NHTSA Complaint #10425552 — 2008 DODGE RAM 3500

WHEN GREASING THE FRONT TIE ROD ENDS THE RIGHT TIE ROD END DOES NOT ALLOW GREASE TO GET INTO THE FITTING. CALLED THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP, ZIMMERMAN MOTORS IN SUNBURY, PA, WHO SAID THAT I NEED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN INSPECTION OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE INSPECTION. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT IF THAT TIE ROD HAD TO BE REPLACED THEY DO NOT JUST REPLACE THAT PARTICULAR PART, IT NOW IS PART OF A $500 REPAIR KIT. THIS PRICING DOES NOT INCLUDE THE INSTALLATION OF THE COMPONENTS. SO I THEN CALLED DODGE 1-866-726-4636 AND CREATED CASE 21303145. THE SERVICE SPECIALIST CONFIRMED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE INSPECTION AND THEY MIGHT HELP ME OUT WITH THE PRICING OF THE PART. THE TRUCK HAS NOT GONE IN FOR THE INSPECTION. I NOW HAVE SEVERAL ISSUES WITH DODGE. 1. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE LEFT TIE ROD ON CERTAIN DODGE RAM TRUCKS. SINCE MY TRUCK IS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED, BUT DODGE KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS TIE ROD ASSEMBLY SINCE THEY HAVE A $500 REPAIR KIT. 2. MY OPINION IS THAT EVENTUALLY THIS PART WILL FAIL IF GREASE DOES NOT GET INTO THE FITTING. 3. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE INSPECTION SINCE DODGE KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE ISSUES WITH THE STEERING COMPONENTS. *KB