1998 Dodge RAM Van

SOME DODGE RAM VANS HAVE A LATENT DEFECT IN THE FRAME THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS. AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, THERE IS NO RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE INTERNET IS LITTERED WITH COMPLAINTS, INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE FRAME IN ONE SPOT. I BELIEVE THAT THE AC RUNOFF IS VENTED DIRECTLY INTO THE FRAME WHICH, OVER TIME RESULTS IN THE EVENTUAL FAILURE OF THE FRAME AT THE POINT WHERE THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING ARE LOCATED - THIS RESULTS IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO EASY WAY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM SHORT OF REPLACING THE WHOLE FRAME. DODGE DENIES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM AND BLAMES THIS DEFECT ON ROAD SALT AND CONDITIONS. THIS WOULD BE A VALID ASSERTION IF THE REST OF THE VEHICLE HAD ROT PROBLEMS ELSEWHERE ON THE VEHICLE. INCLUDING THE MUCH MORE VOLATILE BODY PARTS, WHICH ARE IN SOME CASES, STILL SOLID AND IN GOOD CONDITION. THIS PROBLEM IS PREVALENT IN SEVERAL YEARS OF THIS MODEL TRUCK. THIS PROBLEM IS EASY TO CHECK FOR AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY DODGE SIMPLY BECAUSE THE VANS ARE GETTING OLDER AND THIS PROBLEM WILL BE OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. *TR

WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL I HEARD A LOUD POP/THUMP. SUBSEQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 15MPH THE STEERING WENT OUT AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE CAUSE OF THE BREAK DOWN WAS THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FRAME HAD RUSTED AND CRACKED. THIS IS WHERE THE STEERING IS CONNECTED TO. NO REPAIR WAS POSSIBLE. I HAVE CONTACTED ALTERNATE REPAIR SOURCES OF DEALERS, BODY SHOPS, WELDERS AND METAL FABRICATORS WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS TO GET ANYONE WILLING OR ABLE TO REPAIR THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE IS CONSIDERED NON-DRIVABLE AND NON-FIXABLE.

VEHICLE: 1998 DODGE B1500 RAM VAN PROBLEM: AT LESS THAN 40,000 MILES I WAS TOLD BY A TIRE DEALER THAT MY UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE SHOT AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THEM REPLACED BEFORE THE FRONT END COULD BE ALIGNED. AT 60,000 MILES I FINALLY DECIDE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. NOT ONLY WAS THE BALL JOINTS BAD, BUT ONE SIDE HAD COME LOOSE IN THE UPPER CONTROL ARM, AND DESTROYED THE THREADS AND WAS FLOATING FREE IN THE CONTROL ARM. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFTEY HAZARD. I AM INTERESTED IF THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THIS VEHICLE OR NOT. BY DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I SEE MULTIPLE COMPLAINT ON OTHER DODGE VEHICLES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. JOSEPH SCHEIBENPFLUG