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 2009 Dodge Ram 3500. While driving 65 mph, the contact lost control of the vehicle and drove into a ditch. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the driver side tie rod ball stud fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 13V529000 (steering). The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired a second time. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 81,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle exhibited an abnormal noise from the front end. The contact moved off the roadway and when further examining the vehicle, he found that the front driver side tie rod was fractured from the wheel and rim. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed and a replacement of the tie rod was recommended. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 41,430.
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Ram 3500. While driving approximately 30 mph, the tie rod broke on the front driver side. The contact was able to maneuver the vehicle off the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the technicians stated the tie rod needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Dodge Ram 3500. While making a left turn 5 mph the tie rod broke causing a loss of the steering control and the restricted ability to turn the vehicle in one direction. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where they replaced the tie rod. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure and current mileages were 29,000. Updated 10/05/10 the consumer was told that an improperly geometry at the time of initial factory installation may lead to premature failure. Updated 10/07/10.
Dodge 3500 recall #09V00500 steering linkages/tie rod assembly. Swift Dodge, 4318 chile road, davis ca informed me in August 09 that my truck was subject to this recall. In December 09 they purported to have completed the recall work as specified in invoice #25289. This was verbally described as necessitating complete disassembly/reassembly of the front end/steering. In June 2010 the steering track bar bolt failed and lodged between the drag link and tie rod end causing partial loss of steering. The upper and lower control arms and spring blocks were also found to be loose. Vehicle was taken to stead Chrysler in walnut creek. They attributed the failure to the installation of aftermarket leveling kit (installed June 09.) when I insisted that swift Dodge had the front end apart in December 09, they researched the invoice and stated that it showed only an inspection was done. I contacted swift Dodge to clarify- they admitted this was a discrepancy and said they would research it. They have ceased all communication with me as of July 1- phone calls and voice mails not returned. Either they failed to complete the recall work or they completed it in a slipshod fashion. Neither is acceptable. NHTSA should be aware of this dealer's and Chrysler cavalier approach to safety related recalls and poor customer service.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Leawood, KS, USA