Door Latch problems of the 1998 Dodge Ram 1500

98 Dodge hi top conversion van; the electric door locks' release mechanism has broken for the fourth time. This time the middle side passenger door lock broke. When the door locks' brake, they are jammed locked, and we can not open the door at all. We contacted the Dodge dealer and they said that if they unjam the door, the door would then stay open! we have to wait till next week to get it fixed because they have to order the part. This will end up costing us over $200/00 - again. I am amazed at your question "number of fatalities" . But it does bring a chilling thought - if I was to get into an accident with my five children in the back - they would not be able to get out, and if a fire was to ignite, I would not even like to think of the results!!!!!! your questions should be "number of possible fatalities" - then you would get a more accurate number of the severity of the defect. My (five) children now have to enter and exit through the front passenger door. My six year old daughter had to get out of the passenger side this morning to go to school. She fell out and hurt her wrist! as mentioned before, this is the fourth time one of the locks broke on the doors. Twice on the driver's side door, and once on the passenger's side door. It is obvious to us that the locks are definitely defective - and life threatening! I see first hand what happens in wrecks, being a captain of the local vol. Fire dept and a member of the rescue squad.

Side door will not open from the outside. Dealer states latch has failed.

Both driver and passenger doors would not latch propery and prevented the doors from closing.

Driver's side door locking mechanism failed. Door flew open, after being locked, and wouldn't lock back.