Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Dodge 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 86 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.
The 25 most recent of 86, in the owner's own words
I tried to get the service done Iam a one vehicle owner the dealership told me I had to pay out of pocket for the rental car with no set day of service The dealership didn’t care whether I got the recall done cause of the year of the vehicle they provided no transportation solution
I was driving to work that morning traveling about 40 into the city when all of a sudden I heard a loud noise, I barely could handle the steering wheel to coast it to the side before it came to a complete hault, I look out my window and my drive shaft broke in 2 pieces was passing me on the main road. Front end was on the side shoulder, back end was out in the road. I jumped out of the truck and grabbed up both ends of my drive shafts and put in the back of my 04 dodge ram truck, then started directing traffic on this busy road of morning commuters. Fluid was everywhere on the road so I'm trying to put sand from the side of the road onto the fluid that was on the road that had leaked out my truck all while directing traffic to keep from creating an accident. An law officer came ask was I alright, I answered explained what had happened and he never took a report instead replied with "Seems like you got everything handled" and got back in his car and drove off. I called for a tow service for their assistance and requested it be took to a shop. Where it now sits unrivaled. It was inspected by the mechanic and learned that the pinyin nut had came off cause my rear end to lock up which caused my drive shaft to come out and when it hit broke it smooth into 2 pieces that caused damage to my transmission case. This could have ended very badly for me that day, I'm thankful that it didn't. But now my truck is tore up do to a faulty manufacturers pinyin nut. And I need my truck fixed so I can work and support my family. This was not my doings. I love my truck very much and desperately need it back up and running
ENGINE STALLS WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED AND WHEN IN IDLE. THIS STARTED HAPPENING APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AGO. CHECK ENGINE HAS NEVER TURNED ON.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, AN ABNORMAL SQUEAKING NOISE OCCURRED COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN MAKING TURNS, AN ABNORMAL SCRAPING NOISE OCCURRED COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND TO GO THE VEHICLE JERKED, THEN FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED HAYES CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM OF GAINESVILLE ((770) 535-2835, 3115 FRONTAGE RD, GAINESVILLE, GA 30504) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 301,932.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED INTO THE OTHER LANE, SPUN AROUND, DROVE INTO A DITCH, AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. UPDATED 01/06/17*LJ CONSUMER STATED THE REAR AXLE BROKE AND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BROKE OFF AND WAS LAYING IN THE DITCH BY THE TRUCK! UPDATED 7/12/18*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE SHOOK. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN AND THE CONTACT COULD NOT GAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE MINOR INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
I OWN A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500 WHENEVER IT GETS WET IT SHUTS DOWN AND IT STARTS BY THE STEERING GETTING HARD THEN DASH LIGHT ( CHECK GAGE ) COMES ON THEN I'M A SITTING DUCK AND IT WON'T MOVE. I HAVE HAD ALOT OF WORK DONE BY THE GARAGE AS THEY SAID THIS AND THAT WAS THE ISSUE $2,300 LATTER IT STILL DOES THE SAME ISSUE. I'M LOST AND I KNOW AT LEAST 15 OTHER TRUCK OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE .
WHEN EVER IT RAINS I CAN'T DRIVE AS WATER SPLASHES UP UNDER THE TRUCK FROM THE ROAD MY CHECK GAGE LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN STEERING GETS STIFF AND YOU CAN'T TURN THE STEERING WHEEL . I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED 3 TIMES TO A GARAGE AND ONCE IT SAT INSIDE OUT OF THE RAIN AND DRYER OUT THE WHEEL WAS ABLE TO TURN. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS AS I COULDN'T STEER AND IN 2 CASES I HAD TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A FREEWAY AS I COULDN'T TURN AROUND THE BEND IN THE ROAD .
15V-313 WE HAVE A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500 THAT HAS ALL THE ISSUES I'VE READ ON HERE FOR COMPLAINTS. THE WIND SHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORK ON THE HIGHEST SETTING AND WHEN TURNED OFF STOP WHEREVER ON THE WINDSHIELD WHEN YOU TURN THE SWITCH TO SHUT THEM OFF, THE ENGINE SEEMS TO BE LEAKING OIL SOME PLACE, HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBELIES, REAR END HAS FOAM IN THE FLUID, IM GUESSING FROM READING THIS THAT MY REAR AXEL IS ABOUT TO FLY OUT FROM UNDERNEATH MY TEUCK WHILE DRIVING BY THE WAY IT SOUNDS AND SLIPS, AND NOW A RECALL ON AIR BAGS. I FEAR EVERYTIME I DRIVE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF MY TRUCK AND BY THE SOUNDS OF IT AFTER READING ALL THESE COMPLAINTS THAT THERE IS GOOD REASON TO FEAR FOR MY LIFE. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD NOT BE MADE AVAILABLE TO DRIVE IF THERE THIS DANGEROUS. SOUNDS LIKE CHRYSLER SHOULD BE BUYING THESE TRUCKS BACK SO ALL THERE CUSTOMERS DONT HAVE TO RISK THERE LIVES DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN A POOR DESIGNED VEHICLE THE PRODUCED. NOT SURE WHY THERE ALLOWED TO KEEP THEM ON THE STREETS BEING SO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. OUR TRUCK HAS EVERY PROBLEM THAT PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT ON HERE BUT YET ONLY HAS ONE RECALL WHEN LOOKED UP BY VIN. WHY IS THAT?
THE TRUCK STALLS AT STOPS AND TURNS AFTER FUEL FILL UP
ENTERING OFF THE HIGHWAY RT 95 FELT VIBRATION THEN CAUGHT THE END OF THE CURB TRYING TO CONTROL IT WENT INTO THE GRASS, INTO A GUARD RAIL THEN ALSO INTO A HAS SITTERS MATERIAL DANGER WITH SIGNS ALL OVER IT BUILDING NEXT TO THE TOLLBOOTH BECAUSE IT WAS SLIPPERY GRASS I COULD NOT STOP THEN PROCEEDED TO SOMEHOW TOTALED TWO CARS ON THE OP. CIT. SIDE OF THE SMALL BUILDING THE PARK CARS THAT WERE WORKERS AT THE TOLLBOOTH IT WAS AN INDUSTRIAL PARK BUILDING AND I WANT THROUGH I HAVE YET TO GET ANY INFORMATION NOR GOT ANY TYPE OF RESPONSE FROM CHRYSLER DODGE OR ANYBODY I HAVE A MISSING TOOTH DUE TO THE ACCIDENT IT WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND I HAVE A POLICE REPORT AND HOSPITAL BILLS NO RENTAL BILLS AND THEN ON TO WORK IT'S JUST TERRIBLE WITH NO TRUCK .. I'M SICK OVER THE WHOLE THING AND NOW PILE OF BILLS THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH I REALLY PRESCIENT THE NEW BUYBACK YOU HAD DONE BECAUSE NONE OF MYRECALLS ON MY TRUCK HAD GOTTEN DONE PLEASE HELP.
I RECIEVED A LETTER STATING A RECALL.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT WOULD GIVE OUT AT RANDOM TIMES BROUGHT TO DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED AS FCM (LATER FOUND OUT BY ANOTHER MECHANIC THAT IT WAS A LOOSE CONNECTOR AT THE TIPM ISSUE WAS ALSO THE SAME EXACT THING ON OUR WORK TRUCK A 2004 DODGE RAM 3500 DUALLY). THE MAIN SAFETY ISSUE IS WITH THE POWER RACK AND PINION, IT HAS GIVEN OUT TWICE ON THE ROAD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE FIX THE FIRST TIME WAS A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE POWER RACK AND PINION SYSTEM. THE SECOND TIME, THE REPLACEMENT OF INNER TIE ROD SEALS. ANOTHER COMPUTER ISSUE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR LOSS OF POWER TO WHOLE TRUCK AT RANDOM TIMES, CRUISE CONTROL FAILING, POWER SURGES. UNIT REPLACED TWICE IN ONE YEAR TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT FELT THE STEERING WHEEL BECOME CONSTRICTIVE AND HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING UNIT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE, PULL TO THE LEFT, AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD, WHERE THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED. MA 10/8 *CN
WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT TO PROCEED ON A MAIN ROAD THE VEHICLE DIED WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT AND CROSS MULTIPLE LANES OF ON COMING TRAFFIC. I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE TRUCK BRIEFLY ACCELERATED AND THEN JUST DIED. I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE ENGINE. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 6500 MILES ON IT AND NOW I HAVE 204000 . THIS IS THE 4TH OCCASION IT HAS STALLED WHILE AT LOW SPEED FOR NO REASON. THE LATEST OCCASION JUST OCCURRED ON08/11/15 WHILE I WAS GOING THREW A ROUND ABOUT. I ENTERED THE ROUND ABOUT TURNING SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT ,HALF WAY AROUND COMING OUT OF THE TURN AS IT WAS STRAIGHTENING THE TRUCK JUST SHUT DOWN. IN ALL THE OCCURRENCES I HAVE BEEN TRAVELING AT LOWER SPEEDS 30 MPH OR LESS. 2 ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. ON THE LAST OCCURRENCE I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE TRUCK WHILE COASTING IN NEUTRAL ,EVEN THOUGH THE SIDE OF THE DASH THAT THE GEAR RANGE IS BURNT OUT SO YOU CANT ACTUALLY SEE WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN. ALL THE TIMES IT HAS STALLED IT HAS BEEN DURING SUMMER MONTHS HOT OUTSIDE AND NO PRECIPITATION. AT TIMES THE TRUCK WILL HIT A LOW RPM WHILE AT AN IDLE BUT WILL RECOVER. THE VEHICLE HAS GONE YEARS IN BETWEEN STALLS FIRST 2 WHEN THE TRUCK HAD LESS THAN A 80K, AND THE LAST 2 STALL OUTS ABOUT A YEAR APART. NO CODES STORED IN THE COMPUTER. TOTALLY RANDOM EVENTS.
WAS DRIVING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AT APPROX. 20MPH WHEN THE FRONT END FELL OUT ONTO THE ROAD.
WHEN I PURCHASED THIS DODGE RAM 1500 HEMI 5.7 IT HAD A BAD ENGINE. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS FIXED, I NOTICE THE TRUCK WOULD JUST STOP RUNNING OR STALL AND NO ENGINE LIGHT. I WOULD START IT BACK UP AND IT WOULD KILL AT ANYTIME I WOULD SLOW DOWN TO TURN OR SLOW DOWN TO STOP. THIS WOULD HAPPEN 2 TO 10 TIMES A DAY. THEN NOT FOR A DAY OR TWO. WHEN I LOOKED ONLINE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER IS NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM. THIS CAN KILL SOMEONE AND I HAD TO STOP MY SON FROM USING THIS TRUCK. BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID HE WOULD GET KILLED OR KILL SOMEONE ELSE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS MATTER. UPDATED 9/15/15 *LN.... UPDATED 09/30/15*BF *CN
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 35 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAD NO POWER TO MY BRAKES OR STEERING AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER PLACED IT IN PARK AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS REMAINED WORKING AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THIS SCENARIO HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION I WAS SITTING AT STOP LIGHT AND IT TURNED GREEN TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE AND PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR THE AND THE TRUCK ROLLED BACKWARDS AND ALMOST HIT THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME SINCE THERE WAS A SLIGHT DECLINE TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE TRUCK. AGAIN ALL ELECTRICAL WAS FINE, BUT THE ENGINE QUIT. FOR ALL SCENARIOS I DID NOT EVEN KNOW THE ENGINE STOPPED BESIDES THE BRAKES AND STEERING HAD NO POWER. THE ENGINE JUST SIMPLY STOPPED RUNNING,
AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH, I HEARD A LOUD "SMACK!" BEFORE THE ENGINE STALLED AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. LUCKILY, I'M PRETTY STRONG AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER. THE ENGINE WOULD START BUT NOT TURN OVER WITH 4 OR 5 ATTEMPTS. IT STARTED ON THE FIFTH OR SIXTH TRY BUT WOULD NOT IDLE. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET IT TO START AND ON MY WAY TO THE MECHANIC, I COULD TELL SOMETHING WAS BROKEN IN THE ENGINE. AFTER INSPECTING THE ENGINE AND LOOKING INTO IT, IT'S BEEN DETERMINED THAT A VALVE SPRING BROKE AND SENT THE VALVE THROUGH THE PISTON AND INTO THE CYLINDER, EFFECTIVELY CEASING THE ENGINE WHILE THE VEHICLE TRAVELED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. *TR
GETTING VERY HARD TO STEER AND WHEEL KEEPS LOCKING UP, FEELS LOOSE, AND SOUNDS LIKE IT IS BREAKING (GRINDING NOISES). *TR
TRUCK STARTED SQUEAKING THEN MAKING A POPPING NOISE WHILE TURNING IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A NOISE WHILE TURNING. DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS ANY RECALLS ON THIS TRUCK. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THE MAN SAID THE WHEEL WAS ABOUT TO COME OFF. *TR
I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK ABOUT 2.5 MONTHS AGO USED WITH 59XXX MILES ON IT. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES NOW. THE FIRST TIME I WAS COMING OFF THE FREEWAY APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT. AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN WHEN I HIT ABOUT 20 MPH MY TRUCK COMPLETELY STALLED. ALL POWER WAS ON AFTER STALL, BUT I HAD NO BRAKES, NO STEERING, AND NO ENGINE. LUCKILY IM A STRONG GUY AND HAD PLENTY OF ROOM TO KEEP A STRAIGHT LINE AND VERY FORCEFULLY APPLY THE NON POWERED BRAKES. IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP SO I KIND OF SHRUGGED IT OFF. IT HAPPENED A FEW MORE TIMES SINCE THEN, SAME SYMPTOMS: SLOWING DOWN FOR A TURN OR A STOP.... ENGINE DIES, NO STEERING, NO BRAKES, DEAD TRUCK, STARTS RIGHT UP. HOWEVER LAST NIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY IT STALLED ON ME A QUARTER OF THE WAY THROUGH A LEFT HAND TURN AT ABOUT 15 MPH. I COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL HARD ENOUGH TO FINISH MY TURN, I COULDN'T APPLY THE BRAKES HARD ENOUGH TO STOP IN A SAFE AMOUNT OF TIME, I DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. I HAD TO QUICKLY APPLY MY EMERGENCY BRAKE. STOPPING JUST IN TIME ABOUT 1 FOOT SHORT OF DRIVING INTO A GUARDRAIL WITH A STEEP EMBANKMENT ON THE OTHER SIDE. I AM LITERALLY SCARED TO DRIVE THIS TRUCK NOW, SCARED FOR MY LIFE AND OTHER PEOPLES LIVES. APPARENTLY THERE SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS STALLING, BUT NO RECALLS TO MY KNOWLEDGE OR DEFINITIVE PROBLEM HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED... PLEASE HELP! RESPECTFULLY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
HAD JUST FILLED GAS TANK FIFTEEN MINUTES EARLIER. DRIVING ON MOUNTAIN RD. SLOWED FOR CURVE AND ENGINE QUIT, ALMOST RAN INTO LOGGING TRUCK HEADON. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER FILLUP. ONCE WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON FREEWAY. SLOWED TO LET ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME AND ENGINE QUITE AS SOON AS I TOUCHED THE BRAKES. WHEN I FILL GAS TANK IT USUALLY DIE AT FIRST STOP. DOES THIS UNTIL I HAVE USED UP SOME OF THE GAS. HAVE ASKED DEALER WHO SOLD THE TRUCK TO ME TO LOOK INTO THIS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I GET KILLED. NO RESPONSE. I NO LONGER DRIVE THAT ROAD JUST AFTER FILL UP. HAVE CHECKED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL 1500 RAM OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WILL BE LIKE THE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM. PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO GET KILLED TO GET IT FIXED. *TR
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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