2002 DODGE RAM 2500 Steering Problems

I PURCHASED A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 5.7 V8 4WD. MY STEERING HAS GOTTEN REALLY LOOSE OVER THE LAST WEEK. I BROUGHT IT IN TO DEALERSHIP FOR A PREVIOUS RECALL. AND THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT MY STEERING GEAR WAS GOING OUT AND THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE BAD.

I AM HEARING A POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, PLAY IN STEERING, TRUCK IS WOBBLING ALL OVER THE PLACE WHEN DRIVING ON UNEVEN ROADS, HISSING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT END WHEN ACCELERATING. PLAY IN STEERING GEAR BOX. THE CLICKING POPPING SOUND I HEAR WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL IS WHEN DRIVING OR NOT MOVING. I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK PULL FAR RIGHT ON THE ROAD WHEN GOING ON UNEVEN ROADS.

DEATH WOBBLE. EXPERIENCE WHEN HITTING SMALL/MINOR BUMPS IN THE ROAD OR RAILROAD TRACKS. VIOLENT SHAKING CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO TRY TO COME TO A STOP. SHAKING IS SO VIOLENT THAT THE DRIVER IS BOUNCED AROUND IN THE SEAT, MOMENTARILY AIRBORNE AND ITESM IN THE TRUCK FLY AROUND. LAWSUIT WAS ISSUSED ON 2004 AND NEWER MODELS BUT AFFECTS OLDER MODELS AS WELL. WE NOW HAVE PAID $900 IN PARTS TO FIX THE "DEATH WOBBLE" THAT HAD WE KNOWN WAS AN ISSUE, WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THE TRUCK. COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHEN IT IS OUR DAILY DRIVER AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO PARK IT AND PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE TO REPLACE IT WITH. CANNOT SELL IN CURRENTY CONDITION HAVING A "DEATH WOBBLE". NO GUARANTEE THAT THE PURCHASED PARTS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH HE HEARD A SNAPPING SOUND IN THE STEERING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE STEERING SHAFT CONNECTING TO THE STEERING BOX HAD FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000. *TR

THE STEERING IN THE 2ND GENERATION RAMS IS SUBPAR. THEY ROAD WALK, AND GET SO FAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT THEY CAN NOT BE PROPERLY ALIGNED. THIS IS SHOWN AS DODGE WENT FROM ONE STEERING DESIGN (A BETTER ONE) TO ANOTHER IN 2000 YEAR TRUCKS. IN 2003 THEY TRIED TO IMPROVE ON THE SYSTEM BUT IT WAS NOT ANY GOOD. NOW THEY ARE PUTTING ON THE 2009/10 STEERING COMPONENTS ON THE 2003-2008 TRUCKS LEAVING THE 2000-2002 TRUCKS TO SUFFER FROM A HIGHLY DANGEROUS AND UNRELIABLE STEERING SETUP. THE TRUCKS ROAD WALK ALL OVER THE ROAD, THE STEERING CONSTANTLY SHIFTS AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS NEVER TRULY IN THE CORRECT POSITION. DODGE NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A REDESIGNED STEERING REPLACEMENT FOR THESE TRUCKS AND STOP LEAVING IT UP TO THE OWNER TO FIX THEIR MISTAKE! *TR

THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500 PICKUP.ALTHOUGH NO FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED, IT CAME VERY CLOSE. STEERING BECAME VERY LOOSE AND WAS ALLOWED TO GO TILL THERE WAS A1/2 INCH TRAVEL OF THE STEERING WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE. UPON INSPECTION AND REMOVAL OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IT WAS DISCOVERED TO HAVE THE LOWER UNIVERSAL JOINT IN COMPLETE FAILURE DO TO CORROSION AND COMPLETE LOSS OF THE BEARING. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT DODGE WAS ASKED TO REVIEW THE CASE. I WAS OFFERED A FREE OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE THE TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WOULD;D NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THIS IA SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. LOOKING ONLINE THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINS OF THE THIS PART HAVING TO BE CHANGED OUT MANY TIMES IN THE COURSE OF THE TRUCKS LIFE. TYPICALLY ANY WHERE FROM 4500 MILES AND UP! *TR

THERE HAS BEEN NO FAILURE YET THAT I KNOW OF BUT I OWN A 2002 DODGE 2500 WITH THE CUMMINS TURBO DIESEL ENGINE. THIS TRUCK WAS BUILT WITH ONLY TWO (2) GREASE FITTINGS IN THE STEERING GEAR. THIS IS AN INSUFFICENT NUMBER AND WILL CAUSE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS. *LA

POOR STEERING CONTROL. VEHICLE DRIFTS. LOOSNESS IN STEERING. MANUFACTURER'S RERESENTATIVE STATES THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE CORRECTED. ALL DODGE 2002 PICKUP HAVE PROBLEMS WITH STEERING. THE STEERING HAS BEEN WORKED ON SINCE THE FIRST 150 MILES OF BEING NEW. VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000 MILES TO DATE.*AK