1998 DODGE RAM 1500 Suspension Problems

COIL SPRING TOWERS REINFORCEMENTS - AS PER THE RECALL FOR THE 1994 AND 1995 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUPS (SAFETY RECALL 835) THE COIL SPRING TOWERS OF A 1998 HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THE LEFT SIDE TOWER. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN OFF ROAD, STRICTLY ON HIGHWAY AND STREET. THIS WAS FOUND DURING ANOTHER REPAIR OF SAID VEHICLE.

Mileage: 227,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRING BRACKET ON BOTH SIDES WAS EXCESSIVELY CORRODED. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000.

Mileage: 240,000

MY 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD CAB IS LOCATED IN NEW ENGLAND WHERE ROAD SALT IS USED IN THE WINTER. THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS RUSTING BECAUSE OF THIS, THE MOST DANGEROUS ASPECT, HOWEVER IS THE COIL SPRING FRONT MOUNTS, OR BUCKETS THAT HOLD THE BOTTOM SPRINGS TO THE FRONT AXEL ASSEMBLY. DODGE HASN'T OFFERED TO RECALL DODGE TRUCKS TO REPAIR THIS DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW, WHEREBY THE COIL MOUNTS WERE INSUFFICIENTLY COATED, AND IMPROPERLY DESIGNED TO TRAP SALTY WATER IN THEM TO ACCELERATE THE OXIDATION PROCESS. THIS IS NOT UNLIKE THE SAFETY ISSUE FORD WINDSTAR MINIVANS HAD WITH THEIR AXLES THAT TRAPPED SALTY WATER DURING WINTER AND CAUSED THEM TO ROT OUT AND SNAP CAUSING INJURY AND DEATH. MY CLOSE FRIEND WHO OWNS A MID 1990'S DODGE RAM TRUCK, WHO HAD HIS COIL SPRING BUCKET ACTUALLY FAIL CAUSING HIS FRONT END TO LUNGE FORWARD, HE WAS DRIVING SLOWLY WHEN IT HAPPENED SO HE WASN'T INJURED. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANY DATA ON INJURIES RELATED TO FAILURE OF THE COIL SPRING MOUNTS, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY HAVEN'T OCCURRED. DODGE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO AT THE VERY LEAST, PROVIDE A KIT TO TRUCK OWNERS THAT REPAIRS THIS PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 QUAD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS COULD NOT BE LUBED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO MAKE A LOUD SCRAPPING NOISE WHEN DRIVING. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,920.

Mileage: 115,920

I OWN A 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 PICKUP I WAS DRIVING A FRIEND AND HER DAUGHTER TO THE DENTIST I PASSED A LOGGING TRUCK WHEN I GOT BACK IN MY LANE AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN THE TRUCK SHUDDERED AND LOST POWER I PULLED OFF THE ROAD THE ONLY PLACE I COULD PULL OFF I HIT IT THE WAS ALMOST OFF THE NUT HOLDING THE TIRE ROTOR ON THE SHAFT SNAPPED OFF THE TOW HOME WAS OVER 500 DOLLARS AFTER GETTING TRUCK I BROKE OUT MY SHOP MANUALS OUT THE BRG PACK WAS BURNED I REPLACED FROM FRONT DIFFERENTIAL OUT TO TIRES WITH OEM PARTS TO THE TUNE OF 1100 DOLLARS WITHIN A MTH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE CAME OFF AS I WAS TURNING INTO MY DRIVE WAY AGAIN REPLACED FROM FRONT DIFFERENTIAL OUT TO TIRE THIS TIME COST ABOUT 850 6 MTHS LATTER COMING HOME I FEEL FRONT VIBRATION HANG ON TO WHEEL MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE ROTOR CALIPER FLY OFF I SLIDE BETTER PART OF 75 FEET GRINDING OFF LOWER BALL JOINT AFTER BEING TOWED HOME LOOKING AT TIRE RIM CALIPER ROTOR I DECIDE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRONT END COST OF 650 DOLLARS FROM A WRECKING YARD BELIEVE THE PROBLEM FRONT TO LIGHT FOR WEIGHT ALSO THE VISCOSITY OF GREESE IN BRG PACK TO LIGHT BREAKING DOWN CAUSING BRG TO GET HOT AND SEIZE UP CAUSING TIRE RIM CALIPER H ROTOR TO FLY OFF HAVE SAVED ALL OLD PARTS. *TR

FRONT END WOBBLES AFTER HITTING BUMP. WOBBLE IS SO SEVERE ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED, THERE ARE NO WORN OUT PARTS THAT CAUSED THIS. THIS DEATH WOBBLE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DODGE TRUCKS. *TR

Mileage: 165,988

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING OUT FROM A STOP AND TURNING EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. BOTH FRONT BALL JOINTS AND PITTMAN ARM WERE REPLACED. THERE IS NHTSA RECALL, # 04V596000, REGARDING THE SUSPENSION: UPPER BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE YEAR, MODEL AND VIN.

Mileage: 51,018

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1998 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCK. HE STATED THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE RIGHT SIDE BROKE. THE DEALER AND THE BODY SHOP SAID IT LOOKED LIKE A DEFECT IN THE METAL. THE BODY SHOP SAID THE ONLY PROPER WAY TO FIX IT WAS TO GET A NEW FRAME. CHRYSLER SAID THAT BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *JB

LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED AT 27000 MILES. NO FITTINGS FOR GREASE.*AK

Mileage: 27,000

BALL JOINT LUBRICATION IMPOSSIBLE; NO GREASE FITTINGS. *AK

Mileage: 67,000

BALL JOINT LUBRICATION IMPOSSIBLE; NO GREASE FITTINGS. *AK

Mileage: 67,000

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

Mileage: 81,920

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

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

Mileage: 38,000

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

Mileage: 53,500

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT, WHICH AS A RESULT OF A DESIGN FLAW. AXLE WHEEL BASE IS NOT THE SAME MEASUREMENT.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THE TRACK HAS A BALL JOINT TYPE FITTING ON ON END, AND IT MOUNTS TO THE DRIVERS SIDE FRAME AND CROSS OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AXLE, THE BALL JOINT IS WORN OUT AND CAN BE MOVED AROUND BY HAND WITH LITTLE EFFORT.*TT

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

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN A LOUD GRINDING NOISE CAN BE HEARD. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

DEFECT IN FRONT AND BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS DISPLAYED FRONT END ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS, AND PARTS IN THE FRONT END KEEP LOOSENING, AFTER PURCHASE NOTICED LEFT FRONT WHEEL IS SHIMMED OUT FURTHER AWAY FROM VEHICLE THAN THE OTHER WHEELS. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A NORMAL PROCEDURE TO "BALANCE" THE VEHICLE AFTER MANUFACTURE. IN LIGHT OF ALL THE FRONT END PROBLEMS I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS TRUCK IS SAFE FOR MY FAMILY TO BE DRIVING. HAS TESTING BEEN DONE AFTER THE "BALANCING" PROCEEDURETO INSURE THIS VEHICLE COMPLIES TO HANDLING AND SAFETY SPECIFICATIONS? DO BOLTS LOOSENING IN THE FRONT END CONSTITUTE A SAFETY HAZARD? I HAVE NOTICED THE VEHICLE PULLS RIGHT AND SOMETIMES SEEMS TO REACT WITH A RAPID PULL RIGHT TO SOME ROAD SURFACE DEFECTS AND HAS ALMOST PULLED THE STEERING WHEEL FROM MY HANDS. I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH CHRYSLER AND THE DEALERSHIPS SINCE DAY 1 AND HAVE GONE THROUGH THEIR DISPUTE SETTLEMENT PROCESS AND WAS TOLD MY DEFECTS TO NOT INFLICT ANY DETRIMENT TO THE VALUE, SAFETY OR USEFULNESS OF THE VEHICLE!*AK

TRUCK PULLS/TRACKS TO RIGHT, CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM I HAD WITH THE 1995 DODGE RAM 4X4 I OWNED. THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED. SOLD THE 95 AND BOUGHT THE 98, THE SALESMAN, SERVICE MANAGER , AND SALES MANAGER ASSURED ME PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE 98 THE PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT ENDS PULLING TO THE RIGHT WERE FIXED. I CURRENTLY HAVE THE VEHICLE IN THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR A FRONT END INSPECTION. AT FIRST THEY TOLD ME IT WAS AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM WITHOUT PROPERLY INSPECTING THE SUSPENTION. ADDITIONALLY THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE FRONT INSPECTED. IF AN ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT ALSO DUE TO THE ALIGNMENT IS COVERED ONLY TO 12000 MILES. I HAVE DONE QUITE A BIT OF RESEARCH MYSELF TALKING WITH OTHER CONSUMERS AND VIEWING INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE WEB CONCERNING THE FRONT END PROBLEMS ON THESE VEHICLES AND THERE SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT INDICATES A LARGE AMOUNT OF CONSUMERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE VERY SAME PROBLEM.

REAR END WAS BUILT TOO SMALL FOR V8 ENGINE,CAUSING IT TO BURN UP. DEALER WILL INSTALL A 350 REAREND BECAUSE 321 PARTS ARE ON A NATIONWIDE BACKORDER. *AK

SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL ARMS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO RUN INTO A DITCH RESULTLING IN MAJIOR DAMAGE FOR THE VEHICLE. YH

VEHICLE OUT OF ALIGNMENT, CAUSED EXCESSIVE WEAR TO TIRES. MJS

CONSUMER HEARS NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING. DEALER SAYS THAT THE TIRES ARE WORN BECAUSE VEHICLE NEEDS AN ALIGNMENT. *AK

WE STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED, WE WENT BACK TO THE DEALER RIGTH AFTER WE NOTICED A FEW PROBLEMS WITH THE VAN, SUCH AS CAR PULLING TO THE RIGTH AND A LOUD THUMP SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGTH REAR SIDE EVERY TIME WE PASS THOSE SPEED BUMPS. AND WHEN THEY INSPECTED THE VAN THEY (THE DEALER TECHNICIANS), TOLD ME THAT A SHOCK ABSORVER NEEDED TO BE REPLACE AND ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED AS WELL. AFTER THIS TWO THINGS WERE DONE, EVERYTHING WENT DOWN THE HILL....WHEN I DROVE HOME THE VAN I NOTICED THAT VAN WAS PULLING STILL TO THE RIGTH AND A NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN BRAKING, IS MORE LIKE A CRACKING NOISE, I'LL MENTION THAT THIS WAS'T HAPPENING ALL THE TIME, BUT THE PULLING TO THE RIGTH WAS. WE WENT BACK WITH THEM, THEY ALIGNED AGAIN...BUT, THIS TIME THE VAN WAS NOT PULLING TO THE RIGTH BUT TO THE LEFT INSTEAD, THIS HAPPEND WHEN DRIVING STRAIGTH OR WHEN BRAKING AS WELL, WE WENT BACK TO THE SAME DEALER, BUT AFTER SOME ATTEMPSOF FIXING THIS PROBLEM AND A VERY UNPLEASENT EXPERIENCES WITH THEIR (CUSTOMER REPRESENTAIVES) AT DESPLAINES DODGE DEALER, NOT TO TRY AGAIN WIH THEM, WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER REPRESENTATIVES, AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE VERY DUMB COMMENT THE CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE OF DESPLAINES DODGE DEALER, THAT THEY SUGGESTED TO TAKE THE VAN TO A 5 STARS SHOP THE COMMENT THE CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE MADE WAS (THAT THE VAN WAS PULLING TO THE RIGTH BECAUSE IT WAS A SAFETY FEATURE BUILD IN THE VAN TO PREVENT PEOPLE WANDER TO THE TO THE LEFT IN CASE THE FELL SLEEP, THIS WAS A VERY DUMB THING TO SAID. SO FINALLY WE WENT TO THAT 5 STARS DEALER, AND A (BIG) INPROVEMENT WAS ACHIEVE, THE VAN WAS PULLING LESS BUT ON THIS OCCASION INSTEAD OF PULLING TO RIGTH IT STARTED TO PULL TO THE LEFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT STRAIGHT, IT WAS CROOCKED TO THE LEFT AND BEFORE WAS TO THE RIGHT. I NOTICED MORE PLAY ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I'LL MENTION THAT EVER SINCE WE HAVE THIS VAN IN OUR POSSESSION THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER TH. *AK

REAR AXLE SPRING MISALIGNED CAUSING NOISE.

SUSPENSION CONTINUALLY MAKING NOISE, UNABLE TO IDENTIFY COMPONENT OR FIX NOISE.

TRUCKS FRONT END OSCILLATES WHEN DRIVING ON CONCRETE SURFACE OR GROOVED HIGHWAY CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS AND VIBRATION DUE TO POOR STABILITY. YH

WITH THE MOTOR OFF THE VEHICLE ROLLED ON ITS OWN, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HIT A POLE. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE VEHICLE HAS ROLLED FOR NO REASON. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND THEY ADJUSTED THE LINKAGE ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEMS IS. *AK

VEHICLE CONSUMES LARGE VOLUMES OF OIL IN SHORT PERIODS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE VIBRATES IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK VEHICLE VIBRATES ALLOVER AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35-65 MPH NOW. VIBRATION STARTED 45-55 MPH WHEN NEW. *YH

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE WENT TO THE RIGHT THEN TO THE LEFT, GOING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ALSO, WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOORBOARD, CONSUMER HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES TWO TO THREE TIMES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS SEVEN TIMES, AND THE DEALER STILL CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK POWER STEERING PUMP WAS FAULTY. *YH

WHILE DRIVING 38 TO 52 MPH VIBRATION IS FELT IN STEERING WHEEL. PROBLEM IS CONSTANT, AND WHEN IT OCCURS, A NOISE IS HEARD. DEALERS NOTED ENGINEERING FLAW. *AK

VEHICLE VIBRATES SEVERLY AT 45 AND 65 MPH.