This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge 1500. While the tires were being rotated, the dealer noticed a leak coming from the rack and pinion. The vehicle was leaking power steering fluid. The current mileage was 63,000 and failure mileage was 62,989. Updated 6/9/08 the rear pinion seal was replaced three times. Updated 06/09/08
Immediate loss of power steering fluid from steering rack, resulting in loss of power steering. This is apparently a common occurrence for late model Dodge trucks when they reach approximately 50,000 miles. The steering rack cannot be repaired, only replaced.
1.) loss of power steering fluid 2.) failure of rack and pinion seal, loss of steering, very dangerous situation 3.) replacement of rack and pinion steering, new part from dealer was only one available, cost exceeding $800.
I noticed a power steering fluid leak and brought my pickup in to dealer for evaluation. Notified me that my power steering hoses were shot. 29,780 miles on vehicle and not covered under warranty since the hoses had a repair clamp installed from prior failure. 2 months later was driving on interstate when my pickup suddenly lost power steering capabilities. I was able to pull vehicle over without incident and returned to dealership the same day and they informed me that rack/pinion was shot. Not under warranty due to 1 month past 3year warranty period. 30,200miles on vehicle. Shop foreman advised me behind closed doors that this is a continuous problem with "northern area" Ram 1500's and they alone had serviced over 200 similar type 1500 Ram vehicles with the same power steering problems I also had just in the past 2-3 months! the foreman also informed me there is a 5-7 day backorder on rack and pinions because they are in high demand due to this Dodge engineering problem. He gave me a number to Dodge to complain, I called with the reply from Dodge as "I'm sorry but due to your warranty being past by 1 mo. We will be unable to goodwill assist you with your problem". I'm not bitter but feel this needs to be looked into due to obvious safety issues. Thank you.
Rack and pinion failed after 33000 miles and two months past warranty. Took to the dealer and was told the rack and pinion was on national back order but they had one left. National back order? sounds like this is a problem.
- Canton, OH, USA
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Tla* the contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500. The failure mileage was 40,000. The contact stated that the first week of February 2007 he observed under the vehicle a fluid leak present on both seals of the rack and pinion steering. The local dealer stated that that they would have to put him on a waiting list for the specific part needed for the repair. There were no listed recalls, however, there was a lengthy waiting list. The contact experienced the same failure and the vehicle was repaired. This failure was related in both the new and former vehicles. The current mileage was 41,700. Dealer stated the vehicle was repaired. Updated 4/9
40,600 miles and I have a rack and pinion fluid leak. I had heard that there was a recall on this and have not been able to locate it on line. I have not taken it to the dealer yet and will do it next week.
2004 Dodge Ram 1500, 62,000 miles, leaking fluid. Took in for service and found it to be the rack and pinion seals had failed and could not be replaced. The entire unit had to be replaced.
At approximately 10,000 miles our 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 began pulling hard to the right. At highway speeds, the vehicle will cross 4 lanes of traffic within seconds if the driver is not pulling to the left in order to compensate for the right pull. We have had the vehicle aligned several times by different dealerships as well as at alignment shops, and the issue persists. Daimler Chrysler claimed the issue was tire related, and we had the tire dealer move tires around repeatedly trying to make the problem go away. We have also replaced tires with no change in the pull. Recently, we noticed the pull is far worse when the vehicle has a full tank of gas, which leads me to suspect weight or weight distribution is a factor. We had steering rack and differential failure at approximately 25,000 miles. Both were replaced and the problem continues to exist. Also, alignment numbers go from within specification to wildly out of specification each time the truck is placed on a rack. This vehicle control issue is 100% repeatable.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Yreka, CA, USA