2003 Dodge Ram Quad Cab Steering Problems

I HAVE A 2003 DODGE QUAD CAB 1500 4X2 THAT I BOUGHT NEW AND HAS ONLY 71,000 ORIGINAL MILES. I HAVE NOTICED SOME NOISE AND VIBRATION COMING FROM THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION COMING FROM THE FRONT END. I'VE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT CHRYSLER/DODGE HAS ISSUED A RECALL (N49, N62 AND NHTSA 13-V528) THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE BUT SHOULD BE INCLUDED AFTER FURTHER INSPECTIONS. THE PART IN QUESTION IS THE LEFT TIE ROD AND STEERING LINKAGE. NEW PARTS (CBUEN491AA. CBUEN492AA) APPARENTLY ARE READILY AVAILABLE PRIOR TO JANUARY 2014 BUT MY TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND REPAIR. DO I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE PART TO SNAP OFF CAUSING INJURY AND DEATH TO ANYONE ESPECIALLY MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED FOR THIS MODEL YEAR? WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE FOR NOW THAT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED BUT WHY DOES THE CONSUMER HAVE TO EXPERIENCE A LOSS FIRST BEFORE THE MANUFACTURER TAKES HONORABLE RESPONSIBILITY? ANOTHER ISSUE AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED BY OTHER TRUCK OWNERS IS THAT THE DASH BOARD DETERIORATES AND CRACKS AND MATERIALS FALL INTO THE AIR/DEFROST DUCTING. I HOPE FOR ACTION SOON RATHER THAN RE-ACTION AFTER THE FACT AND THE PREVENTION OF LOSS TO LIFE OR INJURIES.

NHTSA ID

10743761

Incident

Jul 27, 2015

I GOT WIND OF THE RECALL AROUND DEC 2013 & FIGURED IT DIDN'T APPLY TO MY TRUCK SINCE I HAD SPENT CLOSE TO $2000 REBUILDING THE FRONT SUSPENSION WITH OEM & AFTER MARKET PARTS. I FINALLY RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE N62 AT THE END OF JAN 2014. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO MY DEALERSHIP & THEY CONFIRMED MY TRUCK WAS INDEED INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SINCE THE PARTS I USED WERE DEFECTIVE & BEING RECALLED. THE SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME IT WOULD BE AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR OR LONGER BEFORE THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR MY TRUCK WOULD ARRIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP. I ASKED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE TIE ROD BALL STUD FAILED AT HWY SPEEDS(I ALREADY KNEW THE ANSWER) & WAS TOLD IT WOULDN'T BE PRETTY. IF THE PART DID FAIL I WOULD LOSE ALL STEERING ABILITY & MORE THEN LIKELY END UP IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. MY TRUCK WEIGHS IN AT 8600 LBS + OR -,UNLOADED, WHAT EVER I RUN INTO/HIT IF THE TIE ROD BALL STUD FAILED WOULD CERTAINLY CAUSE INJURIES OR DEATH. WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO? PARK OUR TRUCKS UNTIL DODGE/CHRYSLER SHIPS THE PARTS IN ANOTHER YEAR OR SO? MOST FOLKS WHO OWN HD PICKUPS USE THEM TO MAKE A LIVING & CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THEIR TRUCK PARKED FOR A COUPLE DAYS MUCH LESS A YEAR. WOULD BE NICE IF OWNERS OF THE TRUCKS AFFECTED WOULD BE REIMBURSED BY DODGE/CHRYSLER IF WE PURCHASED AFTERMARKET PARTS MAKING OUR TRUCKS SAFE TO DRIVE, RATHER THEN WAITING TO WHO KNOWS WHEN. I KNOW THAT WON'T HAPPEN, *TR

NHTSA ID

10577442

Incident

Dec 18, 2013

Mileage

114,200 mi

HAS DEATH WOBBLE AT 60MPH HITTING BUMPS IN ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10519706

Incident

Nov 17, 2011

Mileage

109,147 mi

OUR 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 DASH STARTED CRACKING AND CAVING IN NEARLY A YEAR AGO. AS TIME GOES BY CRACKS WORSEN AS WELL AS NEW CRACKS HAVE APPEARED. PLASTIC DASH PIECES ARE FALLING BEHIND (INTO) DASH BOARD AND COMING OUT SOMETIMES IN THE FLOORBOARD. CONCERNED ABOUT AIR BAG SAFETY. WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE ENTIRE DASHBOARD IN ORDER FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE FIXED. OUR DAUGHTER OWNS THE SAME YEAR DODGE TRUCK AND HERS IS DOING THE SAME THING. ALSO, OUR STEERING WHEEL MAKES CRACKING, POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNING. AND THE BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO BE BAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10347909

Incident

Aug 7, 2009

MY 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB HAS A DEFECT IN THE UNDER DASH CONTROL UNIT ATTACHED TO THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEFECT HAS CAUSED A SHORT CIRCUIT THAT HAS CAUSED SEVERAL WIRES TO BURN. THE DEFECT IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS ISSUE 03V078000 (RECALL FOR DODGE RAM 2002). THIS RESULTS IN 1. FAN INOPERABLE 2. FAN TURNS ON AFTER THE KEY IS REMOVED AND CONTINUES TO RUN DRAINING THE BATTERY 3. THE WIRES BURNING IS A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD 4. TILTING THE WHEEL RESULTS IN SPARKING OF THE WIRING ASSEMBLY. MY VEHICLE HAS MANUFACTURED IN THE US AND SOME OF THE PARTS ARE ONLY LISTED FOR 2002 MODELS. WHEN I PURCHASED 2003 ROTORS, THEY DID NOT FIT BUT THE 2002 ROTORS WHERE AN EXACT MATCH. I BELIEVE MY 2003 DODGE TRUCK IS A 2002 IN DISGUISE. I CALLED DODGE TO GET ANSWERS AND THEY HAVE NOT CALLED ME BACK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235179

Incident

Jul 15, 2008

Mileage

110,000 mi

2003 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB 4X4 POWER STEERING RACK BEGAN LEAKING AT 35MONTHS/31,000 MILES. REPLACED BY DEALER, PART NOT AVAIL. NO NOTICEABLE EFFECT AS FLUID WAS KEPT UP. BEGAN LEAKING AGAIN AT 47MONTHS/36,000MILES. REPLACED AGAIN, PART NOT AVAIL. NO NOTICEABLE EFFECT AS FLUID WAS KEPT UP BEGAN LEAKING AGAIN AT 56 MONTHS/44,000 MILES. DEALER ISN'T HELPING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10231297

Incident

Mar 28, 2006

Mileage

31,000 mi

MY TRUCK ALL OF THE SUDDEN WHEN DRIVING THE NIGHT BEFORE WAS UNABLE TO TURN TO THE RIGHT (VERY DIFFICULT..NO PROPER STEERING TO THE RIGHT). TO THE LEFT IT WAS FINE. IT CONTINUED TO HAVE THE PROBLEM WHEN I TRIED DRIVING AGAIN TODAY. I TOOK IT TO THE DODGE DEALERSHIP TODAY (NEXT MORNING) AND THEY TOLD ME THE TRUCK NEEDED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP, RACK, & PINION. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WITH JUST OVER 50,000 MILES ON IT...IT HAS BEEN EXTREMELY WELL TAKEN CARE OF SINCE PURCHASING IT FROM DODGE DEALER LAST FALL. THIS IS THE 2ND MAJOR REPAIR IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS (I JUST HAD A REAR SEAL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT REPLACED AS WELL). AS OF RIGHT NOW THE TRUCK IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL I DECIDE WHAT TO DO. THEY SAY IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTIES FOR THIS ISSUE OR ANY RECALLS. IT IS VERY UPSETTING THAT THIS NEW OF A VEHICLE HAVE SUCH MAJOR ISSUES ALREADY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10167048

Incident

Aug 29, 2006

Mileage

57,600 mi

THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN IN TO BE LOOKED AT BECAUSE THERE WAS A VIBRATION. I TOLD THEM IT WAS A U-JOINT OR BEARING GOING OUT. THE TRUCK HAD BEEN IN THE SAME SHOP 4 TIMES, FOR THE SAME THING -THE U-JOINT OR BEARING. THE MECHANIC AT THE SHOP SAID THAT THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE BALANCED BUT THEY DID NOT DO THAT AT THIER SHOP. I TOKK IT TO ANOTHER PLACE, THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE TIRES DID NOT NEED TO BE BALANCED,BUT THEY BALNCED THEM ANYWAYS. SO I HAD TWO OPINIONS ON THE TRUCK. THE NEXT NIGHT I PICKED UP THE GUYS I WORK WITH AND WE WENT TO WORK. ON THE WAY HOME THE DRIVE SHAFT, DRIVE LINE,YOLK, AND TRANSFERCASE CAME APART AND TRIED TO COME UP THROUGH THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING HOLES IN THE FLOORBOARD, AND IT PULLED THE ELECTRICAL WIRING OUT WHICH CAUSED ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS TO COME ON. ANYONE COULD HAVE BEEN HURT. I GOT THE THE TRUCK TO A NEARBY CONVIENENT STORE AND I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO TOW MY TRUCK TO THE SHOP. I CALLED MY WIFE AND WE WENT AND PICKED UP ALL THE PARTS OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE TRUCK, WHICH IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THEY TOOK PICTURES AND SENT THEM TO THEIR REPS. THEIR REPS IN ANOTHER STATE SAID IT WAS IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE IN 4 LOW UNDER EXTENSIVE TORQUE IN A MUD HOLE. IT HAD NOT RAINED HERE IN OVER A MONTH. SO THE DIRT ROAD I WAS ON WAS DRY AND SMOOTH. I DID NOT HAVE IT IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. WHY BUY A 4 WHEEL DRIVE IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO USE IT. THEY SAID I WAS DRIVING FAST CAUSING EXTENSIVE TORQUE!? I WAS DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT AND PEOPLE DRIVE FAST AND THEIR VEHICLES DON'T FALL APART. THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T COVER THE DAMAGE, EVEN THOUGH THEIR MECHANIC MADE A WRONG DIAGNOSIS. IT IS THEIR FAULT AND THEY SHOULD TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX IT, WITH NO MONEY COMING OUT OF MY POCKET. I GET PAID TO DRIVE TO AND FROM WORK. NOW I DON'T HAVE A TRUCK TO GET ME TO WORK. THE SHOP SAYS THEY WILL PAY HALF THE COST TO FIX IT AND I CAN PAY THE OTHER HALF. THEY SAY THEY ARE DOING ME A FAVOR BY DOING THIS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10165342

Incident

Jun 11, 2006

Mileage

59,378 mi

ON JULY 30, 2006 MY CABIN CONTROLS (A/C, DEFROST, VENT AND WINDOW WIPERS) WOULD NOT WORK. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM IN THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN. MY LOCAL MECHANIC MADE AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT WHEN HE CONTACTED DODGE FOR A REPLACEMENT PART THEY REFUSED TO SELL IT TO THEM DUE TO A RECALL ON THE MODEL YEAR BEFORE MINE (2002). I HAD TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO DAVE CROFT MOTORS IN COLLINSVILLE, IL FOR REPAIR COSTING ME APPROX 2X'S MORE THAN MY LOCAL SHOP. DAVE CROFT SAID THE WIRING HARNESS AND IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD DUE TO THE FAULTY PART. WHEN I QUESTION DODGE ABOUT THIS HARNESS AND THE RECALL THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ME ANY INFORMATION. DAVE CROFT FIXED THE PROBLEM AS OF THIS DATE HOWEVER, I AM STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM DODGE IF THEY WILL COVER THIS REPAIR. (RECALLED PART IN 2002 DODGE IS THE SAME PART IN MY 2003). *JB

NHTSA ID

10164427

Incident

Jul 30, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT 60 MPH THE VEHICLE TURNED LEFT AND RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE STEERING GEAR WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 05/063/06. *JB

NHTSA ID

10153977

Incident

May 12, 2003

Mileage

8,768 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, INTERMITTENTLY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP/ BRAKES FAILED, AND TURN SIGNAL WAS NOT WORKING. DEALER HAD INSPECTED VEHICLE 3 TIMES; FIRS T TIME BATTERY CABLE, SECOND TIME DEALER KEPT VEHICLE 1 DAY AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND THIRD TIME INSTALLED A MONITOR FOR TEN DAYS, AND STILL COULDN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM. (DEALER STATED THIS WA SAN ELECTRIC ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10033812

Incident

Aug 13, 2003