1999 Dodge RAM 1500

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD THUD HEARD AND THE STEERING BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD, HITTING A TREE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BETWEEN THE DOOR AND BED OF THE TRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN SEEN BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP DETERMINED THE UPPER BALL JOINT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE WHEEL BEARING FRACTURED, CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK UP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

1999 DODGE RAM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.*MR 1 YEAR OLD AND NOT ON REPOSITORY. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED A LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, WHO STATED HE WAS SOLD A VEHICLE WITH NO BRAKES. THE MECHANIC STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO FRONT BRAKES WITH SHIMS, FRONT ROTORS, TWO FRONT CALIPERS, BEARINGS, TWO REAR SHOES, TWO REAR HARDWARE, TWO DRUMS AND TWO REAR WHEEL CYLINDERS. THE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN THE CONSUMER PLACED THE GEAR INTO REVERSE. THE FRONT WHEEL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WOULD SHAKE WHEN THE CONSUMER HIT A POTHOLE. THE WINDOWS WOULD FOG WITH A GREASY FILM, THE HEATING COIL WAS REPLACED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE 02 SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE PCV VALVE HOSE WAS REPLACED, THE LEFT BRAKE LIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED, 4 INJECTORS WERE REPLACED. *JB

POPPING SOUND HEARD COMING FROM DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL AREA. I ASKED THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE WHILE PERFORMING NORMAL MAINTENANCE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE TOP AND BOTTOM BALL JOINTS HAD FAILED AND THAT I SHOULD IMMEDIATELY HAVE THEM REPLACED. THE 1999 DODGE RAM 1500 HAS LESS THAN 70000 MILES. IT HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN OFF ROAD. IT PRIMARILY HAS BEEN DRIVEN TO SCHOOL AND HOME APPROXIMATELY 6 MILES ROUND TRIP UNTILL 2 YEARS AGO. THE MILEAGE THAT IS ON THE VEHICLE IS EITHER IN TOWN OR INTERSTATE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED EVERY 3,000 MILES AND HAS HAD PERIODIC MAINTENACE PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUAL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND UNLESS THE PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW. SEEMS THERE IS OTHER FAILURES OF THIS TYPE AFFECTING DURANGOS AND DAKOTAS.*AK

I OWN A 1999 DODGE RAM 1500. I NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT. I WAS NOTIFIED MY TIRES WERE UNUSABLE AND THAT THE FRONT TRAC/SWAY BAR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE TRAC BAR ON THAT VEHICLE AND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE A SWAY BAR AND TIRES ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 28,000 MILES ON IT. DODGE SHOULD PUT OUT AN IMMEDIATE RECALL ON THE SWAY BAR AS PEOPLE WILL HAVE QUICKLY DETERIORATING TIRES THAT COULD CAUSE A LOT OF ACCIDENTS.

I RECENTLY TOOK MY 1999 DODGE RAM 1500 PICK UP TO MY ALIGNMENT SHOP AND HAD TO PUT A NEW TRACKER BAR ON IT. WHICH I REPLACED ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO AT ABOUT 40 THOUSAND MILES.. AND NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE MY STEERING BOX AND MY TRUCK HAS JUST OVER 54,100 MILES ON IT AND I THINK THAT IS A LITTLE RIDICULOUS. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY TRUCK NEW IN 1999 I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT END ALIGNED IN THE FIRST YEAR, THE SECOND YEAR, IN THE YEAR 2002 AND NOW ON MARCH 3 RD 2003 I HAD TO HAVE IT AGAIN FOR THE REASONS I STATED IN THE BEGINNING. I HAD SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS UNDER THE DASH AND IN THE STEERING COLUMN. MY ALIGNMENT SHOP SAYS THEY HAVE REPLACED A LOT OF STEERING BOXES AND THE TRACKER BAR EVEN AT 18,000 MILES. I HAVE CALLED CHRYSLER THEMSELVES AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND I THINK THEY SHOULD BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IT IS A RESULT FROM A BAD PART FROM THE FACTORY. I HAVE DOCUMENTED EVERYTHING I HAVE DONE TO MY TRUCK. I HAVE LOOKED INTO THE PRICE OF A NEW STEERING BOX AND I HAVE FOUND THAT DODGE WANTS OVER $600 AND A PARTS HOUSE IN MY TOWN CAN GET THE SAME DODGE STEERING BOX FOR $205. I BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE BOX WHAT EVER THE PRICE, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT IS NEW ENOUGH THAT THEY SHOULD BE WILLING TO HAVE IT FIXED, TO AT LEAST MAKE A CUSTOMER SOME WHAT HAPPY. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A STEERING BOX GOING OUT AT LESS THEN 100,000 MILES. MY FATHER HAD A 1999 RAM 1500 PICK UP AND WITH LESS THAN 25,000 MILES THE MOTOR LOST 4 QUARTS OF OIL ON OUR WAY TO A OLD CAR SHOW IN MONTANA BUT IT NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN SO HE DID NOT WORRY ABOUT IT AND SOLD IT AND GOT A NEW 2002 RAM PICK UP AND HE LIKES IT SO FAR, BUT A FRIEND OF MINE HAS A 2002 RAM AND HE IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH HIS FRONT END ALIGNMENT. SO I AM WONDERING IF THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR FRONT ENDS ON DODGE VEHICLES. *JB