1996 DODGE RAM Steering Problems

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN CHANGING THE POSITION OF THE STEERING WHEEL UP THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. NLM

LEFT FRONT SPINDLE BROKE WITH LITTLE WARNING WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE.

IN AUGUST OF 1999 WITH APPROXIMATELY 70,000 MILES ON ODOMETER WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS A VIBRATION, AND THE DRIVER LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL BEFORE CRASHING INTO A DITCH. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND REPLACED STEERING GEAR BOX TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. SINCE REPLACEMENT OF ORIGINAL STEERING GEAR BOX, VEHICLE WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD DURING NORMAL OPERATION. STEERING GEAR BOX HAS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. *AK *YH

STEERING COLUMN IS EXTREMELY LOOSE WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO DRIFT TO RIGHT OR LEFT WHILE DRIVING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

CONSUMER STATES STEERING COLUMN IS LOCKING ON VEHICLE. *JB

WHILE MAKE ANY TURNS CONSUMER NOTICED A CLICKING NOISE FROM STEERING . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THE DEALER USED A SPRAY TO FIX THE CLICKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, BUT IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *YH

UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS WHEN TRAVELING AROUND 50 TO 60 MPH AND HITTING A BUMP, FRONT END WILL VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. CONSUMER MUST STOP VEHICLE IN ORDER TO GET VIBRATION TO GO AWAY. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE TWICE: DURING FIRST INCIDENT DEALERSHIP REPLACED TRACK BAR, AND AT SECOND INCIDENT, DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK THE STEERING DAMPER HAS BEEN REPLACED AND CONSUMER HOPES THAT THIS SOLVES THE PROBLEM. *SLC

BOLT IN STEERING ARM SEPARATED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

STEERING HAS TO MUCH PLAY, ALSO THERE IS A POPPING SOUND, TO DEALER 4 TIMES, CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY IN OVERDRIVE. *AK

POWER STEERING STARTED LEAKING AFTER 65,000 MILES. VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER STEERING WHEN FLUID LEAKS OUT & VEHICLE IS HARD TO STEER. CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER.*AK

STEERING PITMAN ARM AND IDLER ARM HAVE A LOT OF PLAY, FRONT BEARINGS LOOSE, FRONT ROTORS RUSTED AND WORN OUT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *AK

STEERING PITMAN ARM AND IDLER ARM HAVE A LOT OF PLAY, FRONT BEARINGS LOOSE, FRONT ROTORS RUSTED AND WORN OUT REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *AK

UNEXPECTEDLY THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. FAILED PART NOT AVAILABLE FOR THREE DAYS BECAUSE OF HIGH DEMAND AND CANNOT BE KEPT IN STOCK. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTFIED. *AK *YC

STEERING WHEEL BINDS AND GEAR SHIFT LEVER ON COLUMN MOVES PUTTING TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL TWICE AT HIGHTWAY SPEEDS, DEALER TESTED AND SAID THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 400 DOLLARS I FEEL THAT A VECHILE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE A STREERING COLUM REPLACED AT 50000 MILES

12-8-95 REPLACED DEFECTIVE STIRRING COLUM; 12-19-96 REPLACED DEFECTIVE FUEL GAUGE;

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, VEHICLE HAS NO POWER. ALSO, THE POWER STEERING FAILED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PUT VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL, AND REV THE ENGINE. TOOK SIX MONTHS TO GET PART AFTER REPEATED CALLS. FRONT BRAKES WEARING OUT PREMATURELY BECAUSE REAR BRAKES ARE NOT SELF ADJUSTING. VERY UNSAFE WHEN BRAKING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *YC THE LEFT REAR AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING. WATER COLLECTS NEAR THE PASSENGER DOOR UNDERNEATH THE CARPET. *YH

SPENT $1200 TO REBUILD ENTIRE FRONT END OF CAR DUE TO EXCESSIVE CLUNKING AND LOOSENESS AFTER ONLY 40,000 MILES OF LITE STREET USE. FACTORY INSTALLED COMPONANTS OBVOIUSLY INFERIOR QUALITY OR DEFECTIVE. DAILMER CHRYSLER WAS WILLING TO ASSIST IN THE COSTS OF THE REPAIR UNTIL THE BILLS CAME IN. DAIMLER CHRYSLER WALKED AWAY FROM THE ISSUE. REAR WINDOW WATER LEAK - SUGGEST OTHER OWNERS TO LOOK ON PASSENGER SIDE FOR WATER PONDING ADJACENT TO SILL PLATE AT REAR OF SEAT. REAR FACTORY SLIDING WINDOW DEFECTIVE. MUST REPLACE WITH ALTERNATE SELECTION. HEADLINER WILL NOT FIT PROPERLY ON ALTERNATE SELECTION - BEWARE. DODGE RAM OWNERS BEWARE. THIS OWNER JUMPING SHIP FROM DODGE/CHRYSLER PRODUCTS. ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICAL FOR 11 MONTHS.

WHEN DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND WHITOUT PRIOR WARNING THE STEERING GEAR BOX BROKE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER CRASHED INTO A STONE WALL. *AK

STEERING COLUMN IS VERY LOOSE AND SHAKES, THIS PROBLEM ALSO GIVES IT TROUBLE PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

FRONT END SHIMMY WHEN GOING OVER BUMP OR POT HOLE, DUE TO POOR STEERING DESIGN, DAMPNER KIT AVAILABLE TO CORRECT DESIGN PROBLEM.

INNER TIE ROD TRUCK GOES OUT AND STEERING GOES TO THE RIGHT. *AK

FRONT END MISALIGNMENT. IN ADDITION, REAR AXLE SEALS/AXLE BEARINGS/STEERING DRAG:LINK/FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS/ROTORS AND PADS/REAR BRAKE SHOES AND DRUMS AND REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS AND BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER FAILED/REPLACED.

NOISE IN FRONT END AS WELL AS LEAKING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE STEERING SHAFT AND STEERING STABILIZER.

POWER STEERING FAILED, DUE TO FAILURE OF THE PUMP.

STEERING ARM BROKE, CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING.

STEERING IN THE VEHICLE GETS EXTREMELY SLOPPY WHEN DRIVING AND MAKES IT HARD TO STEER. THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS. *AK

AFTER BUMPPING INTO A LOW STONE WALL AT NO MORE THAN 3MPH, THE POWER STEERING GEAR BOX DRAINED FLUID, RESULTING IN POWER STEERING LOST.

POWER STEERING GEAR BOX DRAINED OF FLUID AFTER A MINOR IMPACT OF 3 MPH, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING.

STEERING COLUMN FAILED.

STEERING COLUMN MAKES CLICKING NOISE.

POWER STEERING FAILURE.

STEERING HAS EXCESSIVE PLAY/CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING OR BRAKING. *AK

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DUE TO A DEFECTIVE STEERING TUBE WHICH SHEARED OFF FROM THE TIE RODS, CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A TREE. *AK

CONSUMER'S BROTHER WAS DRIVING 55-70 MPH ON STATE HWY 72 WHEN STEERING MADE A FULL CIRCLE THEN A CLICKING NOISE, THE PASSENGER SAID THAT THEY THEN REALIZED THAT STEERING WHEEL HAD LOCKED UP FOLLOWING LOSS OF CONTROL. THE TRUCK THEN FLIPPED OVER BACK END OVER FRONT THEN ROLLED OVER ON SIDE, LOOSING BOTH LEFT WHEELS, BRAKES/DRUMS/PADS AND TIRES. THE DRIVER WAS THROWN FROM TRUCK AFTER THE 2ND FLIP FORWARD, HE WAS REVIVED ON SCENE, THEN LATER DIED IN FLIGHT TO HOSPITAL. PASSENGER SURVIVED WITH MINOR UPPER BODY INJURIES. *AK

STEERING SHAFT REPLACED.

STEERING WHEEL NOT CENTERED.

STEERING COLUMN REPLACED.

STEERING WHEEL: WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AND IT BECOMES VERY HARD TO TURN. IT SEEMS AS IF THERE IS NO POWER. VEHICLE IS IN FOR REPAIR IN SHOP BUT THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM . *AK

STEERING BOX FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE PULLS SEVERELY TO RIGHT, ACCORDING TO DEALER, CALIPERS WERE STICKING, REPLACED CALIBERS/ ROTORS, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED; ALSO, EXPERIENCING LOT OF PLAY IN STEERING COLUMN, CAN M OVE SHAFT U/DOWN, NOT A TILTED STEERING WHEEL. *AK

DURING VEHICLE OPERATION AT 5 MPH, THE BRACKETS WHICH HOLD THE STEERING COLUMN DISCONNECTED, CAUSING IT TO COME APART. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE STEERING COLUMN FELL IN HIS LAP AND THE BOLTS HIT HIS FEET. *SLC

FAILURE OF THE STEERING COLUMN BOLT, CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE BOLT HOLDING THE RACK AND PINION STEERING IN PLACE BROKE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT/INJURY. *AK

STEERING SHAFT LOOSE, CAUSING VIBRATION.

CONSUMER HAS A 1995 MODE, MANUFACTURER GAVE CONSUMER A 1996, THE PROBLEM IS THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THERE WAS NO STEERING CONTROL ON BOTH TRUCKS, STILL HAVING SAME PROBLEM .*AK *SLC

FRONT BRAKE PADS/CALIPERS FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT, ALSO STEERING WHEEL OFF CENTER. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE STEERING CAME APART. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE UPPER UNIVERSAL JOINT DROPPED OFF THE STEERING SHAFT, CAUSING NO STEERING CONTROL, THE STEERING SHAFT AND UNIVERSAL JOINT WERE NOT ASSEMBLED PROPERLY AT THE FACTORY, UPPER UNIVERSAL JOINT WAS BARELY STUCK ONTO THE END OF THE STEERING SHAFT, THE UNIVERSAL JOINT WAS STUCK ONTO THE SHAFT ONLY UP TO THE AREA OF THE UPPER UNIVERSAL JOINT. *SLC

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE STEERING CAME APART. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE UPPER UNIVERSAL JOINT DROPPED OFF THE STEERING SHAFT, CAUSING NO STEERING CONTROL, THE STEERING SHAFT AND UNIVERSAL JOINT WERE NOT ASSEMBLED PROPERLY AT THE FACTORY, UPPER UNIVERSAL JOINT WAS BARELY STUCK ONTO THE END OF THE STEERING SHAFT, THE UNIVERSAL JOINT WAS STUCK ONTO THE SHAFT ONLY UP TO THE AREA OF THE UPPER UNIVERSAL JOINT. *SLC