Horn Assembly Problems of Dodge RAM - part 1

Dodge RAM owners have reported 40 problems related to horn assembly (under the electrical system category). The most recently reported issues are listed below.

1 Horn Assembly problem of the 1999 Dodge RAM

Failure Date: 12/01/2000

Horn wll not work unless pushed with excessive effort when it is cold or in justthe right spot at other times.

See all problems of the 1999 Dodge RAM 🔎.

2 Horn Assembly problem of the 2001 Dodge RAM

Failure Date: 11/21/2000

While driving 55 mph, speedometer went from 55 to 0. Then, all other instruments went dead and horn started blaring. Consumer pulled over, and saw an orange glow under hood. Within 2 minutes, passenger's compartment was in flames. Fire department found fire had started in power box, vehicle was totalled. Dodge wants to repair. Consumer states the fires was because of the power distributor box.

See all problems of the 2001 Dodge RAM 🔎.

3 Horn Assembly problem of the 1999 Dodge RAM

Failure Date: 10/01/2000

Brake problems; consumer took vehicle to dealer 4 times, but dealer couldn't find cause. When applying brakes pedal went down to floorboard, but there was no braking action. Accident occurred with $4100 damage. Consumer states that the horn is not working properly.

4 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Failure Date: 08/11/1999

Horn is located on top of steering wheel where the airbags come out. Consumer cannot place entire hand on the horn to make it work . Only a single point he can press with his finger on the steering column. That is the only way he can hear the horn.

See all problems of the 1998 Dodge RAM 🔎.

5 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Failure Date: 02/10/1999

Horn can not be sounded in a quick emergency situation due to airbag configuration. Can only be sounded if thumb is precisely pressed exactly on two spots indicated while looking at those spots can not have eyes on road. .

6 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Failure Date: 01/15/1999

Horn is almost impossible to blow, you have to take eyes off the road to find horn button.

7 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Failure Date: 01/12/1999

Horn button difficult to press. Must be centered. Will not work in emergency situations.

8 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Failure Date: 01/01/1999

Many of my friends have the same problem with 1998 Dodge trucks, Chrysler says it is "normal" and will not fix. Horn button was re-designed for 1999 and does not have the problem.

9 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Failure Date: 12/12/1998

The design of horn button hardens in cold weather causing difficulties locating horn in a emergency. Occasionally the horn fails to work properly. The cruise control would gradually decrease without brakes being applied. Taken vehicle to dealer to check.

10 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Failure Date: 11/30/1998

When trying to use the horn, you have to push so hard that it is almost impossible to get it to work without going off the road. The rubber covering the steering wheel center is way to hard to operate the horn. I have been told by other people with '98 Dodge truck, Rams that the only way to fix the problem is to install a '99 Ram airbag assembly. I am going to be going to my dealer in a couple of weeks and I am going to see what they can do about this problem. It would make it a lot easier if the NHTSA would do something about this problem since I have heard that dealers refuse to fix the problem in many cases.

11 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Failure Date: 11/16/1998

Horn does not sound when depressed; backup lights lens cover is tinted.

12 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Failure Date: 07/01/1998

It is impossible to activate the horn, the cover for the air bag is a hard plastic and you really have to push to activate it. In an emergency, it is impossible.

13 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Failure Date: 05/30/1998

If horn is not pushed in particular way the horn will not work. Dealer notified, and informed consumer nothing could be done because that is the way it was made.

14 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Failure Date: 05/05/1998

The passenger's or driver's side seat belt does not retract. Also, you almost have to punch the horn pad to get it to work. The dealership was not able to correct the problem with the seat belt or the horn. Owner has 2 other trucks with the same problems. Please list VIN #s for other 2 trucks.

15 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Failure Date: 05/01/1998

I think that a horn that requires so much effort that it is useless is a safety problem. Although the dealer and the company district representitive say that the all of the 1998 horns are like that. Something can be done. Chrysler says in their specs that the horn should operate at 2 lbs of pressure not, the 10 lbs or more that they really take. I would like to know why, if there is no problem (they claim) did they fix it for 1999. Same steering wheel and pad but it now works.

16 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Failure Date: 04/20/1998

The horn is very difficult to operate through the airbag. Many times it has failed to sound at all.

17 Horn Assembly problem of the 1996 Dodge RAM

Failure Date: 11/12/1996

Horn fell off.

See all problems of the 1996 Dodge RAM 🔎.

18 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

The horn buttons are very difficult to locate/press. The resulting delay to activate the horn in an emergency situation ,could be potentially hazardous to driver/occupants or pedestrians.

19 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

The button seems very hard to push especially if cold. Too much plastic??.

20 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Horn is extremely hard to blow. Eccessive pressure required. Estimated 25 - 30 pounds.

21 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

The horn on the Dodge Ram p/u is almost impossible to engage or sound. A person has to push through the airbag to make the horn sound. I have had several people who have complained about this and have seen the problem in several vehicles. Any help you can get Dodge to do in replacing the horn would be appreciated.

22 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

The horn is very hard to push to make it sound. In an emgerency situation it is very dangerous. The dealer is well aware of the problem.

23 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Horn button hard to push in panic situation. Must use extream pressure to engage.

24 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Horn difficult to honk, operates intermittently.

25 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Very hard to depress horn buttons. Must use excessive force in cente rof steering wheel to honk horn.

26 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Due to build up of pressure in the air bag module, the horn sensors are extremely hard to apply. Please give any further details.

27 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Due to the location of the horn assembly, when attempting to depress the horn pad it is very difficult to locate the horn. Consumer states that due to the airbag location, it is difficult to locate and to honk.

28 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

The driver has to press down on the horn pad extremely hard before the horn will blow. This is very dangerous in an emergency situation.

29 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Have to put extreme pressure on the horn pad in order for the horn to sound. When driver needs the horn to go off quickly it is impossible.

30 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Horn is very hard to locate on steering column, and it is very hard to depress to get it to blow. This vehicle has narrowly missed being involved in 2 or 3 accidents because the driver could not use the horn.

31 Horn Assembly problem of the 1997 Dodge RAM

The dealer refused to perform recall 00v-135 because they claimed the consumer altered the wiring harness on the vehicle, the consumer contends that the only alteration of the wiring is the installation of a set of air horns which do not connect to the ignition wiring. Nlm.

See all problems of the 1997 Dodge RAM 🔎.

32 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

The horn is very difficult to apply. Owner has to add excessive pressure to get horn to function. Dlr says it's normal.

33 Horn Assembly problem of the 1999 Dodge RAM

The horn is defective. This truck is manual shift. There are two problems. 1st, it is impossible to locate the horn because of the placement of the airbag. It requires numerous hard pushes to figure out where it is. A less than what I would estimate to be a 5 pounds of pressure will not make the horn sound. I have tried to use the horn on at least three incidences and was unable to make the horn sound. In a non-emergent situation (sitting at a light) I was able to sound the horn after substantial pressure. 2nd : in emergent avoidance situation (3 times) you can not sound the horn and downshift at the same time. Because of the design of the steering wheel on the left side, and the placement of the cruise control, my left hand can not reach the horn without turning loose of the steering wheel. That leave no hands on the wheel because the right hand is trying to downshift. This is an extremely dangerous situation where the component part requires that there be no hands on the steering wheel. I would like this addressed immediately. I am female, 5'7" 135 pounds. I do not have a wide enough span in my hand to be able to hold on to the steering wheel with four fingers while my thumb tries to reach the horn. It is physically impossible. That takes you back to problem number 1.

34 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Horn has two small buttons on both side of airbag cover which are too small to locate and hard to press, not allowing driver to communicate with other drivers. Manufacturer states there is no plan to revise horn.

35 Horn Assembly problem of the 1998 Dodge RAM

Horn difficult to operate; trans shifts out of drive into neutral when driving over bumps and engine is under load.


Other Common Electrical System related problems of Dodge RAM


Fuel Economy of RAM Vehicles
RAM Service Bulletins
RAM Safety Recalls
RAM Defect Investigations