1998 Dodge RAM 1500

IN MOTION THE STEERING IS VERY LOOSE. THE STEERING WHEEL WILL TRAVEL VERY OFTEN FROM 3 O'CLOCK TO 9 O'CLOCK AND HOPEFULLY, I AM STILL GOING STRAIGHT. THE TRUCK WILL DRIFT TO THE RIGHT AND HAVE TO OVERSTEER TO GET THE TRUCK IN THE TRAVEL LANE. I REPLACED STEERING GEAR BOX, BALL JOINTS, TIE RODS, STEERING ROD, TRACK BAR, RACK, AND PINION. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. TRANSMISSION PLASTIC PART IS BROKEN SO THERE HAS TO BE REPLACED.

THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT OVER BUMPS. I HAD IT INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD THE SWAY BAR WHERE IT MOUNTS TO THE FRAME HORN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS RUSTED THROUGH. ALSO, THE IDLER ARM BRACKET IS IN DANGER OF FALLING OFF BECAUSE OF THE SEVERE RUST PROBLEM. THE DRIVERS SIDE FRAME HORN WHERE THE GEARBOX MOUNTS HAS A LARGE RUST HOLE ALSO. I HAD THE COMPLETE FRAME INSPECTED FOR RUST. THERE ARE RUST HOLES IN THE FRAME WHERE THE TRANSMISSION SUPPORT IS MOUNTED TO THE FRAME ON LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES. IS THIS TRUCK EVEN SAFE TO DRIVE IN THIS RUSTY CONDITION? IT HAS 146,000 MILES ON IT.. I BELIEVE THERE ARE MANY OTHER DODGE VEICHLES OUT THERE WITH THE SAME ISSUES. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IS IN ORDER.

THE PIVOT POINT IN THE STEERING SYSTEM ALLOWS THE WHEELS IF NOT IN PERFECT CONDITION, THE OPPORTUNITY TO TURN INWARDS. THIS INWARD MOTION THE FRONT WHEELS PERFORM AT 40 MPH-50MPH IS UNACCEPTABLE. ALSO THE DASHBOARD CRACKS LIKE PEANUT BRITTLE, ALLOWING PIECES OF SHARP HARD PLASTIC TO FLY INTO THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH AS PER STANDARD NO. 219 IS NOT MEETING REGULATIONS. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, METAL IS NOW EXPOSED TO THE PASSENGERS DUE TO THIS CRACKING AND BREAKING APART. DO SOMETHING BEFORE PEOPLE GET SERIOUSLY INJURED BECAUSE CHRYSLER WANTS TO MAKE MONEY. HELP US. THIS IS A LEMON 2ND GENERATION RAM MODEL AND NO ONE IS TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT DURING THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT MADE CONTACT WITH ANYTHING TO CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED AN INJURY TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO REMEDY WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE AIR BAG MODEL NECESSARY FOR THE REPAIR IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS WITHOUT A HORN. THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. UPDATED 11/6/2014 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE, HE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL HAD BECOME ABNORMALLY LOOSE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE FORWARD BUT HE TURNED THE WHEEL RIGHT AND THE VEHICLE WENT LEFT. THE CONTACT THEN EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 11-04-13 *BF UPDATED 11/8/2013 *JS

LOWER STEERING COLUMN SEPARATED FROM THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN. UPON INSPECTION BOLT ON THE UNIVERSAL JOINT OF THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN, BOLT WAS NEVER SEATED PROPERLY FROM THE FACTORY. IT WAS CROSS THREADED IN THE ALUMINUM U JOINT. THE BOLT WAS NEVER SEATED ALL THE WAY, THERE IS BLACK PAINT ON THE BOLT WERE THIS IS EVIDENT. *JB

MY GIRLFRIEND'S SON WAS DRIVING OUR 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 GOING ABOUT 35 OR 40 MILES PER HOUR (HE AND HIS GIRLFRIEND WERE TAKING A RIDE WAITING FOR A PIZZA) SO JUST MOSING ALONG THANK GOD . HE ROUNDED A CURVE AND LOST STEERING HE TRIED TO JERK IT BACK AND SAID IT MADE A CRACKING NOISE AND HE HAD NO STEERING ABILITY. HE RAN OFF THE ROAD STRIKING TREES, KNOCKED HIMSELF OUT BY HITTING HIS HEAD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. WHEN HE CAME TO, HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS KNOCKED OUT. HE GOT HER ALERT AND CALLED 911. SHE WAS LIFE FLIGHTED, 5 BROKEN RIBS, MAJOR CONCUSSION AND HE HAD CUTS AND SCRATCHES AND A CONCUSSION. HE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED. I ASKED THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER TO CHECK IT BUT HE LOOKED AT IT (NEVER TORE THE STEERING COLUMN APART) AND SAID IT LOOKED OK. THEY MOVED IT TO A SALVAGE YARD. SINCE THE ACCIDENT 3 PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR RAM 1500. NOW HER SON IS BEING FINED FOR DRIVING TOO FAST AROUND THE CURVE..GUESS IT IS ALWAYS A FINE NEVER A TRUE ACCIDENT ANYMORE, BUT I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT THE KIDS ARE BOTH ALIVE AS THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED FROM THE TREES AND STUMPS THEY HIT. HER SON FEELS HE MAY HAVE LEANED ON THE GAS PEDAL WHEN HE WAS KNOCKED OUT BUT KNOWS HE WAS ONLY GOING 40 MPH TOPS PRIOR TO THE STEERING FAILING. *JB