2001 DODGE RAM Suspension Problems

DASHBOARD HAS BROKEN UP LIKE A JIG SAW PUZZLE. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

ON MY WAY TO WORK, AS USUAL, ON A "SLIGHTLY" BUMPY PART OF THE HIGHWAY MY STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT END STARTED VIBRATING SO VIOLENTLY THAT I ALMOST LOST CONTROL. I COULD BARELY HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL; AND COULD NOT STEER AT ALL; ALL I COULD DO WAS START BRAKING AND COME TO A STOP. I GOT OUT AND CHECKED MY TIRES AND FRONT END AND EVERYTHING APPEARED NORMAL. I CONTINUED TO WORK AT ABOUT 40 MPH (I HAD GONE TO WORK EARLY SO NO TRAFFIC) . AT 8:00 I CALLED MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND TOOK IT TO HIM TO CHECK OUT WHAT HAPPENED. HE CHECK EVERYTHING AND NOTHING SHOWED. THE NEXT DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN; THEN AGAIN 2 DAYS LATER. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER I TOOK PICKUP IN FOR REGULAR OIL/FUEL/AIR FILTER CHANGE SERVICE. HE TEST DROVE WITH ME ALONG AND I EXPLAINED FURTHER WHAT HAPPENED. HE SAID HE HAS SEEN IT BEFORE WITH DODGE 2500 & 3500 AND IT HAS BEEN LABELED THE "DODGE DEATH WOBBLE". I THANK GOD I WAS NOT IN A BUSY TRAFFIC AREA. *TR

Mileage: 201,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH THE FRONT END OF THE SUSPENSION IN THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN. THIS IN TURN CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT SLID INTO A GUARD RAIL, THERE WAS NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED, NO REPAIRS MADE.

Mileage: 107,995

DT: WAS PULLING A TRAILER AT 45 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED FISH TAILING. WITHOUT THE TRAILER AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE WILL FISH TAIL. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CHRYSLER , AND FOUND THAT IT WAS SHAKY. THE TIE RODS ENDS, BALL JOINTS, AND THE CHECK BAR MALFUNCTIONED ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ALMOST HAD A WRECK. THIS HAPPENED ON 24, JUNE 2205. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS POORLY DESIGNED, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS TOO LIGHT FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO GREASE FITTING FOR THE BALL JOINT. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED.*JB

Mileage: 40,000

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR ALIGNMENT, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE UPPER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT THE WHEEL WAS CLOSE TO COMING OFF. DEALER REPAIRED VEHICLE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK ......*AK

THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE WANDERED ACROSS THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING BOX ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND MADE SOME OTHER REPAIRS, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WOULD GRAB, HOWEVER THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT WAS THE WAY ABS WORKED. *JB

Mileage: 7,380

WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT THERE WAS A LOUD SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE WHEELS. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. *AK *JB

Mileage: 38,740

WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT THERE WAS A LOUD SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE WHEELS. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE WORN OUT. *AK *JB

Mileage: 38,740

THE BALL JOINTS OF MY 2001 DODGE RAM PICKUP HAD 5 TIMES THE ALLOWABLE LIMIT OF PLAY, WHICH IS 60,000TH OF AN INCH (1/16). ALL FOUR BALL JOINTS HAD 5/16 OF PLAY AT ONLY 21,000 MILES. THE SHOP I WENT TO FOR MY INPECTION DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM, AND SAID I WAS FORTUNATE THAT IT DIDN'T GET ANY FURTHER. ONE GOOD POT HOLE WITH THAT MUCH PLAY AND A WHEEL COULD HAVE COME OFF. THE SHOP OWNER TOLD ME THAT THE BALL JOINTS WERE PROBABLY OUT OF SPEC AT 6,000 MILES, CONSIDERING THEIR CONDITION AT 21,000 MILES. HE ALSO SAID THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL DODGE VEHICLES. HE SAID THAT HE HAS HAD DODGE DURANGO'S IN HIS SHOP WITH ONLY 6,000 MILES THAT HAD THE PLAY HE FOUND IN MINE AT 21,000 MILES!

Mileage: 21,000

MY BOYFRIEND BOUGHT A 2001 DODGE RAM IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR. AFTER HAVING THE TRUCK ONLY FOUR MONTHS THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE COMPLETLY REPLACED. TWO DAYS AGO WE NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE SHOCKS. HE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD HIM ALL OF THE SHOCKS NEED REPLACING, AS WELL AS OTHER THINGS SUCH AS THE AXEL AND WHAT NOT. THIS IS ONLY SEVEN MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE THING. THE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP ARE RUDE AND VERY UNHELPFUL. THEY HONESTLY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THE INCONVENIENCE THEY HAVE CAUSED US.

Mileage: 40,000

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR SPRING BROKE. AS A RESULT, DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NO IMPACT WAS REPORTED. *AK

Mileage: 19,130

TRUCK REAR LEAF SPRING BROKE OFF, AND WAS RIDING UPON THE BED THAT WAS HOOKED TO THE REAR END. . *AK

Mileage: 40,000

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAVING ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT ALL FRONT BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED.*AK

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAVING ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT ALL FRONT BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED.*AK

THERE WAS A NOISE WHEN A TURN WAS MADE. DEALER STATED FRONT WHEELS WERE WOBBLING. *AK *TT

Mileage: 102,000

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS RELEASED FOR A MOMENT, THE VEHICLE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY TRY TO VEER OFF THE ROAD, THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED AND CHECKED FOR BALANCE AND ALIGNMENT AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BALANCE WAS SLIGHTLY OUT WHICH WAS CORRECTED, CONSUMER STATED THE PULLING SEEMED TO STOP, BUT REOCCURRED IN A COUPLE OF DAYS.*JB

TRUCK WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD WITH CONSTANT NEED FOR CORRECTION BY MOVING STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH. ALSO STEERING WHEEL IS NOT ABLE TO BE MOVED WHEN TRUCK IS AT A STANDSTILL, POWER STEERING PUMP DOES NOT PUT OUT ENOUGH POWER TO TURN IF TRUCK IS NOT MOVING. *AK

VEHICLE WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD WHEN DRIVING. CONSUMER FINDS IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE 2-3 TIMES, AND STATED HE COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN HITTING A BUMP VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BOUNCE AFTER HITTING BUMP. TOOK TO DEALER, AND HAD SHOCKS REPLACED IT,, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WHOLE FRONT END WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND HAVE NO SOLUTION. *AK *YH

VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO STEER, WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. DEALER REPLACED STEERING BOX 3 TIMES, DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY IN A NEUTRAL POSITION IT WILL VEER TO THE RIGHT AND OR LEFT, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED 4 TIMES YET THE SAME MALFUNCTION REOCCURS. NLM

IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE STRAIGHT IN THIS VEHICLE, IT GOES ALL OVER THE ROAD, DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM (RAM 2500). NLM

1500 QUAD CAB, BRAKE FAILED AT 50-60 MPH. THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE. DEALER DETERMINED THAT BEARINGS ON RIGHT WHEEL WERE GROUNDED TO DUST, NO GREASE WAS VISIBLE.*AK

TRACK BAR AFFECTS HANDLING AND SAFETY OF VEHICLE, I HAVE HEARD OF MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS PART. *AK

TRACK BAR, PREMATURE EXCESSIVE SLACK IN STEERING, HARD TO KEEP IN OWN LANE ESPECIALLY ON UNEVEN PAVED SURFACES( STEERING WANDERING). REAR AXLE U-BOLTS, LOOSE ON INSPECTION CAUSING SHAKING FROM THE REAR AXLE DURING ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION, BOLTS WERE RETORKED & PROBLEM REACCURED AFTER 20 MILES, THE BOLTS WERE LOOSE AGAIN.

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE SWAYS BACK AND FORTH AND HARD TO STEER. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED STEERING BOX AND DID AN ALIGNMENT THREE TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED. *YH

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE WANDERS LEFT AND RIGHT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

OUR FLEET IS HAVING NUMEROUS FAILURES OF THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS, I'D LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS BEFORE THE FAILURE CAUSES AN ACCIDENT. *AK

STEERING PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS A SEVERE WANDER PROBLEM. FRONT END HAS BEEN ALIGNED AND RECENTLY A NEW TRACK BAR INSTALLED, BUT VEHICLE STILL CONTINUES TO DEMONSTRATE THE WANDERING PROBLEM. THIS CONDITION CAUSES AN UNSAFE HANDLING PROBLEM ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT.*AK

CONSUMER HEARD A RATTLING NOISE UNDER FRONT OF VEHICLE, WHILE INSPECTING VEHICLE HE NOTICED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS RUBBING ON THE DRIVER SIDE TIRE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL SHARP TO THE LEFT, DEALER GRINDED OFF PART OF CONTROL ARM, BUT IT WAS STILL RUBBING ON THE TIRE, DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO REMEDY.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE GEAR BOX WAS SERVICED. *YH

DEALER REPLACED RIGHT SIDE BALL JOINT. HOWEVER, STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKING UP WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURHTER INFORMATION. *AK

THE TRUCK WANDERS LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. SINCE NEW, THE STEERING HAS SEEMED "VAGUE". THE PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL CAN BE 4" BEFORE TURNING THE TRUCK, THIS MAY VARY. THE STEERING SEEMS "RUBBERY". I HAVE HAD THE FRONT WHEELS ALIGNED TWO TIMES. THE DEALER CAN DO NO MORE; THEY HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF BRINGING THE TRUCK INTO "SPECS". A SQUARE "LINKAGE TUBE" WAS REPLACED, WHICH PROVIDED LITTLE OR NO IMPROVEMENT. THE PROBLEM PERSISTS, CONSTANT CORRECTION IS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A SEMBLANCE OF A STRAIGHT PATH. THIS PROBLEM MUST BE REPAIRED BEFORE ONE OF THE MANY COMPLAINANTS RUNS OFF THE ROAD.*AK

WHEN ROLLING OVER A BUMP ON THE ROAD, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SHAKES. *AK *SLC

VAN IS UNSTABLE IN CROSS WINDS, PREVIOUS 1999 VERSION WAS NOT.*AK

WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN COULD FEEL AND HEAR TIRES RUBBING AGAINST BOTTOM CONTROL ARM. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE REPAIRED, BUT THEY SAID THAT WAS A FACTORY DEFFECT.*AK

PULLED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AT WORK AND WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE A "NORMAL" TURN RADIUS. THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE TURN RADIUS OF THE VEHICLE THAT I WAS'NT FAMILIAR WITH. LATER THAT SAME DAY, PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY THE SAME WAY I HAVE MAY TIMES WITH THIS VEHICLE AND NOTED THE SAME TURN RESTRICTION. STEERING WHEEL WAS BOUND UP INTERNALLY. I APPLIED MORE STEERING PRESSURE AT THIS POINT AND FELT A SNAP INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL FOLLOWED BY THE ILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG LIGHT. VEHICLE SCHEDULED FOR WARRANTY REPAIR AT THE CHERRY HILL DODGE DEALERSHIP, CHERRY HILL NJ, ON 06 JULY 2001.*AK

RECALL 00V307000 UPPER CONTROL ARM. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIR. DEALER DELETED INFORMATION OUT OF DATABASE WITHOUT INSPECTING VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHICH RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER SUSPECTED THAT RECALL DEFECT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE COLLISION. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

THE CONSUMER HEARS A WHINNING NOISE IN THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. NLM

CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 TO 60 MPH AND VEHICLE DRIFTED OFF ON SIDE OF ROAD, 6 TO 8 INCH DROP, WHICH CAUSED RIGHT REAR RIM TO BEND, RESULTING IN RIGHT REAR AXLE BREAKING. A PRIVATE MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT AXLE DID NOT FUSE TOGETHER PROPERLY.*AK *JB

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED SIDE MIRRORS SHAKE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK CONSUMER STATES DEALER HAS REPLACED MIRRORS THREEE TIMES AND DEALER REFUSE TO FIX OR INVESTIGATE ANY FURTHER, THERE IS A FRONT END NOISE IN SUSPENSION WHILE DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMPS, SPRINGS,SJOCKS AND SWAY BAR WAS REPLACED AND THE NOISE STOPPED FOR TWO WEEKS AND REOCCURED, ENGINE IDLING ROUGH, POOR GAS MILEAGE, FOUND THAT SPARK PLUG MISFIRED, ENGINE STALLS WHEN IN GEAR CONSUMER ALSO STATES SEAL AROUND WINDSHIELD IS LOOSE WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED..*JB

PROBLEM #1: FRONT SUSPENSION BOTTOMING OUT ON SPEED BUMPS, AND AT LOW SPEED BUMPS. VEHICLE FRAME IS SMACKING DOWN ON TOP OF AXLE. FRONT SUSPENSION BUSHINGS WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. PROBLEM #2: DRIVER DOOR MIRROR GLASS LOOSE. DEALER INSTALLED NEW MIRROR, STILL LOOSE, ORDERING A SECOND MIRROR. PROBLEM #3: ENGINE SHAKES AT START UP AND WHILE IDLING. ALSO GAS MILEAGE HAS NOT IMPROVED.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IT WOULD NOT GO STRAIGHT, BUT CONTINOUSLY PULLED TO EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT WHICH HAS RESULTED IN A COLLISION. DEALER REPLACED STEERING BOX THREE TIMES, AND TRACK BAR, AND STEERING PUMP, WHICH DID NOT CORRECTED PROBLEM. *AK DEALER REPLACED STEERING BOX 2 TIMES, POWER STEERING WAS LOST WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *SLC

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN IT WOULD NOT GO STRAIGHT, BUT CONTINOUSLY PULLED TO EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT WHICH HAS RESULTED IN A COLLISION. DEALER REPLACED STEERING BOX THREE TIMES, AND TRACK BAR, AND STEERING PUMP, WHICH DID NOT CORRECTED PROBLEM. *AK DEALER REPLACED STEERING BOX 2 TIMES, POWER STEERING WAS LOST WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. *SLC

VEHICLE WANDERS INTO ANOTHER LANE WHEN LETTING GO OF STEERING. APPLYING BRAKES AND VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. MANUFACTURER & DEALER SAY THAT VEHICLE IS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. THE PARTS AREN'T AVAILABLE FOR CORRECTIONS TO TAKE PLACE.*AK