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.
Death shake has almost caused 4 accidents for me. I have been trying to get my truck fixed since 2005 Dodge has yet to offer any help. Any time I hit any small bump, pot hole, break in the road going over 50mph the truck enters a violent shake. I have to pull over to the side of the road and slow down to stop the shake. This is extremely dangerous in any type of traffic. The Dodge dealerships have not offered any assistance other than telling me to spend thousands to replace parts that might not even fix the issue.
My 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 has a violent shake in the front end when traveling at speeds of 55mph or more when hitting a bump or pothole. When the violent shaking begins, the vehicle is uncontrollable until the vehicle is slowed down considerably. I have taken the vehicle to two mechanics who have not been able to correct the problem. They have changed the steering damper and the shocks, and checked the whole front end. They could find no problems, and it is still happening. According to research on the internet, many other Dodge owners are having the same problem and have been for years. Dodge needs to do something about this before someone gets injured or killed. Any help with this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Uncontrollable front tires bouncing when my truck is driven over 55 miles and hits a bump. I have to slow down to stop the bouncing. This has been a problem since I bought the truck years ago and happens as a regular occurrence. The problem occurs every time I hit a bump at 55. I have replaced shocks had ties rotated, but the problem has not been fixed.
I was driving my 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 on the freeway at about 55 mph when the wheel hit a pot hole. At that moment the steering wheel began to shake uncontrollably. I immediately slowed down and the shake stopped. After that incident I really started to pay attention and it does it from 55 mph and up. I have tried to have the issue corrected but nothing seems to fix the problem. It is very unsafe to drive my vehicle.
Service bulletin 22-005-06 concerning front end shimmy or the death wobble as drivers of these trucks call it. The fix in 2006 was only temporary for my 2004 Dodge truck. It once again is going into the death wobble after going over railroad tracks or any bump in the road. Dodge says the parts were only warranted for 12 months and won't fix it again. Dodge apparently didn't use heavy enough parts and axles in the first place so does that mean I have to pay to have it fixed over and over and over. Someone needs to make Dodge continue to replace these parts. There are and will be many deaths over these trucks. It is no wonder the american vehicle manuf. Are struggling. Apparently the bulletin repair makes the truck safe for only 1 more year. This isn't a poor a.C or power lock problem it is related to loss of control while driving in normal everyday conditions which can result in loss of life. Please make Dodge do the right thing on this one and get to the root of the problem at their expense not mine. Just how many complains has Dodge had concerning this. Only they know. I will never buy another Dodge Chrysler product again.
- Winter Haven,, FL, USA
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2004.5 Ram qc 4X4 diesel. Extremely loose steering/front end after less than 60,000 miles. No full-on death wobble, but came close when hitting bumps. Research indicated this is a known issue on these trucks due to the design of the aam 9.25 axle. Ball joints are too small for the weight of the truck and only the bottom 2 joints bear the weight. The upper 2 ball joints bear no weight and are not ball joints, but more like pins that allow vertical movement when turning (because of the poor geometry design of the axle). Due to this arrangement, there are no adjustments of any kind for wear and any wear on the lower joints results in looseness. This in turn causes more stress on the upper joints and they fail quickly. I refuse to pay the ridiculous price at the dealer for poor quality design and parts that will fail soon again. I purchased very expensive ball joints that have been designed to help overcome the inadequacies of this low quality axle. Also had to replace all tire rod ends, link arms, trackbar and steering damper. Steering box was also worn severely due to the front end parts wallowing around constantly. I added a steering brace to help. Wheel bearings also shot, but they are not serviceable on this axle. Entire hub has to be replaced with non serviceable bearings pre-installed. Very expensive to do at $300 each instead of the usual $40 or so per wheel!!! disgusted with dealerships that are clueless about this axle. They all want to just blame it on tire balance, alignment or driving habits. Even the "certified mechanics" in their garage are clueless as well. As many of these trucks that are experiencing this problem you'd think someone at Dodge would know this by now. Had I known about this axle at the time of purchase I would not have bought this truck!
Clicking and shaking when in 4X4 mode. Sounded like U joints. After having it checked by a mechanic, he found both sides needed ball joints and the U joints on the axle was worn out. This was an expensive repair of over $1200. Also the tie rod ends needed replacement. He said that the weight of the diesel engine was the cause. He said that all of these front ends with the diesel engine needed to be replaced after about 70K miles. I am disappointed.
My 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 experienced violent shaking after hitting a bump on the freeway at approx 60 mph. I had to slow to about 30 mph before the shaking stopped. This is the 6th time this has happened. I thought it could be shocks and had them replaced about 1000 miles ago, but the problem remains. I have read several other complaints that described the exact situation I experienced. It is a front end problem that Dodge needs to address.
I have a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500. I have been experiencing death wobble for about 1 year now. I have spent approx. $1000 replacing balljoints (available), trackbar bushings, steering stabilizer, axle U-joints, complete 2008 Dodge steering system to include tie-rod ends, pitman arm, and linkage (available), and shocks (available) with no successful results. At this point I am at a loss of where to go next. This is my only vehicle and my wife and daughter have to use it for transportation everyday. After experiencing this for so long I worry everyday. I have researched this online and found out that many other Dodge owners are experiencing the same problems and receiving no help from the dealerships. Please review this and help us Dodge owners repair this problem before someone is killed.
My Dodge Ram 2500 04 jumps alot on the highway uncontrollably and once you hit a small bump on the highway your all over the road I've done the alignment on it changed tires and changed the whole suspension like mechanics told me to but nothing seems to help I've herd it also might be the stabilizer bar also known as the sway bar but I don't think its that I think the truck is a defect and should be recalled not even the certified ase Dodge mechanic know what it is when I first got the truck it was never like that but I was coming back from Minnesota and I was going 100 mph and hit a bump and that's when it all started happening.
My 2004 Dodge 2500 series Ram truck is experiencing the "death wobble". I am unable to go past 55 miles an hour as of today. This problem has been occurring for the last year and I have replaced every part that should have made this problem go away. When I hit a bump or pot hole or anything that will make the truck bounce at all, it violently shakes. This problem is putting everyone around me both on the road and in the truck at risk for a horrible collision. This vehicle is my only vehicle and I have no other choice but to drive it. I have read and experienced myself that there isn't a fix for this problem. All of the owners are now stuck with a vehicle they can't drive but have to pay for. This is not right by any means. Isn't there something we can do to correct this ongoing problem before someone gets killed?? come on Chrysler, step up to the plate and do what is right.
My '04 2500 Dodge Ram pickup experienced what is known as the death wobble today. A violent shaking of the front axel, which results in absolutely no control over the vehicle, except for braking and minimal steering. My two year old son was present for this, and it absolutely scared him to death. According to many online sites, this is a common occurrence in Dodge Ram heavy duty trucks that I had no idea existed. My experience with this issue almost, what I believe, cost me and my son our life. The truck will be parked until I can make time to get it a dealership and have it checked out.
Dodge 2500 4X4, the truck is experiencing the "death wobble" I have read about it and my mechanic cant find anything wrong. It occurs at speeds above 60 mph and can only be stopped by slowing the vehicle to almost stop. The shocks and ball joints are good and the balance on the tires is good too.
The contact owns a 2004 Dodge Ram 2500. If the vehicle would hit a small bump between 35-65 mph the front end of the vehicle would shimmy. Some occasions the wheels would lift off of the ground. When the failure occurs steering and braking becomes difficult. The exhaust manifold was fractured because of this condition. The manufacturer stated that because the warranty expired they could not provide any assistance. The U-joints, new shocks, steering stabilizer, sway bar end links and bushings were replaced. None of the repairs have remedied the failure, the current mileage was 88,000. The failure mileage was 60,000.
After hitting a bump in the road doing 70, my truck shakes violently, and uncontrollably. I did this with a Dodge service advisor in the truck. He looked at the vehicle and wants me to pay for any repairs it may need?? although my truck is a 2004.5, it only has 54,000 miles on it. I notice that I am not the only person living with this death wobble, as it is being called. It has happened once before, and I replaced the only part that even looked not right.
I own a Dodge Ram 2500 and when I hit a bump the front end wobbles really bad II had the truck check and nothing can be found. You really have to be careful it will cause a crash if you cant control it.
2004 Dodge 2500 4X4 4 door automatic. The problem is when I am driving around 60 or 65 and hit a bump in the road the front end shakes out of control until I slow down to less than 35 or 40 then it stops. I have replaced tires, ball joints, and stabilizers bars, put some sort of heavy duty stabilizer shock on the front end the dealer could not find any thing wrong every time they test drove it. I finally asked if someone from the dealer could ride with me to see what the truck dose at 60 mph. A mechanic rode with me driving at about 62 mph we drove across the seam at the beginning of a bridge and the front end let loose. The reaction from the Dodge mechanic was just short of panic. He then drove it and it did the same thing. Back at the dealership he told the service manager 'I have no idea what that could be I thought the front end was falling off. This problem has been going on for at least three years and about 55,000 miles. I hope you can help thanks for your time.
On 3-24-08, my vehicle failed state inspection at shaffer's auto service center; 422 taylor St.; new castle, pa 16101 (724-654-1088). Since it was under an extended warranty plan, I took it to king's Chrysler; 3239 wilmington rd.; new castle, pa 16105 (724-654-7761) to be fixed. They replaced both front universal joints. But they said that all four ball joints were within specifications for allowed movement. My 2004 Dodge Ram 2500 had 32083 miles on it then. A remark was made that the balljoints should last another 5 thousand miles or so. Today I wanted to have them checked, since I have 37,000 miles on the vehicle. I have been continually worried that a wheel might break off since this vehicle failed inspection at shaffer's. and this is the second time that I took it back to king's to see if the balljoints were bad enough to change. Today, they told me I voided the warranty because I had locking hubs installed on the vehicle to improve fuel mileage. I had the hubs installed after it failed inspection and they said it would last a while longer. I plan on changing the balljoints at my own expense now. But am troubled that they didn't change them at the time because if one breaks, then a wheel could fall off my vehicle and I could be injured as well as anyone else who was near me on the highway. I have recently been doing a lot of traveling on interstate rt. 80, across pa and am afraid one will break at 65 mph as I travel rt. 80. should vehicle dealers be permitted to defy the authority of another state vehicle inspection station to keep from doing warranty work? I believe that their negligence has put me and others at risk on the road ways I travel.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Cape May, NJ, USA