1998 Dodge Ram 3500 Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL DETACHED. THE ANTI-BRAKE AND BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING FAILED DUE TO THE TIE RODS AND THE WHEEL HUB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE TIE RODS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08E027000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.

NHTSA ID

10850744

Incident

Mar 3, 2016

Mileage

173,000 mi

DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP A GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL OR SWITCH TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. I WAS THRUST AROUND IN MY SEAT AND ITEMS FROM UNDER THE BACK SEAT WERE THROWN FORWARD INTO THE DASH OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL. VEHICLES AROUND ME ALSO NOTICED AND SLOWED DOWN AND STEERED CLEAR OF MY VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW TO A STOP AT THE CURB AND IT STOPPED. THAT WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT. I DID LOOK OVER THE FRONT END AND FELT THE TIE-RODS, ECT TO TEST AND EVERYTHING IS TIGHT AS IT SHOULD BE AND NOTHING VISIBLE TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED AGAIN A WEEK LATER TRAVELING AT 65 MPH. IT HAS OCCURRED OCCASIONALLY SINCE THOSE INCIDENTS IN JUNE AND THE SPEED SEEMS TO BE LESS EACH TIME. I HAVE AVOIDED DRIVING IT FOR FEAR I WILL WRECK AND KILL MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND IT IS THE "DEATH WOBBLE" THAT CHRYSLER HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED FOR AND DID A RECALL ON. BUT, THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER ALL SECOND GENERATION DODGE PICKUPS, SUCH AS MINE. THIS MUST BE NOTICED AND THE RECALL MUST COVER ALL TRUCKS IN THE SECOND GENERATION CLASS AS WELL. I WILL SUE IF I WRECK THIS TRUCK DURING A DEATH WOBBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10664549

Incident

Jun 24, 2014

Mileage

300,000 mi

WHILE GOING AROUND A CURVE OR GOING STRAIGHT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. DEALER SAID IT WAS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

857126

Incident

Apr 17, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED STEERING GEAR BROKE, CAUSING THE STEERING TO BE JAMMED DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

853956

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. PLEAS EPROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

842816

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

842815

Incident

Jul 13, 1999

LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. OCCURS ON UNEVEN ROADS OR WIND (NATURAL OR SEMI TRUCK INDUCED) CONDITIONS. SUDDEN SHIFT IN DIRECTION SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE LANE CHANGE. DEALER CLAIMS THIS "NORMAL".

NHTSA ID

708790

Incident

Jan 1, 1999

POWER STEERING FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

607221