2003 DODGE RAM 1500 Steering Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that the steering wheel and the front wheels were uncontrollable. While driving from Georgia to Memphis, there was an unknown object loose by the wheel. The ball joint suspension was replaced by an independent mechanic. The low tire pressure warning light was illuminated. The contact was unable to control the vehicle and had the vehicle towed to an unstated location. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 180,000.

Frame damage where steering box separates

THE STEERING IS VERY LOOSE, WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP THE VEHICLE IS PULLED INTO ANOTHER DIRECTION AND YOU TEMPORARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE 4X4 WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY, SO THE TRANSFER CASE WAS REPLACED. UPON REPLACING TRANSFER CASE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL LOCKED UP AND THE REAR WHEELS WON'T MOVE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE COMMON AMONG DODGE RAM 1500S OF THIS YEAR( 2003) THESE ISSUES SHOULD BE RECALLED!

MY TRUCK HAS HAD THE DEATH WOBBLE FROM DAY 1. COUNTLESS TRIPS TO FIX WHAT I NOW KNOW HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE. THE TRUCKS FRONT END GOES INTO MASSIVE SHAKING OUT OF THE BLUE

WHILE DRIVING, TRUCK STALLS, HAPPENED TWICE. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO CODES, FIRST TIME AT STOP SIGN, SECOND WHILE ON STRAIGHT RUN

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON A FLAT, PAVED ROAD A SUDDEN SMALL GRINDING NOISE WAS DETECTED. WITHOUT WARNING, THE REAR AXLE FROZE AND THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP. AS THE VEHICLE SLID TO A STOP, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. AFTER THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING A QUICK VISUAL INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD BROKEN OFF AND WAS HANGING DOWN. A LARGE AMOUNT OF VISCOUS FLUID WAS SPILLED ON THE ROAD. THE TRUCK WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD AT THIS POINT DUE TO THE LOCKING OF THE REAR WHEELS AND LACK OF A FUNCTIONING DRIVE SHAFT. THE VEHICLE WAS ON A BLIND CURVE ON A WELL TRAVELED ROAD AND THE POLICE WERE CALLED. IT WAS NECESSARY FOR THE OFFICER TO REMAIN AND DIRECT TRAFFIC AROUND THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND A CLAIM (# 32479801)...

TAKATA RECALL MY STEERING WHEEL IS BULGED OUT AND THE LIGHT FLASHED THEN GOES OFF? I CAN BE DRIVING THEN IT FLASHES THEN DISAPERS AND YOU CAN FEEL AND SEE THE BULGE . STEERING ISSUE : I HAVE HAD OVER 8 ALIGNMENTS DONE IN THE PAST MONTH AND ALL NEW PARTS TIRES N RIMS INSTALLED AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS STILL SIDEWAYS ? ITS ALIGHNED FOR NO MORE THEN A DAY THEN IT STARTS LOOSING THE STRAIGHT DRIVE AND PULLING LEFT OR RIGHT ? OF HAD IT AT MULTIPLE PLACES AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT.

CONVERSION VAN --WHILE PARKING AT CHILDREN'S SCHOOL HEARD A VERY LOUD SNAP-NOTICED FRONT WHEELS TURNED OUTWARD. VAN TOWED TO SHOP. TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT PITMAN ARM SNAPPED OFF AT FRAME--CAN NOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO EXTENSIVE FRAME ROT. SNAPPED AT MOUNTING BRACKET BOLTS MISSING . NOTHING LEFT OF FRAME TO ATTACH NEW PARTS .PURCHASED 11 MONTHS AGO AND DRIVEN APPROX. 6000 MILES. MILEAGE AT PURCHASE ONLY 63,052. SITTING AT REPAIR SHOP NOT DRIVABLE WILL NEED EXTENSIVE COSTLY FRAME REPAIR. DEALERSHIP UNWILLING TO HELP.

ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRUCK STARTED SHUTTING OFF, WHETHER IN IDLE OR ON THE FREEWAY. IT WOULD HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES DURING THE DAY. WHEN SHUTTING OFF, THE TRUCK WOULD LOOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. TOOK TO MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS AND MECHANICS WHO COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCK, WOULD NEVER THROW ANY CODES, FINALLY SPOKE WITH A MECHANIC WHO TALKED TO A COMPUTER PERSON WHO STATED THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE THE COMPUTER FIXED BUT IT WOULDN'T BE AVAILABLE FOR 3-6 WEEKS DUE TO IT BEING ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED, DUE TO SAFETY ISSUES. YOU ARE UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN YOU LOSE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. NATIONAL BACK ORDER TELLS ME THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND DODGE KNOWS ABOUT IT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY MOVED LEFT TO RIGHT AND THE CONTACT HAD TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL FIRMLY IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-FREEZE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V770000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK I STARTED HEARING THIS NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END AT 81,000 I KNOW IT CANT BE THE REAR END, BUT YES ITS THE REAR END GOING OUT NEVER PULLED ANYTHING WITH THE TRUCK, FLUIDS ARE CHANGED ON TIME AND OIL AND REAR END AL WAYS CHANGE AT THE SAME TIME. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE STEERING I NOTICE WHEN I HIT A DIP IN THE HWY ITS HARD TOO CONTROL BUT EVERY TIME I TAKE IT BUY THE DEALER SHIP THEY SAY ITS NORMAL, NEVER THOUGHT ILL BE GIVING UP ON DODGE BUT NOW I SEE THEY JUST WONT YOUR MONEY AND THEY WONT STAND BE HIND THERE PRODUCT. I AM SURE I'M WASTING MY TIME WRITING THIS BUT GOTTA KNOW IF DODGE WILL RESPOND BACK.

MY SON WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK TURNING LEFT AND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE JUST CAME OFF. AFTER LOOKING AT THE PART ITSELF THE MEDAL JUST SNAPPED OFF, BROKE CLEAR, THIS IS DANGLES

RIGHT FRONT BRAKE FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY VEERED OFF ROAD OFF SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY POWER STEERING SUCTION LINE CAME LOOSE STEERING FAILED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

MY VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND TURNED OFF AND I GOT OUT TO WALK AROUND AND MY 3 YR OLD GRABBED SHIFTER AND IT WHEN INTO NEUTRAL AND HER FATHER PUT IT IN PARK BUT GOT HIT BUT DOOR IN PROCESS HAS LEG SWELLING AND I RAN AROUND AND GOT HIT BY BACK OF TRUCK AND DISLOCATED SHOULDER BUT CONTINUED TO RUN TO DRIVERS DOOR AND GOT IT OPEN AND JUMPED IN SIDE WHILE TRUCK IS ROLLING BACKWARDS DOWN AN INCLINE AT 15 MPH HEAD FOR A WALL THAT DROPS 25 FEET HER FATHER THROWING IT INTO PARK DID NOT STOP IT SO ONCE I WAS IN I STEERED IT THE OTHER WAY AWAY FROM CLIFF AND HIT BRAKES AND FINALLY GOT IT STOPPED AND NOW AT HOSPITAL WITH DISLOCATED SHOULDER WE HAD A FAMILY MEMBER DIE ON THE COUNT OF DODGES DEFECTIVE PARTS THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!!!! THIS NEEDS FIXED...

STEERING RACK (RACK & PINION) LEAKING FLUID PREMATURE FAILURE OF RACK DID NOT,BUT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT REPLACED BY LOCAL DODGE DEALER.HOWEVER CHRYSLER CUSTOMER CARE DOES NOT CONSIDER IT PREMATURE FAILURE AND THEREFORE MY PROBLEM AT MY EXPENSE FILED CLAIM WITH CHRYSLER UNDER NON RECALL RELATED EXPENSE FOR REIMBURSEMENT,BUT WAS DENIED FILED CLAIM WITH AUTO BBB IN AUBURN HILLS,MI AND WAS DIRECTED TO FILE COMPLAINT WITH NHSTA. CHRYSLER CASE#[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

THE KEY FELL OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WHILE DRIVING. I BRUSHED UP AGAINST THE KEY AND IT FLEW OUT ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE REMAINED RUNNING WITHOUT A KEY IN THE IGNITION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WOULD SUDDENLY MALFUNCTION AND CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

THE DASH STARTED TO CRACK ON MY 2003 RAM 1500 PICKUP, THE CRACKS JUST GET WORSE,AND A PIEACE FLEW OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING, AND HIT ME IN THE EYE, ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF MY TRUCK, DODGE NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX THESE DASHBOARDS BEFORE SOME ONE IS HURT OR KILLED, AFRAID TO LET ANY ONE RIDE IN THE FRONT SEAT. *TR

WHILE DRIVE AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT, THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CROSSED THE CENTER LINE, CROSSED OVER THE ON COMING LANE, HIT A MAILBOX, WENT AIRBORNE, CROSSED A DRIVEWAY, HIT A TREE, ROLLED, HIT ANOTHER SMALLER TREE AND CAME TO REST ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FACING THE OPPOSITE WAY I WAS ORIGINALLY TRAVELING. AT THE TIME THE HUB ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE, I WAS TRAVELING DOWNHILL. MY DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO CRAWL OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE I HAD TO BE CUT OUT USING THE JAWS OF LIFE. I WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL TRAUMA ONE HOSPITAL VIA LIFE AIR MEDICAL RESCUE. MY DAUGHTER WAS TRANSPORTED BY GROUND. SHE HAD FIVE CHIPPED TEETH WHILE I SUSTAINED A TBI AND BROKEN KNEE CAP. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOST BUT THERE WAS NO LOSS OF LIFE....

MY SON (16) WAS DRIVING HIS 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 UP TO A STOP LIGHT BEFORE TURNING ONTO OUR STREET, WHEN TRUCK MADE A LOUD NOISE AND IT FELT LIKE SOMEONE RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE TRUCK, HE LOST CONTROL OF TRUCK WHILE ALL THIS GOING ON, BUT MANAGED TO KEEP IN THE LANE HE WAS IN. TRUCK FINALLY STOPPED AND WHEN HE GOT OUT THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD FALLEN OFF AND THE REAR WHEELS ARE LOCKED UP. SOME MEN PULLED HIM OFF THE MAIN ROAD AND WE CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TOW US TO OUR HOUSE, UNTIL I COULD FIND OUT WHERE TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO ON MONDAY. THE REAR WHEELS JUST SKID ACROSS THE ROAD WHILE BEING PULLED TO A SAFE SPOT AND I AM HOPING I DON'T NEED NEW TIRES, SINCE THE TIRES WE HAVE ON WERE JUST BOUGHT IN JULY/AUGUST 2013. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE STEERING SUSPENSION BRACKET BROKE AWAY FROM RUSTED OUT FRAME, ON MY HANDICAPPED VAN. DRIVERS SIDE BADLY CRACKED, ABOUT TO BREAK. WE WERE LUCKY IT WAS NOT A FATAL ACCIDENT. CHRYSLER CORP. REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BEFORE IT BECOMES A FATAL ACCIDENT. I HAVE A NOTE FROM MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER, THAT I CAN FORWARD INSURANCE DOES NOT COVER. *TR

THE DASH BOARD IS ALL CRACKED UP NOW DO TO DODGE USING CHEAP MATERIALS. I HAVE ALWAYS PUT UP A SUN SHADE NO MATTER WHERE I PARK MY TRUCK AND IT IS ALWAYS IN MY GARAGE WHEN NOT BEING DRIVEN. SHAME ON DODGE CHRYSLER PRODUCTS FOR MAKING SUCH A GARBAGE TRUCK. AND THE RACK & PINION STEERING SHOULD LAST ALOT LONGER THAN IT HAS. NO WONDER PEOPLE BUY FOREIGN AUTOS. THEY ARE FAR SUPERIOR. *TR

WHILE DRIVING CAME UP TO LIGHTS AND THE ENGINE STALLED HAD NO STEERING AND NO BRAKE PUT ENGINE IN PARK RESTARTED AND DROVE ON THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES IN ND OUT OF TRAFFIC. WHEN PULLING HARD TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT THE ENGINE WILL BEGIN TO STALL DID THIS WHILE TRUCK WAS SITTING IN FRONT YARD. HAD A TUNE UP DONE AND WENT AWAY FOR A WHILE BUT NOW IT IS STARTING UP AGAIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE PULLED SHARPLY TOWARDS THE RIGHT. IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT QUICKLY TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,400. UPDATED 08/01/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED TWO WEEKS AFTER THE INCIDENT, HE WAS DRIVING 30 MPH AND HIT A SMALL POT HOLE WITH HIS FRONT TIRE. THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. UPDATED 08/08/11

RACK AND PINION FAILED ON 2003 DODGE RAM 1500, 5.7L HEMI. NO STEERING. HAPPENED AT 76,000 MILES. *TR

MY 2003 DODGE RAM HAS RACK AND PINION PROBLEMS (LEAKS AND STIFFNESS). I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THE TRUCK WILL BE UNDRIVEABLE IF THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM EXPERIENCES A MAJOR FLUID LEAKAGE, WHICH SEEMS TO BE COMMON FOR THESE VEHICLES. THE DESIGN OF THIS SYSTEM IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER. A MAJOR ACCIDENT IS ON THE HORIZON FOR THIS POOR DESIGN. LET'S BE PROACTIVE ON THIS ONE. THEY STILL HAVE BAILOUT MONEY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK WHEN I HEARD A SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE TRUCK. THE NEXT DAY I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND HAD IT LOOKED AT. THEY TOLD ME THE SQUEAK WAS FROM THE RACK AND PINION AND THE BOOTS WERE ALSO LEAKING FLUID.I TOLD THEM THAT I JUST HAD THE RACK AND PINION FIXED AT 53,314 MILES AND NOW AT 69,766 MILES. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND THEY CAME UP WITH NO RECALLS OR COMPLAINTS. I AM NOT HAPPY. I HAD THE DEALER FIX THE RACK AND PINION BOTH TIMES. OUT OF POCKET COST $855.77 AND NOW $978.32. *TR

MY 2003 DODGE RAM, WITH 60,768 MILES ON IT, HAD A FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION STEERING. LUCKILY THIS DID IT WHEN PARKED, AND I NOTICED THAT KING KONG COULD NOT STEER IT. IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. CHRYSLER WILL NOT STAND UP FOR THIS REPAIR, AND FROM THE DODGE FORUMS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON (AND RECURRING) PROBLEM. I FIXED AT THE LOCAL DODGE DEALERSHIP IN WEST SALEM, WI FOR A COST OF $1130.00 I AM SADLY DISAPPOINTED IN CHRYSLER, MAKING, IN MY OPINION, A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, AND NOT OFFERING SUPPORT TO THE CONSUMER. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE MADE LIABLE FOR THIS ISSUE, FOR THE SAFETY OF MANY OTHERS STILL ON THE ROAD TODAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE REAR END BECAME NOISY UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE WAS GRADUALLY WORSENING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER TEN TIMES SINCE OCTOBER 22, 2004, WHO DETERMINED THE PINION BEARINGS AS WELL AS SIDE CLIPS FAILED.

FRONT END SHAKES WHEN BRAKING. TIRES ARE BLAD ON ON SIDE DUE TO FROUNT END OUT OF PLACE. THIS HAS BEEN IN TOO THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THE FRONT END AND 2 TIMES FOR THE BRAKES.*AK