2003 Dodge Ram 3500 Steering Problems

WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK AROUND 65 MPH & I HIT A BUMP I GET A SEVERE DEATH WOBBLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES & IT'S VERY DANGEROUS

NHTSA ID

11071703

Incident

Jan 5, 2018

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000.

NHTSA ID

11064142

Incident

Jan 22, 2018

Mileage

210,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 05V462000 (POWER TRAIN), 09E001000 (STEERING), 13V528000 (STEERING), AND 15V312000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE SAME DEALER EVERY TIME SINCE 2006. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 01/05/2017*CT UPDATED 7/3/18*JB

NHTSA ID

10924236

Incident

Oct 6, 2005

PURCHASED VEHICLE AT 100,000 IN 11/2011. MILES SEEMED IN GOOD CONDITION. QUICKLY STARTED DEATH WOBBLE. THOUGHT IT WAS WEAK TIRES. PURCHASED NEW (BETTER) TIRES, NO CHANGE. TOOK INTO OAK RIDGE, TN CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP FOR DEATH WOBBLE REPAIRS AT 122,351 MILES (TICKET CHCS182246). FINE UNTIL LAST MONTH 12/2016 AT APPROX 137,051 MILES. DEATH WOBBLE IS BACK (AND WORSE). EASILY OCCURS AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS WHEN ONE HITS BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINTS (ESPECIALLY ON A CURVE). BUT MUST ALSO WATCH (BE CAREFUL) ON SECONDARY ROADS AT SLOWER SPEEDS. DOES NOT NEED TO BE ON A CURVE IF THE BUMP IS BIG. IN MY OPINION ENGINEERING WISE, THINK THE ENGINE / FRONT END IS TOO HIGH/HEAVY FOR THE DEFAULT STEERING/SUSPENSION COMPONENTS TO HANDLE THE FORCES. IT SEEMS THE REPAIRS I AM OFFERED ARE MERELY FIXING SYMPTOMS AND NOT ROOT CAUSE. ALSO SEEMS THERE IS A WEALTH OF AFTER MARKET KNOWLEDGE / PARTS THAT RECOGNIZES THE ISSUES THAT CHRYSLER REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE.

NHTSA ID

10821147

Incident

Jan 18, 2016

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V528000 (STEERING), 14V770000 (AIR BAGS), AND 15V312000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO PROVIDE THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10762164

Incident

Nov 21, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY AND BECAME LOOSE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD BALL STUD FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD BALL STUD ASSOCIATED WITH THE STEERING LINKAGE ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS LATER NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V528000 (STEERING) AND 15V312000 (AIR BAGS), BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 325,500.

NHTSA ID

10744423

Incident

Mar 20, 2014

Mileage

325,500 mi

AS WITH MANY OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2003 DODGE RAM 3500'S THIS RAM 3500 HAS HAD ALL SUGGESTED STEERING COMPONENT UPGRADES AND RECALL UPGRADES (CHANGE STEERING TO 2008 STEERING) AND THE TIE ROD RECALL FOR THE 2008 STEERING. THE 2008 STEERING UPGRADE SEEMED TO EXACERBATE THE TIRE WEAR ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, BALL JOINTS AND SHOCKS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE RAM DEATH WOBBLE AND EXCESSIVE TIE WEAR IS STILL PRESENT. THE LAST SET OF TIRES LASTED 8,000 MILES (I AM PUTTING A NEW SET ON TODAY). THE TIRE WEAR ON MY LAST TRIP OF ONLY 360 MILES WAS VERY NOTICEABLE - SO MUCH SO A TRIP OF 1,000 MILES OR MORE WOULD HAVE CAUSED DANGEROUS TIRE WEAR AND POTENTIAL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. DODGE HAS TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BY ONLY SKIMMING OVER THE ISSUE WITH MINOR FIXES. AS A RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MILES OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE - THE STEERING AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR IS UNSAFE. SINCE I AM GETTING NEW TIRES AND AN ALIGNMENT TODAY - I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TRACK MILEAGE, DRIVING CONDITIONS, NOTE STEERING ISSUES, AND PHOTOGRAPH TIRE WEAR - IF YOU WISH.

NHTSA ID

10744223

Incident

Feb 28, 2014

Mileage

79,168 mi

I JUST WANTED TO ADD TO THE RECENT RECALL INFORMATION YOU ARE INVESTIGATING WITH THE RAM TRUCKS. OUR 2003 RAM 3500 4X4 HAS HAD WHAT IS KNOW BY DODGE TRUCK OWNERS AS THE "DEATH WOBBLE" FOR MANY YEARS. WE HAVE SUNK COUNTLESS AMOUNTS OF MONEY AND TIME IN IT TRYING TO FIX IT. IT IS VERY SERIOUS AND SCARY AS THE TRUCK VIBRATES UNCONTROLLABLY AFTER HITTING A POTHOLE/TRACKS OR SIMILAR ROAD OBSTACLES.THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO EXCEPT SLOW DOWN AND RIDE IT OUT. WE WERE SO HAPPY WHEN WE RECEIVED A RECALL/PART FIX NOTICE A FEW YEARS BACK TO HAVE IT WORKED ON BUT UPON TAKING IT TO THE DEALER WE WERE TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. I CAN TELL YOU WITH COMPLETE CERTAINTY THAT WAS NOT THE CASE, IT HAS STILL DONE IT SINCE THEN. WE THINK WE HAVE IT FIXED NOW BUT ONLY TIME WILL TELL BUT IT WAS VERY UPSETTING THAT ALL THE YEAR TRUCKS WITH THIS PROBLEM WERE NOT CONSIDERED ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS IS A VERY WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH ADDITIONAL YEAR MODELS.

NHTSA ID

10743597

Incident

Jul 27, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V528000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10704271

Incident

Apr 7, 2015

I GOT A LETTER LAST YEAR 2014 ABOUT THE RECALL AND WENT BACK A MONTH LATER, AND THEY VERBALLY SAID THAT THERE'S A RECALL ON THE RECALL. THE RECENT ONE, I TOOK IT TO TURLOCK DODGE AND THEY PUT ME ON THE LIST AND I'M AT THE BOTTOM AND IT HAS BEEN A YEAR, BUT I WANT IT FIXED ASAP. THE RECALL SAYS: "THE PROBLEM IS THE LEFT TIE ROD BALL STUD ON YOUR TRUCK MAY FRACTURE UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND/OR CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WILL REPAIR YOUR VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. TO DO THIS, YOUR DEALER WILL INSPECT THE STEERING LINKAGE ON YOUR TRUCK AND REPLACE STEERING LINKAGE COMPONENT/S IF REQUIRED. THE INSPECTION WILL TAKE LESS THAN 1/2 HOUR. IF LINKAGE REPLACEMENT IS REQUIRED, THE WORK WILL TAKE AN ADDITIONAL 1 HOUR TO COMPLETE..ETC" THIS WAS COPIED FROM THE RECALL NOTICE. SO WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO FIX IT?! FIX THIS ASAP, I'M FRUSTRATED SINCE IT HAS BEEN A YEAR AND NO ONE HAS GOTTEN BACK TO ME EXCEPT THE LETTER! *TR

NHTSA ID

10702017

Incident

Mar 26, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V528000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10672464

Incident

Jan 14, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V528000 (STEERING). HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL NOVEMBER. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED THE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10630516

Incident

Sep 3, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V528000 (STEERING) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10618200

Incident

Jul 16, 2014

I'VE HAD ISSUES WITH THE STEERING. CHRYSLER/DODGE RECALLED THE STEERING ONCE AND IT FIXED MY "DEATH WOBBLE" ISSUE FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS, NOW WITH THEIR NEW MOPAR PARTS THAT I BOUGHT IT'S WORSE THEN BEFORE. SAID PARTS I BOUGHT ARE AFFECTED IN THEIR N62 RECALL. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL CHRYSLER DODGE DEALER AND WAS DENIED SERVICE!! CALLED ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY SUPPOSEDLY PUT ME ON THE WAITING LIST FOR PARTS OVER A MONTH AGO! I HAVEN'T DRIVEN THE TRUCK MAYBE 1000MILES IN A YEAR SINCE THE ISSUE HAS GOTTEN SO BAD I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. THE DEALER TOLD ME I WAS VEHICLE 20 ON HIS LIST WAITING, AND THAT THEY HAD NO CLUE WHEN THEY ARE GETTING PARTS! I'M GETTING TIRED OF WAITING FOR DODGE/CHRYSLER TO FIX IT, I JUST WANT IT FIXED AND FIXED NOW! *TR

NHTSA ID

10606263

Incident

May 26, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V528000 (STEERING) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPECTED DATE FOR THE PART TO BE AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO FAILURES.

NHTSA ID

10596104

Incident

Dec 27, 2013

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER (STEERING). CAUSED THE FRONT TIRES TO WARE PREMATURELY THE FRONT END WAS ALIGNED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR ALIGNMENT AND TIRE ROTATION UNTIL THE RECALLED PART WAS AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 154,000. LI

NHTSA ID

10578283

Incident

Mar 28, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

2003 DODGE RAM 2500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO OUTER TIE ROD ENDS AND STEERING LINKAGE RECALL ISSUES. *SMD THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, HE WOULD BE PLACED ON A LIST, AS THEY WERE ONLY RECEIVING 1 PART A WEEK. WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN, HE WAS INFORMED THE PART WAS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10577671

Incident

Apr 1, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V528000 (STEERING) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT THE DEALER WAS RECEIVING ONE RECALL REMEDY PART PER WEEK. THE CONTACT FELT THAT SINCE THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED IN NOVEMBER OF 2013, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A REMEDY AVAILABLE BEFORE MARCH OF 2014. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10574875

Incident

Mar 26, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 13V528000 (STEERING) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REMEDY PART WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR ANOTHER TWENTY-THREE WEEKS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10568962

Incident

Jan 20, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V528000 (STEERING) HAD SURPASSED A REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR OVER 20 WEEKS. THE MANUFACTURE CHRYSLER WAS ONLY DISTRIBUTING TWO REPAIR KITS PER WEEK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10562767

Incident

Jan 4, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE VEHICLE BECAME UNBALANCED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED HE INDEPENDENTLY CHANGED THE ROTORS BEARINGS, AND SHOCKS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40000.

NHTSA ID

10559383

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS, LOWER BALL JOINTS, INNER AND OUTER TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V350000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

NHTSA ID

10558008

Incident

Dec 30, 2013

Mileage

152,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V528000 (STEERING) HAD SURPASSED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THE PART WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL MID FEBRUARY 2014. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL BUT DID NOTICE A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10557414

Incident

Dec 26, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V350000 (STEERING), BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. UPDATED 11/19/13*LJ

NHTSA ID

10547234

Incident

Oct 7, 2013

Mileage

67,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH, AN UNUSUAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AFTER TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD BOLT WAS FRACTURED. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V350000 (STEERING), HOWEVER THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID

10521429

Incident

Jun 23, 2013

Mileage

160,000 mi