1996 Dodge Ram Steering Problems

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN CHANGING THE POSITION OF THE STEERING WHEEL UP THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. NLM

NHTSA ID

8007953

Incident

Apr 18, 2002

LEFT FRONT SPINDLE BROKE WITH LITTLE WARNING WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE.

NHTSA ID

9005993

Incident

Dec 3, 2001

IN AUGUST OF 1999 WITH APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES ON ODOMETER WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS A VIBRATION, AND THE DRIVER LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL BEFORE CRASHING INTO A DITCH. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND REPLACED STEERING GEAR BOX TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. SINCE REPLACEMENT OF ORIGINAL STEERING GEAR BOX, VEHICLE WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD DURING NORMAL OPERATION. STEERING GEAR BOX HAS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID

8002103

Incident

Aug 1, 1999

STEERING COLUMN IS EXTREMELY LOOSE WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO DRIFT TO RIGHT OR LEFT WHILE DRIVING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID

896129

CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

561106

WHILE MAKE ANY TURNS CONSUMER NOTICED A CLICKING NOISE FROM STEERING . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THE DEALER USED A SPRAY TO FIX THE CLICKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, BUT IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *YH

NHTSA ID

886853

UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS WHEN TRAVELING AROUND 50 TO 60 MPH AND HITTING A BUMP, FRONT END WILL VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. CONSUMER MUST STOP VEHICLE IN ORDER TO GET VIBRATION TO GO AWAY. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE TWICE: DURING FIRST INCIDENT DEALERSHIP REPLACED TRACK BAR, AND AT SECOND INCIDENT, DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK THE STEERING DAMPER HAS BEEN REPLACED AND CONSUMER HOPES THAT THIS SOLVES THE PROBLEM. *SLC

NHTSA ID

886316

Incident

Oct 1, 2000

BOLT IN STEERING ARM SEPARATED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

883981

STEERING HAS TO MUCH PLAY, ALSO THERE IS A POPPING SOUND, TO DEALER 4 TIMES, CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY IN OVERDRIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID

881566

Incident

Nov 1, 2000

POWER STEERING STARTED LEAKING AFTER 65,000 MILES. VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER STEERING WHEN FLUID LEAKS OUT & VEHICLE IS HARD TO STEER. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID

865571

Incident

Aug 15, 1999

STEERING PITMAN ARM AND IDLER ARM HAVE A LOT OF PLAY, FRONT BEARINGS LOOSE, FRONT ROTORS RUSTED AND WORN OUT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID

857340

UNEXPECTEDLY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. FAILED PART NOT AVAILABLE FOR THREE DAYS BECAUSE OF HIGH DEMAND AND CANNOT BE KEPT IN STOCK. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTFIED. *AK *YC

NHTSA ID

852812

STEERING WHEEL BINDS AND GEAR SHIFT LEVER ON COLUMN MOVES PUTTING TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL TWICE AT HIGHTWAY SPEEDS, DEALER TESTED AND SAID THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 400 DOLLARS I FEEL THAT A VECHILE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE A STREERING COLUM REPLACED AT 50000 MILES

NHTSA ID

714028

Incident

Sep 5, 1999

12-8-95 REPLACED DEFECTIVE STIRRING COLUM; 12-19-96 REPLACED DEFECTIVE FUEL GAUGE;

NHTSA ID

713946

Incident

Oct 5, 1999

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE HAS NO POWER. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PUT VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL, AND REV THE ENGINE. TOOK SIX MONTHS TO GET PART AFTER REPEATED CALLS. FRONT BRAKES WEARING OUT PREMATURELY BECAUSE REAR BRAKES ARE NOT SELF ADJUSTING. VERY UNSAFE WHEN BRAKING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *YC THE LEFT REAR AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING. WATER COLLECTS NEAR THE PASSENGER DOOR UNDERNEATH THE CARPET. *YH

NHTSA ID

845783

Incident

Mar 24, 1999

SPENT $1200 TO REBUILD ENTIRE FRONT END OF CAR DUE TO EXCESSIVE CLUNKING AND LOOSENESS AFTER ONLY 40,000 MILES OF LITE STREET USE. FACTORY INSTALLED COMPONANTS OBVOIUSLY INFERIOR QUALITY OR DEFECTIVE. DAILMER CHRYSLER WAS WILLING TO ASSIST IN THE COSTS OF THE REPAIR UNTIL THE BILLS CAME IN. DAIMLER CHRYSLER WALKED AWAY FROM THE ISSUE. REAR WINDOW WATER LEAK - SUGGEST OTHER OWNERS TO LOOK ON PASSENGER SIDE FOR WATER PONDING ADJACENT TO SILL PLATE AT REAR OF SEAT. REAR FACTORY SLIDING WINDOW DEFECTIVE. MUST REPLACE WITH ALTERNATE SELECTION. HEADLINER WILL NOT FIT PROPERLY ON ALTERNATE SELECTION - BEWARE. DODGE RAM OWNERS BEWARE. THIS OWNER JUMPING SHIP FROM DODGE/CHRYSLER PRODUCTS. ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICAL FOR 11 MONTHS.

NHTSA ID

703227

Incident

Nov 15, 1998

WHEN DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND WHITOUT PRIOR WARNING THE STEERING GEAR BOX BROKE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER CRASHED INTO A STONE WALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

831334

Incident

Nov 18, 1998

STEERING COLUMN IS VERY LOOSE AND SHAKES, THIS PROBLEM ALSO GIVES IT TROUBLE PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

833617

FRONT END SHIMMY WHEN GOING OVER BUMP OR POT HOLE, DUE TO POOR STEERING DESIGN, DAMPNER KIT AVAILABLE TO CORRECT DESIGN PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

541885

INNER TIE ROD TRUCK GOES OUT AND STEERING GOES TO THE RIGHT. *AK

NHTSA ID

827553

Incident

Sep 2, 1998

FRONT END MISALIGNMENT. IN ADDITION, REAR AXLE SEALS/AXLE BEARINGS/STEERING DRAG:LINK/FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS/ROTORS AND PADS/REAR BRAKE SHOES AND DRUMS AND REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS AND BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER FAILED/REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

534553

BRAKES HAVE BEEN A CONTINUED PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE, SEVERAL REPAIRS MADE HOWEVER CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

533513

STEERING ARM BROKE, CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING.

NHTSA ID

531898

Incident

Feb 4, 1998

STEERING IN THE VEHICLE GETS EXTREMELY SLOPPY WHEN DRIVING AND MAKES IT HARD TO STEER. THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS. *AK

NHTSA ID

818698

POWER STEERING GEAR BOX DRAINED OF FLUID AFTER A MINOR IMPACT OF 3 MPH, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ID

523769