NHTSA Complaint #10744394 — 2009 DODGE RAM 2500

WE NOTICED FOR THE PAST MONTH THAT OUR TIRES WERE WEARING ON THE OUTSIDE OF BOTH FRONT TIRES. WE TOOK THE TRUCK TO 3 DIFFERENT LES SCHWAB TIRE BUSINESSES (WEISER, IDAHO, EMMETT, IDAHO AND ONTARIO, OREGON) AND ALL 3 BUSINESSES TOLD US THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TIRES. DRIVING AT 25 MPH LAST MONTH, (JULY 8, 2015), WE ENCOUNTERED A STEERING PROBLEM. THE TRUCK WAS WANTING TO TURN AT IT'S LEISURE WHILE POINTING IN A STRAIGHT DIRECTION. THE STEERING WAS SLOPPY, WOULD NOT SELF CENTER, WOULD DRIFT TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT AND NOT CORRECT. APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES AFTER THIS HAPPENED, WE HAD A BLOW OUT ON THE PASSENGER FRONT. WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE TIRE AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS COMPLETELY WORN AND "ROUGH" LOOKING. THERE WAS NO WAY TO CHANGE THE TIRE AS THE WHEEL ITSELF WAS "BOWED" IN. WE HAD IT TOWED TO STEVE'S HOMETOWN MOTORS IN WEISER, IDAHO AND THEY COULDN'T TELL US WHAT HAPPENED, BUT THAT THE WHOLE FRONT END PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, I.E., $2871.98 IN PARTS AND LABOR. THEY COULD NOT TELL US WHAT HAPPENED OR WHY WE NEEDED THESE PARTS. THEY FOUND THAT THE ADJUSTER BAR WAS LOOSE AND ALL THE FRONT END NEEDED ALL NEW PARTS. WE DID TAKE IT IN FOR ALL THE "RECALLS" ON THE FRONT END AND NOW FIAT/CHRYSLER IS OFFERING TO "BUY BACK" THESE VEHICLES THAT WEREN'T FIXED. OUR QUESTION IS, CAN WE BE REIMBURSED FOR THESE REPAIR COSTS DUE TO THESE "FAULTY FRONT END STEERING REPAIR RECALLS". WE BELIEVE THAT WE ARE ONE OF THE CUSTOMERS THAT HAD THE RECALLS DONE, BUT EITHER INCORRECTLY OR WITH FAULTY RECALL PARTS.......UPDATED 09/22/15 *BF UPDATED 12/12/2017*CN