Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 25 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
upper control arm cracked which is a safety violation and should be a recall. TRW 52106776 Control arm is the cracked part in the picture My son replace both control arm and send it for alignment total cost was as below; Parts $280 + Alignment $192.59= $472.59 I like Dodge to refund me for $460
MY DODGE TRUCKS VIOLENTLY WOBBLING OUT OF CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 60 MPH, I HIT A MINOR BUMP IN THE ROADWAY AND THE TRUCK STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE ONLY WAY IT STOPPED WAS I HAD TO REDUCE MY SPEED TO 10 MPH, THE PROBLEM WAS I WAS IN THE EXPRESS LANE, I WAS IN FRONT OF A SEMI TRUCK
TRUCK CURRENTLY HAS 76,000 MILES. REPLACED ALL 4 BALL JOINTS AT THE SAME TIME, FEWER THAN 40K. HAD TO REPLACE AN INJECTOR AROUND THE SAME TIME. FILTERS DODGE CAME OUT WITH WERE TOO LARGE, LETTING "JUNK" INTO THE INJECTORS. NOT ONG AFTER THAT, WE WERE DRIVING AND LOST POWER. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD, SAW BELTS HANGING DOWN. POPPED THE HOOD AND THE PULLEY(?) THE BELTS ATTACH TO HAD SNAPPED OFF! FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ON A COUNTY ROAD, DRIVING SLOWLY. THEN, AT 76K, THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING US TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRONT AXLE SYSTEM. WE WERE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, THEN PROCEEDED TO PULL FORWARD. ABOUT HALFWAY ACROSS THE INTERSECTION, LEFT WHEEL LOCKED UP. WE COULD GO IN REVERSE, BUT NOT FORWARD. INJECTORS ARE CLOGGING UP AS WELL AND WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE TO BE REPLACED. WE BOUGHT THIS NEW IN 2005 FOR $42,000. IT HAS HAD AN 'EASY' LIFE WITH VERY LITTLE TOWING.
"TAMARA RECALL". DRIVING DOWN ROAD HIT A SLIGHT BUMP GOT THE DEATH WOBBLE AND HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO 30MPH OR LOWER TO GET IT BACK UNDER CONTROL ON THE FREEWAY. HAVE HAD THE FRONT END REBUILT 3 TIMES BY PROFESSIONALS AND NOW DOING IT AGAIN OR STILL.
WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I HIT A SERIES OF BUMPS AT 60 MPH AND MY TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. I THEN HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO 30MPH TO REGAIN CONTROL.
I HAVE HAD A VIBRATION AND "DEATH WOBBLE" ON MY TRUCK SINCE I PURCHASED IT. IT HAS BEEN TO TWO DIFFERENT CHRYSLER DEALERS FOR A TOTAL OF 5 OR 6 TIMES WITHOUT RESOLUTION OF THE ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS TWO FOLD, ONE IS WHEN I HIT A LARGE BUMP AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 45 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES VIOLENTLY, AND THE OTHER THIS SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH THERE IS A VIBRATION. I HAVE SPOKEN TO CHRYSLER ABOUT THE ISSUES ABOUT A YEAR OR SO AGO. THEY TRIED TO OFFER BUY BACK BECAUSE THE ISSUE COULD NOT BE RESOLVED, BUT THEN TOLD ME I WAS NOT QUALIFIED BECAUSE I WAS THE SECOND OWNER. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE STEERING GEAR BOX REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THEY REPLACED ALL THE TIE-ROD ENDS ECT. THE ISSUES IS STILL THE SAME WITHOUT RESOLUTION. NOW MY WARRANTY IS UP, AND THE TRUCK STILL HAS THIS POTENTIAL DANGERS ISSUES AND I HAVE NO WHERE TO GO. ANYTIME I HAVE THE TRUCK LOOKED AT NOW IT COST ME A LOT OF MONEY. MY TRUCK HAS RECALL 13V-528 AND 09E-001 WHICH RELATE TO THESE ISSUES. THE TRUCK WAS INSPECTED, BUT THEY DID NOT FIX ANYTHING.
I"M HAVING PROBLEMS,WITH THE DODGE RAM 3500 TRUCK , FRONT SUSPENSION HAD TO BE REPAIRED, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM. STILL HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, INSIDE LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE VECHICLE IS IN MOTION. LOOSES POWER AT TIME GOING UP HILLS.
TRUCK STARTED TO HAVE SEVERE DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END. HAD RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR BOTH THE STEERING LINKAGE AND LEFT BALL JOINT. TOOK INTO DEALER WHO PERFORMED THE PHYSICAL INSPECTION. WAS TOLD THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL DUE TO CONFIGURATION BUT THE WHOLE FRONT END NEED TO BE REPLACED AND ALL PARTS NEEDED WHERE EXACTLY THE PARTS UNDER THE RECALL IF OUR TRUCK HAD THE CONFIGURATION COVERED BY THE RECALL. WE WERE FACED WITH PAYING FOR THE REPAIRS BASE ON SOME TECHNICALITY THAT SOMEHOW OUR CONFIGURATION EXCLUDED US FROM THE SAFETY HAZARD WHICH CAUSED THE RECALL. WE DO NOT FEEL IT IS A COINCIDENCE THAT THE REPAIR NEEDED WERE EXACTLY THE NOW THAT WERE UNDER THE RECALL BUT OUR TRUCK WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. OUR OPINION IS THE RECALL IS TOO NARROW AND THE SAFETY ISSUE IS BROADER THAN HOW IT IS SET UP NOW. *TR
SINCE THIS TRUCK WAS NEW IT WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY IN THE FRONT END WHEN YOU HIT A SLIGHT BUMP AT 60 MPH CHANGED EVERYTHING IN FRONT END AND ADDED STEERING DAMPENER RECOMMENDED BY DEALER. DOES IT MORE OFTEN NOW. WE HAVE NAMED IT THE DEATH RATTLE. *JS
I HAVE BEEN ON THE WAITING LIST AT THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER (MCCORD IN LONGVIEW, WA.) FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO REPLACE THIS TIE ROD BALL. NOW I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS A RESTRICTIVE PART AND CHRYSLER CORP. IS ONLY SENDING ONE TIE ROD PER SEVEN DAYS. LOOKING AT WHERE I AM AT IN THE STACK OF RECALLS, THERE COULD BE SEVERAL HUNDRED AHEAD OF ME AND THAT SUGGEST TO ME THAT MY TRUCK COULD BE SITTING FOR ALMOST A YEAR. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. TO ISSUE A LARGE RECALL SUCH AS THIS AND NOT HAVE PARTS AVAILABLE IS IRRESPONSIBLE. ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THE RECALL IS : N62 / NHTSA 13V-528 [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE BACK IN 2010 AND I PUT AN EXTRA STABILIZER ON THE FRONT AND UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND A FEW MORE PIECES ALL MADE BY MOOG BUT THE FRONT END STILL SHAKES ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE AND I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN REAL FAST BEFORE I CAUSE AN ACCIDENT I'M AFRAID IT'S GOING TO MAKE ME WRECK
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A POTHOLE AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, ESPECIALLY WHILE PULLING A FIFTH WHEEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,100.
IN DECEMBER 2009 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN MY 2004 3500 DODGE RAM WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK. IT WAS HIT IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE WHICH CAUSED FRONT SUSPENSION DAMAGE. THE TRUCK WAS NOT DRIVABLE. I CALLED AAA AND HAD IT TOWED TO TELEGRAPH CHRYSLER JEEP AND THAT'S WHERE I HAD THE REPAIRS DONE. THE DAMAGE WAS QUITE EXTENSIVE AND MOST (IF NOT ALL) OF THE FRONT STEERING COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED. THE TRUCK ONLY HAD 63,285 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. ON MONDAY, MAY 30TH 2011(MEMORIAL DAY) MY WIFE WAS BACKING MY TRUCK INTO THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD BROKE AND LEFT THE TRUCK BLOCKING THE STREET. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE TRUCK INTO MY DRIVEWAY BY JACKING IT UP AND STRAIGHTENING THE TIRE AND CONTINUING TO DO SO EVERY FEW FEET UNTIL IT WAS CLEAR OF THE ROAD. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED LESS THAN 24 HRS EARLIER IT WOULD HAVE BROKE WHILE I WAS TOWING A FRIENDS CHEVY VAN DOWN I-75 AT 70 MPH! I HAD IT TOWED TO TELEGRAPH CHRYSLER JEEP BECAUSE I KNEW THAT THEY HAD REPLACED THAT TIE ROD LESS THAN 3000 MILES AGO FROM THE ACCIDENT CLAIM. THEY TOLD ME THE PART WAS OUT OF WARRANTY TO CALL CHRYSLER DIRECTLY. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T SELL ME THE PART BECAUSE CHRYSLER'S POLICY ON THIS WAS THEY HAD TO SELL ME THE ENTIRE FRONT STEERING COMPONENT PACKAGE AND IT WOULD COST ME OVER $600.00! AFTER A DOZEN OR TWO PHONE CALLS BACK AND FORTH TO MY EMPLOYER (YES I WORK FOR THESE INGRATES!) THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. AFTER NOT BEING ABLE TO PURCHASE THE PART I NEEDED FROM THE DEALER AND NOT ABLE TO FIND THE PART AT A LOCAL PARTS STORE I DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THEY REPLACED THE 2004 STEERING PARTS WITH 2008 COMPONENTS AND THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN UPGRADE!? I FINALLY FOUND THE PART I NEEDED AND SINCE AAA WOULDN'T TOW IT BACK HOME I HAD TO FIX IT MYSELF IN THEIR PARKING LOT! MY TRUCKS EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED THE WEEK BEFORE THE TIE ROD BROKE AND THEY PRETTY MUCH SAID TOUGH[XXX]! THAT'S HOW NOT TO GET YOUR EMPLOYEES TO' BUY WHAT YOU BUILD"! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM
HAVE A 2004 DODGE 3500 RAM IT HAS THE DEATH WOBBLE AND EVERY THING IS TIGHT UNDER THE TRUCK BUT WHEN YOU HIT THAT BUMP IN THE ROAD THE FRONT END GOES CRAZY TILL YOU SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 20MPH TRY THAT ON THE FREEWAY. *TR
DODGE 2004 3500 PICKUP. 100,000 MILES HAS DEVELOPED "DEATH WOBBLE". FRONT END SHAKES EXTREMELY VIOLENTLY WHEN TRUCK HITS A BUMP ABOVE 65 MPH> HAVE REPLACED BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD ENDS AND STEERING DAMPENER WITH NO SUCCESS. *TR
MY 2004 DODGE 3500 4X4 HAS A FRONT END PROBLEM...IT SHAKES UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN IT HITS A SERIES OF BUMPS IN THE ROAD AT OR ABOVE 45MPH. I HAVE REPLACED THE STEERING STABILIZER AND THE FRONT SHOCKS TO ONLY HAVE IT GET WORSE. IT HAPPENS ENOUGH NOW THAT I DON'T DARE GO ABOVE 60 MPH FOR FEAR OF CRASHING THE TRUCK OR HITTING SOMEBODY ELSE. IT GETS EVEN WORSE WHEN I PULL MY TRAILER. *TR
RM 3500 4X4 LONG BED QUAD CAB. I HAVE A STOCK TRUCK. TIE ROD ENDS ARE SHOT, STEERING GEAR BOX IS SHOT, BALL JOINTS NEED TO BE REPLACED BUT NOW FALL IN THE "LIMITS" THAT DODGE DECIDED TO EXTEND THE MEASUREMENTS. MY TRUCK IS A 2004 WITH ONLY 106,000 HIGHWAY MILES. MY FRIEND HAS THE SAME TRUCK BUT DUALLY 05 AND HAS 62,000 MILES AND HAS TO REPLACE THE SAME THING OTHER THAN HIS STEERING GEAR BOX FOR NOW. COST FOR ME TO REPAIR WITH LABOR IS $1300.00 HOW CAN PARTS GO OUT THIS QUICK IS BEYOND ME. I HAVE OWNED EVERY TRUCK AND NEVER HAD I NEEDED TO REPLACE THESE KIND OF PARTS WITH LOW MILES. *TR
DODGE RAM 3500 4X4 2004 FRONT END HAS VIOLENT FRONT SHAKE CALLED DEATH WOBBLE HAPPENS WHEN TRUCK HITS UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE . DODGE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG . *TR
DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT END SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED. THE SHOCKS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. ALSO, THE RIGHT SIDE BALL JOINTS AND RACK AND PINION STEERING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED .THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP AGAIN, AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS BROKE. *AK
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TIRE DEALER FOR NEW TIRES, AND THE DEALER INDICATED THE FRONT END WAS COMPLETELY WORN OUT. THE VEHICLE HAD 49000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. TOOK TO DEALER FROM WHOM PUCHASED AND TOLD VEHICLE WAS OUT OF 36000 MILES WARRANTY.*AK DEALER AUTHORIZED TO REPLACE PARTS AT A TOTAL COST OF $1555.24. RACK -STEERING GEAR,UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND LOWER CONTROL BALL JOINTS REPLACED. DEALER INDICATED HE TALKED WITH DISTRICT MANAGER TO SEE IF ANY RECALLS OR PROBLEMS REPORTED.
LOAD CLUNKING NOISE FROM FRONT AXLE, AND NOTICABLE INSTABILLITY IN STEERING ON BUMPY ROADS THAT ONLY STARTED WHEN THE FRONT BALL JOINTS DEVELOPED WHAT I BELEIVE TO BE EXCESSIVE WEAR. I MEASURED .033 VERTICLE FREE PLAY OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE, BUT MINIMAL LATERAL PLAY. ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYSLER, THE -QUOTE- "NEW WAY OF CHECKING PLAY" ONLY REGISTERS .010 FREEPLAY, AND THE BALL JOINT HAS TO HAVE .060 TO BE DECLARE DEFECTIVE. AS SUCH DAIMLERCHRYSLER DENIED MY REPAIR. IN MY OPINION BY THE TIME THE LATERAL PLAY MEASURES .060, THE VERTICLE PLAY WILL DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE BALL JOINTS ON 2003 AND LATER "3RD GENERATION" 2500/3500 4 WHEEL DRIVE DODGE RAM HD PICKUPS ON THE VARIOUS INTERNET NEWS GROUPS, SUCH AS TURBO DIESEL REGISTER.COM.*AK
WHILE RIDING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 60 MPH MY 2001 DODGE 3500 RAM, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL AND TIRE CAME OFF AND FLEW DOWN THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DODGE DEALER SAID THE MAIN WHEEL BEARING HAD BROKEN IN TWO. MY 100,000 MILE WARRANTY HAS BEEN DENIED AND I CANNOT CLAIM IT UNDER MY INSURANCE BECAUSE IT WASW EQUIPMENT FAILURE..THE REPAIR SHOWLD BE ABOUT $4,OOO. ALL MECHANICS I HAVE SPOKEN TO SAY THIS SHOULD BE A FACTORY PROBLEM. PLEASE ADVISE VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP IN HEMPSTEAD, TEXAS NOW.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
THE FRONT END SHAKES WHEN REACHING 60 MPH. CONSUMER WAS THROWN FROM THE HIGHWAY, AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED.THE DEALER STATED WAS MADE WITH THE MANUFACTURER. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT MADE CONTACT WITH THE CONSUMER.*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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