problems like vibration (seems a new power steering hose helps in some cases) or steering-pulling (better find a REAL alignment shop that understands to put some caster into the front end). It seems that these issues were mostly in early 2003s.



Seven years ago, I said my 1997 was the best truck I had ever bought. It's time to revise that statement in favor of the 2004 Oo.

 

[RobbieH]

The dealership called me about 5:30 today. They are putting a whole new rear axle in my truck to alleviate the noise. I told them I believe the problem to be a resonance in the driveshaft but they refused to take the "easy" way out. I don't think a new axle is the solution, but they said if this doesn't fix it they will keep trying.



And I was trying to save DC money. Oh well

 

[Fred Swanson]

No issues outside of a small leak on the 6 spd housing. 30K miles, in one year, not bad.

 

[rbattelle]

Hey Blakers,



I'm with you: I think my brain is smarter than the truck (although only marginally so ) . I'd love to be able to adjust idle speed and turn on/off the grid heaters at will.



I don't mean to hijack this thread, but has anyone else noticed that the action of the heater grids is only a function of outside temperature? I mean, I get off the highway, truck fully warmed up. Shut it off, run into the store, return 5 minutes later, and when I start it up the grid heaters go into the 2-minute cycle. Is that really necessary when the coolant temperature is 185*?

 

[EB]

My truck was bought on Feb. 14, 2003 and it now has almost 95,000 miles on it. The only problems were a leaking power steering pump, it was cross threaded at the factory or dealer when it was cked, and the limited slip unit didn't work and it was replaced under warranty. The only complaint is the rear end whines and that seems to be a common complaint. Gears look fine when I change oil, don't see any unusual wear pattern. Great truck, I pull a trailer every day and it does what it is supposed to do, go down the road with no problems.

 

[Silver Bullet Ram]

Transmission don't get painted because they are aluminum and paint holds heat in.





Gary

 

[Dean Upson]

Originally posted by rbattelle

Hey Blakers,



I'm with you: I think my brain is smarter than the truck (although only marginally so ) . I'd love to be able to adjust idle speed and turn on/off the grid heaters at will.



I don't mean to hijack this thread, but has anyone else noticed that the action of the heater grids is only a function of outside temperature? I mean, I get off the highway, truck fully warmed up. Shut it off, run into the store, return 5 minutes later, and when I start it up the grid heaters go into the 2-minute cycle. Is that really necessary when the coolant temperature is 185*?

I am pretty sure that those grids shut off when you hit 18 mph, so they would not be in use for very long.



Dean