NHTSA Complaint #10949915 — 2013 RAM 2500

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE NORTH OF NEW YORK CITY, THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE ROAD WAS DRY, SUNNY CONDITIONS AND MODERATE TRAFFIC TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED AND THE FIRST AFTER PERFORMING WORK ABOUT 2 THOUSAND MILES EARLIER. THE WORK INCLUDED, REPLACE FRONT BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS AND ROTORS AFTER DEALER DISCOVERED POSSIBLE STICKY NOT FROZEN LEFT FRONT CALIPER. REPLACING LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ALL FOUND TO BE IN TOLERANCE BUT DEALER CONVINCED WARRANTY COMPANY THAT THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED. 4 WHEEL COMPUTER ALIGNMENT. FRONT END APPEARED TO BE IN NEAR NEW CONDITION AS THE ORIGINAL MILEAGE WAS JUST OVER 30K. THE TRUCK HAD NO SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS FOR OUT OF BALANCE WHEELS OR TIRES, SHOCKS, SPRINGS OR STEERING STABILIZER. THERE WAS NEVER EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING. THE WARRANTY COVERED APPROXIMATELY $1100 OF THE TOTAL THAT WAS OVER $2300. THE CONDITION REOCCURRED LESS THAN 2000 MILES AFTER THE WORK WAS COMPLETED. THIS IS INDICATIVE OF A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE SIZE OF COMPONENTS USED IN THE CONTROL ARMS. THE CONTROL ARMS FAIL TO STABILIZE THE FRONT END AFTER HITTING A BUMP ON ONE SIDE. THE ARMS ACTUALLY ACT AS SPRINGS COUNTERACTING FORCES WHICH CAUSE THE FRONT AXLE TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY UNTIL VEHICLE SPEED DROPS TO BELOW 20 MILES AN HOUR AS THE ENERGY DISSIPATES. CHRYSLER, SPECIFICALLY THE LOCAL DEALERS HAVE SUGGESTED UNEVEN TIRE PRESSURES AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WAS REPLACED EARLIER. THIS PROBLEM IS INHERENT TO THIS VEHICLE'S DESIGN AND THE USE OF LESS THAN REQUIRED SIZE OF COMPONENTS.