1995 Dodge Ram Steering Problems

A FAULTY STEERING BOX CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO WANDER ALL OVER THE ROAD. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10012015

Incident

Jan 8, 2003

I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH EXCESSIVE STEERING PLAY AND WANDER, WHICH CAUSES A NEED FOR CONSTANT STEERING CORRECTIONS TO AVOID WANDERING INTO OTHER TRAFFIC LANES WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM WORSENS WHEN EITHER PASSING OR BEING PASSED BY LARGE TRUCKS, BUSES, OR RV'S AND CAUSES A TENDENCY TO WANDER OR DRIFT TOWARDS THE LANE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THESE SITUATIONS ARE FURTHER WORSENED AND CAUSE DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS WHEN TOWING A TRAILER. THIS CAN CAUSE UNSAFE SITUATIONS OF STEERING OVER- CORRECTION DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE PLAY AND WANDER IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE EXCESSIVE STEERING PLAY AND STEERING WANDER CAUSES DRIVER FATIGUE DUE TO THE CONSTANT NEED FOR STEERING CORRECTION WHEN DRIVING FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME AND CAN LEAD TO DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS LIKE MENTIONED EARLIER WHEN BEING PASSED BY LARGE TRUCKS OR RV'S. THE STEERING GEAR AND TRACK BAR WHERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED UNDER THE VEHICLES MANUFACTURE WARRANTY @ 32,040 MILES. WITHIN 10,000 MILES THE BEFORE MENTIONED EXCESSIVE STEERING PLAY AND WANDER RETURNED. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN AMOUNG 1994-CURRENT DODGE 2500/3500 RAM PICKUPS WITH THE CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINE OPTION. CHRYSLER/DODGE ACKNOWLEDGES THIS PROBLEM SINCE THERE IS A TSB OUT TO SPECIFICALLY TROUBLESHOOT CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS OF "EXCESSIVE STEERING PLAY AND WANDER". CHRYSLER/DODGE HAS REVISED THE STEERING GEAR SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE HIGH INCIDENCE OF FAILURES LEADING TO EXCESSIVE STEERING PLAY AND WONDER. CHRYSLER HAS YET TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WHICH CAUSES UNSAFE AND POTENTIALLY FATAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID

757624

Incident

Jul 26, 1997

RECALL 96 V 230 000/STEERING COLUMN: VEHICLE EXPEREINCED A LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

894159

Incident

Jul 27, 2001

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER FELT THE UNDERNEATH SIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN GETTING VERY HOTAGAINST KNEE, CONSUMER NOTICED A MELTED SPOT ON THE PLASTIC WHICH COVERS THE STEERING COLUMN, THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS SHOULD FALL UNDER RECALL 00V-135, HOWEVER THE DEALER HAS DENIED HIS CLAIM. *SLC

NHTSA ID

557759

Incident

Oct 3, 2000

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH DRAG LINK BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. THIS CAUSED DRIVER TO SLAM INTO A GUARDRAIL BODY WORK DAMAGE HAS ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED. THERE WAS STILL A PROBLEM WITH STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

872450

Incident

Aug 8, 2000

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHERE MANIFOLD FELL OFF ON TOP OF THE FRAME, JAMING THE STEERING SHAFT. *AK

NHTSA ID

869269

Incident

Aug 30, 2000

WHEEL HUB SPINDLE ON BOTH FRONT WHEELS WILL STRIP ALL THREADS OFF IF YOU REMOVE THEM TO GET TO THE FRONT U-JOINTS. I SPOKE WITH MECHANICS AT LOCAL DODGE DEALER AND THEY SAID THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. THEIR PARTS DEPT. KEEP THIS PART IN STOCK AT ALL TIMES DUE TO HIGH DEMAND. WHEN ASKED IF DODGE HAS ADVISED THEM HOW TO CORRECT THIS CONTINUING PROBLEM THEY STATED "NO". THE PROBLEM IS, IF YOU START TO LOOSEN THE NUT THAT HOLDS THE HUB IN PLACE IT WILL JUST SIT THERE AND GO ROUND AND ROUND STRIPPING THE THREADS. MY MECHANIC WAS TOLD , WHEN HE INQUIRED ABOUT THIS THAT THIS IA COMMON AMONG THE 1994 AND 1995 MODELS. THE COST TO REPLACE IS BETWEEN 100.00 AND 170.00 PER SIDE,JUST BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE THREADS ARE TO SOFT ON THE HUBS AND THEY STRIP UPON LOOSENING. I CAN UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS HAPPENING FROM TIME TO TIME BUT BASED ON THE COMMENTS FROM THE LOCAL DEALERS MECHANICS AND PARTS PERSON THIS IS COMMON. I DO NOT THINK THIS RIGHT AND I BELIEVE THE HUBS ARE DEFECTIVE. THANKS FOR LISTENING.....RON SMITH. *AK

NHTSA ID

726764

Incident

Aug 1, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING AT 24 TO 30 MPH CONSUMER TRIED TO TURN AND STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED. CONSUMER TRIED TO BRAKE THERE WERE NO BRAKES. VEHICLE HIT A POLE, AND AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. WHEN CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER FOR A RECALL LETTER RECEIVED. DEALER HAD NO PARTS AVAILABLE. CONSUMER FELT THIS ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BECAUSE RECALL PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED. *AK WHILE WAITING FOR RECALL PARTS TO ARRIVE AT DEALER FOR STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING ACCIDENT. *YH

NHTSA ID

866364

Incident

Jul 28, 2000

NONE

NHTSA ID

715374

WHILE DRIVING STEERING COLUMN CAME LOOSE DUE TO A MISSING BUSHING. THIS MADE IT HARD TO STEER THE VEHICLE. DEALERHAS REPLACED BUSHING. *AK

NHTSA ID

853093

STEERING SHAFT DISINTEGRATED. MJS

NHTSA ID

549305

STEERING COLUMN EXPERIENCING NOISE WHEN TURNING & BRAKING. *YC

NHTSA ID

547147

NOW MY AIR CONTIONER HAS A MUSTY SMELL AND DOES NOT BLOW OUT COLD AIR,

NHTSA ID

703767

Incident

Mar 2, 1997

POSSIBLE FAILURE OF STEERING SHAFT, PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, MAY HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE (ACCIDENT) IN WHICH DRIVE SUSTAINED SKULL FRACTURE, LARGE LACERATION ON LEFT ARM AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH AND WAS UNCONSCIOUS AT THE SCENE.

NHTSA ID

534294

Incident

Oct 16, 1996

WHEN PURCHASED USED TRUCK IN 12/97 NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WAS VERY LOOSE. MENTIONED TO USED DEALER AND SAID THAT ALL TRUCKS HAVE LOOSE STEERING. NOT CONTENT WITH THAT ANSWER TOOK TO CHRYSLER/DODGE SHOP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THE SHOP REPLACED THE TIE RODS, SHOCKS, AND TRAC BAR ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION. TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS WORN. TOLD THEM NOT TO REPLACE THAT BECASUE I WANTED TO INVESTIGATE FOR MORE INFO. AFTER WORK WAS COMPLETED, STILL A LOT OF STEERING PLAY. NOT SATISFIED. NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR BOX, BUT I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS GOING TO BE COVERED BY DODGE OR NOT. LOCAL DODGE SHOP SAYS THEY WILL NOT COVER IT.

NHTSA ID

701454

Incident

Dec 1, 1997

PARKING BRAKE ROD FAILED.

NHTSA ID

538991

Incident

Jul 19, 1995

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 40 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE STEERING WHEEL CONTROL, AND VEHICLE KEPT GOING STRAIGHT, FORCING CONSUMER TO STEP ON THE BRAKES. AT LAST VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

824118

Incident

May 4, 1998

96V230000, STEEERING COLUMN; THE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED, AND DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED REFUSES TO DO THE WORK. ANOTHER STATES THAT IT WILL BE TWO MONTHS BEFORE THEY CAN LOOK AT THE VEHICLE TO DO THE WORK. CONSUMER REQUESTED THE PARTS TO DO THE WORK HIMSELFF BECAUSE HE UTILIZES THE VEHICLE EVERY DAY, AND HIS REQUEST WAS REFUSED. *AK

NHTSA ID

823818

RECEIVED NOTICE (96V230000), STEERING COLUMN SHAFT; VEHICLE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. OWNER REFUSED HAVE REPAIRS DONE. INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED VEHICLE. A BODY SHOP BROUGHT, REPAIRED & SOLD VEHICLE. NEW OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES & TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. EACH TIME, MECHANIC CALLED ZONE REPRESENTATIVE & WAS INFORMED WILL NOT REPAIR VEHICLE UNDER RECALL. MANUFACTURER ALSO AGREED W/ZONE REPRESENTATIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID

822740

Incident

Jan 19, 1998

REVERSE CHECK VALVE FAILED.

NHTSA ID

530582

Incident

Jan 1, 1998

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA ID

528615

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#97V230000) OVER 2 1/2 MONTHS AGO. CONTACTED DEALER & WAS INFORMED HAD NO PARTS. THE PARTS NEEDED ARE ON BACK ORDER. OWNER HAS BEEN CALLING BACK TO CHECK ON STATUS OF PARTS, BUT SO FAR DEALER DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING. *AK

NHTSA ID

820364

Incident

Nov 11, 1997

CONSUMER 'S BROTHER WAS DRIVING TRUCK WHEN APPROACHING A ROAD BLOCK WITH NO WARNING, HE LOST CONTROL OF TRUCK, RAN INTO BACK OF A DUMP TRUCK. CONSUMER'S TRUCK EXPLODED AND DRIVER BURNED TO DEATH. THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION (EA-96-018). CONSUMER SAYS STATE IS PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE DUE TO FACT THAT THE ROAD BLOCK SET UP DID NOT MEET REQUIREMENTS AS IT WAS. CONSUMER WAS VERY UPSET AT THIS TIME, AND WAS NOT ABLE TO GIVE FURTHER INFORMATION. CONSUMER DID NOT GIVE PHONE NUMBER, BUT ASKED THAT SHE ALSO RECEIVE A COMPLAINT FORM, FORM WAS MAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID

816588

Incident

Apr 8, 1997

RECALL #96V230000, AFTER HAVING STEERING SHAFT REPLACED, CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING STEERING PROBLEMS. STEERING WHEEL IS OFF CENTER. *AK

NHTSA ID

812090

Incident

May 8, 1997

STEERING FAILED, CAUSING INSTABILITY.

NHTSA ID

517061