44 of the
561 complaints filed about the Dodge RAM Quad CAB
are about the suspension —
8% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2002.
I HAVE A 2003 DODGE QUAD CAB 1500 4X2 THAT I BOUGHT NEW AND HAS ONLY 71,000 ORIGINAL MILES. I HAVE NOTICED SOME NOISE AND VIBRATION COMING FROM THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION COMING FROM THE FRONT END. I'VE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT CHRYSLER/DODGE HAS ISSUED A RECALL (N49, N62 AND NHTSA 13-V528) THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE BUT SHOULD BE INCLUDED AFTER FURTHER INSPECTIONS. THE PART IN QUESTION IS THE LEFT TIE ROD AND STEERING LINKAGE. NEW PARTS (CBUEN491AA. CBUEN492AA) APPARENTLY ARE READILY AVAILABLE PRIOR TO JANUARY 2014 BUT MY TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND REPAIR. DO I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE PART TO SNAP OFF CAUSING INJURY AND DEATH TO ANYONE ESPECIALLY MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED FOR THIS MODEL YEAR? WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE FOR NOW THAT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED BUT WHY DOES THE CONSUMER HAVE TO EXPERIENCE A LOSS FIRST BEFORE THE MANUFACTURER TAKES HONORABLE RESPONSIBILITY? ANOTHER ISSUE AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED BY OTHER TRUCK OWNERS IS THAT THE DASH BOARD DETERIORATES AND CRACKS AND MATERIALS FALL INTO THE AIR/DEFROST DUCTING. I HOPE FOR ACTION SOON RATHER THAN RE-ACTION AFTER THE FACT AND THE PREVENTION OF LOSS TO LIFE OR INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #10743761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I GOT WIND OF THE RECALL AROUND DEC 2013 & FIGURED IT DIDN'T APPLY TO MY TRUCK SINCE I HAD SPENT CLOSE TO $2000 REBUILDING THE FRONT SUSPENSION WITH OEM & AFTER MARKET PARTS. I FINALLY RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE N62 AT THE END OF JAN 2014. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO MY DEALERSHIP & THEY CONFIRMED MY TRUCK WAS INDEED INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SINCE THE PARTS I USED WERE DEFECTIVE & BEING RECALLED. THE SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME IT WOULD BE AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR OR LONGER BEFORE THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR MY TRUCK WOULD ARRIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP. I ASKED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE TIE ROD BALL STUD FAILED AT HWY SPEEDS(I ALREADY KNEW THE ANSWER) & WAS TOLD IT WOULDN'T BE PRETTY. IF THE PART DID FAIL I WOULD LOSE ALL STEERING ABILITY & MORE THEN LIKELY END UP IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. MY TRUCK WEIGHS IN AT 8600 LBS + OR -,UNLOADED, WHAT EVER I RUN INTO/HIT IF THE TIE ROD BALL STUD FAILED WOULD CERTAINLY CAUSE INJURIES OR DEATH. WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO? PARK OUR TRUCKS UNTIL DODGE/CHRYSLER SHIPS THE PARTS IN ANOTHER YEAR OR SO? MOST FOLKS WHO OWN HD PICKUPS USE THEM TO MAKE A LIVING & CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THEIR TRUCK PARKED FOR A COUPLE DAYS MUCH LESS A YEAR. WOULD BE NICE IF OWNERS OF THE TRUCKS AFFECTED WOULD BE REIMBURSED BY DODGE/CHRYSLER IF WE PURCHASED AFTERMARKET PARTS MAKING OUR TRUCKS SAFE TO DRIVE, RATHER THEN WAITING TO WHO KNOWS WHEN. I KNOW THAT WON'T HAPPEN,
NHTSA complaint #10577442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SIMULTANEOUS FAILURE OF THE INTER AND OUTER TIE RODS, UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN USE AS A WORK TRUCK, DRIVEN ON DIRT ROADS AND CURRENTLY HAS 120,000 HIGHWAY MILES. RACK AND PINION IS LEAKING OIL, AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IS COMING A PART.
NHTSA complaint #10395345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB 4X4, VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND WAS NEVER ABUSED. ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO I NOTICED A CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WITHIN SEVERAL MONTHS ONE CRACK HAD GROWN TO 6 CRACKS. THEN ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO THE AIR WOULD NOT FLOW THROUGH THE DASH VENTS ANYMORE. IN ORDER TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM I HAD TO REMOVE THE DASH BOARD TO GET THE HEAT AND AIR SYSTEM. WHEN I REMOVED THE DASH BOARD IT CRUMBLED INTO ABOUT 20 PCS. UPON INSPECTION OF THE AIR PROBLEM I FOUND OUT THE BLEND DOOR THAT CONTROLS THE AIR TO THE DASH WAS BROKEN. SEEMS THIS IS A PROBLEM. I AM NOW HAVING TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD, FRONT AND REAR PC AND THE 4 BLEND DOORS IN THE AIR SYSTEM. WHILE REPLACING THE SHOCKS I NOTICED THE RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING EXTREMELY BAD WHICH HAS NEVER LEAKED BEFORE. NO NOISE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, NO WARNING LIGHT TO ADVISE OF THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10361536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OUR 2003 DODGE RAM 1500 DASH STARTED CRACKING AND CAVING IN NEARLY A YEAR AGO. AS TIME GOES BY CRACKS WORSEN AS WELL AS NEW CRACKS HAVE APPEARED. PLASTIC DASH PIECES ARE FALLING BEHIND (INTO) DASH BOARD AND COMING OUT SOMETIMES IN THE FLOORBOARD. CONCERNED ABOUT AIR BAG SAFETY. WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE ENTIRE DASHBOARD IN ORDER FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE FIXED. OUR DAUGHTER OWNS THE SAME YEAR DODGE TRUCK AND HERS IS DOING THE SAME THING. ALSO, OUR STEERING WHEEL MAKES CRACKING, POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNING. AND THE BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO BE BAD.
NHTSA complaint #10347909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER AND CONTROL ARMS ( BOTH SIDES) BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE WEARING UNEVEN. I DO NOT DRIVE THIS PICK-UP OFF ROAD! IF YOU LOOK AT THE LACK OF SIZE TO THE BALL JOINTS, IT IS AMAZING THEY LASTED 3 YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10331917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2002 4-DOOR RAM 1500 - 90K MILES. ENTIRE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSEMBLY CAME APART AND TIRE FELL OFF. THIS PART IS NOT MEANT TO EVER BREAK APART ACCORDING TO 2 INDEPENDENT MECHANICS. IM VERY LUCKY THAT I WASN'T ON THE EXPRESSWAY COMMUTE YET, JUST PULLING OUT ON THE ROAD EARLY IN THE MORNING.
NHTSA complaint #10221518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE IS A COMPLAINT ALREADY ON FILE ABOUT THE UPPER BALL JOINT THAT FELL OUT @17K MILES. THE COMPLAINT THAT I WANT TO FILE NOW IS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM THA IS FLEXING WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED OR WHEN A BUMP IS ENCOUNTERED. THE TRUCK WILL JUMP FROM ONE LANE TO THE OTHER WHEN A ROUGH PLACE IS HIT AT INTERSTATE SPEED. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND NO ONE HAS EVER HAD THE TIME TO EVEN LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK THE LAST DAY OF 2001 AND NOW HAVE 35K MILES ON IT .I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT VERY MUCH. WHEN THE FIRST COMPLAINT WAS FILED(BECAUSE CHRYSLER DENIDED ANY CLAIM) I THOUGHT I WOULD AT LEAST GET A RESPONSE THAT I FILED THE COMPLAINT BUT TO THIS DAY I HAVE NOT. ONE MORE THING CHRYSLER SAYS THAT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN AN INJURY ATTRIBUTED TO THE UPPER BALL JOINT COMING OUT OF THE 2002 DODGE 1500, WELL I SENT THEM THE COPY OF THE HOSPITAL REPORT WHERE I HAD 14 STITCHES ACROSS MY NOSE AND UNDER MY EYE. WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN ANY THING DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? MUST SOMEONE BE KILLED BEFORE SOMEONE LOOKS INTO THIS?
NHTSA complaint #10202454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE COMING OUT OF A CURVE THE TRUCK JOLTED, DIPPED AND COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED (1ST FAILURE). SUBSEQUENTLY I HIT A TELEPHONE POLE DETRYING THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT PANEL AND THE TRUCK SLID TO STOP AFTER "SHUTTING OFF" ( 2ND FAILURE). WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK , BEHIND ME ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE PASSENGER SIDE SIDE WHEEL WAS LAYING ON THE GROUND STILL ATTACHED TO THE AXLE. THERE WERE NO POT HOLES OR ROCKS ON THE ROAD TO CAUSE THE "JOLT". THIS IS A SIMILAR CONDITION THAT I BELIEVE HAS BEEN DESCRIBED FOR THE DURANGO AND DAKOTA OF THE SAME YEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10195137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AT 65 MPH USING CRUISE CONTROL, DAYTIME, DRY PAVEMENT, GOOD WEATHER, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT AND ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH WARNING CHIME. AT NEXT EXIT, OPERATOR TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP. TECHNICIAN FOUND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY WORN, ALLOWING TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO BE MOVED 1-2'' FROM VERTICAL. VEHICLE HAD BEEN CHECKED DURING STATE INSPECTION LESS THAN 400 MILES PREVIOUSLY AND PASSED. A TOTAL FAILURE IN TRAFFIC AT SPEED MIGHT HAVE RESULTED IN A LOSS OF HANDLING/BRAKING THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED OR WORSENED AN ACCIDENT. FAILED PART IS AVAILABLE. VEHICLE HAS ALSO SUFFERED NUMEROUS PREMATURE FAILURES INCLUDING: FAILURE OF DRIVER HEATED SEAT, FAILURE OF ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP, NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENT DUE TO ENGINE STOPPAGE AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING, FAILURE OF INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, FAILURE OF FRONT SUSPENSION COMPONENTS, AND DAMAGE TO SPARE TIRE DUE TO MIS-ROUTED TAIL PIPE. SOME OF THESE ARE MANUFACTURER DESIGN DEFECTS, OTHERS ARE TROUBLESHOOTING OR REPAIR ERRORS AT DEALER. TWO EVENTS (FUEL PUMP, WHEEL BEARING) MIGHT HAVE CAUSED ACCIDENT WITH INJURY/DEATH POSSIBLE OUTCOME.
NHTSA complaint #10164931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2001 RAM 1500 EXTD. CAB 4WD SPORT. I DON'T USE IT OFF-ROAD AND ONLY USE 4X4 IN THE SNOW. 32000 MILES NEEDED NEW TIRES. SHOP WOULDN'T ALIGN WHEELS BECAUSE THEY SAID I NEEDED NEW BALL JOINTS. BROUGHT TRUCK TO DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS WITHIN SPECS. 35700 MILES, SAME DEALER REPLACES UPPER AND LOWER UNIVERSAL JOINTS ON WARRANTY. I WENT BACK TO TIRE DEALER FOR ALIGNMENT, THEY SAID THE BALL JOINTS WERE STILL BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. 36010 MILES, DEALER REPLACES UPPER AND LOWER, LEFT AND RIGHT BALL JOINTS ON WARRANTY. 65600 MILES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SAME DEALER REPLACES PURGE SOLENOID, STABILIZER LINKS AND SHIFT ROD LINK TO QUIET RATTLING NOISE.
NHTSA complaint #10157472 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON 7-16-03 I WAS A RESTRAINED PASSENGER IN A DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 QUAD CAB. WE WERE RETURNING FROM A SHORT TRIP TO THE STORE. WHILE DRIVING ON A PERFECTLY STRAIGHT DRY ROAD, WITH COMPLETELY CLEAR VISIBILITY AT APPROX 3 PM AFTERNOON WITH VERY LIGHT TRAFFIC WE UNEXPECTEDLY FELT A HARD BUMP, AS IF WE HAD HIT A POT HOLE. IT WAS SO HARD I WAS THROWN FORWARD IN MY SEAT. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY YELLED THAT THE STEERING HAD LOCKED. HE WAS ALSO TRYING DESPERATELY TO HIT THE BRAKES, BUT THEY TOO WERE NOT WORKING. THE DRIVER STRUGGLED WITH ALL HIS MIGHT TO TRY AND GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT WASN'T ABLE TOO. WE DROVE DIRECTLY INTO THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. WE THEN LEFT THE LANE AND PROCEEDED INTO A PARKING AREA OF A CONVENIENCE STORE, WHERE WE STRUCK A PARKED VEHICLE. AFTER STRIKING THE PARKED VEHICLE WE WERE REDIRECTED BACK INTO THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. IT WAS AT THAT TIME WE WERE STRUCK HEAD ON BY A SEMI TRUCK. THE SEMI DROVE COMPLETELY OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DODGE TRUCK CRUSHING ME INSIDE AND ROLLING THE SEMI. THE POLICE REPORT STATES THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WAS FOUND SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS AWAY FROM THE SCENE OF THE WRECK. IN THE AREA WE NOTED THE INITIAL BUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS INVESTIGATED AND IT WAS FOUND THE FRONT PASSENGER BALL JOINT HAD BEEN BROKEN COMPLETELY IN HALF; HOWEVER, THE INVESTIGATED STATED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS TOO SEVERE TO MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER THE BALL JOINT FAILED BEFORE, OR WAS BROKEN DURING THE COLLISION. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 SECONDS BETWEEN THE FAILURE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND THE COLLISION. SOMETHING FAILED ON THAT VEHICLE RENDERING IT UNCONTROLLABLE. I DO HAVE THE VEHICLE IN MY POSSESSION, AND IT IS AVAILABLE FOR ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATION. DODGE HAS SHOWN NO INTEREST WHAT SO EVER IN INVESTIGATING THIS POSSIBLE MECHANICAL FAILURE. I WILL SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THE INJURIES I INCURRED FROM THIS ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10144893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRUCK DEVELOPED WARPED ROTORS @ 13K MILES. ROTORS WERE TURNED AND FRON T CALIPERS REPLACED DUE TO TSB. LATER SHUDDER REAPPEARD @ ABOUT 22K MILES. DEALER TURNED REAR ROTORS. SHUDDER REAPPEARED ~6K MILES LATER. REPLACED REAR DISCS SINCE OLDER ONES WERE BEYOND TURNING. SHUDDER REAPPEARED @ 34K. AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION WITH DEALER AND DODGE CUST NO-SERVICE, FRONT HUBS WERE REPLACED AND FRONT ROTORS TURNED DUE TO TSB. NOW AT 38K MILES SHUDDER IS BACK.
NHTSA complaint #10133521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRONT END SUSPENSION COIL SPRINGS OF 2001 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCK ARE 'SAGGING'. THE COILS HAVE FAILED PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE REACHING 63,000 MILES AND HAVE RESULTED ALLOWING THE FRONT WHEEL STRUTS TO ENCROACH ON THE TURNING RADIUS OF THE FRONT WHEELS. CUTTING THE WHEELS EITHER HARD LEFT OR HARD RIGHT RESULTS IN CONTACT WITH THE INSIDE WALL OF THE TIRES AND THE STRUT. WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLS WITH THE TIRES IN CONTACT WITH THE STRUTS, THE TIRES ARE SCORED. OVER TIME, THIS SCORING HAS DAMAGED AND WEAKENED THE INSIDE WALL OF THE TIRE
NHTSA complaint #10125965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RIGHT FRONT TIRE KEEPS COMING OFF WHILE DRIVING 5 TIMES THE TRUCK BEEN PARK FOR 2 MONTHS,WHEEL BEARING REPLACED TWICE UPPER LOWER BALL JOINTS , TIE RODS SHOT, ROTORS TWICE FIRST SET AT 30,000 MILES DEALER ASK HOW MY DRIVING WAS, BOTH FRONT CALIPERS LESS THAN 78,000 MILES
NHTSA complaint #10120180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAD BOUGHT MY 2500 DODGE RAM BACK IN JUNE OF 2003. I HAD OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS WHEN I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY GOING 75MPH AND THE TRUCK STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY OUT OF CONTROL. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO STOP THE VIBRATIONS. I BROUGHT IT IN TO DODGE AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE THINKING THIS WAS A FREAK OCCURRENCE. THEN ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO I WAS ONCE AGAIN DRIVING AROUN 60MPH HIT A BUMP AND THE VEHIVLE STARTED SHAKING OUT OF CONTROL. THIS HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN THREE DAYS( AS I WAS DRIVING A LOT THOSE DAYS). I BROUGHT IT IN TO DODGE AND THEY GAVE ME A HARD TIME, BUT ENDED UP REPLACING THE TRACKBAR AND STEERING STABILIZER. THEY SAID THEY DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM OR NOT. NOW I FEEL THAT THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND HAVE HEARD MANY OTHER FOLKS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SHAKING AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10114294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN THE DRIVER ENCOUNTER ROUGH ROADS AND ENTERED A TURN HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END BOUNCED. *NM THERE WAS A PULSATION IN THE STEERING. THE SERVICE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *SC UPDATED 01/11/06.
NHTSA complaint #10109769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.