Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING - LINKAGES - TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | ||||||||||||||||
| 11V350000 | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC | V (Vehicle) | 242780 | 10/03/2011 | ODI | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC | 07/06/2011 | 07/11/2011 | ||||||||
| Defect Summary | Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 dodge ram 2500/3500 4x4, manufactured from february 14, 2008, through march 28, 2011; model year 2008-2011 dodge ram 3500 cab chassis 4x2, manufactured from february 14, 2008, through march 28, 2011; and model year 2008 dodge ram 1500 mega cab 4x4, manufactured from february 14, 2008, through august 15, 2008, because the left tie rod ball stud may fracture. this condition tends to occur during low speed parking lot type maneuvers when the customer is making a tight turn. additionally, model year 2003-2008 dodge ram 2500/3500 vehicles may have received the affected tie rod assembly as a replacement part during normal service. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | This condition could result in the potential loss of directional stability in the left hand front wheel, increasing the risk of a crash. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dealers will inspect the tie rod ends for relative orientation and replace the left outer tie rod as required and perform a front end toe alignment as needed. this service will be performed free of charge. the safety recall began on october 3, 2011. owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Chrysler safety recall no. l16.owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov . | |||||||||||||||
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING - LINKAGES - TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | |||||
| SB19-001-11 REVA | 08/09/2011 | 10041904 | Dodge: bulletin providing alignment procedures for tie rod ball stud housing for the right and left. model yrs for cab chassis (reg and mega pickups and 4x4) 2003-2011. *pe | 11/16/2011 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 07/13/2012 | 85300 | 1 | |
| Front end shakes violently after hitting a bump or seam in the road traveling at any speed from 40 mph and up. must slow immediately and almost come to a complete stop in order to regain control of steering.this is known as the death wobble. *tr | |||
| 07/13/2012 | 85300 | ||
| Front end shakes violently after hitting a bump or seam in the road traveling at any speed from 40 mph and up. must slow immediately and almost come to a complete stop in order to regain control of steering.this is known as the death wobble. | |||
| 11/16/2012 | 181000 | ||
| Any bump or uneven surface at highway or roadway speed caused the steering to shudder uncontrollably. i have replaced the steering dampener and tie rod ends and it still continues. this has caused many close calls and caused me to veer into on coming traffic more than once. thankfully no wrecks or injuries so far. | |||
| 05/18/2012 | 86858 | 1 | |
| After going over an overpass (60 mph)and hitting the small bump at the end of it the front end began to shake and vibrate violently and it was almost impossible to steer and hard to slow down quickly. the vehicle had to be slowed to about 20 mph before i was able to regain control. it was shaking so violently that papers on the passenger seat flew on to the floor. this happened again after crossing a bridge with the same result. *tr | |||
| 05/18/2012 | 86858 | ||
| After going over an overpass (60 mph)and hitting the small bump at the end of it the front end began to shake and vibrate violently and it was almost impossible to steer and hard to slow down quickly. the vehicle had to be slowed to about 20 mph before i was able to regain control. it was shaking so violently that papers on the passenger seat flew on to the floor. this happened again after crossing a bridge with the same result. | |||
| 02/28/2012 | 153453 | 1 | |
| Traveling on us 58 in suffolk, va. i was forced off the road while trying to avoid an accident and hit a very large water filled pot hole. the results was my driver side front tire came off the vehicle after breaking two lug nuts. the truck slid 300 feet down the road until coming to rest in the median. a usaa repair facility replaced the driver side hub assembly. i moved to kings bay ga. and started to notice a vibration in the steering wheel. the vehicle has 35 off road tire on it so i assumed the tires need to balanced. after about three weeks of driving the real problems arose. i developed the dodge death wobble. it is a violent shaking of the steering system that forces you to slow to below 45 miles per hour. it is so violent that a 36 year old navy diver chief, who has been to tactical driving schools for the military, has a difficult time holding it on the road. now, i have had the dodge dealership disregard the problem, balance the tires, replace the steering dampener, and the problem still exists. *tr | |||
| 02/28/2012 | 153453 | ||
| Traveling on us 58 in suffolk, va. i was forced off the road while trying to avoid an accident and hit a very large water filled pot hole. the results was my driver side front tire came off the vehicle after breaking two lung nuts. the truck slid 300 feet down the road until coming to rest in the median. a usaa repair facility replaced the driver side hub assembly. i moved to kings bay ga. and started to notice a vibration in the steering wheel. the vehicle has 35 off road tire on it so i assumed the tires need to balanced. after about three weeks of driving the real problems arose. i developed the dodge death wobble. it is a violent shaking of the steering system that forces you to slow to below 45 miles per hour. it is so violent that a 36 year old navy diver chief, who has been to tactical driving schools for the military, has a difficult time holding it on the road. now, i have had the dodge dealership disregard the problem, balance the tires, replace the steering dampener, and the problem still exists. | |||
| 05/04/2012 | 84700 | ||
| Traveling at 65mph on interstate, hit slight bump when crossing bridge and the front end started vibrating so much couldn't hardly hold it in the road. the same has occurred 5-6 more times since the first incident. on several occasions, my wife has to come to a complete stop to get it to stop shaking.... | |||
| 05/26/2012 | 97000 | ||
| While coming home from work, i hit a bump or pothole with one front wheel, & the front wheels started shaking violently back & forth. the only way i could get it to stop was to slow down. i stopped & looked under the vehicle to see if anything was visibly broken & did not see anything. i slowly sped up again. after hitting another bump, the shaking started all over again & would not stop until i slowed down. this is a very dangerous condition that will get someone killed. i am afraid to let my wife drive the truck with our children, because i don't know what is gonna happen. | |||
| 05/12/2011 | 150000 | ||
| Front axle shaking violently. shakes consistantly going over bridges. shook so hard one time it broke the adjusting sleeve on the drag link leaving me with no steering and vehicle crossed into the oncoming lane and into the grass coming to a stop just before hitting the guardrail. since this incident the ball joints and tie rods have been replaced along with the steering stabilizer. the front axle has been aligned and everthing is to oem specifications and this vehicle will still shake going over bridges if your running 70mph. from the reasearch ive done it apperas there is a problem on these dodge trucks if they are 4x4 with a straight front axle and short wheel base. i have seen kits on the internet that claim to fix the death wobble and the geometry of the fix is different than oem. i hope that you will investigate this issue and i would be more than happy to take you for a ride in my vehicle or let anyone inspect it. | |||
| 03/01/2012 | 125000 | ||
| We bought a 2003 dodge ram 2500 in november of 2011. since we have bought it we have spent $3500 in reairs in regards to the death wobble and it still isn't fixed. i drive it down a road and as soon as you get it up to 50-55 mph and hit a small bump it violently wobbles uncontrollably. the wobble has caused several parts to break or crack including our most recent purchase, the radiator. this isn't the first truck to report this and isn't going to be the last until dodge man's up and admits they made a mistake. this is an apparent mistake of more than just broke down parts and worn parts. there is something extremely wrong with the manufacturing of these vehicles and is it going to take a death for someone to do something about it? chrysler is quoted the safety of our customers comes first and i would love for the man who made that statement take this truck for a drive and experience the death wobble' for himself and let me know how safe he feels after that. we have owned many vehicles in the past, none of which has remotely caused this many problems so to say there's no issue or problem with this is extremely bold. we are looking into furthering our investigation in this matter and also looking into what a attorney would do if they were us. | |||
| 02/17/2012 | 170000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 dodge ram 2500. the contact was driving 35 mph and attempting a right turn when the driver side tie rod fractured, causing minimal control of the steering function. the contact was unable to maintain control of the vehicle and proceeded to crash into a ditch. the contact was uninjured and the vehicle was towed from the ditch and to the contact | |||
| 02/17/2012 | 170000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 dodge ram 2500. the contact stated while driving 35 mph and making a right turn the left driver side tie rod broke. the steering wheel was uncontrollable causing the vehicle to slide into a ditch. the vehicle was towed out of the ditch back to the contact home. no one was injured and no other damages to the body of the vehicle. the contact stated he replaced the left outer tie rod end himself. the dealer was contacted who stated they should bring the vehicle in for inspection. the vehicle was taken in for inspection and was found that the repairs was done correctly. the dealer informed him there was a recall and they would receive a reimbursement from the recall. the recall was nhtsa campaign id number: 11v350000 component: steering: linkages: tie rod assembly. the manufacturer was notified of the situation and stated they will not reimbursed. the failure mileage was 170,000 and the current mileage was 171,000. mw | |||
| 03/01/2012 | 105000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 dodge ram 2500. while rotating the front tires the contact noticed that the passenger side outer tie rod was loose. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics. the technicians stated that the passenger side tie rod end would have to be replaced. the contac referenced nhtsa campaign id number: 11v350000 (steering:linkages:tie rod assembly) but was advised by the manufacturer that although the vehicle was included in the recall, the recall would not cover the repair of the tie rod end. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 105,000. kmj | |||
| 03/01/2012 | 105000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 dodge ram 2500. while rotating the tires front tires the contact noticed the passenger side outer tie rod was loose. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic. the technicians stated the passenger side tie rod end would have to be replaced. there was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 11v350000 (steering:linkages:tie rod assembly) that may be related to the failure. the manufacturer stated the vehicle was included in the recall but the recall would not cover the repair of the tie rod end. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 105,000. ds | |||
| 02/01/2003 | 250 | ||
| The vehicle without warning shakes violently and the only way to stop it is to slow down. i hit the brakes a couple of times and that only made it worse and controlling the vehicle in a safe manner was impossible. the only way to stop the shaking is to take foot off of excellerator pedal and ride it out, this creates another major problem. the vehicles behind you do not know what is happening and someone almost rear ended me because my brake lights did not go on. he passed me and honked his horn at me and gave me the finger self explanitory. this is a major problem and dodge will not admit it to anyone. | |||
| 01/03/2012 | 100806 | ||
| Well have you heard of the death wobble!!!????? google this and it will tell you exactly! my husbands truck hops at 70 mph on the freeway almost causing a huge accident! why the hell after all the complaints nothing has been done with this issue! thousands of people are talking about this online!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | |||
| 11/01/2011 | |||
| I have a 2003 dodge ram 2500,as of this evening i had all the major steering components replaced, at a cost of nearly $2500.00 to solve what is commomly known as the dodge death wobble, the first expansion joint in the road, after i pick my truck up, caused my truck to shake violently, and nearly out of control again. this is not the first time this has happened, dodge wont admit that there is a problem and keeps selling me replacement parts without any resolve. the violent shaking contiues. i can not even contemplate selling this vehicle because my concience wont allow me to put another persons safety in jeoprody please help us!!! dodge won't!!!!!!! | |||
| 07/01/2010 | 63000 | ||
| After purchasing my 03 ram 2500 in june of 2010 i have had continuous problem with the front end shaking violently while driving at speed over 65mph and hitting the smallest bump in the road. i've brought it back to the dealer several times to just be told there is nothing wrong with the truck. they replaced the ball joints in nov of 2010 after i insisted that something has to be wrong with the front end, but this didn't help. i replace the steering damper and tie rod ends and it didn't help. i ve looked at the forums online and found that i am not the only one with this problem. so what can i do with a truck i owe money on that i need to travel cause of my job but don't feel safe in it? who do i contact? | |||
| 06/21/2006 | 20000 | ||
| The first occurrence was at 20000 miles, (death wobble), it did not happen for another year. since then it has gotten more frequent, virtually every time i get on the highway. i have upgraded steering linkage to 09'.,new track bar, steering dampner , ball joints and also the gearbox frame brace w/pitnam arm bearing kit. i still have the death wobble. i now have around 58000 mi. i love my truck, just not the wobble, i would not feel right by selling it like this. | |||
| 12/13/2010 | 144500 | ||
| My 2003 dodge ram 2500 pu truck has a severe shake in the front end, not just a vibration the wheels are shaking side to side violently. i was driving on the interstate, i went over a bridge and where the road meets the end of it , and all of sudden my front end just went of control, i let my truck slow on its own until it was maybe 45-50mph then it went away. i never had this happen to me and i have owned dodge trucks my entire life. this problem has occured about 6 times. i am now aware that this is a problem with dodge trucks going back to the 1990 models. i have read so many stories of people attempting to fix these problems on their own and spending up to $3000 but it's not my responsibility! dodge needs to recall and fix this problem, before someone is killed or injured. | |||
| 09/17/2010 | 65000 | ||
| I have a 2003 ram 2500 4x4 with 65000 miles on it. i just started to get the death wobble , my father-inlaw has a 1998 cummins and he has already experieced the death wobble he has tryed to replace seveal parts on the front suspension with no fix, i have been reading alot of forums on the internet with peolpe having the same problems what can be done to get this issue fixed? | |||
| 05/12/2010 | |||
| 2003 dodge truck,got recall h46, tried dealer they said would do nothing with recall. | |||
| 04/29/2010 | 190000 | ||
| Death wobble. violent shakes after hitting a small bump in a road. the vehicle is nearly impossible to control. happens at speeds from 30 and up | |||
| 03/22/2010 | 50000 | ||
| My 2003 dodge ram 2500 (4 wheel drive) shakes violently when i encounter a bump on the highway. it occurs everytime when driving around 65 mph and i hit a bump. the truck shakes so much i totaly loose control of the steering. the only thing i can do to stop the shaking is to brake to a speed of aproxamatly 35 to 40 mph. this has happen six times already in the last year. i only have fifty thousnad miles on the truck. this failure has caused my truck to veer into other lanes and has also caused other cars to jack on thier brakes when they are behind me on the highway. i brought the truck to a dodge dealer. they replaced one of the steering components. this did nothing to alleviate the problem. all dodge dealers were sent a service bulletin aproxamately 3 to 4 years ago about this potentially deadly saftey issue but when i went to the dealership and explained the problem the manager acted like he knew nothing about it. i fear for my life in this truck. i will not let anyone else drive it until i get it fixed or if it can be fixed at all. | |||
| 02/15/2008 | 60000 | 1 | |
| When traveling at highway speeds and i hit a bump in the road with my truck the front end shakes violently. this violent shaking has caused me to almost lose control of the vehicle several times. when the vehicle is slowed down to 40mph or slower the shaking goes away. i have researched this and it is a common problem with this vehicle. it is commonly referred to as death wobble. *tr | |||
| 01/18/2010 | 80000 | ||
| Death wobble! this has happened to me to many times to count. i have had the front end of my 2003 dodge ram cummins repaired twice. both times i have had ball joints and tie rods replaced along with axle u joints and followed by alignment. i have also added a dual steering stabilizer system. that has helped a little bit, but it still happens often. the wobble has taken me off the road once at 60 miles per hour. luckily, nobody was hurt. please help if you can. thank you justin hulse. | |||
| 02/03/2010 | 55000 | 1 | |
| My 2003 dodge ram 2500 will shake violently and possibly go out of control if i hit a bump above 40 mph. this condition is called death wobble and has been shown to be on may trucks. it has happened more than 20 times and must slow to 25 mph to make the steering wheel stop shaking. this is a very dangerous situation and could cause the truck to go out of control if i don't slow down at an emergency rate. *tr | |||
| 01/08/2010 | 100000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge ram 2500. the contact stated the front end shakes excessively when he drove approximately 45 mph over a bump in the road. the contact is not sure of what the problem is since he has not taken it the vehicle to the dealer. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 100,000. | |||
| 11/13/2009 | 73000 | 1 | |
| 2003 dodge 2500 4x4 wobbles after hitting a bump at 70mph. this happens only at this speed and when you drive over a bridge. *tr | |||
| 11/24/2009 | 136839 | 1 | |
| I experienced what dodge owners are calling the death wobble today 24 nov 2009 after i had the front u-joints replaced on both front wheels and the u-joints replaced on the rear drive shaft. i contacted davis moore in wichita ks and they seem unconcerned about the problem. i was doing 60 mph on somewhat smooth road. i ran over a seam that where the concrete meets and that's when i got the wobble that nearly drove me into the guard rail. i had experienced it back in july 09 in a turn going over a bridge. i drove over a slight bump in the road and that's what started it. my wife informed me that she experienced it back in april 09 same thing drove over a bump and the wobble started. the wobble today has caused the steering dampener to start leaking. at a cost of $149.00 + tax i will replace it tonight. on all 3 of these occasions we have been lucky enough to be in a 1-lane road either exiting or entering a curve and driving over normal bumps in the road. my incident this morning is first time driving straight no turns or curves. *tr | |||
| 11/03/2009 | 90000 | 1 | |
| Death wobble, on many, many occasions exceeding over a dozen. i have replaced numerous front end parts to no avail, including tires and rims. it always occurred at hi-way speeds of 65 mph and above, the best way to describe it is a crash happening with out the bent metal. i am sure this is going to get someone killed if they are an inexperienced driver if it hasn't already, the dead don't talk so to speak, you cant see death wobble after the truck has crashed, you may want to look into the single vehicle fatalities of this make and model of truck i am sure it is high ratio for the amount of vehicles sold, one is unacceptable in my opinion. i could be next. it can happen at any time crossing a bridge, pavement patches, especially dangerous passing slower vehicles like semi-trailers and rv's where you have no where to go but the said vehicles and or bridge wall. this is a terrible issue with these trucks, check internet search engines on death wobble, and this is the truck that comes up, what else do you need before something is done? *tr | |||
| 05/12/2009 | 115000 | 1 | |
| I own a dodge 2003 2500 pickup. death wobble. it starts at 45 to 65 mph a wobble that is so server that you lose control of you pickup. i have replace parts in my frontend and contacted dodge for help.if you review internet this is a big problem. they need to be recall due to dangerous conduction and lemon law. it is said that our tax money went to bail out a co. that wont fix a problem as dangerous as this and we the tax payers or bailing them. please do investigation on this asap. you are the only one that can stop someone from getting killed, and our protactors. it time to do something!! *tr | |||
| 07/18/2009 | 82000 | 1 | |
| I have nearly lost control of my vehicle after driving over an interstate overpass at highway speeds and/or a bump in the road. the first few times it occurred, the feeling was unsettling and not 'normal' - subsequently, when the problem progressed, it was a new level of shaking and wobbling after crossing an overpass with pavement irregularity - the vehicle went into an extremely violent shake and scared all of us in the vehicle. this problem has continued to get worse. i then received a recall for a safety problem in the front end of my vehicle and thought, ok, this problem is being adressed and chrysler is going to fix it. the dealer took the recall notice, said it didn't apply to my truck. then after saying they cannot find anything wrong with the vehicle (and charged me $35) they told me that the shaking was because of my tires. after getting different tires, the problem remains. the violent wobble is extremely dangerous and the local dodge dealer seems to be ignorant of any widespread problem with this. i guess they never searched google, because there are dozens of hits on this exact issue. *tr | |||
| 01/02/2009 | 30000 | 1 | |
| 2003 dodge ram 2500 cracked dashboard. vehicle has 31k miles. power windows malfunctioning, airconditioning blower malfunctioning. dodge dealer will attempt to replace at owners cost. check engine light on for power steering sensor problem. sensor will have to be replaced. *tr | |||
| 03/17/2008 | 77200 | 12 | 04/14/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge ram 2500. while driving 65 mph, the vehicle drove over a pothole and began to shake violently. the dealer named the failure the death wobble and stated that there were no recalls for this failure. the manufacturer and dealer would not repair it for free. the current and failure mileages were 77,200. updated 6/9/08 *cn the consumer believed there was a problem with the ball joints,stabilizer, trac bar and alignment. updated 06/09/08 | |||
| 08/01/2006 | 28000 | 40 | 08/01/2006 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge ram 2500. the contact stated that when recovering from making a turn, the steering wheel locks when he attempts to straighten the wheel. the failure causes him to loose control of the vehicle. the failure has occurred approximately forty times. the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. the vin was unknown. the current mileage is 44,000 and failure mileage was 28,000. | |||
| 12/28/2004 | 35000 | 1 | 01/01/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge ram 2500. the vehicle's front end vibrated uncontrollably when driving on uneven pavement. the contact must come to a complete stop when the vibration occurs. the dealer stated the steering booster damper, outer links, and tire kit could all be possible causes for the failure. chrysler stated that there were no flags related to the vehicle's failures. the current mileage was 77,000, and failure mileage were 35,000.*ak | |||
| 01/04/2006 | 40000 | 20 | 02/04/2003 |
| 2003 dodge ram 2500 quadcab 4x4 p/u goes into an uncontrollable front end wobble after hitting a bump in the road but only while traveling in excess of 60 mph, i have had new tires put on, front end checked, aligned, new front steering damper, new rt front ball joint and hub assembly. *nm | |||
| 04/10/2006 | 15000 | 2 | 10/14/2003 |
| Excessive movement in poor quality oem ball joints, along with road feed back through a multi piece, and movable steering shaft and steering column. make this series of truck unsafe, a hazard, and a liability on the road. *nm | |||
| 12/02/2005 | 35000 | 1 | 07/01/2003 |
| I own a 2003 dodge ram 2500 pickup truck. four wheel drive with a diesel engine. vehicle has 30,000 miles. on 2 december 2005, while driving to work with out any warning the steering locked, rendering me helpless unable to steer the vehicle. after i was able to get the vehicle to a safe location i attempted to test the steering. the steering wheel would not steer to the right of center. it will steer to the left but seems to have a diminished power assist performance at first. while cycling the steering system several times the power assist to the left improves. however once the steering reaches the center point to the right the steering locks and would not go any further right of center. the vehicle is currently at dominion dodge service rep 1259 e. main street salem virginia, and they have determined that the steering gear box has failed. although it is very possible that a component of this type could fail, in the 30 years as an automotive mechanic and a master in hydraulic systems technology i have yet seen or heard of a steering gear box failure that would render a vehicle completely incapable of controlling steering. most of my experience in this field is usually worn component that cause poor performance in the steering capability. usually this occurs at greater than 100,000 miles, not at 30,0000. *nm | |||
| 08/02/2005 | 35205 | 5 | 07/30/2004 |
| 2003 dodge 2500 quad cab 4x4. diesel: when driving on interstate highways it becomes very difficult to steer and control after hitting a rough spot in the roadway and a rough bridge. does not do it all of the time so you never know when to expect it. the only way to stop the problem is to slow way down, at least 25 to 30 mph slower. it did not start doing this until about 200 miles over the factory bumper to bumper warranty. local dealer thought it was due to rotating tires and the tires being out of balance. i had tires re-balanced and also install a new mopar steering strut and it still does it. it is very dangerous and i am afraid to pull my 21 ft boat now. my wife will no longer drive it either. there needs to be some kind of factory recall before lives and property are lost!! *jb | |||
| 04/21/2005 | 39000 | 6 | 03/12/2003 |
| I was driving at freeway speed 75 mph when i hit a small washboard type bump, my 2003 dodge 4x4 2500 diesel (with 39,000 miles) began swerving so violently i could hardly hang on to the wheel. we nearly ran off the road and just missed the semi next to us. it was so bad, my wife's head was hitting against the passenger window. we had to slam on the brakes & come to a speed of 30 mph to get it to stop. it seemed to drive fine until we could get it to the dealership in grand junction, who diagnosed it as a bad tie rod end. replaced that,, and sent us on our way. we again began driving down the freeway, pulling a small cargo trailer when it happened again. this time it was so much worse while i tried to hang on to the wheel that i could hardly focus my eyes and again my wife's head smashing against the passenger window with this violent shaking. we took the truck to the dodge dealership in st. george, ut where they reported there were several things they could do, but couldn't guaranty that it would fix the problem. did comment that they were well aware of this problem with these trucks and the service team in slc, ut had named it the death wobble. i questioned why there is not a recall if it is so common, but he had no answer. he stated most of the people who had this problem 'just got rid of the truck' in other words some other fool has it. this is going to kill someone if not remedied. as a matter of fact, my small wife would have never had the strength to hang on to that wheel & we would be dealing with a crash or death instead of this letter.*ak | |||
| 06/15/2003 | 22000 | 1 | 01/21/2003 |
| My 2003 dodge ram 2500 steering shakes uncontrollably when you hit a bump at highway speeds or a bridge expansion joint. directional control is difficult while this is happening. this happened while traveling at 75 mph, and sent the truck into the other lane, nearly causing an accident. could not get the shaking to stop until truck dropped to 45 mph. the dealership says that one other customer is having the same problem. they checked all the steering components and said everything was good. this is very dangerous, and should be checked out further. ball joints in these trucks:2003 ram 2500 -3500 are proven to be defective. i am a member of the turbo diesel register which is comprise of 40,000+ members and this problem is not uncommon at all. approximately 50% of all 2003 + trucks have ball joint slop in the first 10,000 miles. *jb | |||
| 10/18/2004 | 3000 | 4 | 03/01/2003 |
| Problem seems to occur more frequently on interstate or highway at speeds of over 65 mph. when vehicle hits a bump a certain way it begins to bounce and sway very violently. so much so that it throws you into other lanes. you have to slow to less than 50 mph to get it to stop. nothing has been done to correct this. local dealers have been unable to locate problem. this problem will cause fatalities if the problem isnt solved soon.*ak | |||
| 07/06/2004 | 32900 | 1 | 11/24/2002 |
| My 2003 dodge ram 2500 steering shudders uncontrollably when you hit a bump at highway speeds. directional control is difficult while this is happening. this happened while traveling at 75 mph, and sent the truck into the other lane, nearly causing an accident. could not get the shaking to stop until truck dropped to 35 mph. the dealership says that one other customer is having the same problem. they checked all the steering components and said everything was good. this is very dangerous, and should be checked out further. *la | |||
| 08/11/2003 | 18000 | 1 | 03/18/2003 |
| While driving at 15 mph, the intermediate steering shaft fell apart, the driver loss control of the vehicle. the cause of the steering shaft failure was due to the pinch bolt falling out. *ak the consumer making a right turn towing a small trailer when the steering shaft separated and the vehicle veered into the ditch. *scc *jb | |||
| STEERING - COLUMN | |||
| 08/15/2007 | 69000 | 6 | 04/11/2003 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge ram 2500. the contact stated that his vehicle would not start and the fans for the air conditioner were not working. after he adjusted the steering column, the air conditioner worked. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic and they were unable to duplicate the failure. the failure remained and the contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer. the dealer stated that the wiring circuits were burned, but they could not determine when the fire occurred. they refused to repair the vehicle for free because it exceeded the warranty. a complaint was filed with the manufacturer. the failure mileage was 69,000 and current mileage was 71,000. the consumer stated cuevas informed him the air/heat controls did not work in all positions. updated 12/13/07 *tr | |||
| STEERING - GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | |||
| 11/07/2002 | 1400 | 10/24/2002 | |
| Seat becomes a problem when the temperature gets colder. cool mornings will cause the seats to rise 3 inches causing driver or passenger not to sit correctly and buckle seat belt. this also causes driver to readjust mirror as temperatures rise and cushion lowers. as these changes occur driver must adjust seat forward and back making use of mirrors impossible without numerous corrections daily.also, vehicle wanders on highway, driver must continuously move steering wheel to keep vehicle between lines on consumer's side of the road. in addition, detected clunking noise coming from steering box. *ak | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - POWER STEERING FLUID | |||
| 03/21/2004 | 25489 | 100 | 02/23/2003 |
| My automobile is unsafe, i almost wrecked thursday with my children with me. it very scary and i am afraid to drive it any more. we have been through arbitration twice and been denied. we have two dealerships that have driven it and says it is unsafe and needs to be removed from the highways. i have contacted daimler chrysler and they have refused to cooperate with us. please call me at 479-394-0058 or 614-886-5716 *la | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - PUMP | |||
| 03/30/2006 | 207000 | 4 | 04/15/2003 |
| Dt*: the contact stated the power steering pump has failed four times. this occurs at no particular speed. the first three times, an independent repair shop installed a refurbished pump. the pumps have continued to fail. the vehicle is at the repair shop awaiting a new pump. updated 05/22/06. *jb | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||
| 08/15/2004 | 18000 | 10 | 10/12/2003 |
| Truck is unsafe to drive on freeway and had to trade off due to dealer not wanting to repair .this is a know problem since 2000 with several different trucks and everytime dealer gives you deer in headlights look. factory needs to recall all these trucks before people get killed!trade truck in due to being unsafe i know of 2 other trucks doing the same and not corrected by factory.*ak | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES | |||
| 03/21/2004 | 25489 | 100 | 02/23/2003 |
| My automobile is unsafe, i almost wrecked thursday with my children with me. it very scary and i am afraid to drive it any more. we have been through arbitration twice and been denied. we have two dealerships that have driven it and says it is unsafe and needs to be removed from the highways. i have contacted daimler chrysler and they have refused to cooperate with us. please call me at 479-394-0058 or 614-886-5716 *la | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES - LINK - DRAG - CONNECTION | |||
| 01/01/2004 | 20000 | 1 | 11/01/2003 |
| Uncontrolled wobble of front wheels on 2003 dodge ram heavy duty truck due to worn ball joints and steering components, i'm told these are the same ball joints used on the durango. *ak | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES - TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | |||
| 08/15/2005 | 62000 | 1 | 01/18/2003 |
| Dt: the consumer stated that the tie rod on the front driver's side broke on the 2003 dodge ram 3500 while driving 20 mph. the driver did not notice anything different about the driving before this happened. the steering was gone and the truck wasundriveable. the consumer had to call a tow truck to pick up the truck and take it to a dealer. the dealer said that was the first tie rod that broke. there were no injuries. the consumer was going to have it repaired. the dealer said that is was not under warranty. the dealer was not going to help with any expenses. the manufacturer has not been contacted at this point. *ak | |||
| 01/01/2004 | 20000 | 1 | 11/01/2003 |
| Uncontrolled wobble of front wheels on 2003 dodge ram heavy duty truck due to worn ball joints and steering components, i'm told these are the same ball joints used on the durango. *ak | |||
| 08/04/2004 | 34000 | 3 | 06/01/2003 |
| I had sears align tires on my dodge. they described problems with ball joint, tie rod and bearing on my 2003 dodge. chrysler will not replace parts that are showing excessive wear on this 1.5 year old truck as they did not diagnose problem before warranty expiration. *ak | |||
| STEERING - RACK AND PINION | |||
| 08/03/2004 | 1 | ||
| While driving at any speed consumer heard a loud noise coming from the front. abs light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. *ak | |||
| 03/27/2003 | 100 | 365 | 03/20/2003 |
| At highway speeds, 65 mph and above, all 2003 and 2004 ram trucks with four wheel drive vibrate because of a new engineering design. i have taken my truck to the dealer for repair and chrysler, while they know of this problem and made an adjustment to the pinion gear, insists it is normal for this vehicle. the problem is caused by a new design by which the front drive pinion in four wheel drive vehicles spins continuously, even at highway speeds. this design is not normally used in four wheel drive specifically because of vibration issues. it makes the mirrors shake and also makes occupants nauseous. to make matters worse, if a 65 mph highway is not available for evaluation prior to purchase (such as in my case), the buyer is unaware of this serious issue. *la | |||
| STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR | |||
| 06/21/2006 | 20000 | ||
| The first occurrence was at 20000 miles, (death wobble), it did not happen for another year. since then it has gotten more frequent, virtually every time i get on the highway. i have upgraded steering linkage to 09'.,new track bar, steering dampner , ball joints and also the gearbox frame brace w/pitnam arm bearing kit. i still have the death wobble. i now have around 58000 mi. i love my truck, just not the wobble, i would not feel right by selling it like this. | |||