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.
My vehicle was in motion driving on a highway at the rate of 45mph-50mph my husband was driving, I was passenger, and my 2 year old son was in his car seat in the back. All the sudden we hit a small bump in the road, no bigger than your average pot holes and the entire truck broke out into an abrupt shake! it was throwing my husbands and my body around the shake was so intense the steering was controllable but extremely hard. It felt as though our tires were flying right off the vehicle. My husband braked and the violent shake seized and we immediately pulled over and parked the truck. We check and shook all tires they were secure. We looked under the truck everything seemed in place and secure. Once we got home I researched the issue and learned of the "death wobble" most Dodge trucks have because of the "Y" steering bar which most years have a recall to fix the issue however when I called my local Dodge they informed me my year of truck doesn't have the recall. This "death wobble" has been known to cause rollovers and accidents. I reached out to chrystler to see if they would fix it and they informed me because there is no recall they wouldn't. we are talking peoples, and others on the road safety! I don't see why they wouldn't want to pay to fix a steering bar which is what maybe $1000 but have the possibility for lives to be lost?
I installed Chrysler parts kit 52122362al, upgraded steering linkage drag link tie rod, and 68039930aa pitman arm on my 2001,5 Dodge Ram 2500 4X4 truck. It easily replaced existing parts needing only a different steering damper to replace the original parts. I have since been learned that the steering linkage drag link parts are recalled after they have been installed on 2003-2008 trucks. Recalls I am aware of are H46 and N62. My left tie rod end ball stud has not broken yet but the possibility is very serious. I think Dodge Ram 1500/2500/3500 series trucks from model years 2001 and 2002 should be included in the recalls.
Truck is very hard to control at higher speeds and I pull a horse trailer. Very afraid of what can happen if total steering control is lost while traveling with my horses. It wobbles at speeds around 45 and over and feels like it wants to jump off the road or into another lane on highway. I replaced the entire front end and problem still exists. Seen many posts with identical issues as myself. I just want the problem to be resolved. It only has 144,000 miles on it. Do we have to wait until a death for this issue to be resolved??
The power steering pump failed while driving on a mountain road. I was unable to steer the truck, and also unable to stop the truck, as the power steering pump also supplies power to assist the brakes.
I was sent a recall while in AZ. I took it to henery brown automotive and the did not really care to mess with it. They said they have been unable to get the parts to fix it. I told them I wanted it fixed and they said they would call as soon as the parts came in, it is June and I am back in co..the safety recall number as I can tell is N49/natsa 13V-529. Left tie rod. Can you help get something done and have a talk with henery brown's Chrysler. Thank you
- Ovid, CO, USA
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My main reason for this complaint is it is known across the United States that Dodge put a faulty front suspension on its pickups that lead to dangerous steering at highway speeds and death wobbles. My vehicle has the death wobble at highway speeds, understand this death wobble literally tries to pull the steering wheel from your hand and makes the vehicle very hard to manage. My death wobble was severe enough to bust a battery clamp, blow out both headlights, make my quad cab door not open caused my outside temperature sensor unit to malfunction, broke my steering box, broke the clip on my sunglasses holder and caused my track bar to fail again. Please understand due to the faulty sloppy drifting steering I had already replaced all tie rods, track bar, ball joints and steering dampener shock. You can go to any diesel forum and hear all the stories of the Dodge steering slop and death wobble and I would like to know why the traffic safety board has not forced a recall and upgrades on this product. I have a lifetime warranty on my track bar and can prove it has to be replaced twice a year minimum. Dodge did upgrades on the later model years 04-07 because they knew of the design flaw. Why are they not responsible for this known road hazard.
The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that while reversing, the pitman arm fractured in the steering column. The failure caused the vehicle to loose hydraulic fluid to the power steering. The contact called three dealers and was told that they were unfamiliar with the failure. The vehicle was not inspected or repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 230,000...updated 09/04/12..updated 09/07/12 the consumer stated the point of failure was the sector shaft on the rod and a damaged steering box. The consumer stated the vehicle lost all steering capability. Updated 09/11/12 updated 09/17/2012
2001.5 Dodge 2500 quad 4X4 diesel. Steering has been bad for last few years. Took in and all up front is bad, hubs, joints, ball joints, tie rods and even the gear box output shaft. I was told that the dealer knows that the 2500 comes off the line with 1/4" give or take play in the ball joints as it sits new and are actually too small for application which causes all else to go bad over time. I am not hard on my Dodge with driving style. Cost to fix with stock and after market parts only to prevent is $2600. Labor is $100 per hour how can anyone handle this kind of money up front. Truck sits afraid to drive more then local. Started seeing at 95000 and have just over 103000. Dealer will not fix recalls of 2001 year because its to old!
The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 quad. The contact stated that there was excessive play in the steering wheel. The vehicle would steer uncontrollably when driving over uneven road surfaces. The manufacturer was notified of the failure who advised the contact that there were no recalls for the failure and offered no further assistance. The contact stated that the failure had become worse over time. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 101,000.
The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the vehicle drifted from lane to lane increasing the risk of a crash. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic to have the entire front suspension replaced. After the remedy repair, the vehicle continued to drift from lane to lane while driving at highway speeds. The contact took the vehicle back to the local mechanic for a diagnostic test. The failure mileage was 67,000. The VIN was not available.
On my way to work, as usual, on a "slightly" bumpy part of the highway my steering wheel and front end started vibrating so violently that I almost lost control. I could barely hold the steering wheel; and could not steer at all; all I could do was start braking and come to a stop. I got out and checked my tires and front end and everything appeared normal. I continued to work at about 40 mph (I had gone to work early so no traffic). At 8:00 I called my local mechanic and took it to him to check out what happened. He check everything and nothing showed. The next day it happened again; then again 2 days later. About 2 weeks later I took pickup in for regular oil/fuel/air filter change service. He test drove with me along and I explained further what happened. He said he has seen it before with Dodge 2500 & 3500 and it has been labeled the "Dodge death wobble". I thank god I was not in a busy traffic area.
The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving at highway speeds the steering would cause the vehicle to travel from one lane to another. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who advised her that the steering track bar and steering boxes failed. The vehicle was repaired. The failure occurred again within two weeks of being repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Ram. The contact stated while driving at any speeds the vehicle drifted from side to side. The contact stated the vehicle became difficult to control. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who replaced the steering box but the steering box did not remedy the failure. The steering box was replaced five times. The dealer stated that the steering box was defective. The contact called the manufacturer and filed a complaint but they have not provided any assistance. The contact stated the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The failure mileage was 270,676.
The contact owns a 2001 Dodge 2500 diesel. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph and decelerating to 3 mph, the steering shaft suddenly fractured causing a loss of steering. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that he needed to replace the steering shaft. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 193,000. Updated 03/24/11 updated 12/14/11
Problems with steering, and vibration/wobble in the front of our 2001 Dodge Ram 2500. No resolution as of yet. Dodge can't find the problem. Replaced track bar, but problem has returned. Steering wanders, hard to keep truck on the road. Vibration in front returned once again. I have heard there is an after market steering stabilizer that can take care of this problem. Why doesn't Dodge fix it with this steering stabilizer?
The contact owns a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500. While driving approximately 75 mph on normal road conditions; there was a sudden loss of steering control. Immediately, the driver stopped the vehicle and towed it to an authorized dealer. There were no prior warnings. The failure was contributed to the steering system. The contact was responsible for the repair cost of $1,933.75. The contact stated that there were safety recalls for model years 2003 to 2009 on the identical model. There was concern of the safety risk involved. The failure mileage was 192,175 and the current mileage was 300,000. Updated 03/30/10 the consumer stated the steering failed as she was driving. The gear box, steering box and ball joints were replaced. Updated 08/18/10 updated 08/23/10
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 reg cab long bed pickup. Vehicle has 26,000 original miles and after major front end repairs( upper and lower ball joints, stabilizer bar links, stabilizer shock and both wheel bearings) for steering problems, the problem still exists. The truck is almost uncontrollable and wanders into oncoming traffic if constant attention and over correction of steering is not adhered too. Driving is a task and is very dangerous.
Dt the return hose to the power steering got against the power steering pulley and rubbed a whole in the return hose and it was leaking fluid. Which made it have no power steering. Have contacted the dealer they ordered two hoses that were the wrong ones. This happened July 18, 2005.
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- Rozet, WY, USA