PREMATURE LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE IN DODGE RAM 1500 . TRUCK HAS HAD UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR SINCE 44K MILES AND DEALER AS WELL AS TIRE SHOPS FOUND NO EXPLANATION. WHEEL BEARINGS AND TIE ROD ENDS WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED AT 68K MILES BY MYSELF, WITH RIGHT SIDE TIE ROD SEVERELY WORN. I ASSUMED THE TIE ROD WAS THE TIRE WEAR PROBLEM AN…
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PREMATURE LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE IN DODGE RAM 1500 . TRUCK HAS HAD UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR SINCE 44K MILES AND DEALER AS WELL AS TIRE SHOPS FOUND NO EXPLANATION. WHEEL BEARINGS AND TIE ROD ENDS WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED AT 68K MILES BY MYSELF, WITH RIGHT SIDE TIE ROD SEVERELY WORN. I ASSUMED THE TIE ROD WAS THE TIRE WEAR PROBLEM AND DID NOT HAVE PROBLEMS ALIGNING FRONT END UNTIL THIS FEBRUARY. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, CLUNK IN STEERING WAS EVIDENT, AND HANDLING BECAME ERRATIC. I CAREFULLY INSPECTED FRONT END AND DISCOVERED RIGHT SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT WORN TO POINT WHERE IT WAS ABOUT TO SEPARATE FROM SOCKET. LEFT SIDE JOINT IS SIGNIFICANTLY WORN AS WELL. LOOKING BACK, THE BALL JOINTS WERE WEARING OUT AT THE 44K MILE POINT. VEHICLE IS DRIVEN MAINLY ON HIGHWAY AND IN 30 YEARS OF DRIVING AND 9 VEHICLES THIS IS THE FIRST ONE TO HAVE A BALL JOINT FAILURE IN THIS MANNER AFTER ONLY 5 YEARS OF SERVICE. RESEARCH ON MY PART HAS INDICATED THAT NUMEROUS DODGE TRUCK OWNERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM, ONSETTING IN AS LITTLE AS 20K MILES CAUSING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS MY TRUCK, AND IF I WASN'T SO METICULOUS IN PERFORMING VEHICLE MAINTENANCE ON MY OWN THIS MAY WELL HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10062362
Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2004
Suspension
WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, CONSUMER HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT RIGHT UPPER BALL JOINT FAILED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10063152
38,000 miles · Jan 23, 2004
Suspension
THE VEHICLE'S LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED AT 38,000 MILES. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *NLM THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE "GREASED OUT." THE UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS OUT OF SUSPENSION AND GREASED OUT. *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10051960
53,500 miles · Jul 14, 2003
Suspension
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS MECHANIC LINKAGE THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE ENGINE. ALSO, TWO BOLTS THAT HOLD BRACKET IN PLACE BROKE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO WARRANTY OR RECALLS, AND THEY COULD NOT DO …
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CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS MECHANIC LINKAGE THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE ENGINE. ALSO, TWO BOLTS THAT HOLD BRACKET IN PLACE BROKE AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE.MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO WARRANTY OR RECALLS, AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR THE CONSUMER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10027238
Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2003
Suspension
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10015336
Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2002
Suspension
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT, WHICH AS A RESULT OF A DESIGN FLAW. AXLE WHEEL BASE IS NOT THE SAME MEASUREMENT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8014536
Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering
GEAR SELECTOR SHAFT BROKE INSIDE STEERING COLUMN HOUSING, 3 DEALERS COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED. *TT . ZLSO, STEERING COLUMN/TRACK BAR FOR FRONT AXLE, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #566786
Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2001
Suspension
I HAVE A RUBBING SOUND,PULTSATING.LIKE WARPED ROTOR BUT I THINK IT SOUNDS LIKE A BEARING GOING,BUT I WAS TOLD IT MAT BE THE WHEEL HUB.I DON'T ABUSE THE TRUCK AND IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE IT WAS BEFORE I GOT IT SO,I WAS WONDERING IF IT ME BE THE RECALL ON THE FRACTURED HUB.DOES IT SOUND LIKE THE SYMPTOMS ?*AK
NHTSA ODI #755376
Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2001
Suspension
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN A LOUD GRINDING NOISE CAN BE HEARD. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #898566
Mileage unknown · May 24, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension
DEFECT IN FRONT AND BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #745852
Official recalls
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No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1998 Dodge RAM 1500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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