RoadVitals

2000 Dodge 1500 Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Jun 17, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 513 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 Dodge 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Jun 17, 2022

Unknown Will be driving down the road and the truck will shut off. When this happens it also affects the power steering and the power brakes. Has happened at a spotlight and I had to push it thru a busy intersection. Has happened going down the road just at random. No warning. But it does show (No Bus) when this happens but it does not trigger a code or engine light Try to start it and it will not start. Sometime it's only a few minutes up too 1/2 Hour the last time it cut off.

NHTSA ID
11469787
Incident
Jun 17, 2022
Driver assistanceEngineSteering
Filed May 1, 2018

LINKAGE IN STEERING COLUMN WILL REMAIN IN 2ND GEAR WHEN I HAVE PUT IT IN DRIVE. IT HAS BEEN IN MECHANICS TWICE. TWICE INTO MECHANICS REGARDING ANTIFREEZE SPILLING INSIDE THE CAB OF TRUCK. REPAIR WAS ON WATER PUMP BOTH TIMES. STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH BOTH CONCERNS. RESULTING IN HEALTH ISSUES BEING AT RISK LINKAGE WHILE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY. ANTIFREEZE SPEWING INSIDE CAB OF TRUCK ON WINDSHIELD, CARPET AND MATS, ALSO CENTER OF CAB NEAR 4 WHEEL GEAR SHIFTER.OCCURS WHEN STATIONARY OR WHEN DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
11091215
Incident
Jul 14, 2012
Mileage
90,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 9, 2016

I'VE ONLY OWNED THE TRUCK FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS AT THIS TIME. ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO I EXPERIENCED WHAT MY RESEARCH HAS SHOWN TO BE THE DODGE DEATH WOBBLE, THIS IS WHERE ONE OF THE FRONT WHEELS HITS A BUMP IN THE ROAD AT FREEWAY SPEED AND THE FRONT END OSCILLATES VIOLENTLY AND WILL NOT STOP WITHOUT SLOWING THE VEHICLE DOWN AND RADICALLY MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM CENTER (STRAIGHT LINE). IF LEFT TO "WOBBLE" IT SEEMS THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE ITSELF TO DEATH!! MAYBE EVEN BREAK A STEERING/SUSPENSION COMPONENT. I DID TRY INSTALLING THE ENHANCED BRACE THAT TIES THE SWAY BAR MOUNTS/ANCHOR POINTS TO A NEW BEARING SUPPORTING AN EXTENSION ON THE PITTMAN ARM SHAFT AND I ALSO HAD THE FRONT END COMPONENTS CHECKED, ALIGNED AND TIRES BALANCED TO NO AVAIL, THOUGH THE BRACE KIT SEEMED TO HELP. IT IS HARD TO PREDICT WHEN A BUMP IN THE ROAD WILL SET IT OFF BUT THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED I BARELY KEPT IT FROM PULLING INTO THE NEXT LANE BEFORE I GOT IT SLOWED AND CONTROLLED. I NOW TRY TO MINIMIZE MY TIME ON THE FREEWAY IN MY COMMUTE TO/FROM WORK.

NHTSA ID
10905131
Incident
Sep 9, 2016
Mileage
190,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed May 9, 2014

UNCONTROLLABLE WHEEL SHAKE (DEATH WOBBLE), UNTIL YOU COME TO COMPLETE STOP WHICH THE VIOLENT SHAKING IN TURN AFFECTS HOW I BRAKE. CHRYSLER REVISED THE STEERING SET UP AND KEPT IT A SECRET UNTIL YOU MADE A COMPLAINT EVEN THEN THEY JUST SAY YOU NEED TO REPLACE ALL STEERING COMPONENTS MEAN WHILE WHAT THEY INSTALL IS NOTHING LIKE WHAT WAS THERE. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR POOR ENGINEERING- THIS CAN HURT SOMEONE ONE DAY AND WOULD RATHER SEE IT NOT. VIOLENT WHEEL SHAKE I MEAN VIOLENT. IF A PRODUCT IS DESIGNED WRONG AND MANUFACTURE CREATES A FIX FOR SO CALLED DESIGN FLAW THEN THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. HTTP://BLOG.DIESELPOWERPRODUCTS.COM/DODGE-FRONT-END-ISSUES-AND-THE-DREADED-DEATH-WOBBLE THIS LINK CONTAINS CHRYSLERS REVISED PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10587518
Incident
Jan 1, 2013
Mileage
167,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Apr 8, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FAULTY. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED AND THE DEFECT WAS REMEDIED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AS THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

NHTSA ID
10578379
Incident
Jul 5, 2013
Mileage
126,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 3, 2011

VIOLENT CONVULSIVE BOUNCING SHAKING WOBBLING MOVEMENT IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING AT MODERATE TO HIGH SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10386354
Incident
Mar 3, 2011
Mileage
160,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 23, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE AND, MINUTES LATER, THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME FUNCTIONAL AGAIN. TEN MINUTES LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,000.

NHTSA ID
10209743
Incident
Nov 14, 2007
Mileage
2,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 6, 2004

I HAVE 2000 DODGE RAM PICKUP THAT HAS FOUR WHEEL DRIVE AND 37,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AT APPROXIMATELY 15,000 MILES, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND IT BECAME HARD TO KEEP IT FROM WANDERING. I USED THE INTERNET TO FIND WAYS OF CHECKING THE FRONT END COMPONENTS AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. USING THE INFORMATION THAT I FOUND ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE BALL JOINTS, TRAC BAR, AND STEERING STABILIZER ARE ALL DEFECTIVE. LIKEWISE, THE TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO GIVE ME PROBLEMS IN REVERSE GEAR. I HAVE COLLECTED INFORMATION THAT SHOWS ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS GOING BACK MANY YEARS. HOW CAN A MANUFACTURER BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE MAKING FAULTY PRODUCTS KNOWING THAT THEY ARE JEOPARDIZING THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE? I CANNOT AFFORD TO GET THIS TRUCK FIXED AND AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. IS DODGE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR REPAIRS SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS? *JB

NHTSA ID
10098378
Incident
Nov 5, 2004
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jan 6, 2004

VIBRATION & NOISE IN RIGHT FRONT WHEN TURNING, DEALER CHECKED FOUND NOISE COMING FROM R/S LOWER BALL JOINT & DRAG LINK BROKEN - DELAER REPLACED DRAG LINK AND BALL JOINT KIT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10052524
Incident
Oct 14, 1999
Mileage
5,522 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Nov 1, 2003

I OWN A 2000 DODGE RAM 1500, 2 WHEEL DRIVE. AS I LOOKED THROUGH YOUR SITE I FOUND A RECALL ON THE SUSPENSION OF THE RIGHT CONTROL ARM. ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO THE TRUCK THE TRUCK NEEDED TIE ROD ENDS ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. A LOUD SQUEAKING WAS TO BE FIXED BY THE TIE ROD ENDS. ONCE IN THE SHOP I RECEIVED A CALL SAYING THAT THE RIGHT CONTROL ARM HAD A BAD BUSHING AND TO REPLACE THE RUBBER BUSHING I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE WHOLE CONTROL ARM. NO ONE PERSON COULD TELL ME WHY. ACCORDING TO YOUR RECALL, MY BAD TIE ROD ENDS, SHOCKS, AND CONTROL ARM ARE A RESULT OF A BAD AXLE. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THIS ALL HAPPENED FROM THE CONTROL GOING BAD. THE TRUCK HAD ONLY 100,000 MILES AT THE TIME,THIS COST ME 1,500.00. THE TRUCK IS NOW STARTING TO HAVE THE SAME NOISES AS A YEAR AGO. COULD THIS BE THE RECURRING PROBLEM,SHOULD I JUST KEEP REPLACING THE RIGHT SIDE CONTROL ARM. MY TRUCK IS ALL ROAD MILES,NO FOUR WHEELING, NO TOWING, NO ACCIDENTS. WHAT YOU HAVE POINTED OUT I FEEL IS MORE PREVALENT THAN 76 VEHICLES. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THERE IS NO RECALL OF THIS KIND FOR MY TRUCK, THEN WHY IS IT WITH YOU PEOPLE AND WHY IS IT EXACTLY AS YOU HAVE STATED. I FEEL YOU ARE RIGHT,I FEEL THERE IS A PROBLEM, I ALSO FEEL PUTTING ON NEW CONTROL ARMS DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM WHICH I FEEL IS RETURNING AND I FEAR ANOTHER 1,500.00 BILL IS ON IT'S WAY. PLEASE HELP! *LA

NHTSA ID
10045250
Incident
Oct 23, 2002
Mileage
100,000 mi
Steering
Filed May 6, 2003

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART IT TO UNLOCK THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER 7 TIMES FOR STEERING LOCKING UP. *JB

NHTSA ID
10018282
Steering
Filed Mar 15, 2003

STEERING IN MY 2000 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 IS VERY UNSAFE. IT IS NOT RESPONSIVE, AND SEEMS VERY LOOSE. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS "NORMAL". THE TRUCK WILL WANDER ALL OVER THE LANE, AND WHEN I TRY TO CORRECT IT, GOES COMPLETELY THE OTHER WAY, AND THIS TO ME IS DANGEROUS. THERE IS LOTS OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND AGAIN THE DEALER TELLS ME THIS IS "NORMAL". *NLM

NHTSA ID
10010498
Incident
Mar 13, 2003
Mileage
26,000 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 5, 2003

THE TIE ROD SNAPPED MAKING IT HARD TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH

NHTSA ID
10006601
Incident
Jan 22, 2003
Steering
Filed Mar 12, 2002

WHILE TURING FRONT TIE RODS SEPARATED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK VIN INDICATES THAT MAKE IS FORD TRUCK, MODEL F150 AND YEAR 2000. *YD

NHTSA ID
8005465
Incident
Jan 15, 2002
SteeringTires & wheels
Filed May 8, 2001

CONSUMER MAKES A LEFT TURN AT ANY GIVEN SPEED TIRES RUB AGAINST SHOCK BRACKETS WHICH CAUSES A NOISE. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED SPINDLE TWICE AND STEERING GEAR BOX. WANTS TO PUT A 2MM SHIM ON THE BACK OF TIRE. *AK THE 2MM SHIMS WERE INSTALLED BUT THE TIRE ON LEFT SIDE WAS STILL RUBBING. *YH

NHTSA ID
887726
Incident
Aug 1, 2000
Steering
Filed Dec 6, 2000

WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN STEEERING WHEEL BECOMES EXTREMELY HARD TO MANEUVER, CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
876033
Steering
Filed Dec 5, 2000

POWER STEERING SHAFT KEPT BREAKING. DEALER REPLACED / REPAIRED ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND CAUSE WAS STILL UNKNOWN. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
876002
Incident
Sep 16, 1999

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .