NHTSA Complaint #10557231 — 2003 DODGE RAM VAN

FOR 2 DAYS PRIOR TO INCIDENT , NOTICED STEERING WHEEL KEPT CHANGING ORIENTATION WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. A LOT OF GROANING AND CREAKING NOISE FROM RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION IN RIGHT TURNS AS WELL AS VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED. PARKED VEHICLE AND INSPECTED UNDERSIDE TO FIND THAT IDLER ARM BRACKET WAS TEARING AWAY FROM FRAME RAIL DUE TO ROT. AFTER PARKING VEHICLE , I MOVED IT AROUND IN THE DRIVEWAY NO MORE THAN 3 TIMES BEFORE IDLER ARM BRACKET COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME RAIL WITH A VERY LOUD POP.. VAN NOW HAS NO STEERING AND IS JUNK SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. INSPECTION OF FRONT FRAME RAIL AREA REVEALS HEAVY ROT ON BOTH FRONT FRAME RAILS AND STEERING GEAR MOUNT AS WELL. THE REST OF THE BODY IS TYPICAL FOR 10 YRS OLD IN UPSTATE NY. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY OWNED VEHICLES 20+ YRS OLD WITH BODY ROT , BUT HAVE NEVER HAD ANY FRAME ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH ROT. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH , THIS APPEARS TO BE QUITE COMMON ON FULL SIZE DODGE VANS. WILL BE FILING A COMPLAINT WITH CHRYSLER CORP. , BUT DON'T EXPECT MUCH TO COME OF IT. ABSOLUTELY AMAZED THAT PEOPLE HAVE NOT DIED AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT. CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF THESE VANS STILL ON THE ROAD , I WOULD CONSIDER THIS A GROWING CONCERN FOR THOSE THAT OWN AND DRIVE THEM AS WELL AS OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD WITH THEM. *TR