1998 DODGE RAM 1500 Suspension Problems

COIL SPRING TOWERS REINFORCEMENTS - AS PER THE RECALL FOR THE 1994 AND 1995 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUPS (SAFETY RECALL 835) THE COIL SPRING TOWERS OF A 1998 HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THE LEFT SIDE TOWER. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN OFF ROAD, STRICTLY ON HIGHWAY AND STREET. THIS WAS FOUND DURING ANOTHER REPAIR OF SAID VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING BRACKET ON BOTH SIDES WAS EXCESSIVELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000.

MY 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB IS LOCATED IN NEW ENGLAND WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED IN THE WINTER. THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS RUSTING BECAUSE OF THIS, THE MOST DANGEROUS ASPECT, HOWEVER IS THE COIL SPRING FRONT MOUNTS, OR BUCKETS THAT HOLD THE BOTTOM SPRINGS TO THE FRONT AXEL ASSEMBLY. DODGE HASN'T OFFERED TO RECALL DODGE TRUCKS TO REPAIR THIS DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW, WHEREBY THE COIL MOUNTS WERE INSUFFICIENTLY COATED, AND IMPROPERLY DESIGNED TO TRAP SALTY WATER IN THEM TO ACCELERATE THE OXIDATION PROCESS. THIS IS NOT UNLIKE THE SAFETY ISSUE FORD WINDSTAR MINIVANS HAD WITH THEIR AXLES THAT TRAPPED SALTY WATER DURING WINTER AND CAUSED THEM TO ROT OUT AND SNAP CAUSING INJURY AND DEATH. MY CLOSE FRIEND WHO OWNS A MID 1990'S DODGE RAM TRUCK, WHO HAD HIS COIL SPRING BUCKET ACTUALLY FAIL CAUSING HIS FRONT END TO LUNGE FORWARD, HE WAS DRIVING SLOWLY WHEN IT HAPPENED SO...

I OWN A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 PICKUP I WAS DRIVING A FRIEND AND HER DAUGHTER TO THE DENTIST I PASSED A LOGGING TRUCK WHEN I GOT BACK IN MY LANE AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN THE TRUCK SHUDDERED AND LOST POWER I PULLED OFF THE ROAD THE ONLY PLACE I COULD PULL OFF I HIT IT THE WAS ALMOST OFF THE NUT HOLDING THE TIRE ROTOR ON THE SHAFT SNAPPED OFF THE TOW HOME WAS OVER 500 DOLLARS AFTER GETTING TRUCK I BROKE OUT MY SHOP MANUALS OUT THE BRG PACK WAS BURNED I REPLACED FROM FRONT DIFFERENTIAL OUT TO TIRES WITH OEM PARTS TO THE TUNE OF 1100 DOLLARS WITHIN A MTH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE CAME OFF AS I WAS TURNING INTO MY DRIVE WAY AGAIN REPLACED FROM FRONT DIFFERENTIAL OUT TO TIRE THIS TIME COST ABOUT 850 6 MTHS LATTER COMING HOME I FEEL FRONT...

THE VEHICLE'S LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED AT 38,000 MILES. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *NLM THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE "GREASED OUT." THE UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS OUT OF SUSPENSION AND GREASED OUT. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT. *NLM

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN A LOUD GRINDING NOISE CAN BE HEARD. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WE STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED, WE WENT BACK TO THE DEALER RIGTH AFTER WE NOTICED A FEW PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN, SUCH AS CAR PULLING TO THE RIGTH AND A LOUD THUMP SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGTH REAR SIDE EVERY TIME WE PASS THOSE SPEED BUMPS. AND WHEN THEY INSPECTED THE VAN THEY (THE DEALER TECHNICIANS), TOLD ME THAT A SHOCK ABSORVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACE AND ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED AS WELL. AFTER THIS TWO THINGS WERE DONE, EVERYTHING WENT DOWN THE HILL....WHEN I DROVE HOME THE VAN I NOTICED THAT VAN WAS PULLING STILL TO THE RIGTH AND A NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN BRAKING, IS MORE LIKE A CRACKING NOISE, I'LL MENTION THAT THIS WAS'T HAPPENING ALL THE TIME, BUT THE PULLING TO THE RIGTH WAS. WE WENT BACK WITH THEM, THEY ALIGNED AGAIN...BUT, THIS TIME THE...

SUSPENSION CONTINUALLY MAKING NOISE, UNABLE TO IDENTIFY COMPONENT OR FIX NOISE.

WITH THE MOTOR OFF THE VEHICLE ROLLED ON ITS OWN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT A POLE. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE VEHICLE HAS ROLLED FOR NO REASON. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY ADJUSTED THE LINKAGE ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEMS IS. *AK

VEHICLE CONSUMES LARGE VOLUMES OF OIL IN SHORT PERIODS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE VIBRATES IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK VEHICLE VIBRATES ALLOVER AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35-65 MPH NOW. VIBRATION STARTED 45-55 MPH WHEN NEW. *YH

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE WENT TO THE RIGHT THEN TO THE LEFT, GOING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ALSO, WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES TWO TO THREE TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS SEVEN TIMES, AND THE DEALER STILL CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FAULTY. *YH

WHILE DRIVING 38 TO 52 MPH VIBRATION IS FELT IN STEERING WHEEL. PROBLEM IS CONSTANT, AND WHEN IT OCCURS, A NOISE IS HEARD. DEALERS NOTED ENGINEERING FLAW. *AK

VEHICLE VIBRATES SEVERLY AT 45 AND 65 MPH.