RoadVitals

1994 Dodge Ram 2500 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.
15
Latest Jul 29, 2015
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.
9%
of 168 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.
2
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 1994 Dodge Ram 2500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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

Steering
Filed Jul 29, 2015

VEHICLE INSPECTION INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE STEERING ROD WAS COMING OUT OF THE GEAR BOX. STEERING BOX WAS REPLACED. TEST DRIVE OF VEHICLE WAS A DISASTER. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING ABOVE 10 MPH AND ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE. YOU WERE ALL OVER THE ROAD. THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED TWO MORE TIMES WITH LITTLE CHANGE. OLD GEAR BOX REINSTALLED AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN HOME. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC THAT WORKED FOR A CLOSED DEALERSHIP. GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED TWO OR THREE MORE TIMES. ALL ASSOCIATED STEERING COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED AT LEAST ONE TIME. PROBLEM STILL EXIST. VEHICLE IS USED SPARELY BECAUSE OF STEERING PROBLEM. IT IS ONLY DRIVEN ABOUT 4 MILES EVERY WEEK OR TWO TO KEEP THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION FROM GOING BAD. STEERING GEAR BOX IS A TOTAL ENGINEERING DISASTER. NO ONE YET HAS FOUND A CLEAR SOLUTION TO RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE NO REPLACEMENT ANYWHERE FOR THIS THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND. CHRYSLER QUIT MAKING THIS GEAR BOX YEARS AGO. VEHICLE IS A $40,000 PIECE OF JUNK. UPDATED 9/21/15 *LN.....UPDATED 10/01/15*BF

NHTSA ID
10745301
Incident
May 15, 2013
Mileage
81,876 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 19, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID
10684248
Incident
Feb 18, 2015
Mileage
150,000 mi
Driver assistanceSteeringSuspension
Filed Nov 13, 2014

EXPERIENCED AN EXTREME LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO A WOBBLE/VIBRATION THAT WOULD ONLY STOP WHEN YOU SLOWED TO A SPEED UNDER 25 MPH. THE DEATH WOBBLE WOULD GO AWAY BUT A SLIGHT VIBRATION ASSOCIATED WITH A LOOSE FEELING IN THE STEERING IS NOW CONSTANT. #94V202000, 94V097000, 93V173000, AND 01V037000 ALL NEED REPLACING. THE LAST RECALL MENTIONED HERE IS THE SPEED CONTROL THROTTLE CABLE, AND SO FAR IT HAS NOT BEEN A PROBLEM. THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS DUE TO ITS FAILURE URGES ME TO REPLACE THIS PART.

NHTSA ID
10658464
Incident
Dec 1, 2005
Mileage
100,000 mi
Powertrain (other)SteeringSuspension
Filed Nov 12, 2014

THE FRONT LEFT TIRE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH A SMALL BUMP WHILE SLIGHTLY TURNING LEFT. IT VIOLENTLY STARTED WOBBLING MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, AND WILL ONLY STOP WHEN YOUR SPEED REACHES UNDER 25 MPH. THE DEATH WOBBLE WAS VERY UNPREDICTABLE WHEN IT FIRST STARTED HAPPENING, BUT NOW IT IS CONSTANTLY THREATENING. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO AUTO NATION DODGE RAM ON ARAPAHOE RD IN COLORADO BACK IN MAY OF 2014. I ASKED THEM TO FIX ALL RECALLS, AND DESCRIBED TO THEM WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THE INVOICE I RECEIVED CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED JUST A FEW RECALLS THAT DID NOT FIX THE MAIN PROBLEM. WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP THE DEATH WOBBLE HAPPENED ONCE AGAIN, AND THE PARTS THAT WERE CLAIMED TO BE FIXED CLEARLY WAS INCORRECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10654544
Incident
Mar 1, 2004
Mileage
100,000 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 10, 2011

VIOLENT SHAKING IN THE FRONT END/ STEERING, AFTER DRIVING OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE AT SPEEDS OVER 40MPH.

NHTSA ID
10382232
Incident
Jul 15, 2010
Mileage
137,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 25, 2005

DT: THE VEHICLE SHIMMIES SEVERELY AND WHEN THE CONSUMER HIT A POTHOLE THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND HE HAD TO STOP TO GET CONTROL AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONSUMER STATED THIS HAS HAPPENED ONE OTHER TIME ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND IT HAPPENED TWO TIMES THIS PAST WEEKEND. DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME AND COULD NOT FIND WHAT WAS WRONG. THE SECOND TIME CONSUMER TOOK A TSB#190596 AND THE DEALER SAID IT DID NOT APPLY TO CONSUMER VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10129870
Incident
Jun 23, 2005
Mileage
85,700 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 18, 2003
Crash reported

THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT THE CURVE AT 30 MPH HE LOSS STEERING CONTROL, WHICH CAUSED A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE STEERING SHAFT AND THE DRAG LINK WERE REPLACED. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10024732
Incident
Jun 20, 2003
Mileage
112,752 mi
ElectricalSteeringSuspension
Filed Aug 6, 2001
Fire reported

FRONT END OF VEHICLE HAD TO BE REBUILT FOUR TIMES, REPLACING VARIOUS COMPONENTS INCLUDING TIE RODS/ STABALIZER BARS, ETC. SUSPENSION PROBLEMS LEAD TO POOR HANDLING CONTROL,AND IS UNSAFE FOR OPERATION ON THE ROAD. ALSO, IN MAY OF 2001 AFTER STARTING ENGINE, IGNITION WOULD NOT STOP TURNING WHICH CAUSED SMOKE TO COME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
893545
Incident
Jun 1, 1996
Powertrain (other)SteeringSuspension
Filed Apr 10, 2001

WHILE DRIVING COULD HEAR NOISE COMING FROM FRONT LIKE GRINDING. ALSO, BEARING AND SPINDLE BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ID
885611
Incident
Mar 22, 2001
Steering
Filed Aug 4, 1999

STEERING WAS HARD TO CONTROL DUE TO THE WEARING OF THE STEERING GEAR BOX. DEALER HAS REPLACED GEAR BOX, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
844341
Steering
Filed Nov 18, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE OWNER TRIED TO MAKE A TURN AND THE STEERING HWENT COMPLETELY OUT DUE TO POWER STEERING HOSE CORROSION. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN.*AK

NHTSA ID
830968
Steering
Filed Sep 4, 1996

OWNER ENCOUNTERED AN UNKNOWN VIBRATION IN THE STEERING SYSTEM THAT RESULTED IN TRUCK BEING UNCONTROLLABLE. CHRYSLER MFG. IS AWARE OF PROBLEM AND HAS A BULLETIN, BUT OFFER NO FACTORY PAID REMEDY FOR AVAILABLE MODELS.*AK

NHTSA ID
800809
Steering
Filed Dec 13, 1995

STEERING IS LOOSE, VEHICLE WANDERS. TT

NHTSA ID
976544
Steering
Filed Jun 26, 1995

POWER STEERING PUMP ON TRUCK WENT OUT AT LESS THAN 3000 MILES. TT

NHTSA ID
967755
Incident
Jun 26, 1995
Steering
Filed May 18, 1995

STEERING SHAFT PIN STRIP CAUSING NO CONTROL OVER VEHICLE AT SPEED 60 MPH. TT

NHTSA ID
965476
Incident
May 18, 1995

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .