NHTSA Complaint #10360655 — 2004 DODGE RAM 2500

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! *TR