Forgive me if I forget or leave out some details of my story, I am not a very good writer! Driving on the normal pot filled, bumpy, very poor Michigan Roads and the Highway system going to my cabin up north or just around town I noticed my steering getting very loose as of December 26 2018. Around town the truck is very hard to keep in your own lane or between the lines, always having to correct the steering and trying not to over correct driving down the road. Also I do haul a very heavy duty bumper pull trailer and this is when the problem is at its almost worst. Whether your driving around town town at low speeds or at speeds in excess of 55 mph, my truck starts to sway and swerve to a point it is almost uncontrollable except to very experienced drivers.

Keep in mind I run dual sway controls on trailer and keep my loads properly secure and exactly positioned in my trailer for best and maximum drivability. I am always used to making sure Iknow what is going on around my vehicle at all times, being very aware of my surroundings, which means always looking ahead, behind, side to side and with this problem I can no longer even look but straight ahead to make sure my truck is still in my lane. On the highway the truck would not even stay in its own lane causing other drivers to blow there horns and pass 2 lanes over from me on I-75 or not pass me at all. Head on traffic is also a problem where you cannot even glance away for a split second or you put yourself into a steering over correction problem.

I have finally made it back to my town from my place up north and have taken my pickup to my mechanic. I don't put but a few thousand miles on my truck every year. Also to make things worse for me I have had 3 failed lower back fusions and when I am driving my truck I have to constantly hold myself up to take the stress and pain away from my mid to lower back with my arms, my right elbow on my console holding my right side up as I use my right hand and 4 fingers to steer, and my left hand pushing on my door arm rest and sometimes my form arm crutch that is wedged between my seat and drivers door. I also wear a full back brace too. Driving is already a constant battle for me especially when I have tel turn or do anything but drive straight. So this problem with my steering is making driving my truck almost impossible for a disabled driver like myself. Unless you are in a situation like myself it is hard for people to understand how I have to drive myself around or do things in order to live my life.

Anyways back to my truck, I have finally been able to get my truck into my mechanic and they are telling me a couple tie rods are shot on my truck and a little play in ball joints or bearings on front axle. So I told the mechanic I want every part changed out so I don't have another problem down the road whether its a week, a month or even a year. I need my truck 100% .

They start ordering parts for my truck through the local Auto Zone and some get there and they install them and some don't fit my truck. So they send one part back and find that another doesn't fit either. In the mean time my truck is just sitting on there lift causing me to not have a vehicle for a week now and tying there lift up everyday causing them to lose thousands of dollars a day because Auto Zone doesn't stock certain parts. So in the mean time I am upset and wondering why my mechanic keeps getting parts that are wrong for my truck, so I think why is this happening.

So I go online and punch in my truck in the search with steering problems and front end problems and low and behold I find a few interesting things. First there is a problem with certain year tie rod steering linkage systems which my truck falls into these years. Second Chrysler has a recall on the steering systems which what do I do now. My truck is stuck on my mechanics lift with half the new parts on that of course Auto Zone will not take back as a return because they are installed, so I have to use them.

I am going to call my dealer and ask them what to do. I see that Chrysler actually has a whole update or upgrade kit from Mopar that dealers install for the recall that updates certain model year trucks to the 2009 model year truck steering system. As of right now my bill is $2,700 and that's including the tie rod steering assembly which is actually supposed to be recalled except I didn't know because I bought my 2004 truck in 2015 and now of 02/2019 it has just over 114,000 miles on it. I had my mechanic replace the front bearing hub assemblies, all 4 upper/lower ball joints, steering dampener, tie rods, center link, drag link, alignment, etc... With a bill totaling $2,700. If I have left something out or have confused some people I apologize, I am in constant pain so it is hard for me to concentrate and write this complaint.

front end wanders particularly when the vehicle hits bumps

I had a 2005 2500 diesel bought new which until it was totaled recently had no steering or front end problems evident. It had about 135000 miles when destroyed.

I liked the vehicle and wanted another one. I found a 2004 3500 with 195000 miles, which was in nice shape with more accessories than my old vehicle had and bought it. Right away I discovered the front end problem, which until then was not aware of. I've had the steering box replaced but that only helped the problem about 20%. I'm told that updating the vehicle to the latest Dodge design components will elevate the problem. I cannot live with what I have now. Do I fix it and, save my receipts and hope Dodge is forced to settle or just suck it up?