1995 DODGE RAM 2500 Steering Problems

THE TRUCK HAS EXPERIENCED THE PHENONOMEN KNOWN AS THE DEATH WOBBLE. EXTREMELY VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT SUSPENSION TO THE POINT THAT THE VEHICLE IS ALMOST OUT OF CONTROL. TODAY IT HAPPENED AT 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. IT HAS HAPPENED AS SLOW AS 40 MY IN THE PAST. I HAD TO PULL OVER VERY QUICKLY ON THE FREEWAY TODAY IN A VERY DANGEROUS SCENARIO WITH SEMI TRUCKS COMING UP BEHIND ME. TWICE I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MECHANICS THAT HAVE REPLACED THE TRACK BAR AND THE STEERING DAMPER. IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM EVEN WHEN YOU TAKE PREVENTATIVE MEASURES. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. IT WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TODAY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND WHEELS BEGAN TO BOUNCE AND SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRACK BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TIE RODS AND TRACTION BARS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

DEATH WOBBLE. I HAVE BEEN HAVING CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END OF MY DODGE RAM 2500, MOST RECENTLY AFTER REPLACING THE STEERING KNUCKLES, TIE RODS IN THE STABILIZER BAR, BUSHINGS IN THE STABILIZER ARMS, ALL THE BALL JOINTS, AND TRACK ARM, AND CONSTANTLY BALANCING TIRES IT HAS DEVELOPED WHAT ALL THE BLOGS ARE CALLING THE "DEATH WOBBLE" I'M GETTING SICK AND TIRED OF REPLACING EVERYTHING IN THE FRONT END OF THIS TRUCK WITH NO DECENT FIXES AVAILABLE ON THE PART OF DODGE. THIS SHAKE AND WOBBLE IS SO VIOLENT THAT IF THERE WERE ICE OR WATER ON THE ROAD, I AM SURE SOMEONE COULD EASILY BE KILLED AT 70 MPH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING LOCKED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE HAULING A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES YET THE DEALER WOULD NOT FURTHER ASSESS THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURE HAD NOT YET BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 177,000.

AFTER DRIVING 5 OR 10 MINUTES VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND HAD TAKEN IT TO DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE PROBLEMS OF THE VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD LITTLE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WHILE DRIVING. ANTIFREEZE LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE FLOODED AND STALL. THE VEHICLE RAN ROUGH PRIOR TO REACHING 75 MPH. OCCASIONALLY THE SERPENTINE BELT RAN CROOKED ON THE PULLEY AND BROKE. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM LEAKED. THE FUEL TANK WAS NOT PROPERLY FITTED TO THE HOLDERS. THE TRANSMISSION LEAKED FLUID. *NM

DEFECTIVE TRACK-BAR ON 1995 DODGE RAM 2500 DIESEL TRUCK REPLACED FIRST TIME 11/07/00. AFTER 42,330 MILES; JUST REPLACED AGAIN ON 12/10/03, WITH 51,244 SHOWING AS TOTAL MILES DRIVEN. NEVER HEAVY WEIGHT ON TRUCK NOR OFF-ROAD ABUSE WHATEVER. *AK RECENT SUDDEN LACK OF STEERING CAPABILITY REQUIRED TOWING IN FOR REPAIR. SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES WERE AVERTED BECAUSE WE WERE CLOSE TO HOME, BUT WE ARE NOT HAPPY THAT ANOTHER REPAIR WAS NECESSARY FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AFTER SOME 8,000 MILES, AS WELL AS COST OF TOWING AND ALIGNMENT. VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR, AND THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL EXPENSE.

STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK