1995 DODGE RAM Suspension Problems

THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM THE IGNITION SWITCH WIRING RECALL #00V135000, AND THE THROTTLE CABLE RECALL# 01V037000 BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. IT HAS BEEN 60 DAYS. *NM RECALL CAMPAIGN; THE CONSUMER STATED THAT IT HAS NOW BEEN 3 MONTHS AND THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. *TC THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE FOUND A PART ON HIS OWN.

Mileage: 300,000

THIS TRUCK BODY STARTED BREAKING OUT BEHIND THE CAB SOON AFTER I BOUGHT IT. THE ENGINE HAS NEVER RAN RIGHT FROM DAY ONE. IT WAS IN THE DODGE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES BECAUSE OF POOR FUEL MILAGE, AND THEN DODGE FINALLY AGREED TO SEND THE TRUCK TO CUMMINS. CUMMINS FOUND THAT TRUCK HAD BAD MILAGE ALSO AND WROTE LETTER TO DODGE STATING THE PROBLEMS THEY FOUND. DODGE MORE OR LESS SAID TOUGH, DON'T BOTHER US! THE ENGINE HAD BOKEN PUSH ROD AT LOW MILAGE AND NOW AN INJECTOR MELTED TOP OUT OF PISTON RUINING THE ENGINE.

Mileage: 17,000

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE TO STEER AND THERE WAS VIBRATION DUE TO THE SUSPENSION. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

WHILE DRIVING AND IF VEHICLE HITS A BUMP IT FEELS AS IF VEHICLE IS FALLING APART. CONSUMER FEELS AS IF LOSING CONTROL, AND HAS TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN CONSIDERABLY, AND PULL OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO REPLACED NUMEROUS SUSPENSION COMPONENTS., BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK

VEHICLE IS SQUEAKING AND CREAKING. FRONT END IS LOWER THAN USUAL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED IT NEEDED TO REPAIR UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS.*AK

99 V 214 000/SUSPENSION, UNABLE TO GET THE DEALER METRO AUTO MALL; QUEEN VILLAGE, NY; PHONE # 718/479-6452 TO HONOR RECALL REPAIRS PROPERLY. MANUFACTURERS REPRESENTATIVE HAD TO BE CALLED IN TO INFORM DEALER TO MAKE CORRECTIONS ON REPAIRS, CURRENTLY DEALER IS UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM DUE TO IMPROPER TOOLS. *AK CONSUMER WAS RECENTLY NOTIFIED THAT THE BODY SHOP THAT DID THE REPAIR ORIGINALLY BORROWED THE CORRECT WELDING EQUIPMENT, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE TAKEN CARE AND TO COME BACK TO THE BODY SHOP, CONSUMER INSPECTED THE WELDING EQUIPMENT MACHINE AND IT WAS INCORRECT PER THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SAFETY RECALL. *JB

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 99V214000. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED NO ONE AT DEALERSHIP AVAILABLE TO DO RECALL REPAIRS ON SUSPENSION'S COIL SPRING. HAD CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, AND INFORMED CO CALLED CONSUMER BACK. CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND NO CALL. *AK

STEERING SHUDDERED WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45 AND 55 MPH AND WHEN HITTING A BUMP OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD. VEHICLE VIBRATING AND SHUDDERING UNCONTROLLABLY THROUGH STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, IN ORDER TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE HAD TO DROP SPEED AROUND 20 MPH. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THERE WAS A TSB FOR THAT PROBLEM. CONSUMER COMPLIED WITH TSB, BUT STILL HAD PROBLEMS.*AK

DODGE RAM TRUCKS HAVE A KNOWN HISTORY OF "SELF SUSTAINING VIBRATION" OR "SHIMMY" AFTER STRIKING A SMALL BUMP, OR OFFSET IN THE ROAD. SEE DODGE TSB 19-05-96 AND OTHER STEERING RELATED ISSUES. WE HAVE HAD OUR VEHICLE WORKED ON TWICE DUE TO EXTREMELY VIOLENT SHIMMYING THAT HAS NEARLY CAUSED COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE TRUCK ON 6 SEPERATE OCCASSIONS. ONLY BY INCREDIBLE LUCK AND SKILL HAS THERE NOT BEEN SERIOUS ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES. THE TSB I JUST REFERENCED SUGGESTS THAT THE SERVICE PERSONNEL "TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE OVER A ROAD THAT DUPLICATES THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT AND IF SHIMMYING IS FELT PERFORM ..." THIS IS WOEFULLY INADEQUATE IN THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN NOT BE REPLICATED BY SUCH A PROCEDURE. THE FACT REMAINS THAT ONE CAN DRIVE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF MILES OVER THE SAME ROAD AND THE PROBLEM WILL NOT REPRODUCIBLY APPEAR. BUT, WITH ABSOLUTELY NO NOTICE, AND AT RANDOM, THE VIOLENT SELF SUSTAINING AND PROPAGATING SHAKING WILL SUDDENLY OCCUR AND ONE WILL NEARLY WRECK. DURING THE LAST SUCH EPISODE WHICH OCCURRED LAST WEEK, THE VIOLENT SHAKING WAS SO GREAT THAT A 140 POUND CARDBOARD BOX ABOUT 18 INCHES HIGH WAS NEARLY THROWN OUT OVER THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK. THIS INCIDENT OCCURED AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR ON A CURVE ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE FRONT TIRE OF THE TRUCK HIT A HOLE IN THE ROAD THAT WAS ABOUT 4 INCHES WIDE, 1 FOOT LONG, AND MAYBE AN INCH DEEP. IN OTHER WORDS, THE BUMP WAS NOTHING. FORTUNATELY I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE ON THE INTERSTATE AND ALL OF THE OTHER CARS AROUND ME HIT THEIR BREAKS WHEN THEY SAW THE TRUCK BOUNCING AND LEAPING DOWN THE ROAD. TO FURTHER COMPLICATE THINGS THE VIOLENT BOUNCING ONLY GETS WORSE WHEN YOU APPLY THE BRAKES. THE ONLY QUICK WAY TO RESTORE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IS TO VIOLENTLY JERK THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH, UNFORTUNATELY THIS REQUIRES BOTH LANES OF THE ROAD AND THE EMERGENCY LANES. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AN ADEQUATE "FIX" TO THIS PROBLEM FROM DODGE.*AK

THE TRAILER HITCH ISSUE, I BELEVE, IS SERIOUS. "OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND" A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR 1998 TO 2001.5 MODELS. INVESTAGTION SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE 1994 MODELS THIS IS SERIOUS. ALSO THE TRACK BAR ISSUE, THIS EFFECTS THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE THE SO CALLED "SHIMMY" THIS ALSO NEEDS TO BE LOOKED IN TO.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 99V214000. SERVICE WAS REFUSED BY DEALERSHIP(S) BECAUSE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE A 'CERTIFIED WELDER' AND VEHICLE COULD NOT FIT INTO THEIR GARAGE. *AK *JB

UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS IN FRONT END FAILED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED, AND WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE.*AK

RECALL 99V214000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 835. TIRES STARTED TO RUB IF MAKING A RIGHT TURN. SHOCK TOWER CAME LOOSE FROM FRAME. SHOCK TOWER BUSTED ALL WAY, EXCEPT A 1/2 INCH IT WAS RIPPING THROUGH TOWER. IF VEHICLE HITS A BUMP IT WOULD LOOSE CONTROL. CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR $954.00. *AK THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT SELL PARTS TO THE CONSUMER, WHO WANTED TO FIX THE VEHICLE HIMSELF. *YH

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 99V214000 IN MARCH 2000, AND HAS CONTACTED DEALER 10 TIMES. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND DID NOT HAVE A CERTIFIED WELDER TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS. *AK

RECALL 99V214000/ SUSPENSION : UNABLE TO GET RECALL HONORED BECAUSE OF A PRICE SETTLEMENT BETWEEN DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK *ML

RECEIVED TWO RECALL NOTICES: 00V135000/IGNITION SWITCH/ WIRING, AND 99V214000/ SUSPENSION. STILL WAS UNABLE TO GET DEALER TO HONOR RECALLS. ON TWO OCCASIONS, DEALER HAD INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PARTS WERE AVAILABLE , AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SET. WHEN CONSUMER ARRIVED THEY INFORMED HIM THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 99V214000 CONCERNING THE CRACKING AND SEPARATION OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING/TOWER . DEALER WANTED TO KEEP VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION FOR 2 HOURS BEFORE CORRECTING THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO CONSUMER. *AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR RECALL 99V214000 REPAIRS CONCERNING SUSPENSION FAILURE. NO CERTIFIED WELDER WAS AVAILABLE TO REMEDY RECALL PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER CALLED DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT TOOLS ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO DO NHTSA RECALL 99V2I4 000/ MANUFACTURER 'S RECALL 835 REPAIRS OF SUSPENSION. NO FUTURE DATE WAS GIVEN. *AK

NHTSA RECALL 99V214000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 835/ SUSPENSION: FRONT SHOCK ABSORBERS. CONSUMER BOUGHT VEHICLE THAT WAS EQUIPPED FOR A PLOW. DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE. *AK

RECALL 99V214000/FRONT SUSPENSION. DEALER DID NOT PROPERLY INSTALL THE VACUUM HOSE LINE INTO THE CLIPS ON THE RIGHT SIDE. ALSO, RUBBER GROMET ON THE COIL SPRING WAS NOT SEATED PROPERLY ON THE LEFT SIDE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

RECALL # 99V214000 FRONT SUSPENSION; DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL BECAUSE OF WELDING, AND THE TIME FRAME THAT MANUFACTURER HAS ALLOCATED FOR CAMPAIGN. OWNER WAS TOLD TO TAKE TRUCK TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHERE RECALL WAS PERFORMED WITHOUT PROBLEM. *AK *ML

RECALL 99V214000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER/SUSPENSION; DEALER DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS OR MACHANIC TO CORRECT RECALL CAMPAIGN. OWNER CANTACTED DEALERSHIP ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHENEVER VEHICLE RAN OVER A POTHOLE OR A BUMP IT CAUSED VEHICLE TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. HAD TO PULL OVER UNTIL THE SHAKING STOPPED. ALSO, CAUSED DAMAGES TO THE FRONT TIRES. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PROBLEM CANNOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

THERE IS A 25 WEEK WAITING PERIOD BEFORE DEALER CAN FIX VEHICLE FOR RECALL 99V214000. OWNER CONTACTED CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS DIRECTED TO A DEALERSHIP THAT COULD MAKE THE REPAIRS. REPAIRS MADE WITHIN 1 WEEK. *AK

RECALL 99V214000 DAIMLER/ CHRYSLER/SUSPENSION; OWNER CONTACTED TWO DEALERSHIPS FOR RECALL CAMPAIGN. NEITHER DEALERSHIP HAS A CERTIFIED WELDER TO CORRECT RECALL CAMPAIGN. DEALERSHIP NOT ABLE TO TELL OWNER WHEN WELDER WILL BE HIRED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT SPEED OF 40 OR MORE MPH VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SHIMMY OUT OF CONTROL. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE RAN OVER A BUMP HAD TO PULL OVER AND ALLOW SHIMMY TO STOP BEFORE CONTINUING. INSPECTION/REPAIRS MADE BY THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. *AK

THE SHOCKS AND THE SPRINGS ATTACHED TO THE FRAME HAVE BROKEN ON THE LEFT SIDE AND THE RIGHT SIDE ARE CRACKED. PROBLEM CORRECTED UNDER RECALL SOME TIME AGO. OWNER IS EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

IN A SUDDEN STOP WHEN BRAKING THE VEHICLE SWAYS TO THE LEFT SIDE, ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DLR REPLACED SHIMS/ FRONT BRAKE PADS/ ROTOR AND CONTROL ARM, ETC. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

RIGHT REAR AXLE LEAKS AFTER SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS. (QCAW)

COIL SPRING/TORSION BAR/STEERING ARM AND MOUNTING TOWER, CAME LOOSE AND BROKE AWAY FROM AXLE DUE TO STREES/CRACKS/METAL FATIGUE AND BAD WELDING.

THE FRONT END WILL NOT STAY ALIGNED, CAUSING EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. *AK

FRONT END WILL NOT STAY IN ALIGNMENT, CAUSING TIRES TO WEAR VERY UNEVEN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON SMOOTH ROADS, VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXCESSIVE VIBRATION BETWEEN CERTAIN SPEEDS. *AK

FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEMS.

GOING ABOUT 65MPH WHEN VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY IN THE FRONT. WAS VEY HARD TO CONTROL STEERING. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TODEALER & TOLD THE FRONT END BOUNCES. WAS TOLD TIRES NEEDED ROTATING. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP, GOING 40-50 MPH THE VEHICLE SHIMMIES BADLY AND THE FRONT WHEELS WOBBLE REAL BAD. DRIVER LOSES CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND HAS TO SLAM ON BRAKES TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

UNSOLVED ALIGNMENT PROBLEM.

FRONT END MISALIGNED, CAUSING PREMATURE TIRE WEAR.

FRONT STABALIZER BAR BROKE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK

THE FRONT STABILIZER BRACKET BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH. *AK

THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND THERE IS A VIBRATION DOWN THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE 17,000, MILES, WORN THROUGH ONE SET OF TIRES, HAD TO PUT ON A NEW STABILIZER. DEALER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE ON TURNS OR WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS AND CAUSED UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. *AK

FRONT END MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING EXCESSIVE/UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. *AK

TIRES WERE WORN OUT, THE FRONT END VIBRATED BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE PITTED . PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A VIBRATION PROBLEM, FIXED SEVERAL TIMES BUT VIBRATION CONTINUES TO MANIFEST. *AK

VIBRATION AND LOOSENESS IN THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE SINCE OWNERSHIP.

FRONT END SHIMMIES, CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR TO THE FRONT TIRES. *DH

VEHICLE PULLS TO SIDE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *DH

VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN VEHICLE REACHES 50 TO 70 MPH. *AK

THE TRUCK IS NOW A RV AND THE SUSPENSION DROPPED WHILE GOING 55MPH AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 60MPH, VEHICLE SHIMMIES VIOLENTLY, DEALER CAN'T CORRECT. *AK

VEHICLE VIBRATES, CAUSING POOR STABILITY. *SD

VIBRATION ON ACCELERATION FROM 0 TO 20 MPH. *SD

TRUCKS FRONT END CONSTANTLY PULLS TO LEFT, RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. *DSH

WHEN DRIVING HIT A SMALL BUMP THE TRUCK JERKS PURCHASE TRUCK NEW . TT

UNEVEN TIRE WEAR CAUSING FEATHERING/CUPPING OF FRONT TIRES; SHAKING/VIBRATION IN FLOOR AND STEERING DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING. TT

FRONT END MISALIGNEMNT, CAUSING EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. *AK

WHEN YOU HIT A HOLE IN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE SHAKES REALLY BADLY AND GOES OUT OF CONTROL. TT

REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE, DRIVELINE VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY WHILE ACCELERATING. TT

AFTER MAKING A TURN, VEHICLE WILL PULL IN DIRECTION OF TURN THAT WAS MADE. TT