THE FRAME HORNS {LEFT AND RIGHT} DEVELOPED CRACKS ON ALL FOUR SIDES AHEAD OF THE FRONT WHEELS LEADING TO THE DETACHMENT OF THE STEERING ARM AND STABILIZER BAR RESULTING IN LITTLE TO NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE DETACHMENT IS NOT FULLY COMPLETE IT ONLY THROUGH THE EXTREMELY WEAKENED CONNECTIONS THAT REMAIN THAT AN ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP AS SOON THE LOSS OF CONTROL WAS EXPERIENCED AND HAS BEEN PARKED SINCE. IT IS CANNOT BE OPERATED SAFELY IN THE THIS CONDITION. THE FAILED FRAME IS THE SOURCE OF THE DRIVEABILITY AND SAFETY ISSUES. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON A 4 LANE DIVIDED ROAD WHEN THE LOSS OF CONTROL MANIFESTED.
NHTSA complaint #11192029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
URGENT SAFETY ISSUE: DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD VEHICLE LOSES COMPLETE STEER ABILITY!!! HAD TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND FOUND FRAME RUSTED THROUGH (DUE TO FACTORY ROUTING OF A/C WATER DRAINAGE) AND CAUSED STEERING MECHANISM TO SEPARATE WHERE THE STEERING CONNECTION IS!!! DEALERSHIP IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING A RECALL NOR RESOLUTION AND BASED ON THE NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES STILL ON THE ROAD (NOW PRIMARILY AS LOW BUDGET WORK VANS) I FULLY EXPECT TO SEE INJURY AND DEATHS IF THIS IS NOT ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY!!! I HAVE DONE ALL I KNOW TO DO (INCLUDING SEARCHING THE WEB WHERE I SEE MULTIPLE ALERTS TO SIMILAR INCIDENTS) SO ANY INJURY OR DEATH DUE TO FURTHER INACTION IS ON THE CONSCIOUS OF THE RECIPIENT OF THIS URGENT WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!
NHTSA complaint #11005087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 65 MPH AND LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF VEHICLE STEERING FOUND OUT IT WAS DUE TO A RUSTED FRAMED. TOTALLY UNSAFE VAN. I WAS GLAD IT WAS NOT VERY BUSY ON THE INTERSTATE OR I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED A MANUFACTURE CAN HAVE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. IT IS TOTAL FRAME LOST TO RUST.
NHTSA complaint #10780681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON 8/8/14, A LOUD BANGING SOUND OCCURRED WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND RAILROAD TRACKS WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. AT THAT TIME, STOPPED DRIVING VAN UNTIL WERE ABLE TO TAKE IT TO BETTENHAUSEN CHRYSLER JEEP IN TINLEY PARK, IL. ON 8/14/14. ON THE SAME DATE, WE WERE INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE AREA AROUND THE SWAY BAR IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY. THE OTHER AREAS OF THE FRAME SHOW RUST AND CORROSION WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE STEERING MECHANISM TO FAIL MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE PROPER PROCEDURES WERE FOLLOWED TO DETERMINE IF CHRYSLER WOULD WARRANTY THE REPAIR OF THIS VEHICLE SINCE THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH SOME OF THEIR OTHER VEHICLES. VAN WAS TRANSPORTED TO RIVERDALE BODY SHOP, TINLEY PARK, ILLINOIS, TO DETERMINE THE COST OF REPAIRS. CHRYSLER WAS CONTACTED. ON 8/27/14 WERE INFORMED CHRYSLER WOULD NOT WARRANTY THIS VEHICLE. A TELEPHONE CALL WAS MADE TO THEIR CUSTOMER CARE CENTER WHEREIN A CASE WAS PRESENTED TO GET THEM TO WARRANTY THE WORK. A LETTER WAS ALSO SENT OUT TO DIFFERENT CHRYSLER PEOPLE ON THIS SAME DATE.
NHTSA complaint #10629261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING THE VAN THE STEERING BECAME UNCERTAIN, THE VAN WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE WHEEL. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE FRAME IN FRONT OF THE FRONT WHEELS HAD RUSTED AWAY LEAVING NOTHING FOR THE STEERING BOX TO ATTACH TO AND ALLOWING IT TO TURN WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE REMAINED FIXED. THIS PREVENTED THE WHEELS FROM STEERING. I ALSO HAD A BRACKET WHICH WAS PART OF THE STEERING GEAR RUST SO THAT IT BROKE OFF THE FRAME EARLIER. THE CORRESPONDING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DISTURBING AND I AM THANKFUL THAT NO INJURY OR ACCIDENT RESULTED. I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES WITH RUST PROBLEMS WHICH AFFECTED THE APPEARANCE OF THE VEHICLE, BUT NOT THE SAFETY IN A CATASTROPHIC MANNER. THIS VAN IS NO LONGER ABLE TO BE DRIVEN EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH EVERY OTHER PART OF THE CAR. LOOKING ONLINE I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME SITUATION. OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE WARNED BEFORE A TRAGEDY OCCURS.
NHTSA complaint #10585166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DIFFICULT TO GET THE GEARSHIFT OUT OF PARK. A RECALL HAS BEEN DONE ON THE IGNITION/PARKSHIFT INTERLOCK FOR AN ISSUE "THE IGNITION/PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE.". THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THE PART THAT HAS FAILED IS NOT THE SAME AS THE PART THAT WAS REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL AND WANTS OVER $2,000 FOR A NEW STEERING COLUMN OR OVER $1,000 FOR A JUNKYARD STEERING COLUMN. CHRYSLER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AGREES WITH THE DEALERSHIP BUT NOBODY CAN EXPLAIN HOW THE IGNITION/PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK IS NOT RELATED TO THE IGNITION/PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK.
NHTSA complaint #10566788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FOR 2 DAYS PRIOR TO INCIDENT , NOTICED STEERING WHEEL KEPT CHANGING ORIENTATION WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. A LOT OF GROANING AND CREAKING NOISE FROM RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION IN RIGHT TURNS AS WELL AS VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED. PARKED VEHICLE AND INSPECTED UNDERSIDE TO FIND THAT IDLER ARM BRACKET WAS TEARING AWAY FROM FRAME RAIL DUE TO ROT. AFTER PARKING VEHICLE , I MOVED IT AROUND IN THE DRIVEWAY NO MORE THAN 3 TIMES BEFORE IDLER ARM BRACKET COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME RAIL WITH A VERY LOUD POP.. VAN NOW HAS NO STEERING AND IS JUNK SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY. INSPECTION OF FRONT FRAME RAIL AREA REVEALS HEAVY ROT ON BOTH FRONT FRAME RAILS AND STEERING GEAR MOUNT AS WELL. THE REST OF THE BODY IS TYPICAL FOR 10 YRS OLD IN UPSTATE NY. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY OWNED VEHICLES 20+ YRS OLD WITH BODY ROT , BUT HAVE NEVER HAD ANY FRAME ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH ROT. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH , THIS APPEARS TO BE QUITE COMMON ON FULL SIZE DODGE VANS. WILL BE FILING A COMPLAINT WITH CHRYSLER CORP. , BUT DON'T EXPECT MUCH TO COME OF IT. ABSOLUTELY AMAZED THAT PEOPLE HAVE NOT DIED AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT. CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF THESE VANS STILL ON THE ROAD , I WOULD CONSIDER THIS A GROWING CONCERN FOR THOSE THAT OWN AND DRIVE THEM AS WELL AS OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD WITH THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10557231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FRONT FRAMES ROT OUT ON STEERING SIDE AND IT ISN'T 1 OF THEM IT IS ALMOST ALL OF THEM. TOYOTA RECALLED TACOMAS FOR THIS AND I WANT MY FRAME FIXED OR REPLACED. THIS HAPPENS EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLES. THEY HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN AWAY WITH IT . BUT THESE ARE STILL ON THE ROAD AND COULD KILL PEOPLE .THEY NEED TO BUY THE ONES THAT ARE STILL ON THE ROAD OR TRADE FOR SAFE VANS OR TRUCKS. THE SERVICE LIFE OF THESE WERE CUT SHORT AND ALMOST EVERY JUNKYARD HAS THESE AND THEY ALL LOOK GOOD BUT THEY AREN'T SAFE. THEY NEED TO CLEAN UP THEIR MESS AND TAKE THEM BACK TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS THEY CANT BE REPAIRED .I THINK THE DRAIN HOLES IN THE FRAMES WERE IN THE WRONG PLACE OR NOT THERE AT ALL.
NHTSA complaint #10542538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SOME DODGE RAM VANS HAVE A LATENT DEFECT IN THE FRAME THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THERE IS NO RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE INTERNET IS LITTERED WITH COMPLAINTS, INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE FRAME IN ONE SPOT. I BELIEVE THAT THE AC RUNOFF IS VENTED DIRECTLY INTO THE FRAME WHICH, OVER TIME RESULTS IN THE EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE FRAME AT THE POINT WHERE THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING ARE LOCATED - THIS RESULTS IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO EASY WAY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM SHORT OF REPLACING THE WHOLE FRAME. DODGE DENIES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM AND BLAMES THIS DEFECT ON ROAD SALT AND CONDITIONS. THIS WOULD BE A VALID ASSERTION IF THE REST OF THE VEHICLE HAD ROT PROBLEMS ELSEWHERE ON THE VEHICLE. INCLUDING THE MUCH MORE VOLATILE BODY PARTS, WHICH ARE IN SOME CASES, STILL SOLID AND IN GOOD CONDITION. THIS PROBLEM IS PREVALENT IN SEVERAL YEARS OF THIS MODEL TRUCK. THIS PROBLEM IS EASY TO CHECK FOR AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY DODGE SIMPLY BECAUSE THE VANS ARE GETTING OLDER AND THIS PROBLEM WILL BE OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #10525871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I AM THE OWNER OF A 1999 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. BEING UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE HEADED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE DRIVER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES TO HER HAND. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED AND HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING LINKAGE FRACTURED DUE TO THE FRAME BEING RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 136,000. MY WIFE AND OTHER DRIVERS COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. RESEARCH OF THIS VEHICLE ONLINE SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD FORCE A RECALL FOR REPAIR. MY VAN IS A RAM 1500 AND I HAVE FOUND THIS COMPLAINT FILED UNDER RAM 1500 TRUCKS AND RAM VANS.
NHTSA complaint #10493618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I BOUGHT A 1999 DODGE RAM 1500 VAN WITH APPROXIMATELY 88,000. AFTER DRIVING ON SEVERAL TRIPS WE TOOK IT TO THE SHOP BECAUSE THE STEERING WAS LOOSE AND WOULD OCCASIONALLY MAKE NOISE. THE FIRST MECHANIC WE TALKED TO SAID THE FRONT OF THE FRAME IS ALMOST 80% RUSTED THROUGH ON ONE SIDE AND WHERE THE STEERING BOX WAS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME WAS RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT HE THOUGHT IT WAS UNREPAIRABLE AND HE WAS CONCERNED WITH US EVEN DRIVING IT HOME. WE CONTACTED A SECOND BUSINESS THAT DEALS WITH FRAME ISSUES AMONG OTHER THINGS. THEY WERE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE VEHICLE BEING DRIVEN MORE THAN A FEW MILES. HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH METAL TO WELD TO MAKE IT SAFE AND THE ONLY WAY HE SAW TO FIX IT WAS TO GET ANOTHER FRAME AND BASICALLY REMOVE THE FRAME FROM MY VEHICLE AND ATTACH THE NEW FRAME BUT HE THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD HAVE PROBLEMS FINDING A FRAME THAT WASN'T RUSTED AND IT WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR EVEN IF THEY DID. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS PROBLEM IT APPEARS THAT THE FRAME RUSTING IS COMMON. WE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER THAT HAS ALWAYS LIVED IN MISSOURI AND HE RECEIVED FREE OIL CHANGES FOR AS LONG AS HE OWNED THE VEHICLE FROM ROYAL GATE DODGE. I RECENTLY CALLED THE PAST OWNER ABOUT THE VEHICLE WHEN WE FOUND OUT IT WAS UNSAFE AND HE SAID THEY NEVER EVEN MENTIONED IT. I BELIEVE THAT DODGE KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND THE DANGEROUS FRAME BUT HAVE YET TO DO ANYTHING. PLEASE HELP ME WITH BOTH MY VEHICLE ISSUE AND MAKE SURE THEY ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX, COMPENSATE OR WHATEVER TO GET THESE DANGEROUS VEHICLES OFF THE STREET.
NHTSA complaint #10489551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM VAN B1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING LEFT AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE STEERING COLUMN FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 184,000.
NHTSA complaint #10475172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 DODGE B-VAN STATION WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND HAD BEEN EATEN AWAY BY CORROSION. IN ADDITION THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL A FULL 360 DEGREES. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN COLLAPSED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 71,000.
NHTSA complaint #10467615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 2500 VAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH THE STEERING MOUNT BROKE FROM THE FRAME CAUSING A FAULTY WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE FRAME AND NOTICE EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE FRAME AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE CONTACT STATED IF HE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #10408489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL I HEARD A LOUD POP/THUMP. SUBSEQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 15MPH THE STEERING WENT OUT AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE CAUSE OF THE BREAK DOWN WAS THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FRAME HAD RUSTED AND CRACKED. THIS IS WHERE THE STEERING IS CONNECTED TO. NO REPAIR WAS POSSIBLE. I HAVE CONTACTED ALTERNATE REPAIR SOURCES OF DEALERS, BODY SHOPS, WELDERS AND METAL FABRICATORS WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS TO GET ANYONE WILLING OR ABLE TO REPAIR THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE IS CONSIDERED NON-DRIVABLE AND NON-FIXABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10404981 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM VAN 3500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE STEERING WIRES BROKE IN HALF AND THE STEERING BOX SNAPPED OFF. HE ATTEMPTED TO FILE A CLAIM WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS DENIED; HOWEVER, A SUPERVISOR ADVISED HIM TO HAVE THE STEERING BOX DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. HE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
NHTSA complaint #10289935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 DODGE RAM VAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE IGNITION. THE PART WAS REPAIRED. HE STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER LOCKED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 138,300.
NHTSA complaint #10247379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM VAN. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT FELT A HARD VIBRATION AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE TO LOCATE THE ORIGIN OF THE SOUND, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE RE-ENTERED THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO PARK WHEN ANOTHER LOUD SOUND OCCURRED. THE STEERING DID NOT RESPOND. HE EXITED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND LOCATED A FAILURE WITH THE STEERING CONTROL ARM AND ITS COMPONENTS. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. HE CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE BODY SHOP WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY LIABILITY. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO LOCATE A COLLISION REPAIR SHOP TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WORK. THE CONTACT HAS NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE A SHOP TO PERFORM THE NEEDED REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #10230374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A DODGE VAN 1500 WITH 22000 MILES. THE TIE ROD ENDS FAILED, AND THE BALL JOINTS ARE IN THE PROCESS OF FAILING. I REPLACED THE TIE ROD ENDS AND WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINTS SOON.
NHTSA complaint #10153587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FOLLOWING IS REGARDING A 1999 DODGE RAM 2500 VAN AND FAILURE OF TIE RODS. AT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES BOTH OUTER TIE ROD ENDS WERE REPLACED BY A DEALER FOR TORN RUBBER BOOTS. AT APPROXIMATELY 64,000 MILES ANOTHER TIE ROD FAILURE OCCURRED. THIS TIME IT WAS THE ADJUSTING SLEEVE. THE SLEEVE HAD BECOME LOOSE ON THE TIE ROD END AND HAD DEVELOPED SUFFICIENT MOVEMENT TO WEAR THE THREADS DOWN TO THE POINT WHERE TOTAL FAILURE (SEPARATION) OF THE TIE ROD WAS IMMINENT. THIS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MILES AFTER A STATE INSPECTION AND WITH VERY LITTLE WARNING. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS POWER STEERING (WHICH HAS A VERY DEAD FEELING), THE TIE ROD HAD TO BE VERY NEAR FAILURE BEFORE ITS EFFECT COULD BE FELT IN THE STEERING. OBVIOUSLY I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT BECAUSE TIE ROD SEPARATION WHILE MOVING IS GOING TO RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL (GO RIGHT INTO THE DITCH OR WORSE GO LEFT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC). WHILE MY DEGREE IS IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, I FEEL I HAVE HAD ENOUGH MECHANICAL EXPERIENCE AND EXPERIENCE WORKING ON CARS TO OFFER THE FOLLOWING COMMENT. I THINK DODGE'S DESIGN WITH A SLEEVE THAT IS SPLIT ITS ENTIRE LENGTH AND DEPENDS SOLELY ON THE CLAMPS FOR INTEGRITY IS VERY POOR. FOR EXAMPLE, MITSUBISHI USES A SOLID ADJUSTING SECTION WITH TWO JAM NUTS. TOYOTA AGAIN USES A SOLID SECTION THAT IS SPLIT ONLY AT THE ENDS WHERE THE CLAMPS ARE USED TO PREVENT ROTATION. BOTH OF THE LATTER TWO DESIGNS ALLOW FOR A MORE POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT OF THE THREADS.
NHTSA complaint #10082351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.