1998 Dodge Ram Steering Problems

AT 58,000 MILES, THE STEERING COLUMN IN MY DODGE RAM 1500 PICK UP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A NOISE WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WROTE A LETTER TO CHRYSLER ABOUT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE MY EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT DOES NOT COVER THE STEERING COLUMN. THE LETTER WAS WRITTEN ON APRIL 5TH OF THIS YEAR AND I JUST CALLED CHRYSLER TO INQUIRE ABOUT AN ANSWER AND WAS TOLD MY REQUEST FOR "GOOD FAITH" ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN DENIED. I DO NOT USE THIS VEHICLE FOR COMMERCIAL OR OFF ROAD DRIVING AND DO NOT FEEL THE STEERING COLUMN SHOULD FAIL WITH ONLY 58,000 MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REPAIR OTHER THAN TAKE MY $400-$500 FOR THE REPAIR. I HAVE SEARCHED YOUR DATABASE AND HAVE FOUND NO OTHER ISSUES SIMILAR TO MINE WITH THE YEAR AND MODEL OF MY TRUCK. I AM ALSO RECEIVING NO ASSISTANCE FROM THE DEALER. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND I DO NOT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT ANY FAILURE.*AK

NHTSA ID

763993

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS COLD OUTSIDE IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED UNTIL THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WARMED UP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE PARTS 3 TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ID

8009284

Mileage

72 mi

VEHICLE HAS HAD EXCESSIVE STERRING DRIFT SINCE PURCHASED. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO HELP CORRECT PROBLEM. "THEY ALL DO THAT" IS THE ATTITUDE. SEEMS TO EFFECT MOST DODGE 4 X 4 TRUCKS. PROBABLY A DESIGN DEFECT AS THEY SEEM TO ALL DO THIS FROM DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER OWNERS. VERY DANGEROUS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.*AK

NHTSA ID

756521

Incident

May 15, 1998

WHEN DRIVING AT 40 MPH STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN SUDDENLY COLLAPSED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. CONSUMER PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *AK WHILE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ID

895125

Incident

Mar 30, 2001

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND ALARM SOUNDS . RETURNDE TRUCK TO MOSS MOTORS (DODGE DEALER IN RIVERSIDE) THEY RESET THE ALARM AND LIGHT BUT DID NOT HAVE AN ANSWER SA TO WHAT WAS WRONG . THE WARNING LIGHT AND ALARM RETURNED THE FOLLOWING DAY. THEY CHARGED ME $50.00 TO RESET THE ALARM? WITH NO FIX! NOW WHAT. SHOULDN'T THE DEALER FIX SAFTY ITEMS AT NO CHARGE!!!! PLEASE RETURN AN ANSWER VIA E-MAIL THANK YOU L.W. BAKER?

NHTSA ID

741724

Incident

Jan 1, 2000

THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO DC SEVERAL TIMES. MANY OTHER DODGE RAM OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I WILL BE FORCED TO PAY TO HAVE WHAT I BELIEVE IS A DEFFECTIVE STEERING GEAR BOX. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT DC SHOULD PAY FOR.*AK

NHTSA ID

732402

WHILE DRIVING 45MPH, HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY AT A FRONTAL IMPACT WHICH CAUSED STEERING TO LOCK UP, AND BRAKES TO FAIL. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

871053

Incident

Sep 19, 2000

PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BEARINGS. FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED FIVE TIMES. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SPINDLE, HUBS AND BEARINGS ON BOTH SIDES. *AK

NHTSA ID

859297

"AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED THE TRUCK IS A PIECE OF JUNK, THE TRUCK IS CURRENTLY IN SERVICE FOR 4 DAYS SO FAR THIS WEEK FOR ALL THE ABOVE PROBLEMS(THIS IS THE REASON I DO NOT HAVE THE VIN NUMBER), ON TOP OF THE ALREADY ACCUMULATED 25-30 DAYS OF SERVICE. THE CHRYSLER CORPORATION HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AS WELL AS MY STATE'S ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE, OH AND BY THE WAY I NEED 4 NEW TIRES AS WELL, AFTER ONLY 25,000 MILES."NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID

717305

Incident

Jul 28, 1999

I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS YET. THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES ALOT OF NOISE WHEN YOU TURN IT EITHER DIRECTION. HAD DODGE CHECK IT OUT. THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED ALOT OF STEERING COLUMNS BECAUSE OF THIS, BUT NOT SURE WHAT CAUSES IT. SAID THAT MOST HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH LOWER MILEAGE. WARRANTY COVER THE STEERING COLUMN. SEEMS MY WARRANTY IS UP, THEY TELL ME TO TRY AND GET USE TO THE NOISE. SAID THAT THE NOISE WILL GET 5 TIMES WORSE, BUT DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. IT THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT CAUSES IT, HOW CAN THEY BE SURE IT ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM, THEN IT IS OBVIOUSLY A FACTORY DEFECT

NHTSA ID

715628

DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND SLID CROSS WAYS, ACROSS THE HIGHWAY, AND BUSTED THE REAR AXEL. TRUCK FLIPPED OVER, AND FRONT BUMPER WENT INTO FRONT TIRE, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. TRUCK WAS TOTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID

853588

Incident

Jul 2, 1998

THE TRUCK'S STEERING LOCKS UP WHILE TURNING AND THEN THE IGNITION WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THE IGNITION HAS EVEN STOPPED WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT AND NOT TURNING. THIS IS A DEFINATE ROAD HAZARD AND CHRYSLER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. WE HAVE HAD THE TRUCK IN 3 TIMES BEFORE IT WAS FINALLY INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG YET EACH TIME THEY HAVE LOOKED AT IT AND WE GET IT BACK IT HAPPENS AGAIN. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME YOU TURN BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO DO IT. I DON'T WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR INJURING ANYONE BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. WE ARE ALSO UNABLE TO FIND A PREVIOUS OWNER. THE NAMES ON THE TITLE HAVE BEEN CLEARED. HOW CAN THIS BE?? DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT WE CAN DO? HOW DO WE GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED? SOMEONE IS HIDING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS TRUCK. WE DO NOT WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR KILLING OURSELVES OR ANYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I HOPE YOU CAN HELP. SINCERELY, SHIRLEY GOODE

NHTSA ID

714348

Incident

Aug 10, 1999

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE MAKING A TURN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO A DITCH. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

847593

Incident

Sep 13, 1999

1. MIRROR VIBRATION ON DRIVERS SIDE TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU CANNOT SEE TO MAKE SAFE LANE CHANGES. 2. ALARM INOPERABLE AT TIMES AND DOME LIGHT DOES NOT ILUMINATE SO YOU CANNOT SEE IF SOMEONE IS HIDING IN YOUR VEHICLE. 3. ROUGH RIDE 4. POPPING NOISE IN FRONT SUSPENSION 5. NUTS THAT HOLD DOWN THE SEATS DAMAGED WHEN CARPET REPAIRED 6. BRAKE FAILURE WHILE PULLING OUR BOAT 7. PINGING NOISE IN ENGINE LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO BLOW UP

NHTSA ID

710508

Incident

Mar 14, 1999

SHIFTER LINKAGE BOLTS SHEERED OFF, UNABLE TO PUT INTO PARK

NHTSA ID

710407

SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VAN THE DEALER SAID WE HAD A BAD TIRE BOTH TIMES WE PICKED IT UP , BUT IT STILL DRIFTS AND HAS SPUNGY STREEING . I.E. IT GOES WERE IT WANT TO AND WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL TO CORRECT IT THE STREERING TAKES IT TIME TO GO THE OTHER WAY. MY OTHER PROBLEM IS THE RIGHT REAR FRAME LEAKS WATER BAD, AT FIRST THE DEALERS BODY SHOP SAID THE WELD HAD BROKE AT THE SEAM WERE IT WAS PUT TOGETHER AND THAT THEY HAD 3 OF THEM IN THE LAST 6 WEEKS. WE HAVE HAD THE VAN IN THE SHOP MANY TIMES TO GET THIS FIXED . IT STILL LEAKS!!!!

NHTSA ID

709651

Incident

Feb 18, 1999

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS LATE ON CERTAIN OCCASIONS JUMPING INTO GEAR, DIAGNOSTICS' WERE PERFORMED BY DEALERSHIP RESULTING IN A NEGATIVE RESULT, THE TRUCK STILL PERSIST'S WITH THE PROBLEM USUALLY AT SPEEDS' 35 MPH AND UNDER. THE TRUCK HAS PULLED RIGHT UPON DELIVERY, DEALERSHIP REPLACED CALIPERS STATING THAT THE O.E.M. CALIPERS WERE SEIZED FROM FACTORY, THREE DAYS LATER THE PROBLEM WAS BACK, DEALERSHIP PERFORMED ALIGNMENT, PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED AND CONTINUES TO DO SO. THE REASON I PUT POWER STEERING DOWN UNDER THE COMMENTS SECTION IS BECAUSE OF MY BELIEF THAT THE PROBLEM RESIDES IN THE STEERING GEAR-BOX, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN CHECKED. THE BACK-UP LIGHTS DID NOT WORK UPON DELIVERY BUT WERE FIXED IMMEDIATELY AND HAVE BEEN FINE EVER-SINCE. THE DRVER-SIDE WINDOW MOLDING LEAKS AND ON CERTAIN DAYS CAUSES FOGGING OF THE WINDOW RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VISION AND AN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. O.E.M. JACKSTAND IS ALSO TO SHORT TO REPLACE TIRE ON INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION.

NHTSA ID

705725

Incident

Aug 21, 1998

TIE ROD FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL RESULTING IN BEING HIT IN PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER TRUCK. YH

NHTSA ID

609302

CONSUMER EXPRIENCING ON GOING PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION JUMPING OUT OF GEAR INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT DEALER SHOP ON FIVE OCCASIONS AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. DEALER/MFR. NOTIFIED. *AK THE FRONT RIGHT SPRING FAILED. THE RELAY ROD AND THE CAMBER MALFUNCTIONS. *YH

NHTSA ID

831915

Incident

Sep 2, 1998

STEERING CENTERING VALVE CONTINUALLY PULLS TO THE LEFT CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS AT HIGH SPEEDS, UNABLE TO CORRECT DESIGN DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

542263

POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

829025

Incident

Sep 29, 1998

POWER STEERING HOSE AND CLAMP NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY RESULTING IN HOSE SEPARATING.

NHTSA ID

537590

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEM CONCERNING POWER STEERING PUMP HOSE RUBBING AGAINST FAN BELT, CAUSING LOSS OF FLUID WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND CORRECTION WAS MADE WITHOUT COST TO THE CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ID

825123

Incident

Jul 5, 1998

CONSUMER COMPLAINING OF DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE STREET AT 40 MPH, ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. DEALER NOTIFIED, BUT STILL WANTS CONSUMER TO PAY EVEN WITH WARRANTY. *AK PROPORTIONING VALVE WAS REPLACED. CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A SNAPPING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, DEALER REPLACED FRONT AXLE TRACK. STEERING WHEEL WAS OFF CENTER. LOWER RADIATOR HOSE WAS RUBBING THE FRAME AND WAS WORN, DEALER REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

825110

Incident

Jun 16, 1998

FONT SEAL ON GEAR BOX LEAKS.

NHTSA ID

535879

Incident

Mar 15, 1998