NHTSA Complaint #10817569 — 2005 DODGE RAM 1500

THE FRAME ON MY DODGE RAM HAS BROKEN WELDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS MOUNT TO THE FRAME. THEY HAVE FAILED DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECTS DURING THE WELDING PROCESS. THE TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED, DRIVEN OFF ROAD, OR DONE ANY TOWING. DODGE REFUSES ANY ASSISTANCE IN REPLACING THE FRAME BECAUSE IT HAS AGED OUT OF THEIR WARRANTY. THE TRUCK HAS 74,138 MILES ON IT AND IS NOT DRIVABLE WITHOUT A NEW FRAME. I HAD THE TRUCK IN TWICE UNDER WARRANTY SERVICE FOR DRIVABILITY ISSUES UNDER BRAKING AND STEERING OVER BUMPS. NEITHER TIME WERE THE CRACKS IN THE FRAME FOUND OR ADDRESSED. EVERY TIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY AND IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I FOUND THE DAMAGE WHILE CHANGING THE OIL AND WAS ABOUT TO REPLACE THE FRT HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SINCE THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAD ALREADY FAILED AND HAD BEEN REPLACED EARLIER. CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY TRUCK HAD AGED OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT THAT TAKING IT TO A DEALER THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO FIND A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN THAT MAY COVER IT. I GOOGLED TSB'S AND FOUND ONE ON THE 2006 DODGE RAM FRAMES FOR THE EXACT SAME AREA AFFECTED ON MY TRUCK, BUT DODGE STILL WON'T ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR OVER SIX MONTHS AND WANT MY TRUCK FIXED OR REPLACED.