27 of the 422 complaints about the 1999 Dodge RAM 2500 are about the suspension — 6% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 45,000 miles.
27
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SUSPENSION
THIS 1999 DODGE DAKOTA HAS DEVELOPED A VIOLENT SHAKING AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE SHAKING OR WOBBLE LASTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 SECONDS UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAN BE SLOWED AND CONTROL REGAINED. THIS SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO DEATH WOBBLE TALKS.
NHTSA complaint #10583630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
HAD A FLAT TIRE AND COULD NOT GET THE RIMS OFF THE WHEEL HUB--WENT TO DEALER AND HE SAID TO GET UNDER VEHICLE AND HIT RIMS WITH A SLEDGE HAMMER---THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE 2001--RIGHT NOW GOING THRU THIS PROBLEM AGAIN AFTER DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10429122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
I HAVE A 1999 DODGE RAM 2500 4 X 4 QUAD CAB WITH THE V-10 MANUAL TRANSMISSION. SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW IN MARCH 1999, I HAVE TWICE REPLACED THE RR TRACK BAR ($200 PART, NOT INCLUDING LABOR) AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ($89 PART, NOT INCLUDING LABOR). THIS TRUCK WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD AND A HEAVY CLUNK IS FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER MECHANICS KEEP TELLING ME "THAT'S TYPICAL OF THIS VEHICLE," BUT THERE IS NO RECALL. WHY? I HAVE ALSO NOTICED AN ABUNDANCE OF COOLANT LOSS AT EACH OIL CHANGE SINCE ABOUT 10,000 MILES...UP TO 1 GALLON PER 3000 MILES. THE RADIATOR PRESSURE CHECKED OK. DEALER MECHANICS AND CHAT ROOMS HAVE TOLD ME THIS IS ANOTHER "TYPICAL" PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK. APPARENTLY THE ANTIFREEZE BLOWS THROUGH THE HEADGASKET AND INTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WHERE IT EVAPORATES. STILL NO RECALLS. WHY ARE AUTOMANUFACTURERS GETTING AWAY WITH THIS?
NHTSA complaint #10102597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
THE STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP DUE TO THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR A WHILE WHEN IT STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT. ALSO, WHEN MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED EXTREMELY HARD THAT IF THE CONSUMER DIDN'T HOLD IT TIGHTLY, IT WOULD JUMP OUT OF HIS HANDS. *AK THE FRONT END PROBLEMS HAD NOT BEEN SOLVED AFTER FOUR ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL HARD WHEN BRAKING. THE FRONT TIRES WERE CHANGES , BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10044045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
PICK-UP PULLS HARD AND SUDDENLY TO THE RIGHT WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. PADS , PROPORTIONAL VALVE, CALIPERS, AND ROTOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT A GREAT EXPENSE, BUT NO EFFECT ON THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10014495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
VEHICLE HAS PULLED TO RIGHT SINCE DRIVING IT OFF LOT. WAS TOLD BY SALESMAN THIS WAS DESIGNED INTO TRUCK FOR SAFETY REASONS. REGUIRES 1/4 TURN OF STEERING WHEEL TO CONTINUE STRAIGHT TRAVEL AND IF STEERING WHEEL RELEASED, DARTS SHARPLY TO RIGHT. I'VE HAD TWO ALIGNMENTS BY DODGE DEALER WITH NO IMPROVEMENT IN PULLING. HAS ALSO DEVELOPED SEVERE "SHIMMY" AT HIGHER SPEEDS WHEN ENCOUNTERING BUMPS OR HOLES.
NHTSA complaint #10007787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
199 DOGE RAM EXT CAB 4X4, DIESEL - BALL JOINTS AND FRONT BUSHINGS WEARING OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 48,000 MILES ON VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint #10000219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
199 DOGE RAM EXT CAB 4X4, DIESEL - BALL JOINTS AND FRONT BUSHINGS WEARING OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 48,000 MILES ON VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint #10000219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
199 DOGE RAM EXT CAB 4X4, DIESEL - BALL JOINTS AND FRONT BUSHINGS WEARING OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 48,000 MILES ON VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint #10000219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT
199 DOGE RAM EXT CAB 4X4, DIESEL - BALL JOINTS AND FRONT BUSHINGS WEARING OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 48,000 MILES ON VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint #10000219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
199 DOGE RAM EXT CAB 4X4, DIESEL - BALL JOINTS AND FRONT BUSHINGS WEARING OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 48,000 MILES ON VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint #10000219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
HAVE HAD A SEVERE RIGHT HAND PULLING PROBLEM UNDER MODERATE TO SEVERE BRAKING. I HAVE BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WORSE AS THE BRAKES ARE AT THEIR OPERATING TEMP. WHEN BRAKES ARE COLD THE PULLING PROBLEM IS MINIMAL. PRIOR VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP HAS RESULTED IN THE REPLACMENT OF CALIPERS, ALIGNMENT AND PROPORTION VALVE. EVENTHOUGH THESE PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE PROBLEM REVEALED ITSELF AS EARLY AS 15,000 MILES AND HAS PERSISTED INTERMITTANTLY SINCE THAT TIME.
NHTSA complaint #754693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHEN DRIVING FRONT END CRACKS, AND TIRES WEAR OUT UNEVENLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #895538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THIS TRUCK IS UNSAFE!! TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE, STEERING PULLED HARD TO THE LEFT WHEN LOADED/TOWING. NOW TRUCK PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT WHEN BRAKING (LOADED OR NOT), BUT WILL OCCASSIONALLY PULL LEFT. DRIVER IS NEVER SURE WHICH DIRECTION TRUCK WILL PULL. DEALERSHIP HAS MADE NUMEROUS "REPAIRS" TO THE STEERING, SUSPENSION, AND BRAKES; INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO STEERING GEAR BOX, BALL JOINTS, CALIPERS, SUSPENSION ARMS, ALIGNMENT, TIRE PRESSURE, TIRE ROTATION, TIRE SIZE. DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER HAS STATED THESE TRUCKS HAVE "VERY SENSITIVE SUSPENSIONS" AND THE PULLING IS "NORMAL". THIS IS A 3/4 TON 4-WHEEL DRIVE WORK TRUCK AND IT HAS A "SENSITIVE SUSPENSION"?
NHTSA complaint #740373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
LOOSE AND UNSTABLE AREA IN STEERING, VEHICLE WONDERS TO BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT, MUST CONTINULY CORRECT TO KEEP IN DRIVING LANE. UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE AND WIND SEEM TO INCREASE PROBLEM, CAN FEEL THE FRONT WHEELS PULLING AT STEERING WHEEL AT TIMES. THIS IS NOT A SAFE SITUATION. HAVE HAD TO DEALER, THEY SAID THIS WAS NORMAL AND THAT CHRYSLER WOULD NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #736912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
FRONT CONTROL ARMS FAILED AND REPLACED 3 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #784527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE LOUD NOISE AND VIBRATION THAT THE VEHICLE MAKES WHEN TURNING LEFT AND GOING OVER BUMPS, CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. YH
NHTSA complaint #782029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #723244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND WHEN PASSING A SEMI- TRAILER VEHICLE PULLED, AND COULDN'T CONTROL STEERING. ALSO, WHEN TRAVELING AT 65MPH VEHICLE WANDERED ALL OVER THE ROAD. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD AND MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURN, STEERING WHEEL DID NOT RETURN BACK TO THE CENTER. DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT WITHOUT SUCCESS. *AK
NHTSA complaint #862678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE, ITS DRIFTING. IF TOWING VEHICLE AND ITS DRIFTING, IT MAKES MATTERS WORSE. *AK DEFECT IN FRONT SUSPENSION DESIGN CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO DRIFT.
NHTSA complaint #861061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
STABILIZER SHOCK ON 4-WD MODELS IS MOUNTED BELOW FRONT END. IT IS THE LOWEST PART OF THE VEHICLE, AND WHEN IT HITS AN OBJECT, IT BENDS THE SHAFT AND CAUSES LOSS OF STEERING. I WORK IN CONSTRUCTION, AND IT HAS HAPPENNED TO ME TWICESINCE LAST SUMMER.
NHTSA complaint #720697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
TRUCK WONDERS ABOUT ,PULLS TO THE LEFT DODGE SAYS THIS IS NORMAL NOT SO.
NHTSA complaint #718673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THIS IS MY SECOND TRUCK FROM DODGE. THE FIRST TRUCK THEY REPLACED THE STEERING BOX 4-5 TIMES AND TRIED MANY OTHER THINGS LIKE ALIGNMENT, TIRE PRESSURE, TIRE ROTATION ETC, TO TRY TO CORRECT A SEVERE WONDERING PROBLEM AND THEY COULD NOT FIX THIS. CHRYSLER OFFERED ME A NEW TRUCK TO REPLACE THIS ONE AND I RELUCTANTLY AGREED. I FINALLY TOOK DELIVERY AFTER NUMEROUS PAPERWORK PROBLEMS AND IT TURNED OUT THAT THIS TRUCK HAS THE SAME PROBLEM ALONG WITH SEVERAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK TO BACK TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE FRONT END AND THEY TRIED FRONT END ALIGNMENTS, TIRE ROTATIONS, MORE TOW ON THE FRONT END, NEW STEERING BOXES, REPLACED THE BRAKES & TURNED THE ROTORS AT 8,000 MILES, REPAINTED ABOUT HALF THE TRUCK ETC. WHEN I FIRST TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE I TOLD THE SALESPERSON (JOE ZAPPIA) AT WILSONS THAT THERE WAS A FRONT END PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND HE ASSURED ME THAT IT WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE DELIVERY. I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE AND I DROVE THE TRUCK DOWN THE STREET AND REALIZED THAT THE TRUCK WAS NEVER FIXED. I DROVE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER ON DUTY AND HE TOLD ME THAT THEY NEVER TOLD HIM THAT THER WAS A FRONT END PROBLEM. SO FROM THAT DAY ON IN JANUARY 1999 I HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY TO KEEP MY TRUCK IN MY OWN LANE GOING DOWN THE ROAD!
NHTSA complaint #717568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING VIBRATION DUE TO SUSPENSION FAILURE, REPAIRS WERE DONE SEVERAL TIMES, PROBLEMS STILL EXIST, SHOCKS ARE LEAKING OIL DUE TO FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #546459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING VIBRATION DUE TO SUSPENSION FAILURE, REPAIRS WERE DONE SEVERAL TIMES, PROBLEMS STILL EXIST, SHOCKS ARE LEAKING OIL DUE TO FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #546459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT END SHAKING.
NHTSA complaint #545206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE WANDERS SINCE APRIL 14, 1999. DODGE MANUFACTURER RECOGNIZES THE PROBLEM AND SAYS THAT IT'S NORMAL.
NHTSA complaint #837197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.