NHTSA Complaint #10098378 — 2000 DODGE RAM 1500

I HAVE 2000 DODGE RAM PICKUP THAT HAS FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AND 37,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AT APPROXIMATELY 15,000 MILES, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND IT BECAME HARD TO KEEP IT FROM WANDERING. I USED THE INTERNET TO FIND WAYS OF CHECKING THE FRONT END COMPONENTS AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. USING THE INFORMATION THAT I FOUND ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE BALL JOINTS, TRAC BAR, AND STEERING STABILIZER ARE ALL DEFECTIVE. LIKEWISE, THE TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO GIVE ME PROBLEMS IN REVERSE GEAR. I HAVE COLLECTED INFORMATION THAT SHOWS ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS GOING BACK MANY YEARS. HOW CAN A MANUFACTURER BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE MAKING FAULTY PRODUCTS KNOWING THAT THEY ARE JEOPARDIZING THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE? I CANNOT AFFORD TO GET THIS TRUCK FIXED AND AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. IS DODGE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR REPAIRS SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS? *JB