45 of the 496 complaints about the 1999 Dodge RAM are about the steering — 9% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 81,281 miles.
45
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
REPLACEMENT OF INTAKE GASKET/ CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS GONE BAD/ TIE ROD WENT BAD. MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SOME BELT SQUEALING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE BELT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF AN ENGINE NOISE. THE TIRES WERE DISCOVERED TO BE WORN.
NHTSA complaint #10015017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
TRANSMISSION: DODGES COMPUTER CONTROLS THE TORQUE CONVERTER FOR EMISSIONS AND FOR GAS MILEAGE. AFTER FOLLOWING DODGES SPECTS ON SERVICE FOR THE TRUCK AND NO ABUSE TO THE TRUCK WE STILL LOSS THE TORQUE CONVERTER WHICH THAN DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION. STEERING: AT 30000 MILES THE SEALS IN THE STEERING GEAR BOX WENT OUT. AT 81000 AFTER REPAIR EARLIER THE SHAFT AND SEAL WENT OUT AND THE GEAR BOX HAD TO BE REPLACED. BOTH PROBLEM WE HAVE BEEN TOLD ARE PROBLEM DODGE WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR BUT HAPPEN WITH MOST OF THIS MODELS TRUCKS.
NHTSA complaint #10069316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM
CONSUMER STATES 2 TIMES THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE UPPER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE STEERING KNUCKLE ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #567230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
CONSUMER STATES VAN WAS BROUGHT IN 5 TIMES FOR THE ALARM.
NHTSA complaint #567230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
GEARBOX IS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID, IS CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE STEERING PROBLEMS. IT WILL BE HARD TO TURN. *AK *SCC
NHTSA complaint #8017475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING AND UPON PRESSING ON BRAKES STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED. VIN NUMBER WAS RAN FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. TOOK TO DEALER. PROBLEM STILL NOT REMEDIED. DRIVING ONCE AGAIN IN VEHICLE AND STEERING LOCKED UP AGAIN. DEALER REFUSED TO DEAL WITH CONSUMER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8007447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WILL PULL TO LEFT UNTIL RELEASE OF BRAKE PEDAL. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE LEFT WHEN BRAKING AND WILL DRIFT TO THE RIGHT ON FREEWAY AND BRAKES ARE SQUEAKY WHEN BRAKING ON STOP, DEALER REPLACED CALIPERS, TURNED ROTORS AND CHANGED BRAKES, DEALER FOUND STEERING WHEEL OFF CENTER, DEALER HAS REPLACED UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS, DEALER HAS ADJUSTED THE FRONT END AND REPLACED THE RIMS AND TIRES, VEHICLE EXPERIENCES LACK OF POWER AND ENGINE LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED, VEHICLE IDLES HIGH AND IS EXPERIENCING POOR FUEL ECONOMY, WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY IT GETS MAX OF 14.5 MPG, SMOKE ALSO COMES OUT OF THE EXHAUST, LEFT SIDE ELECTRIC MIRROR GLASS HAD FOGGED, LEFT SEAT BOTTOM LOOSE, ONE MISSING BOLT FOUND, LEFT SEAT TRIM BEZEL KEEPS MIMING LOOSE WON?T STAY IN SEAT FOR SEAT BELT ON SEAT BACK. DEALER STATED THAT THE 2002 MODELS DO NOT HAVE VIBRATION PROBLEMS DUE TO THE SUSPENSION BEING CHANGED TO INDEPENDENT.
NHTSA complaint #8004887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WILL PULL TO LEFT UNTIL RELEASE OF BRAKE PEDAL. *AK CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE LEFT WHEN BRAKING AND WILL DRIFT TO THE RIGHT ON FREEWAY AND BRAKES ARE SQUEAKY WHEN BRAKING ON STOP, DEALER REPLACED CALIPERS, TURNED ROTORS AND CHANGED BRAKES, DEALER FOUND STEERING WHEEL OFF CENTER, DEALER HAS REPLACED UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS, DEALER HAS ADJUSTED THE FRONT END AND REPLACED THE RIMS AND TIRES, VEHICLE EXPERIENCES LACK OF POWER AND ENGINE LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED, VEHICLE IDLES HIGH AND IS EXPERIENCING POOR FUEL ECONOMY, WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY IT GETS MAX OF 14.5 MPG, SMOKE ALSO COMES OUT OF THE EXHAUST, LEFT SIDE ELECTRIC MIRROR GLASS HAD FOGGED, LEFT SEAT BOTTOM LOOSE, ONE MISSING BOLT FOUND, LEFT SEAT TRIM BEZEL KEEPS MIMING LOOSE WON?T STAY IN SEAT FOR SEAT BELT ON SEAT BACK. DEALER STATED THAT THE 2002 MODELS DO NOT HAVE VIBRATION PROBLEMS DUE TO THE SUSPENSION BEING CHANGED TO INDEPENDENT.
NHTSA complaint #8004887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING STEERING BECAME REAL HARD TO CONTROL, AND EVENTUALLY CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #8002300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS LEAKING AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #561847 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
CONSUMER SAW A PUDDLE OF STEERING FLUID ON GROUND. INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP REPLACED STEERING PUMP SEAL. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME SEAL HAD TO BE REPLACED SINCE PURCHASE.
NHTSA complaint #892299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
VERY BAD ENGINEER FLAWS, DESIGN, HARD TO KEEP GOING STRAIGHT, TRANS. VIBRATES/SHAKES TRUCK,STEERING COLUMN FEELS LOOSE,NO HELP FROM HOTLINE OR DEALER,ENGINE SPARK KNOCKS REAL BAD UNDER A LOAD, REAR BRAKES LOCK UP CONSTANTLY, CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF PROBLEMS CAN'T FIX AND MEET EPA EMISSION LAW.
NHTSA complaint #745918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO DEACTIVATE CRUISE CONTROL BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK TRANSMISSION GRABS HARD INTO SECOND WHEN IT SHIFTS, ALSO WHEN STOPPED IT FEELS LIKE IT IS GETTING TAPPED IN THE BACK END. STEERING GEAR AND STEERING SHAFT REPLACED, RATTLING NOISE WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS. DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK WILL NOT LOCK WHEN USING SWITCH, DEALER REPLACED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #888699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THERE ARE TWO POINTS WHERE THERE ARE HOLES IN BACK OF STEERING WHEEL. IF YOU HAVE A LONG KEY ON YOU KEY CHAIN, IT CAN BECOME LODGED IN THE HOLES AND PREVENT YOU FROM TURNING THE VEHICLE. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME TYPE OF PLUG IN THESE HOLES TO PREVENT THIS FROM RAND POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #744644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
GEAR BOX BROKE AND POWER STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE LEAVING PARKING LOT WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL . DEALER REPLACED GEAR BOX AND POWER STEERING PUMP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #883664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
GEAR BOX BROKE AND POWER STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE LEAVING PARKING LOT WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL . DEALER REPLACED GEAR BOX AND POWER STEERING PUMP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #883664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER WOULD APPLY BRAKES AND VEHICLE WOULD PULL SEVERELY TO RIGHT OR LEFT. STEERING WHEEL WOULD BIND UP & BECOME HARD TO TURN. SOMETIMES THERE WOULD BE EXCESSIVE PLAY IN STEERING. *AK CONSUMER IS PURSUING THE LEMON LAW. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #880187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 40-45 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY MOTOR FROZE, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO PULL TO LEFT/ LOST ALL STEERING CAPABILITY/HIT A CONCRETE DIVIDER ,AND THEN VEHICLE ROLLED OVER . CONSUMER NOTICED THAT OF ONE OF SCREWS THAT HELD POWER STEERING TO FRAME FELL OFF, AND IT GOT STUCK BETWEEN WHEEL AND FRAME WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO CRASH,CAUSING INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #879321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STREERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AT 65MPH. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #870941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WE CONTACTED YOU ON JUNE 21, 2000. SENT BACK THE FORM YOU SENT US. REFER TO TSB 19-03-99. WE HAVE BEEN TO NATIONAL CENTER FOR DISPUTE SETTLEMENT AND THEY CLAIM THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE DODGE. TSB 19-03-99 TELLS THEM HOW TO FIX IT AND IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THE INDEPENTANT VEHICLE INSPECTION REPORT STATES:"THE STEERING WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER AFTER AN IN TOWN NINETY (90) DEGREE TURN. FINDINGS: DURING THE TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE NEUTRAL (CENTER) STEERING POSITION. USUALLY THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED BY HAND THE LAST SEVENTY (70) TO EIGHTY (80) DEGREES BACK MTO THE CENTER THE TWO(2) SAMPLE DODGE RAM 2500 4X4 DIESEL UNITS I DROVE RETURNED CLOSER TO THE CENTER THAN GEORGE DUFFY'S DID. THE TEST/SAMPLE VEHICLES RETURNED TO THE CENTER WITHIN TEN (10) TO FIFTEEN (15) DEGREES OF CENTER. COULD THE CONDITION BE VERIFIED? (PLEASE CIRCLE ONE) YES OR NO. 'YES', WAS CIRCLED. IF 'YES' IS CIRCLED, (PLEASE CIRCLE ONE) NORMAL OR ABNORMAL [ABNORMAL] IS CIRCLED. IF YOU WISH, WE WILL BE GLAD TO SEND COPIES OF ALL PAPERS AND CORRESPONDANCE THAT WE HAVE. WE FEEL, AND SO DID THE INDEPENDANT VEHICLE INSPECTOR, THAT HIS SITUATION IS DANGEROUS! WHEN I TOLD HIM OF NOT BEING ABLE TO KEEP THE TRUCK ON THE ROAD ( ON CA "89") IN HAT CREEK COUNTRY, AND RUNNING INTO THE SHOULDER. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THE SHOULDER WAS DRY. HE (VEHICLE INCPECTOR) SAID "YOU WOULD NOT BE HERE TO TELL THE STORY IF HAD NOT BEEN DRY!"
NHTSA complaint #730357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WE CONTACTED YOU ON JUNE 21, 2000. SENT BACK THE FORM YOU SENT US. REFER TO TSB 19-03-99. WE HAVE BEEN TO NATIONAL CENTER FOR DISPUTE SETTLEMENT AND THEY CLAIM THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE DODGE. TSB 19-03-99 TELLS THEM HOW TO FIX IT AND IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THE INDEPENTANT VEHICLE INSPECTION REPORT STATES:"THE STEERING WILL NOT RETURN TO CENTER AFTER AN IN TOWN NINETY (90) DEGREE TURN. FINDINGS: DURING THE TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE NEUTRAL (CENTER) STEERING POSITION. USUALLY THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED BY HAND THE LAST SEVENTY (70) TO EIGHTY (80) DEGREES BACK TO THE CENTER THE TWO(2) SAMPLE DODGE RAM 2500 4X4 DIESEL UNITS I DROVE RETURNED CLOSER TO THE CENTER THAN GEORGE DUFFY'S DID. THE TEST/SAMPLE VEHICLES RETURNED TO THE CENTER WITHIN TEN (10) TO FIFTEEN (15) DEGREES OF CENTER. COULD THE CONDITION BE VERIFIED? (PLEASE CIRCLE ONE) YES OR NO. 'YES', WAS CIRCLED. IF 'YES' IS CIRCLED, (PLEASE CIRCLE ONE) NORMAL OR ABNORMAL [ABNORMAL] IS CIRCLED. IF YOU WISH, WE WILL BE GLAD TO SEND COPIES OF ALL PAPERS AND CORRESPONDANCE THAT WE HAVE. WE FEEL, AND SO DID THE INDEPENDANT VEHICLE INSPECTOR, THAT HIS SITUATION IS DANGEROUS! WHEN I TOLD HIM OF NOT BEING ABLE TO KEEP THE TRUCK ON THE ROAD ( ON CA "89") IN HAT CREEK COUNTRY, AND RUNNING INTO THE SHOULDER. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT THE SHOULDER WAS DRY. HE (VEHICLE INSPECTOR) SAID "YOU WOULD NOT BE HERE TO TELL THE STORY IF HAD NOT BEEN DRY!"
NHTSA complaint #730357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
THIS VEHICLE HAS A SEVERE STEERING DEFECT, I HAVE GONE TO ARBITRAION AND DAIMLERCHRYSLER HAS SENT A INDEPENDENT ASE INSPECTOR TO LOOK AT MY TRUCK THIS PERSON AGREES THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG. I HAD BEEN AWARD A NEW TRUCK BY ARBITRATION BUT IT WOULD HAD COST ME 7,000 PLUS A NEW LOAN, THE TRUCK IS DEFECTIVE AND NOW THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT WORK ON THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH IT IS STILL UNDER WARRENTY. I HAVE ALOT OF DATA TO BACK THIS UP AND I KNOW DIAMLER HAS HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER TRUCKS HELP
NHTSA complaint #729406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #729458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
STEERING SHAFT BOX BROKE, CAUSED A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #865506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WANDERS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. DRIVER IS CONSTANTLY FIGHTING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE TRUCK ON THE ROAD. TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO FOUR OR FIVE DEALERSHIPS, AND DEALERS WERE NOT ABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, STEERING BOX WAS CHANGED, A CHIME WAS PUT IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, AND SOME WHEEL ALIGINMENT WAS DONE. BUT NONE OF THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #862367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
THERE IS APPROXIMATELY 4 INCHES OF SLACK WITHIN THE STEERING GEAR BOX WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE NOT TO MANEUVER PROPERLY. DEALER REPLACED THE GEAR BOX THREE TIMES WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #860646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHEN PARALLEL PARKING CONSUMER CANNOT TURN STEERING WHEEL. IF DRIVER NEEDED TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES BECAUSE OF A DEER RUNNING IN THE ROAD, HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SWERVE OR STOP IN TIME. WHEN AT A STOP WITH BRAKES APPLIED, THE POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK. CHRYSLER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCK, ALTHOUGH THEY DID OFFER TO MAKE A PAYMENT FOR THE OWNER. *AK
NHTSA complaint #859718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE DRIVING, STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP TO EITHER SIDE (LEFT OR RIGHT). THEN VEHICLE WILL BE TOWED.
NHTSA complaint #857823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
STEERING GEAR IS VERY LOOSE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO WANDER TO LEFT TO RIGHT. DEALER REPLACED STEERING GEAR AND PITMAN ARM, BUT DEFECT KEPT OCCURRING. THE TRAC BAR HAS ALSO BEEN REPLACED TWICE. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT POSSIBLY THE WRONG GEAR WAS PUT INTO GEAR BOX. *AK
NHTSA complaint #857637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES
STEERING GEAR IS VERY LOOSE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO WANDER TO LEFT TO RIGHT. DEALER REPLACED STEERING GEAR AND PITMAN ARM, BUT DEFECT KEPT OCCURRING. THE TRAC BAR HAS ALSO BEEN REPLACED TWICE. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT POSSIBLY THE WRONG GEAR WAS PUT INTO GEAR BOX. *AK
NHTSA complaint #857637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.