Faults:

OK I am 17 and I have a 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT 4x4 extended cab with the 5.9 liter V8 with a automatic trans. and I love the engine, but when I cruise around 20 miles and hour in first gear it makes grinding noises very LOUD!! but when I speed up to 30 mph it stops making the noises or when I ease on the brakes it quiet. I don't understand this problem other than that it shifts fine and everything PLEASE someone tell me what the hell is going on.

General Comments:

Great power for me. out ran a 2004 doge ram 1500 quad cab.

MORE POWER!!!

Faults:

My truck has held up very well since I have purchased it. I once replaced the wheel bearing. I also had to replace the steering A-arm and that's about it. Now my O2 sensor is going, but I guess that is expected in a 9 year old vehicle. The body has no rust. I only replace the bumper due to hitting a deer.

General Comments:

I have had the truck three years now and have put on 74,500 miles. I "beat" the truck a lot and have fun with it going "4-wheeling." I have gone through six sets of tires during my three years of ownership duing burn-outs, etc. I have heard about a lot of people having transmission problems with their Dodge pick-up's, but I have not once had any with my transmission. I don't think I would sell my truck for any amount of money. I have owned Fords and Chevrolets in the past and had many problems with the motors and transmissions and all the other small things that add up. My Dodge truck has as much power and zip as it did the day I became its owner. The interior is still beautiful and the seats are very roomy and comfortable. It is hunter green with white racing stripes and the windshield has a decal on it that reads "Chicks love it." (Because they do)

Faults:

From new, the brakes have been just barely enough to consider safe, but certainly not anything that builds confidence.

The automatic rear view mirror dimmer has never worked.

The interior map light broke at 3 years.

The intake manifold plenum gasket leaked causing enormous oil consumption and incessant spark knock (started at ~45,000 miles and took until 65,000 to identify). This took numerous visits to the garage to rectify.

The exhaust has rattled since within the first 15 months of ownership. At the beginning of year 9, the darn thing still rattles.

The headlights are not bright enough as from the factory.

The front end alignment was way off as delivered new.

The differential pinion bearing broke at 72,000 miles. Once repaired, the trucks gas mileage jumped from a lifetime of 12-13mpg to 15-16mpg. I believe the differential was not assembled correctly during manufacture which led to premature failure and truly lousy gas mileage. Jumping from 13 to 16-17 highway was a wonderful fringe benefit to the absurdly expensive rear-end overhaul.

The front axle oil seals (4wd) both started leaking at 73,000 miles. Very expensive repair.

General Comments:

The truck has a quiet ride and is good looking.

The four wheel drive works very well.

I replaced the brakes with heavier duty calipers and re-wired the headlights to make more current available (made a big difference in brightness).

In spite of all of the repairs I've done on this truck, I still like it!

Faults:

My brother bought the truck as an auto body project for school. The truck was totaled and was in the junkyard. So a lot of the wiring was crimped in between metal and has not been seen. (that's why the third brake light stays on) The whole truck looks like a brand new truck now that all of the dents and phsical features are gone.

The steering column is out of alignment and sometimes it is hard to get the key out or to put it into drive.

But other wise nothing has gone wrong with the truck. It.

General Comments:

The truck has been in very much use at our cabin. Hauling wood, bricks, towing boats, and taking the ATVs and snowmobiles to the local shop. I bought a cheap 40$ sub box from the local Checker Auto parts store and it sounds great in the cab with the factory speakers and stereo. Since there were no front speakers in the door pannels when we got the truck, I took some old speaker wire and ran it from the old speakers, under the plastic protective strip on the floor by the door, and ran it up into the plastic and to the sub box. It is the best sounding truck that I have ever heard with so little effort put into it. The truck is also great on the road. Nothing has had to be replaced on the truck and it is in great condition exept for the bed, because we use it as a work truck so there are a lot of dings and scratches in the bed so if anyone has a silver 1997 dodge ram Laramie SLT. I would love it if you could contact me on my cell phone (651) 249-3889, Chris.