2002 Dodge RAM 1500

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR CONTINUED TO FAIL. THE PARTS WERE REPAIRED/REPLACED THREE TIMES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK BOTH SEAT BET RETRACTORS WERE REPLACED, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXIST. RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCK INOPERATIVE. RATTLE SOUND OVER BUMPS. RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR LINK REPLACED. THE STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN OSCILLATING ALMOST TAKES THE WHEEL OUT OF THIS HANDS. DEALER FOUND ICE IN WHEELS/CLEANED WHEELS. HOWEVER VIBRATION RE-OCURRED. *TT

I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST TIME THE RACK AND PINION WENT OUT AND THIS TIME WAS DURING DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE IN THE SNOW. THE FIRST OCCURANCE WAS AT 40,000 MILES WHEN WE HAD 6 INCHES OF SNOW AND THIS TIME WAS AT 114,000 MILES IN 8 INCHES OF SNOW. THIS VEHICLE IS HOW I MAKE A LIVING AND IS NOT USED FOR RECREATIONAL OFF ROADING. THE DAMAGE TO THE RACK AND PINION OCCURED DURING REGULAR FOUR WHEEL DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. *AK

THE TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE WEAR, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP FOR A FRONT ALIGNMENT AND THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE TIE RODS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK THIS WAS AFTER THE 2ND SET OF TIRES WERE INSTALLED. SOON AFTER A SERVICE MAINTENANCE FLIER WAS RECEIVED IN THE MAIL TO INSPECT TIE ROD ENDS AT 30,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS THE ONLY PLACE TO PURCHASE THE TIE ROD ENDS AT $134.00 A PIECE. *CB *JB

REGARDING THE NEW BODY STYLE DODGE 1500 RAM PICKUP. MY TRUCK IS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD AND ABOUT 15000 MILES. IT HAS A STEERING PROBLEM. GENERALLY, IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT, DANGEROUSLY! THE SECOND DAY OF MY OWNERSHIP, WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY ALIGNED IT. TOLD ME IF I STILL HAD A PROBLEM, IT WAS A TIRE PROBLEM. THE ALIGNMENT DID NOT HELP. I HAD THE TIRES ROTATED AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME AND THIS DID NOT HELP. THE STEERING PROBLEM IS WORSE NOW. IF I TRAVEL OVER A BUMP OR A SEAM IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE WILL VERE TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT OR BOTH DIRECTIONS IN AN UNCONTROLABLE AND VIOLENT MANNER. I MUST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. YES, IT IS VERY SCARY. SO MUCH SO, THAT I AGAIN RETURNED TO THE DEALER, THEY ALIGNED IT AGAIN. THE PROBLEM SEEMS WORSE NOW. I WAS TOLD, IF THE ALIGNMENT DID NOT HELP TO BRING IT BACK AND THEY WOULD ORDER/INSTAL A NEW RACK. I DID SO AND WAS PUT OFF. TODAY, 5-30-03 I RETURNED TO THE DEALER TO ASK ABOUT THE FIX FOR MY STEERING PROBLEM. I AGAIN WAS PUT OFF AND I ASKED TO CALL CHRYSLER. I DID, THE NICE AND EFFICIENT LADY NEW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT WITH THE STEERING PROBLEM. I ASKED IF THERE WERE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS LIKE MINE AND WITHOUT SAYING "YES", SHE INDICATED THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS. WHILE ON HOLD WITH HER, SHE CALLED MY DEALER. I LATER CALLED THE DEALER AS INSTRUCTED. THE SERVICE ADVISOR I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH FOR THREE WEEKS SAID "THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING, CHRYSLER IS AWARE AND HAS RE-DESIGNED PARTS FOR THE FIX, HOWEVER THEY ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE." I AM TO TAKE MY TRUCK IN ON MONDAY, 6-2-03 FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS SO THEY CAN "LOOK AT IT AGAIN." SAD TO SAY, BUT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY NEW DODGE TRUCK. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL VERE VIOLENTLY OUT OF CONTROL. WHAT DOES A CONSUMER DO? HOW LONG BEFORE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE? HOW MANY PEOPLE MUST DIE OR THEIR LIVES CHANGED FOREVER BEFORE THE PROBLEM IS ADDRESSED ON A LARGE SCALE?*AK