Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||
| 02/01/2012 | 75500 | 1 | |
| I was driving at freeway speed, around 70 mph. suddenly, i heard a noise from the rear of the truck and i noticed my speedometer went to zero. i was still moving at the same speed. the fault code identified a failure in the speed sensor in the rear differential. i was out of warranty, so i pulled the differential cover off and found what was left of the speed sensor in the bottom of the housing. i also found pieces of what was later identified as c clips from my lsd clutch assembly. the inductive portion of the speed sensor protrudes into the differential housing and was hit by the flying pieces of c clips. the carrier bearing also had a grove cut into it by these clips as they worked their way out. i am told that if i had not caught this, it would have resulted in carrier bearing failure and lock up of my rear axle. i removed all of the metal c clip pieces and removed the remaining c clips that had not yet fallen out. i don't know if there is any connection, but my left rear leaf spring cracked in half on the lower main leaf. i had to replace the spring assembly at my cost. i now have a permanent whine at low speeds and currently have 125,000 miles on my truck. i am certainly glad that i found these metal pieces when i did! there appears to be many complaints regarding this failure in my truck model, ranging from model years 2003 through 2006 ram 1500 equipped with the 5.7 hemi. at this time, chrysler has not acknowledged the patterned failures in these rear differentials. *tr | |||
| 02/01/2012 | 75500 | ||
| I was driving at freeway speed, around 70 mph. suddenly, i heard a noise from the rear of the truck and i noticed my speedometer went to zero. i was still moving at the same speed. the fault code identified a failure in the speed sensor in the rear differential. i was out of warranty, so i pulled the differential cover off and found what was left of the speed sensor in the bottom of the housing. i also found pieces of what was later identified as c clips from my lsd clutch assembly. the inductive portion of the speed sensor protrudes into the differential housing and was hit by the flying pieces of c clips. the carrier bearing also had a grove cut into it by these clips as they worked their way out. i am told that if i had not caught this, it would have resulted in carrier bearing failure and lock up of my rear axle. i removed all of the metal c clip pieces and removed the remaining c clips that had not yet fallen out. i don't know if there is any connection, but my left rear leaf spring cracked in half on the lower main leaf. i had to replace the spring assembly at my cost. i now have a permanent whine at low speeds and currently have 125,000 miles on my truck. i am certainly glad that i found these metal pieces when i did! there appears to be many complaints regarding this failure in my truck model, ranging from model years 2003 through 2006 ram 1500 equipped with the 5.7 hemi. at this time, chrysler has not acknowledged the patterned failures in these rear differentials. | |||
| 04/20/2012 | 187000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2004 dodge ram 1500. the contact stated that the front hub assembly broke and separated from the suspension while driving 10 mph. the hub assembly was brand new and was just purchase from an authorized dealer. the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a curb, which caused damages to the suspension and front fender of the vehicle. no one was injured. the vehicle was towed to the contact | |||
| 04/20/2012 | 187000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2004 dodge ram 1500. the contact stated the front hub assembly broke and separated from the suspension while driving 10 mph. the hub assembly was brand new which was just purchase from the dealer. the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the curb which caused damages to the suspension and front fender of the vehicle. no one was injured. the vehicle was towed to his home. the insurance company was notified. the dealer was notified who refused to acknowledge the defective parts. the manufacturer was not notified. the failure mileage was 187,000. mw | |||
| 02/01/2005 | 6 | 09/01/2004 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 dodge ram 1500. the vehicle has 20 inch tires and the wheels are unstable. while driving 65 mph over bumps in the road, the vehicle veers into another lane. the dealer stated that nothing is wrong with the vehicle. the current mileage is 60,279 and the failure mileage was unknown. updated 02/01/08. *lj updated 02/01/08 *tr | |||
| 03/01/2005 | 10000 | 1 | 07/20/2004 |
| At approximately 10,000 miles our 2004 dodge ram 1500 began pulling hard to the right. at highway speeds, the vehicle will cross 4 lanes of traffic within seconds if the driver is not pulling to the left in order to compensate for the right pull. we have had the vehicle aligned several times by different dealerships as well as at alignment shops, and the issue persists. daimler chrysler claimed the issue was tire related, and we had the tire dealer move tires around repeatedly trying to make the problem go away. we have also replaced tires with no change in the pull. recently, we noticed the pull is far worse when the vehicle has a full tank of gas, which leads me to suspect weight or weight distribution is a factor. we had steering rack and differential failure at approximately 25,000 miles. both were replaced and the problem continues to exist. also, alignment numbers go from within specification to wildly out of specification each time the truck is placed on a rack. this vehicle control issue is 100% repeatable. *jb | |||
| 01/10/2004 | 544 | 1 | 01/02/2004 |
| My vehicle pulls hard to the right. i have complained to the dealer within the first week of purchase. i have had 4 alignments done, and that does not correct the problem. dealership has not offered to investigate further to find problem. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||
| 07/22/2011 | 88700 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2004 dodge ram 1500. the contact stated the steering wheel was pulling while making a right or left turn. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who performed a diagnostic test that located the failure on the front tie rod. the failure also caused the drivers side tires to wear severely and the steering wheel to fail. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 88,700 and the current mileage was 89,104. rvk | |||
| 07/22/2011 | 88700 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2004 dodge ram 1500. the contact stated the steering was pulling while turning to the right or left. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who performed a diagnosed that located the failure at the front tie rod was causing the tires to wear and the steering to fail the driver side was severely worn. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was 88,700 and the current mileage was 89,104. li | |||
| 02/15/2010 | 50100 | ||
| Both front hub/wheel-bearing assemblies have failed on my truck. my truck has 50k miles! the front wheel-bearing on both sides makes noises, sometimes sounds like it is catching or getting stuck. this has caused me to wreck in a ditch and is very dangerous. the noise starts out only once in a while, then seems to be constantly grinding. | |||
| 05/27/2010 | 80000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2004 dodge ram 1500. while the contact was driving approximately 35 mph into a curve, the steering wheel began to slightly vibrate with a noise coming from underneath the vehicle. the vehicle was driven to the side of the road and inspected. the contact was able to resume; however,the failure continued to occur intermittently whenever making a turn. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where both front wheel bearings were replaced under the service warranty. recently, the identical failures occurred and the vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired at the time of the complaint. the contact experienced similar related defects as mentioned in the safety recall on the 2006 dodge ram 1500; nhtsa campaign id number 07v038000 (suspension:front:wheel bearing ). the failure mileage was 80,000. js | |||
| 03/18/2010 | 84000 | ||
| Around 6/2009 my passenger side wheel hub starting to make a cracking and popping noise at parking lot speeds, i took it to have replaced. it was replaced with a new part. now only a year later my driver side wheel hub is making the same cracking and popping noise. i believe the bearings are sub standard and need to be checked into. | |||
| 04/02/2006 | 1 | ||
| I was driving down the road, heard a noise and suddenly my right front wheel detached from my vehicle. my vehicle swerved out of control and i ended up in a shopping plaza. luckily, i escaped unhurt. i looked and saw that the wheel became detached at the spindle. i had the vehicle towed to the dealer. even though my vehicle is under warranty, the dealer refused to fix it stating that i hit something that caused the spindle to become detached. the 2004 dodge stratus has had the same problem and there are an awful lot of dodge rams with front end problems. daimler chrysler refused to do anything stating that they go with what the dealership says. *nm | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT | |||
| 02/24/2006 | 26680 | 4 | 12/31/2003 |
| This started out with a tire almost being flat. pumped up the tire at home and took vehicle to a tire shop to be repaired. when the shop took the tire off the truck, they told me the tire is no good, it is leaking through the sidewall. they put my spare on and i went to the goodyear dealer in my town. the goodyear dealer looked at the leak through the sidewall and removed the tire from the rim. there was 2 , 2 inch cuts on the inside of the tire sidewall (1 at the leak) of this tire that he could not explain. he told me a new tire was $180.00 and i asked him to contact goodyear corporate because there is hardly any wear/miles on these tires. he contacted goodyear and 3 days later they said they would replace the tire for $94.00. this tire had 4/32 worn off from it!!! while waiting for goodyear corporate to reply to the local goodyear dealer i took the truck to my local dodge dealer to have them raise the truck on the hoist to check the rest of the tires for a slight bulge on the inner sidewall because of fear of these tires blowing out the sidewall at highway speeds and causing a fatality! they did not see any but before i left they told me to schedule an appointment to get both outer tie rod ends and the left (driver) side lower ball joint replaced! this vehicle was purchased new on 12-31-2003, has 26,600 miles on it and has always been serviced at this dealer.parts and labor were covered by warranty but what is going to fail next? | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT | |||
| 06/14/2004 | 5226 | 4 | 12/21/2003 |
| Driving northbound on the 101 freeway in the far right lane changed to the center lane on dry asphalt pass a slower moving car and heard a loud noise. face impacted the steering wheel .don,t recall anymore than that do have an accident report. think the right rear axle broke or something in the right front suspension. tie rod or ball joint the inside of the right front wheel is estroyed and was off. the truck complete with large bracket broken tie rod and ball joints and rotor . outside of wheel is not damaged. right rear wheel has the brake drum/disc and part of the broken off axle still bolted to it.. allpar has a report on dodge ram axles braking 2002 and up.states a new design is in place for 2006. is aware of this problem..*ak truck hit a concrete wall and skidded to a stop in the third lane of traffic on fire under the front end a following wittness stated sparks were flying through the air.. they also put out the fire. major front end damage and no air bags deployed. dodge denied any responcibillity a claim was filed have the letters and email. the dealers added further injury by charging as much as possible and high interest for a new magnum sxt.made it impossible to buy the rt model.. i do have the two wheels in question at the shop i work at tri city tansmission service. and photos of the aftermath.. at the body shop.they couln't believe i walked away. thankyou for your time sincerely michael a young | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - HUB | |||
| 07/28/2007 | 26000 | 1 | 05/31/2004 |
| My 2004 dodge ram 1500 truck has 26,000 miles on it. we have been told by a mechanic's shop that the front hub bearings are in dire need of being replaced. i see that 2006 models have been recalled by dodge for the same problem. i do not think that 26,000 miles warrants something of this nature failing and it seems apparent that this is a manufacturer's defect. *jb | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - WHEEL BEARING | |||
| 11/15/2005 | 5000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2004 dodge ram 1500. the contact heard a loud vibrating noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. he fears that the tire will detach from the vehicle due to the front wheel bearings. he took the vehicle to the dealer on three occasions, but they were unsuccessful in identifying the cause of the failure. the failure is becoming progressively worse. the dealer stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 07v038000 (suspension:front:wheel bearing); therefore, they would not perform the remedy. the failure mileage was 5,000 and current mileage was 50,000. | |||
| 02/23/2007 | 59725 | 1 | 11/13/2003 |
| On 2-23-07, i had occasion to drive my 2004 dodge, ram pu, 1500 4x4 approximately 400 miles from where i live in western ny. druing the trip we hear a slight humming noise coming from under the vehicle. due to heavy snow during the trip we thought it was snow build up under neat. however approx. 50 from returning home and upon entering a service area off the nys thruway, a definite grinding / crrunching noise was heard coming from somewheres under the front end. we continued to our destination in the buffalo, ny area. at this time besides the noises the steering wheel was jerking when traveling at a slow rate. subsequently the vehicle was left a west herr dodge, orchard park, ny where it had been purchased. the dealer ship was closed when left and contact was made with them the following day for them to check it and make repairs. on monday, 2-26-07 we were contacted and advised the vehicle had been repaired and the the problem had been the front left wheel bearing which they replace. upon picking the truck up i was told that there had not been any previous problems as such with these trucks. about 5 days later i happened to hear on our local tv that the 2006 model dodge ram pick up's had been recalled due to faulty front wheel bearings whcih was due to insufficient quanitity of grease. i am worried that my trucks bearings have the same problem as the 2006 and that the other side wheel bearing might go and could cause an accident. | |||
| 03/14/2005 | 46000 | 1 | 12/15/2004 |
| Both front wheel bearings exhibit the same things identified in the 2006 dodge ram recall, however, the dealer says the recall does not apply. should wheel bearings on a truck with 46,000 miles have to be replaced at the consumers expense? *jb | |||
| 05/15/2004 | 45000 | 1 | 11/01/2002 |
| The wheel bearings failed prematurely. *la both sides of the front wheel bearings failed. *sc *jb | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||
| 05/19/2011 | 53000 | ||
| Improperly installed suspension parts from factory grinding through right spring shackle. bushings installed with metal flange inboard,instead of outboard where pressure forces spring off bushing ,into shackle, causing failure. i have photos before the old bushing was replaced. it appears they may have run out of right spring assemblies on the line and use left on both sides,as other bushing look wrong also. i have seen people post online that rear springs have broken loose and went through bed of truck,causing control issues.would not be good at highway speeds with a 10,000 lb trailer attached i contacted dodge about issue as their are probably others out there with the same issue, and they said they would call me if their was a recall,hopefully before someone gets killed. repaired one bushing so far myself. | |||
| 12/20/2010 | 129600 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns 2004 dodge ram 1500. while driving approximately 10 mph there was a humming sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. the contact stated the faster the vehicle was driven the louder the sound . the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician stated the pinion bearing needed to be replaced and the vehicle was unsafe to drive. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 129,600. ds | |||
| 01/11/2005 | 12500 | 1 | |
| When driving at highway speeds there was heavy vibration coming from the rear end. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak | |||