1999 Dodge RAM 3500 steering problems

STEERING

EVER SINCE WE PURCHASED THE TRUCK USED FROM DODGE DEALER IN TUCSON ARIZONA WE HAVE HAD CONCERNS WITH SUSPENSION AND STEERING OF THE TRUCK. WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK STEERING IS BOUNCY AND UNSTABLE. WE THOUGHT IT WAS ALIGNMENT SO WE TOOK IT IN AND TRUCK CONTINUES THE SAME. WHEN PULLING OUT 34' 5TH WHEEL STEERING IS VERY SHAKY AND VIBRATES A LOT. AFTER YEARS OF BRINGING UP CONCERN WITH DODGE DEALER WE TOOK TO ANOTHER SHOP WHERE THEY GAVE US A HUGE LIST OF THINGS NEEDING TOO GET FIXED. WE WENT BACK TO DODGE DEALER WHERE THEY GAVE US A 2ND OPINION AND CAME UP WITH ADDITIONAL CONCERNS WITH TRUCK. WE HAVE CHANGED SHOCKS, STRUTS, BE ALL JOINTS AND OTHER THINGS WITH THE SUSPENSION AND TRUCK CONTINUES TO RUN THE SAME WAY. BUT RECENTLY WE GOT BRAKES, DRUMS, AND MASTER CYLINDER SINCE WE RAN OUT OF BRAKES WHILE PULLING OUT 34' 5TH WHEEL. ALL THIS THINGS WERE RECOMMENDED SO THAT THE TRUCK WOULD RUN WELL. WE HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND ISSUE IS STILL UNRESOLVED. WE WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO HELP US SINCE ALL THE RECOMMENDED REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE AND STILL HAVING SAME PROBLEM. WE TRAVEL QUITE A BIT WITH OUR ANIMALS AND WOULD HATE TO HAVE A DEADLY ACCIDENT DUE TO TRUCK PROBLEMS. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST STEP TO REPAIRING OUR TRUCK TO SAFE CONDITIONS. STEERING SHAKY AND BRAKES FAILURE EVEN AFTER ALL RECOMMENDED REPAIRS. THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10884638 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

WHILE TRAVELING AT A SLOW SPEED THERE WAS A SUDDEN STEERING FAILURE RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. A LOOK UNDER THE VEHICLE SHOWED THAT THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE IDLER ARM ASSEMBLY HAD RIPPED OFF THE FRAME AND THE ARM AND STEERING LINKAGES WERE DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. THE FAILURE SEEMED TO BE CAUSE BY EXTREME RUST/ROT.

NHTSA complaint #10412988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES

1999 DODGE RAM 3500. FRONT END STEERING FAILURE DEATH WOBBLE, $550 REPAIR, AC EVAPORATOR, $800 REPAIR, PRESENTLY ENGINE CONTROL MODULE $300 FOR TROUBLESHOOTING BY THE DEALER, $730 FOR PART AND ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR LABOR. ESTIMATE OF $1000+. ASKED DODGE FOR ASSISTANCE, TRUCK IS 6 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY AND ONLY HAS 68830 MILES ON IT. THE ENGINE (CUMMINS DIESEL) WAS WARRANTED FOR 5 YEARS, 100K, AND THE SAME WITH EMMISSIONS CONTROL 5/100. THE ECM COULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY DODGE UNDER EITHER OF THESE WARRANTIES.

NHTSA complaint #10095728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AT 11,000 MILES TO STOP THE SEVERE PULLING WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED---"LOCKUP" STARTED THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKUP AND THE REARS ROLL FREE---MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED--PORPORTIONING VALVE WAS REPLACED--REAR DRUMS WERE TURNED & REAR SHOES WERE REPLACED

NHTSA complaint #9005146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

THE WELD IN 6TH GEAR BROKE CAUSING 6TH GEAR TO BE UNUSABLE. CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS TAKEN APART, THE MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE WELD WAS FAULTY. THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM HAD LEAKS.

NHTSA complaint #8018603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, APPLIED ON BRAKES AND VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. DEALER HAS SERVICED VEHICLE BEFORE FOR SAME PROBLEM; HOWEVER HAS NOT FOUND REMEDY FOR MALFUNCTION.*AK CONSUMER ADDS AFTER FRONT PADS WERE REPLACED FRONT/REAR BRAKES CONTINUE TO LOCK UP. WHILE OPPOSITE END WHEELS ROLL FREE. MANY ATTEMPTS MADE TO CORRECT PROBLEM, BUT LOCK UP STILL HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. STEERING SEEMS VERY LOOSE AND IS HARD TO KEEP VEHICLE STRAIGHT. POWER STEERING GEAR AND STEERING GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED HOWEVER TRUCK CONTINUES TO WANDER. DRIVER SIDE SEAT CUSHION SAGGS. SEAT BOTTOM CUSHION REPLACED. CAB SQWAKS ON UNEVEN GROUND. BLACK SMOKE FROM EXHAUST WHEN COLD OR WARM. CLUTCH SLIPS. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. DIMMER ON DASH LIGHTS BURNS FINGERS. WHEN TURNING ON TURN SIGNALS, WIPERS WILL ACTIVATE AND RAPID FLASH IS HEARD. DIFFICULTY GETTING INTO FIRST GEAR. ABS JAMS WHEN UNDER A HARD STOP AND DURING COLD START. LUMBAR IS INOPERATIVE. TRANMSISSION LEAKING OIL. REPLACED OUTPUT SHAFT SEAL. MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED. MOST GEARS DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE. REVERSE IS VERY STIFF. SHIFTING 2-3RD WILL CAUSE SHIFTER TO LOCK UP AND WON'T MOVE AT ALL. NO PROBLEM FOUND. OVERHEAD CONSOLE INOPERATIVE AND REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #8012061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. THE BRAKE CALIPER WERE NOT PROPERLY ATTACHED. BAD BALL JOINTS WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACE.

NHTSA complaint #9002672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:LINK:CONNECTION

VEHICLE WOULD WANDER AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT LINE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE THREE TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND REPLACED DRAG LINK WHICH RAN FROM FRAME TO AXLE THAT PREVENTS SIDE TO SIDE MOVEMENT, BUT DID NOT PREVENT PROBLEM FROM REOCCURRING. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT 97000/ 102000, AND 104000 MILES WITHIN THE LAST 9 MONTHS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.

NHTSA complaint #890025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

WHILE DRIVING STEERING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING FRONT WHEELS TO DROP WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #875987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.