2001 DODGE RAM 2500 Steering Problems

MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT THE RATE OF 45MPH-50MPH MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING, I WAS PASSENGER, AND MY 2 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN HIS CAR SEAT IN THE BACK. ALL THE SUDDEN WE HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, NO BIGGER THAN YOUR AVERAGE POT HOLES AND THE ENTIRE TRUCK BROKE OUT INTO AN ABRUPT SHAKE! IT WAS THROWING MY HUSBANDS AND MY BODY AROUND THE SHAKE WAS SO INTENSE THE STEERING WAS CONTROLLABLE BUT EXTREMELY HARD. IT FELT AS THOUGH OUR TIRES WERE FLYING RIGHT OFF THE VEHICLE. MY HUSBAND BRAKED AND THE VIOLENT SHAKE SEIZED AND WE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND PARKED THE TRUCK. WE CHECK AND SHOOK ALL TIRES THEY WERE SECURE. WE LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK EVERYTHING SEEMED IN PLACE AND SECURE. ONCE WE GOT HOME I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND LEARNED OF THE "DEATH WOBBLE" MOST DODGE TRUCKS...

I INSTALLED CHRYSLER PARTS KIT 52122362AL, UPGRADED STEERING LINKAGE DRAG LINK TIE ROD, AND 68039930AA PITMAN ARM ON MY 2001,5 DODGE RAM 2500 4X4 TRUCK. IT EASILY REPLACED EXISTING PARTS NEEDING ONLY A DIFFERENT STEERING DAMPER TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL PARTS. I HAVE SINCE BEEN LEARNED THAT THE STEERING LINKAGE DRAG LINK PARTS ARE RECALLED AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON 2003-2008 TRUCKS. RECALLS I AM AWARE OF ARE H46 AND N62. MY LEFT TIE ROD END BALL STUD HAS NOT BROKEN YET BUT THE POSSIBILITY IS VERY SERIOUS. I THINK DODGE RAM 1500/2500/3500 SERIES TRUCKS FROM MODEL YEARS 2001 AND 2002 SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS.

TRUCK IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND I PULL A HORSE TRAILER. VERY AFRAID OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF TOTAL STEERING CONTROL IS LOST WHILE TRAVELING WITH MY HORSES. IT WOBBLES AT SPEEDS AROUND 45 AND OVER AND FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO JUMP OFF THE ROAD OR INTO ANOTHER LANE ON HIGHWAY. I REPLACED THE ENTIRE FRONT END AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. SEEN MANY POSTS WITH IDENTICAL ISSUES AS MYSELF. I JUST WANT THE PROBLEM TO BE RESOLVED. IT ONLY HAS 144,000 MILES ON IT. DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL A DEATH FOR THIS ISSUE TO BE RESOLVED??

THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD. I WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE TRUCK, AND ALSO UNABLE TO STOP THE TRUCK, AS THE POWER STEERING PUMP ALSO SUPPLIES POWER TO ASSIST THE BRAKES. *TR

I WAS SENT A RECALL WHILE IN AZ. I TOOK IT TO HENERY BROWN AUTOMOTIVE AND THE DID NOT REALLY CARE TO MESS WITH IT. THEY SAID THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET THE PARTS TO FIX IT. I TOLD THEM I WANTED IT FIXED AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL AS SOON AS THE PARTS CAME IN, IT IS JUNE AND I AM BACK IN CO..THE SAFETY RECALL NUMBER AS I CAN TELL IS N49/NATSA 13V-529. LEFT TIE ROD. CAN YOU HELP GET SOMETHING DONE AND HAVE A TALK WITH HENERY BROWN'S CHRYSLER. THANK YOU *TR

MY MAIN REASON FOR THIS COMPLAINT IS IT IS KNOWN ACROSS THE UNITED STATES THAT DODGE PUT A FAULTY FRONT SUSPENSION ON ITS PICKUPS THAT LEAD TO DANGEROUS STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND DEATH WOBBLES. MY VEHICLE HAS THE DEATH WOBBLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, UNDERSTAND THIS DEATH WOBBLE LITERALLY TRIES TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL FROM YOUR HAND AND MAKES THE VEHICLE VERY HARD TO MANAGE. MY DEATH WOBBLE WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO BUST A BATTERY CLAMP, BLOW OUT BOTH HEADLIGHTS, MAKE MY QUAD CAB DOOR NOT OPEN CAUSED MY OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE SENSOR UNIT TO MALFUNCTION, BROKE MY STEERING BOX, BROKE THE CLIP ON MY SUNGLASSES HOLDER AND CAUSED MY TRACK BAR TO FAIL AGAIN. PLEASE UNDERSTAND DUE TO THE FAULTY SLOPPY DRIFTING STEERING I HAD ALREADY REPLACED ALL TIE RODS, TRACK BAR, BALL JOINTS AND STEERING DAMPENER SHOCK. YOU CAN GO TO ANY DIESEL FORUM AND HEAR ALL THE...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE PITMAN ARM FRACTURED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE HYDRAULIC FLUID TO THE POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT CALLED THREE DEALERS AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 230,000. ..UPDATED 09/04/12 *BF ..UPDATED 09/07/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE POINT OF FAILURE WAS THE SECTOR SHAFT ON THE ROD AND A DAMAGED STEERING BOX. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LOST ALL STEERING CAPABILITY. UPDATED 09/11/12 UPDATED 09/17/2012 *JS

2001.5 DODGE 2500 QUAD 4X4 DIESEL. STEERING HAS BEEN BAD FOR LAST FEW YEARS. TOOK IN AND ALL UP FRONT IS BAD, HUBS, JOINTS, BALL JOINTS, TIE RODS AND EVEN THE GEAR BOX OUTPUT SHAFT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALER KNOWS THAT THE 2500 COMES OFF THE LINE WITH 1/4" GIVE OR TAKE PLAY IN THE BALL JOINTS AS IT SITS NEW AND ARE ACTUALLY TOO SMALL FOR APPLICATION WHICH CAUSES ALL ELSE TO GO BAD OVER TIME. I AM NOT HARD ON MY DODGE WITH DRIVING STYLE. COST TO FIX WITH STOCK AND AFTER MARKET PARTS ONLY TO PREVENT IS 2600.00. LABOR IS 100.00 PER HOUR HOW CAN ANYONE HANDLE THIS KIND OF MONEY UP FRONT. TRUCK SITS AFRAID TO DRIVE MORE THEN LOCAL. STARTED SEEING AT 95000 AND HAVE JUST OVER 103000. DEALER WILL NOT FIX RECALLS OF 2001 YEAR BECAUSE ITS TO OLD! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 2500 QUAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WOULD STEER UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN DRIVING OVER UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD BECOME WORSE OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE DRIFTED FROM LANE TO LANE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO HAVE THE ENTIRE FRONT SUSPENSION REPLACED. AFTER THE REMEDY REPAIR, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIFT FROM LANE TO LANE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING WOULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO TRAVEL FROM ONE LANE TO ANOTHER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE STEERING TRACK BAR AND STEERING BOXES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE 2500 DIESEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND DECELERATING TO 3 MPH, THE STEERING SHAFT SUDDENLY FRACTURED CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 193,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ UPDATED 12/14/11 *CN

PROBLEMS WITH STEERING, AND VIBRATION/WOBBLE IN THE FRONT OF OUR 2001 DODGE RAM 2500. NO RESOLUTION AS OF YET. DODGE CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. REPLACED TRACK BAR, BUT PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. STEERING WANDERS, HARD TO KEEP TRUCK ON THE ROAD. VIBRATION IN FRONT RETURNED ONCE AGAIN. I HAVE HEARD THERE IS AN AFTER MARKET STEERING STABILIZER THAT CAN TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. WHY DOESN'T DODGE FIX IT WITH THIS STEERING STABILIZER? *TR

BOOSTER PUMP FOR POWER STEERING AND TRANSMISSION DON'T WANT TO SHIFT WHEN DRIVE FROM STOP TO DRIVE INTO SECOND GEAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. IMMEDIATELY, THE DRIVER STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND TOWED IT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST OF $1,933.75. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE SAFETY RECALLS FOR MODEL YEARS 2003 TO 2009 ON THE IDENTICAL MODEL. THERE WAS CONCERN OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,175 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 300,000. UPDATED 03/30/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING FAILED AS SHE WAS DRIVING. THE GEAR BOX, STEERING BOX AND BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 08/18/10 *JB UPDATED 08/23/10*JB

CRACKED DASHBOARD LEADING TO DEFECTIVE WIRING AND STEERING COLUMN PROBLEMS. *TR

2001 DODGE RAM 2500 REG CAB LONG BED PICKUP. VEHICLE HAS 26,000 ORIGINAL MILES AND AFTER MAJOR FRONT END REPAIRS( UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, STABILIZER BAR LINKS, STABILIZER SHOCK AND BOTH WHEEL BEARINGS) FOR STEERING PROBLEMS, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE TRUCK IS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE AND WANDERS INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC IF CONSTANT ATTENTION AND OVER CORRECTION OF STEERING IS NOT ADHERED TOO. DRIVING IS A TASK AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. *JB

DODGE RAM 2500 SERIES 2001, NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STEERING MECHANISMS. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS CONSTANTLY OVERCORRECTING THE VEHICLE LEFT AND RIGHT. THE CONSUMER HAD MANY ALIGNMENTS DONE BUT TO NO AVAIL. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ALL THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO RUST AND NO LUBRICATION, THE STEERING SHAFT AND TRAC BAR WAS REPLACED AND THE STEERING BOX WAS ADJUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND IN HIS OPINION ALTERNATE VALVE LOCATED IN THE STEERING WAS NOT PERFORMING AS IT SHOULD, WHEN THE MECHANIC REMOVED THE VALVE IT EXTREMELY BURNT FROM OVERHEATING. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NO LONGER HAS ANY PROBLEMS STEERING THE VEHICLE. *JB

DODGE RAM 2500 SERIES 2001, NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STEERING MECHANISMS. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE TAKING A 2 MILE DRIVE, HE NOTICE HE HAD TO CONSTANTLY OVERCORRECT TO THE LEFT AND THEN THE RIGHT. THE DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL COMPONETS ON THE VEHICLE TO TRY AND RESOLVE THE STEERING PROBLEM, THE REPLACED ALL THE BALL JOINTS WHICH WERE SEVERELY RUSTED AND HAD NO GREASE, THE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED, THE TRAC BAR WAS REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE MOVEMENT. IT WAS FINALLY DETERMINED THAT A ALTERNATE VALVE IN THE STEERING BOX WAS NOT PERFORMING AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO, WHEN THE MECHANIC TOOK THE VALVE OUT IT WAS BURNED FROM OVERHEATING. *JB

DODGE RAM 2500 SERIES 2001, NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STEERING MECHANISMS. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD STEER IN THE DIRECTION OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *JB

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT STEERING. VEHICLE HAD A 5 1/2 INCH SLACK/PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED OF 50 MPH OR MORE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND HAD THE TRACK BAR REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *TC

STEERING. I PURCHASED A USED 1998 DODGE 2500 WITH THE DIESEL ENGINE. THE STEERING WAS VERY LOOSE, WITH ALMOST 1/4 TURN FREE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER SAID THE TRACK BAR WAS WORN OUT, SO I REPLACED IT BUT DID NOT SEE ANY IMPROVEMENT. THE DEALER THEN TOLD ME THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING BOX DURING THAT YEAR AND A DIFFERENT TYPE WAS USED IN 1999 DUE TO CONTINUOUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FREE PLAY IN THE STEERING. BECAUSE I FELT DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH THIS MUCH FREE PLAY WAS DANGEROUS AND I WAS TOLD THE PROBLE WAS CORRECTED, I TRADED FOR A NEW TRUCK OF THE SAME TYPE, BUYING A 2001. WHEN NEW, THERE WAS NOT MUCH FREE PLAY. AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES, I HAD ABOUT 1/8 TURN OF FREE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS FREE PLAY CAUSED ME TO RUN OUT OF THE ROAD...

WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING BOLT BECAME LOOSE. THE STEERING WHEEL JUMPED AROUND WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM

STEERING WHEEL HAS A LOT OF PLAY IN IT AND MAKES THE STEERING VERY DIFFICULT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. *AK *JB 8NM

THE STEERING IN THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN HORRIBLE SINCE THE DRIVE HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP . IT IS PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THIS TRUCK IN YOUR LANE, IT WANDERS AND GOES WHERE IT [XXX] WELL PLEASES. I'VE HAD THE TRUCK IN THE SHOP FOR THE STEERING PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED STEERING LINKAGE AND THE BALL JOINTS. THIS DID NOT HELP ONE BIT. WITH ONLY 28,000 MILES ON THIS TRUCK (95% FREEWAY MILES) THE TIRES SHOW SIGNIFICANT WEAR. A SERVICE MANAGER AT ONE OF THE LOCAL DEALERSHIPS SAID THIS IS THE LARGEST COMPLAINT ON THIS VEHICLE AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *PH INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

STEERING WANDERS ALL OVER THE PLACE. 2001 RAM PICKUP 2500 WITH ONLY 19,224 MILES ON IT PROBLEM FIRST SURFACED AROUND 15,000 MILES. DEALER SERVICED AT 17,207 MILES AS A LICENSED INSPECTION MECHANIC, THIS VEHICLE WILL FAIL THE STATE INSPECTION STICKER TEST WHEN IT IS DUE. THE AMOUNT OF PLAY AT THE STEERING WHEEL IS CURRENTLY AT 5+ INCHES AND GETTING WORSE. INSPECTION PROCEDURES REQUIRE THE PLAY TO BE MEASURED WHILE OBSERVING THE TIRE MOVEMENT. ( EXAMPLE : TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT UNTIL VISABLE MOVEMENT OF THE TIRE IS SEEN, MARK A REFERENCE POINT ON THE STEERING WHEEL, NOW TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT UNTILL VISABLE MOVEMENT OF THE TIRE , NOW MEASURE THE DISTANCE THE MARK ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAS TRAVELED. ANYTHING OVER A 2 1/2 " TRAVEL IS CAUSE FOR FAILING THE STATE VEHICLE INSPECTION STICKER. DEALER HAS ALREADY REPLACED THE TRACK BAR...

AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES MY TRUCK STARTED TO WANDER MUCH WORSE THAN IT HAD IN THE PAST, IT HAS WANDERED SINCE NEW. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS WITH OTHER CARS AND OBSTACLES BECAUSE THE STEERING SEEMS TO HAVE A MIND OF IT'S OWN AT TIMES AND WILL SWERVE AND WANDER IN DIFFERENT WAYS BASED ON ROAD CONDITION, IF I'M BRAKING OR ACCELERATING. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY STEERING BOX AND TRACK BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1400. THIS IS ON A $30K+ TRUCK WITH 40K MILES ON IT! I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER AND COMPLANED ABOUT THIS CONDITION AND THEY WON'T REVIEW IT UNTIL I HAVE IT BACK AT THE DEALER FOR ANOTHER INSPECTION THEN THEY WILL DECIDE IF THEY WILL OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE OR NOT. BASED ON RESEARCH ON THE WEB THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM...

THE SWAYED AT SPEEDS OF 60 MPH AND HIGHER. WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT TIRES TO WEAR EXCESSIVELY. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY BAD STEERING APPARATUS. *JB

TRUCK WANDERS RANDOMALY-FRONT TIRE WOBBLES. *NLM

I JUST EXPERIENCED A VERY SEVERE AUTO ACCIDENT IN MY 2001 DODGE RAM, THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED AND THE JAWS OF LIFE HAD TO BE USED TO EXTRACT ME FROM THE VEHICLE. I HAD CONTACTED MY DEALER PRIOR TO THIS (SEVERAL MONTHS AGO) COMPLAINING OF STEERING PROBLEMS (WANDERING), AND THE DEALER INFORMED ME,THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE HE WAS RECEIVING PRESSURE FROM DODGE TO STOP REPLACING STEERING COMPONENTS ON THESE TRUCKS. HE ALSO INFORMED ME, HE HAS A NUMBER OF DOCUMENTED CASES OF THIS PROBLEM--16 OR SO. THERE IS ALSO INFORMATION THAT THE STATE OF MAINE FORCED DODGE TO REPLACE 20 OR 30 OF THESE VEHICLES DUE TO STEERING PROBLEMS. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD BEGIN AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS ISSUE AS IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE STEERING OF THIS MAKE/MODEL OF VEHICLE (CHECK YOUR OWN DATABASE). THERE IS...

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE TRUCK DRIFTED FROM SIDE TO SIDE MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT "THEY ALL HANDLE THAT WAY". *NLM

I HAVE A 2001 DODGE RAM 2500 WITH THE CUMMINS DIESEL. SINCE THE DAY I DROVE IT OFF OF THE LOT IT HAS HAD STEERING PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD IT INTO THE DEALER SEVEN TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND I STILL HAVE A VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE. I ALSO HAVE NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS WITH RATTLES AND SQUEAKS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED. THIS TRUCK IS DEFINITELY A TRUE LEMON. THE DEALER HAS BLAMED THE PROBLEM ON TIRES, STEERING BOX, ETC., BUT NOTHING HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE LAST STATEMENT FROM THE DEALER IS THAT THIS STEERING PROBLEM IS INHERENT TO THE DODGE DIESEL ENGINES AND CANNOT BE FIXED. I ALMOST HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND HAVE SINCE PARKED MY TRUCK. I AM NOW DRIVING AN OLDER VEHICLE UNTIL I CAN GET THIS RESOLVED. I WILL NOT RISK THE LIVES OF MY FAMILY IN THIS TRUCK...

MY NEW TRUCK AT 29000 MILE BEGAN TO WANDER SPORADICALLY. IT FEELS AS IF THE TRUCK HITS A PATCH OF ICE THEN REGAINS ITS TRACTION BUT NO ICE CLEAR DRY PAVEMENT IT LEAVES ME FEELING AS IF SOMETHING IS GOING TO BREAK AT THE WRONG TIME...WHEN I HAVE MY LOVED ONES IN IT...FOR EVERYONE'S SAFETY PLEASE HELP...DODGE SAYS IT DRIVES LIKE A DODGE...ITS SURE DOESN'T DRIVE LIKE IT SHOULD, OR LIKE WHEN IT WAS NEW UP TO 29000MILES. ITS GOT MA PROBLEM AND I KNOW IT...I FEEL IT EVEN IF THEY DON'T. TS

VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER AFTER TURNING A CORNER AND IT WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD AT ALL SPEEDS. IT TRIES TO FOLLOW ANY CHANGE IN ROAD SURFACE. DEALER HAS CHANGED OUT THE FOLLOWING PARTS WITH NO HELP. ( GEAR BOX, LOWER STEERING SHAFT, ALL 4 TIE RODS, ALIGNMENTS) I HAVE NEARLY SIDESWIPPED 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERS 8 TIMES AND A TOTAL OF 11 DAYS. THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO TRY NEXT.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN. POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED. TIRE PRESSURE WAS TOO LOW. STEERING BOX FAILED AND REPLACED. WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND REPLACED. VEHICLE WON'T SHIFT AT 40 MPH. CLUNKING NOISE FROM PARK TO REVERSE. FOUND NORMAL OPERATION. OIL LEAK IN FRONT OF MOTOR. OVERFLOW BOTTLE TOO FULL. VEHICLE WANDERED ALL OVER THE ROAD. STEERING BOX ADJUSTED. AND LOW TIRE PRESSURE WAS TO BLAME. CONSOLE ON SEAT DOESN'T CLOSE PROPERLY. TURBO WHISTLES ON ACCELERATION. NO PROBLEM FOUND. TRANSMISSION SURGES AT 10 TO 45 MPH. NO PROBLEM FOUND. POWER STEERING BOX LEAKED AND REPLACED SECOND TIME. LEAK WAS FOUND AT VACUUM PUMP SEAL CAUSED LEAK AT POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. STEERING DRIFTS TO RIGHT AND WHEEL IS OFF CENTER. CENTER DRAG LINK ADJUSTED SECOND TIME. AFTER SET FOR A FEW DAYS, VEHICLE WON'T MOVE WHEN IT IS PLACED IN DRIVE. NORMAL. NO PROBLEM...

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED WITH FORCE. *TS *NLM

WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A STANDING POSITION STEERING WHEEL IS INOPERABLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO FILING THIS COMPLAINT, AND WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE NEEDED A LARGER POWER STEERING PUMP. CONSUMER HAD THIS REPAIR DONE, AND IS STILL EXPERIENCEING SAME PROBLEM. DEALER / MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHUR DETAILS.*AK

VEHICLE WANDERS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEEDS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE, AND CLAIMS VEHICLE IS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS.*AK CONSUMER STATES IT TAKES TOO MUCH MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEPT HE VEHICLE ON COURSE. *SLC

FROM THE DAY THE TRUCK WAS DRIVEN OFF THE LOT, STEERING ACTION WAS NOTICEABLY "LOOSE". EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING IS APPROXIMATELY 5" BEFORE THE TRUCK WOULD START TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THIS CREATES WANDERING ON THE HIGHWAY REQUIRING CONSISTANT CORRECTION IN STEERING. ACCORDING TO SOME OTHER OWNERS ON INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS, THE WANDERING PROBLEM IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH POSSIBLY THE GEAR BOX. IT IS SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE TRUCK TO DRIFT INTO THE ADJACENT LANE OR SHOULDER.*AK