2000 DODGE RAM 1500 Suspensionfront Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON HIS VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LEFT CONTROL ARM BRACKET WAS PARTIALLY TORN AND EXHIBITED A STRESS FRACTURE. HE REFERENCED RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 00V007000, SUSPENSION, FRONT, CONTROL ARM LOWER ARM. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT DOES NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 98,000.

PURCHASED A 2000 1500 QUADCAB DODGE RAM FOR 15,000. THREE WEEKS LATER HAD TO REPAIR FRONT BRAKES FRONT ROTORS AND FRONT BALL JOINTS. COST $700. DEALER REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *NM

HARD LEFT HAND U-TURN CAUSES TIRE TO RUB ON LOWER A FRAME, SHREDDING TIRE. DT

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE ACCIDENT OCCURED AUGUST 23, 2001. THE TRUCK WAS BROUGHT TO AUTOPLEX 2000 IN BEAUMONT, TX. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE TRUCK WAS HIT. THE ESTIMATED DAMAGES CAME TO BE AROUND $8,900.00. WHEN THE TRUCK WAS FIXED AND MY HUSBAND WAS TO GO AND PICK IT UP, WE RECIEVED A CALL THAT THE GATE IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD HIT MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR. WELL IN ORDER FOR THEM TO FIX THE DOOR, THEY HAD TO TAKE OFF THE HEATED MIRROR. SINCE THAT WAS DONE AND WE GOT THE TRUCK BACK, WE COULD NO LONGER USE THE HEATED MIRRORS,HEATER, OR THE AIRCONDITIONING. WE HAD TO TAKE THE FUSE OUT BECAUSE THE SWITCH WOULD STAY ON. THE FUSE WOULD NOT BLOW OUT IT WOULD JUST STAY ON. WITH THE SWITCH STAYING ON THE WIRING IN THE DASH WOULD CATCH FIRE. THE PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT END IS THAT THE TIRES...

CONSUMER STATES HE IS HAVING FRONT END PROBLEMS WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT WHILE TRAVELING, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT UNEVEN TIRE WEAR WAS CAUSED BY NOT HAVING THE TIRES ROTATED, THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AND NOW THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT.*YD

FAULTY CONTROL ARMS CAUSED THE DRIVERS SIDE TIRE TO BECOME COMPLETELY WORN ON THE INSIDE IN A 360 DEGREE RADIUS, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES A DEFECT EXIST IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE (LOOSE FRONT SHOCK, CONTROL ARMS/BALL JOINTS). NLM

SEVERE SHAKING IN FRONT WILL OCCUR WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWY SPEEDS AND OVER A SMALL BUMP IN PAVEMENT OR HOLE. SHAKING WILL STOP WHEN CONSUMER REDUCES SPEED TO 30 MPH, BUT EVENUTALLY IT WILL REOCCUR.*AK CONSUMER STATES FRONT LEFT WHEEL WOULD LOCK DOWN ON SECOND OCCASION WHEEL BEARINGS OUT ON BOTH SIDES IN THE FRONT. *SLC

A CONVERSION VAN; WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH + VEHICLE SWAYS FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND VIBRATES, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING BEHIND A SEMI TRUCK. VEHICLE WANDERS ALL OVER HIGHWAYS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE STEERING WHEEL RESONATES A POPPING SENSATION DUE TO DEFECTIVE FRONT SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY. YH

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

THE FRONT END IS SUBJECT TO FAILURE AND MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK