NHTSA Complaint #716791 — 1997 DODGE RAM 2500

THIS IS FIRST DODGE I'VE HAD WITH THIS TRACK BAR DESIGN ON STEERING. PREVIOUS DODGE VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED HAVE OVER 150,000 MILES ON ORIGINAL STEERING COMPONENTS WITHOUT COMPLAINT USING PAST DESIGN. THE TRACK BAR DESIGN USED ON THESE NEW PICKUPS IS A FLAWED DESIGN PRONE TO FAILURE. DEALER DID NOT HAVE ONE IN STOCK WHEN TRUCK WAS PURCHASED AND FRONT END ASSESSMENT AT THE TIME SHOWED IT TO BE LOOSE AND DEFECTIVE CAUSING THE STEERING TO WANDER ALL OVER THE ROAD. NEW TIRES AND BRAKES WERE INSTALLED TO ELIMINATE THEM AS A FACTER. ORIGINAL TRACKBAR WAS REPLACED WITH TRW AFTERMARKET COMPONENT. 6/1/99 THIS COMPONENT WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED WITH CHRYSLER COMPONENTS. THIS IS THIRD TRACK BAR AT 54,141 MILES. FRONT END ALIGNMENT SHOPS I,VE TAKEN TRUCK TO TELL ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON SITUATION. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO UPGRADE THIS JUNK COMPONENT TO A MORE STABLE PRODUCT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. I WILL NOT LET MY HELP DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND MY WIFE ONLY DROVE IT ONE TIME WHEN I WAS SICK BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT ANYONE HURT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT USED TO DRIVING THIS WANDERING VEHICLE. *AK