So my dad and I have Ram 3500s. 2004 and 2004.5.

A couple of weeks ago, I notice I have 4 dents on my tailgate. Dents are in the same spots...about half way down the gate on the edges near the tail lights. The dents are about 2 inches apart on each side.

As my truck still has the max care warranty and such, WE took our trucks to the dealership paint shop. Given BOTH trucks have the dents in the same spots. Mine has 4 spots, one spot is cracked and rusting...Dad has 2 spots so far with a hint of the other 2 spots showing.

Oh yeah Dent=Dented outward...Not like it was hit but like something (spot weld) inside of the tailgate is pushing out.

So far...Dealership has said "We can't do anything without approval from the district manager approving it"

District manager "We aren't covering it. (Dad) Your truck is out of warranty 3/36 and the other gate looks like it was hit on the inside causing the dents."

I will be getting everything in writing to verify what was said and wasn't.

So does anyone else have 4 small outward dents...2 on each side, about half way down from the top???

Dad is on the phone with Chrysler now trying to find out in writing what the policy is for Manufacture Defects.

 

I had them on my 06 when my wife slammed the tailgate too hard. My dealership did repair them on warranty. I think there is a track inside the gate that was loose.

 

I had my 06 repaired last October, my dent was on the driver's side.
Inside the tailgate is a cross member that runs the length of the tailgate.

That's exactly where my dent was. My dealer did repair for free, but also said I probably dropped something on it. However, there was no dent on that side.

 

Update: Dad called Chrysler. Help line...what a joke.

Dad spoke to the initial operator. No help but said to call back in one hour to speak with a manager. So dad called back an hour later, spoke to manager. manager referred him back to the District Manager which already said NO.

When dad asked the manager why the circle game and sending him back down the line. Why they have an 800 customer service line with manager that is only going to send him back to the district manager etc. At this point...No kidding folks, they hung up on him.

Let me say...$80,000 in trucks (qty 2) and they are hanging up on customers??? And its not like those are the only ones in the driveway.

 

its from dropping the tailgate when opened

 

Strange. We have had 4 other trucks in the family...all dodge and never seen a problem like this before.

Not saying we drop the tailgates either. Just that the new trucks seem to have pretty thin metal if this is pushing through like that.

 

Funny timing on this thread. I've always had a small dent on the pass side of my tailgate, never really thought much about it. Then yesterday my neighbour with an 05 comes by to look at mine, turns out he has 2 that are really similar. They are far enough inside the lip that you can tell it's something inside the tailgate that is making the dent. He's fighting and getting all stressed out about it, I'm not gonna get my BP up for it! lol

 

Kinda the reason I posted this thread.

Class action lawsuit only needs a certain number of people to get it started.

So far thats 6. Can't believe its not more.

 

Mine as two on the drivers side.

 

Heard about alot of these on the other Cummins website last year. Made me go out and purchase an Easy-down for my truck to prevent this type of damage from dropping the tailgate.

 

no class action lawsuit is needed. the problem is letting the tail gate drop down when opening and not being ready to grab it!!! if the tail gate only weighted 2 pounds-the same people would be ****** because the tail gate was flimsy.etc for a truck of such stature!

 

My truck also has these dents. They are on both sides. I never really paid them no mind though. If they were causing my tailgate to fall off that would be a different story. Yeah I paid alot for it, but its a truck. Its gonna get dents and scratches. Thats my .02 worth.

Marshall

 

equal dents on each side of my tailgate as well. but the dealer wont even look at my truck anymore.

 

It has nothing to do with dropping the tailgate. I have the easy-down on mine and the dent occured after that.

I had no problems with my 99 Dodge Ram and that didn't have an easy-down on it.

I think it's just a rare occurence and we are the lucky rare owners.

 

It's a flippin pickup! It should take some abuse without getting it's feathers ruffled. I'd say that's unacceptable, particularly if it promotes rust. Just like I'd be upset at BMW if my brakes failed or struts broke when I flogged the car hard at trackday.
Which it doesn't. It loves that kind of abuse and I've racked 112K on it since 2000.