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.
2003 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel with stock tires and suspension started shaking violently in the front end while traveling on Colorado state highway 94 at approximately 58mph. The shaking started after I transitioned from a bridge to the roadway. The shaking was so severe that I had to stop the vehicle in order to bring it back under control. This isn't the first time it has happened, but after reading several articles online referring to the "death wobble", I felt it should be reported.
"death wobble" I have a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel 4X4 truck and now I am having a problem with a horrible shake. I have had this truck since the beginning of 2004 and never had any problems, but recently when driving on any highway and go over a bridge or bump, my vehicle shakes vigorusly!!! so bad this last time I almost took out 2 other vehicles while trying to regain control over my vehicle and pull off to the side of the highway. I am constantly with my children and I rely heavily on my vehicle and recently I made the decision to parked my truck indefinately due to this horrible shake! dealers have looked and found nothing and advised me everything looks ok. I have bought the steering stabilazer box and that helped for about a month. Replaced shocks and still nothing. I am now going to an alignment shop to hopefully resolve this issue. Again I rely heavily on my truck as an everyday vehicle and purchased it due to occasionaly hauling cattle and horses in my ranch. It is even worse when this vehicle has any load (trailer) attached. I cannot go over 45 mph without it shaking violently!
Death wobble, on many, many occasions exceeding over a dozen. I have replaced numerous front end parts to no avail, including tires and rims. It always occurred at hi-way speeds of 65 mph and above, the best way to describe it is a crash happening with out the bent metal. I am sure this is going to get someone killed if they are an inexperienced driver if it hasn't already, the dead don't talk so to speak, you cant see death wobble after the truck has crashed, you may want to look into the single vehicle fatalities of this make and model of truck I am sure it is high ratio for the amount of vehicles sold, one is unacceptable in my opinion. I could be next. It can happen at any time crossing a bridge, pavement patches, especially dangerous passing slower vehicles like semi-trailers and rv's where you have no where to go but the said vehicles and or bridge wall. This is a terrible issue with these trucks, check internet search engines on death wobble, and this is the truck that comes up, what else do you need before something is done?
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge 2500. The contact stated that the wiring harness failed and was repaired under warranty. On a separate occasion, the defroster and windshield wipers failed. While utilizing the driver's side turn signal, the passenger side turn signal would illuminate instead. This failure was also repaired under warranty. In addition, the contact was experiencing very hard vibrations form the front end of the vehicle. He struck a squirrel in the road and nearly lost control of the vehicle due to the vibrations. A local service dealer replaced the steering linkages in the vehicle at the contact's expense. He later received a recall notice for the suspension and excessive vibrations (steering linkages). The NHTSA campaign id number was unknown. The current and failure mileages were less than 120,000.
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge truck 2500 4X4. The contact stated that the vehicle shakes violently while driving 70 mph. The vehicle was taken to the dealer three times and they changed the cable stabilizer and replaced the ball joints. The failure mileage was 100,000 and current mileage was 117,000. Updated 03-27-09 updated 04/01/09.
We were driving when you hit about 60 and hit a bump the truck shakes so violently and the only way to stop it is to slow down to 20 or slower. Happens when you are going 50 or more and hit a bump or where the roads connect.
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500. While driving 65 mph, the vehicle drove over a pothole and began to shake violently. The dealer named the failure the "death wobble" and stated that there were no recalls for this failure. The manufacturer and dealer would not repair it for free. The current and failure mileages were 77,200. Updated 6/9/08 the consumer believed there was a problem with the ball joints, stabilizer, trac bar and alignment. Updated 06/09/08
Traveling down freeway at speed of 70 mph passed over overpass hit bump and truck begin shimmying uncontrollably, had to bring truck to complete stop to get shimmying to stop. This has happened many times at speeds about 55 mph hit bumps and truck begins shimmying uncontrollably, have to completely stop vehicle each time. Have replaced everything in front end along w/ adjusted air pressure in tires according to service bulletin, nothing seems to work. Took to dealer they stated nothing else could be done. Truck still has same shimmy and cannot get anything done about it. This needs to be recalled before someone gets seriously injured.
While driving my 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 quad cab 4X4 cummins diesel at approximately 35 mph, my right front tire came off causing me to lose control of my vehicle. Exact cost of repair is yet to be decided, but damage was more than moderate. The lug nuts did not fall off. The hub bolts sheered off without warning. Damage is in that tire, the rotor, brake system, front right quarter panel, right side front passenger's door, and suspension system. The police officer said we were lucky to be going so slow around a curve with a 40 foot embankment drop-off. I have read nhsta bulletins and Dodge forum websites and found that this problem is more than common. My truck did have a slight vibration on bumps which I was told was normal. However, after this incident and reading hundreds of other complaints, this issue needs to be handled now...with sole responsibility lying on Dodge corporation. This is unsafe. People have been hurt. All readers say the same things and agree that Dodge will not do anything about this problem. We need someone to confront the automakers and demand safety recalls immediately.
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram. While performing an oil change, the dealer stated that all four lower ball joints were loose and needed to be replaced. While driving at low speeds, 10mph the steering wheel began shaking. The failure occurred at 49500 miles. The current mileage is 52000. The engine size is not available.
At highway speeds, between 70 an 80 mph, the vehicle will vibrate uncontrollably if you hit any type of pothole, expansion joint, bridge, etc..... while driving recently (9/5/2006), I encounter a bridge crossing while traveling at approx 76 mph, at which point the vehicle began to shutter violently causing my vehicle to cross traffic and enter the median on I-20 outside of birmingham, al. This is an extremely dangerous situation.
Excessive movement in poor quality oem ball joints, along with road feed back through a multi piece, and movable steering shaft and steering column. Make this series of truck unsafe, a hazard, and a liability on the road.
When driving over a pot hole at 60 mph vehicle vibrated severely. Vehicle stopped vibrating when speed decreased to 30 mph. The cause had not been determined. Driver will contact the dealer in the near future.
My 2003 Dodge Ram 2500 steering shakes uncontrollably when you hit a bump at highway speeds or a bridge expansion joint. Directional control is difficult while this is happening. This happened while traveling at 75 mph, and sent the truck into the other lane, nearly causing an accident. Could not get the shaking to stop until truck dropped to 45 mph. The dealership says that one other customer is having the same problem. They checked all the steering components and said everything was good. This is very dangerous, and should be checked out further. Ball joints in these trucks:2003 Ram 2500 -3500 are proven to be defective. I am a member of the turbo diesel register which is comprise of 40,000+ members and this problem is not uncommon at all. Approximately 50% of all 2003 + trucks have ball joint slop in the first 10,000 miles.
A loud clanking noise was heard coming from the front of the vehicle. The consumer was able to drive it to the dealer for inspection. The mechanic informed the consumer that both driver and passenger side axle U bolts needed to be replaced. Please fill in additional information.
Problems with 2003 Dodge Ram truck. While driving over bumps the vehicle literally changes lanes. The consumer contacted the dealer and the manufacturer but didn't get a favorably reply from either.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Colorado Springs, CO, USA