2001 Dodge Ram Steering Problems

ON MY WAY TO WORK, AS USUAL, ON A "SLIGHTLY" BUMPY PART OF THE HIGHWAY MY STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT END STARTED VIBRATING SO VIOLENTLY THAT I ALMOST LOST CONTROL. I COULD BARELY HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL; AND COULD NOT STEER AT ALL; ALL I COULD DO WAS START BRAKING AND COME TO A STOP. I GOT OUT AND CHECKED MY TIRES AND FRONT END AND EVERYTHING APPEARED NORMAL. I CONTINUED TO WORK AT ABOUT 40 MPH (I HAD GONE TO WORK EARLY SO NO TRAFFIC) . AT 8:00 I CALLED MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND TOOK IT TO HIM TO CHECK OUT WHAT HAPPENED. HE CHECK EVERYTHING AND NOTHING SHOWED. THE NEXT DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN; THEN AGAIN 2 DAYS LATER. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER I TOOK PICKUP IN FOR REGULAR OIL/FUEL/AIR FILTER CHANGE SERVICE. HE TEST DROVE WITH ME ALONG AND I EXPLAINED FURTHER WHAT HAPPENED. HE SAID HE HAS SEEN IT BEFORE WITH DODGE 2500 & 3500 AND IT HAS BEEN LABELED THE "DODGE DEATH WOBBLE". I THANK GOD I WAS NOT IN A BUSY TRAFFIC AREA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10430142

Incident

Sep 16, 2011

Mileage

201,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE TIE ROD ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER A POTENTIAL CRASH IF THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF

NHTSA ID

10409111

Incident

Jun 27, 2011

Mileage

84,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE DRIFTED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE STEERING BOX BUT THE STEERING BOX DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE STEERING BOX WAS REPLACED FIVE TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING BOX WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT BUT THEY HAVE NOT PROVIDED ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 270,676.

NHTSA ID

10401490

Incident

May 17, 2011

Mileage

270,676 mi

DT THE RETURN HOSE TO THE POWER STEERING GOT AGAINST THE POWER STEERING PULLEY AND RUBBED A WHOLE IN THE RETURN HOSE AND IT WAS LEAKING FLUID. WHICH MADE IT HAVE NO POWER STEERING. HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER THEY ORDERED TWO HOSES THAT WERE THE WRONG ONES. THIS HAPPENED JULY 18, 2005.

NHTSA ID

10129969

Incident

Jul 18, 2005

Mileage

47,520 mi

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE TRAILER, THE STEERING BOX DESTROYED THE O-RING GASKET WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *NM *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10109758

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE WANDERED ACROSS THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING BOX ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND MADE SOME OTHER REPAIRS, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WOULD GRAB, HOWEVER THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT WAS THE WAY ABS WORKED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10105235

Incident

Oct 25, 2001

Mileage

7,380 mi

THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. ANOTHER RAM OWNER INDICATED THAT THEY WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH WAS DUE TO A FAULTY FACTORY STEERING BOX GEAR, THAT WAS REPLACED. THIS TRUCK IS OWNED BY MONTANA DEPT,. OF FISH WILD LIFE AND PARK. THE OTHER TRUCK IN THIS FLEET ARE HAVING THE SAME FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10101480

Incident

Apr 2, 2001

Mileage

40 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WANDERED. *AK OTHER ISSUES RELATED TO THE STEERING PROBLEM WAS THE TRACK BAR, POWER STEERING/GEAR ASSEMBLY, AND THE CLOCK SPRING. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10071972

Incident

Apr 13, 2004

Mileage

51,296 mi

BALL JOINTS WORN OUT AT 49,000 MILES 3 MECHANICS SAY THIS IS TYPICAL OF THESE DODGE TRUCKS. IF THIS A RECURING PROBLEM, SHOULDN'T DODGE BE DOING SOMTHING ON THIS

NHTSA ID

10068720

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

Mileage

49,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 50-60 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE STEERING HAD EXCESSIVE "PLAY." THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SWAY ACROSS THE ROAD. THE TRUCK WAS SERVICED, AND THE STEERING GEAR BOX/TIE ROD AND TRACKING BAR WERE REPLACED. *AK THE MECHANIC FOUND THE POWER STEERING GEAR BOX SLOPPY, THE TIE ROD END/PITMAN ARM LOOSE AND THE TRAC BAR WORN. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10044982

Mileage

4,000 mi

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. MR SCC *NLM

NHTSA ID

10014836

THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED HALFWAY AROUND WHILE DRIVING, UPON INSPECTION, CONSUMER NOTICED THE 2 BOLTS ON THE STEERING BOX WERE LOOSE AND 1 BOLT HAD COMPLETELY BROKEN.*JB

NHTSA ID

10009893

Incident

Mar 3, 2003

THE STEERING WANDERED TO THE LEFT UNCONTROLLABLY.*JB

NHTSA ID

10009693

Incident

Mar 4, 2003

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK.*AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10006323

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL BUT TIRES DID NOT TURN. THUS, RESULTING IN A ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH

NHTSA ID

10006331

Incident

Jan 31, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

THE STEERING HAS LOTS OF PLAY PREVENTING THE OWNER FROM KEEPING STRAIGHT DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. "CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING TRACK BAR", NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE LOSS OF STEERING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TS

NHTSA ID

8024093

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE KEY TO THE VEHICLE GOT CAUGHT INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN. ALMOST CAUSING A ACCIDENT PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

NHTSA ID

8023313

Incident

Nov 22, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND RAN OFF THE ROAD CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND ALSO BENT THE FRAME. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER HAS TAKEN A LOOK AT THE VEHICLE BUT YET THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. NLM

NHTSA ID

8018625

Incident

Aug 30, 2002

THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A CONSTANT TENSION TO THE LEFT AND CAUSES STRAIN TO THE DRIVERS ARM. *YH *CB

NHTSA ID

567175

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

STEERING COLUMN PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED 5 TIMES, REPAIRED 4 TIMES IN WHICH THE CLOCK SPRING (SAFETY RECALL 982) WAS REPLACED 2 TIMES. LEFT OUTER MIRROR VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IMPAIRING VISIBILITY WHEN MERGING WITH TRAFFIC. TRUCK IS NOT SAFE FOR HIGHWAY USE. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS***764311

NHTSA ID

10007150

Incident

Jun 28, 2001

Mileage

10,630 mi

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING HAS SLACK OR PLAY IN IT. *SLC

NHTSA ID

566573

VEHICLE STEERS TOO QUICKLY. UNABLE TO CONTROL STEERING WHEEL.*AK VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND IS STILL NOT OPERATING NORMALLY. *JG

NHTSA ID

8012845

Incident

Dec 20, 2001

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER STATES CLUTCH SEIZED AND VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AND FLYWHEEL AND FOUND CLUTCH DISC BURNED OUT. CUSTOMER STATES THE TRANSMISSION CLUNKS WHEN SHIFTING. CUSTOMER STATES VEHICLE WILL BUCK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START IN 1ST GEAR. VEHICLE SHUDDERS WHEN DRIVING AND CUSTOMER HAS COMPLETELY LOST CLUTCH.*TT *NM

NHTSA ID

565957

Incident

Oct 9, 2000

POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY MAKING THE VEHICLE HARD TO STEER, CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED IT WAS NORMAL FOR POWER STEERING NOT TO OPERATE AT ALL TIMES.*AK *NLM

NHTSA ID

8010636

TWO TIMES WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE MY POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WENT OUT. THE FIRST TIME RESULTED IN A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE. AFTER TEN MINUTES THE TRUCK WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE SECOND TIME I WAS ALSO BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE AND LOST BOTH THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. THIS TIME THE MANUFACTURER HAD TO HAVE THE TRUCK HAULED TO THE DEALER. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE BRAKES AND STEERING ARE RUN OFF THE SAME GEARING ON THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. THIS TRUCK SEEMS TO REQUIRE CONSTANT CORRECTION TO THE STEERING TO MINIMIZE WANDER.*AK

NHTSA ID

761508

Incident

Apr 27, 2001