NHTSA Complaint #10562192 — 2003 DODGE RAM 2500

A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING OUR DODGE RAM 2500, WE EXPERIENCED OUR FIRST "DEATH WOBBLE" INCIDENT ON INTERSTATE 70 AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, AND OCCURRED 2 MORE TIMES THAT SAME TRIP. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED AND BROUGHT TO AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP. THE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCK BUT SUGGESTED REPLACING THE STEERING STABILIZER. I HAD THE STABILIZER REPLACED AND IT SEEMED OKAY FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT THE "DEATH WOBBLE" OCCURRED ON A REGULAR BASIS, ANY SMALL BUMP OR TRANSITION IN THE ROADWAY WOULD CAUSE THE FRONT AXLE, TIRES AND STEERING TO SHAKE SO VIOLENTLY IT FELT LIKE A LARGE EARTHQUAKE IN THE TRUCK. THE DEATH WOBBLE WILL NOT STOP TILL THE TRUCK WAS SLOWED DOWN TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS SEEMED TO OCCUR MOSTLY AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 45-70 MPH. WE STOPPED TAKING THE TRUCK ON MAJOR ROADWAYS AS IT WOULD BE LIKELY TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE TRUCK WAS BROUGHT TO SEVERAL AUTOMOTIVE SHOPS INCLUDING DODGE AND CHRYSLER DEALERSHIPS. ALL OF THE AUTOMOTIVE SHOPS SAID THAT THIS IS FAIRLY COMMON AMONG THESE TRUCKS AS DODGE DEALERSHIPS TOLD ME THAT BASICALLY I WAS A LIAR AND DENIED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. AFTER DOING THOROUGH RESEARCH I DECIDED TO FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF THE AUTOMOTIVE SHOPS AND SEVERAL SPECIALTY 4X4 SHOPS. EVERY STEERING AND SUSPENSION COMPONENT WAS REPLACED INCLUDING EVERY BUSHING, BEARING AND GREASE FITTING SOME PARTS WERE THE UPGRADED MOPAR LINKAGES AND PITTMAN ARM AND THE REST OF THE PARTS WERE OE REPLACEMENTS FROM REPUTABLE HIGH END MANUFACTURERS. I ALSO HAD AN ALIGNMENT PERFORMED IMMEDIATELY I HAVE SAVED EVERY PART THAT I HAVE TAKEN OFF THE TRUCK SINCE I BEGAN THIS JOURNEY INCLUDING RECEIPTS FOR ALL THE WORK/PARTS THAT WAS PERFORMED/INSTALLED. DEATH WOBBLE WAS GONE FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS AND THE TRUCK WAS STILL LIGHTLY DRIVEN. BY MONTH 5 DEATH WOBBLE IS BACK IN FULL FORCE WITH NO EXPLANATION. *TR