Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
I PURCHASED A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 5.7 V8 4WD. MY STEERING HAS GOTTEN REALLY LOOSE OVER THE LAST WEEK. I BROUGHT IT IN TO DEALERSHIP FOR A PREVIOUS RECALL. AND THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT MY STEERING GEAR WAS GOING OUT AND THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE BAD.
I AM HEARING A POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, PLAY IN STEERING, TRUCK IS WOBBLING ALL OVER THE PLACE WHEN DRIVING ON UNEVEN ROADS, HISSING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT END WHEN ACCELERATING. PLAY IN STEERING GEAR BOX. THE CLICKING POPPING SOUND I HEAR WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL IS WHEN DRIVING OR NOT MOVING. I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK PULL FAR RIGHT ON THE ROAD WHEN GOING ON UNEVEN ROADS.
DEATH WOBBLE. EXPERIENCE WHEN HITTING SMALL/MINOR BUMPS IN THE ROAD OR RAILROAD TRACKS. VIOLENT SHAKING CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO TRY TO COME TO A STOP. SHAKING IS SO VIOLENT THAT THE DRIVER IS BOUNCED AROUND IN THE SEAT, MOMENTARILY AIRBORNE AND ITESM IN THE TRUCK FLY AROUND. LAWSUIT WAS ISSUSED ON 2004 AND NEWER MODELS BUT AFFECTS OLDER MODELS AS WELL. WE NOW HAVE PAID $900 IN PARTS TO FIX THE "DEATH WOBBLE" THAT HAD WE KNOWN WAS AN ISSUE, WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THE TRUCK. COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE WHEN IT IS OUR DAILY DRIVER AND WE CANNOT AFFORD TO PARK IT AND PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE TO REPLACE IT WITH. CANNOT SELL IN CURRENTY CONDITION HAVING A "DEATH WOBBLE". NO GUARANTEE THAT THE PURCHASED PARTS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH HE HEARD A SNAPPING SOUND IN THE STEERING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE STEERING SHAFT CONNECTING TO THE STEERING BOX HAD FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000. *TR
THE STEERING IN THE 2ND GENERATION RAMS IS SUBPAR. THEY ROAD WALK, AND GET SO FAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT THEY CAN NOT BE PROPERLY ALIGNED. THIS IS SHOWN AS DODGE WENT FROM ONE STEERING DESIGN (A BETTER ONE) TO ANOTHER IN 2000 YEAR TRUCKS. IN 2003 THEY TRIED TO IMPROVE ON THE SYSTEM BUT IT WAS NOT ANY GOOD. NOW THEY ARE PUTTING ON THE 2009/10 STEERING COMPONENTS ON THE 2003-2008 TRUCKS LEAVING THE 2000-2002 TRUCKS TO SUFFER FROM A HIGHLY DANGEROUS AND UNRELIABLE STEERING SETUP. THE TRUCKS ROAD WALK ALL OVER THE ROAD, THE STEERING CONSTANTLY SHIFTS AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS NEVER TRULY IN THE CORRECT POSITION. DODGE NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A REDESIGNED STEERING REPLACEMENT FOR THESE TRUCKS AND STOP LEAVING IT UP TO THE OWNER TO FIX THEIR MISTAKE! *TR
THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500 PICKUP.ALTHOUGH NO FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED, IT CAME VERY CLOSE. STEERING BECAME VERY LOOSE AND WAS ALLOWED TO GO TILL THERE WAS A1/2 INCH TRAVEL OF THE STEERING WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE. UPON INSPECTION AND REMOVAL OF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IT WAS DISCOVERED TO HAVE THE LOWER UNIVERSAL JOINT IN COMPLETE FAILURE DO TO CORROSION AND COMPLETE LOSS OF THE BEARING. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT DODGE WAS ASKED TO REVIEW THE CASE. I WAS OFFERED A FREE OIL CHANGE AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE THE TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WOULD;D NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THIS IA SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. LOOKING ONLINE THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINS OF THE THIS PART HAVING TO BE CHANGED OUT MANY TIMES IN THE COURSE OF THE TRUCKS LIFE. TYPICALLY ANY WHERE FROM 4500 MILES AND UP! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AT 2 MPH; HOWEVER, THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE POWER STEERING ALSO FAILED SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN FOURTEEN MONTHS. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME AT A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000. UPDATED 09/09/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/14/10*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING AT 2 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GEAR BOX SHAFT HAD SHATTERED UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BUT THE CONTACT PERSONALLY REPLACED THE SHAFT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 120,000. UPDATED 08/24/10*LJ UPDATED 08/25/10*JB
DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500 QUAD CAB DIESEL. WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE STEERING SHAFT BROKE. PRIOR TO THIS SHE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE, BUT THEY NEVER COULD DETECT WHERE THE PROBLEM ORIGINATED. THE VEHICLE IS CUFRRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE STEERING GEA RBOX SHAFT. DURING AN ACCIDENT CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. HE LOST FULL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY HE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT. WAS NOT GOING VERY FAST AT THE TIME. *AK
VEHICLE IDLES AND DOES NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS STEPPED ON. ALSO, VEHICLE TENDS TO DECELERATE OFTEN WHEN IT IS TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ON THE ROAD. TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A TOTAL OF 10 TIMES, BUT THE CAUSE WAS STILL UNDETERMINED.*AK THE VEHICLE NEVER RAN RIGHT AFTER THE WIRING ON THE STEERING WAS REPLACED. CRUISE CONTROL OR GAS PEDAL DOES NOT WORK. TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUT OFF BY ITSELF AND STARTED BACK UP BY ITSELF TWICE. *TC
POWER STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING. STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT MOVE. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP/HYDRO BOOST AND TWO HOSES. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE ANY POWER STEERING WHEN IDLEING AND SOMTIMES AT LOW SPEEDS. STEERING BOX HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT PROBLEM EXISTS. DEALER WILL NO LONGER SERVICE THE VEHICLE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *TC
THERE HAS BEEN NO FAILURE YET THAT I KNOW OF BUT I OWN A 2002 DODGE 2500 WITH THE CUMMINS TURBO DIESEL ENGINE. THIS TRUCK WAS BUILT WITH ONLY TWO (2) GREASE FITTINGS IN THE STEERING GEAR. THIS IS AN INSUFFICENT NUMBER AND WILL CAUSE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINTS AND TIE RODS. *LA
THE VEHICLE'S TIE RODS AND BALL JOINTS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM *MR
TRUCK WONDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD, BUMP STEER. *JB
POOR STEERING CONTROL. VEHICLE DRIFTS. LOOSNESS IN STEERING. MANUFACTURER'S RERESENTATIVE STATES THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE CORRECTED. ALL DODGE 2002 PICKUP HAVE PROBLEMS WITH STEERING. THE STEERING HAS BEEN WORKED ON SINCE THE FIRST 150 MILES OF BEING NEW. VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000 MILES TO DATE.*AK
DODGE WILL NOT WARRANTY ANY PRODUCT BECAUSE OF FACTOR REP LEE BROWN WILL NOT STAND BEHIND PRODUCT SOLD. DT
CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE'S STEERING WANDERS EXCESSIVELY. HAS TO CONTINOUSLY CORRECT STEERING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS REPLACED GEAR BOX AND TIRES, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. TS
I HAVE BEEN TO DEALERSHIPS IN CALIFORNIA AND FIND THAT THEIR JOB IS TO RUFUSE TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS WITH TRUCK. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
CONSUMER STATES STEERING COLUMN IS DEFECTIVE. *TT
UPON PURCHASING VEHICLE AND AFTER ACCUMULATING 500 ADDITIONAL MILES STEERING WOULD MAKE A TREMENDOUS GRINDING NOISE. PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSED TO TURNING EITHER DIRECTION WITH SAME NOISE PROBLEM WITH ADDITIONAL POPPING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED STEERING COLUMN AND SHAFT WITH NO CHANGE IN CONDITION. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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