2002 Dodge RAM 1500

I HAVE SUFFERED TWO MAJOR SYSTEM FAILURES IN MY 2002 DODGE RAM 1500, BOTH OF WHICH RESULTED IN A COMPLETE LOCK OF THE STEERING WHILE DRIVING. IN BOTH INSTANCES, FIRST AT 30,000 KM IN FEB 04, AND NOW AT 72,000 KM IN FEB 07, THE POWER STEERING RACK HAS BROKEN, RESULTING IN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, REQUIRING A KING KONG GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL SIMPLY TO TURN THE WHEEL EVEN ONE INCH. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS COVERED BY CHRYSLER UNDER THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY, BUT THIS ONE IS NOT BEING COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. BOTH FAILURES WERE LUCKILY AT LOW SPEED, BUT IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN IN TWO YEARS, I PRAY THAT IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM FOR THE SAME FAILURE, AND THERE IS ANOTHER DODGE RAM AT THE DEALER RIGHT NOW WITH THE SAME BREAK DOWN. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FLUID FROM THE RACK AND PINION. THE FIRST LEAK OCCURRED AT 68,000 MILES WHICH WAS A MINOR LEAK ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE RACK AND PINION SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT A MILEAGE OF 70,000. THEN THERE WAS A MAJOR LEAK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AFTER THE REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IS AWARE THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE FOR HIS VEHICLE. *JB

I HAD A 2002 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH I HEARD A LOW HUMMING NOISE. SUDDENLY THE TRUCK VEERED TO THE LEFT. I WAS NOW IN INCOMING TRAFFIC AND NARROWLY MISSED ONE CAR. I TRIED TO GET THE TRUCK BACK TO THE RIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF PLAY IN IT. THE TRUCK FISHTAILED BACK TO THE RIGHT ONLY TO VEER AGAIN TO THE LEFT. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS HIT BY A CAR, RAN UP A LAWN, HIT A TREE AND FLIPPED THE TRUCK. BOTH MYSELF AND THE DRIVER OF THE CAR SUFFERED MINIMAL PHYSICAL INJURIES. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALED. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST DAIMLER CHRYSLER INVOLVING THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE DODGE DURANGOS. I BELIEVE THAT MY VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *NM

SUDDEN AND COMPLETE FAILURE OF RACK AND PINION STEERING UNIT ON 2002 DODGE RAM 1500 PICKUP TRUCK. SEAL FAILURE CAUSED IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUILD. CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL ON HIGHWAY. UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SLOW TO A STOP ALONG THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, BUT ONLY AFTER VENTURING INTO THE ONCOMING LANE OF TRAFFIC. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET HAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT MANY RELATED COMPLAINTS, INCLUDING STEERING FAILURES THAT HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY AND DEATH.

DT: CONTACT STATES: WHEN WATER IS SPLASHED UNDER THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF HIS TRUCK, THE STEERING GOES OUT. HE CANNOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. HE SAYS HE IS GOING APPROX. 25-30 MPH WHEN IT HAPPENS. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE WHEN IT HAS BEEN RAINING. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY WOULD LOOK AT BUT AT THE CONSUMER'S COST. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD HIM THE SAME THING. THE CONSUMER SAYS THE WARRANTY HAS RUN OUT. THE CONSUMER SAYS HE DOES NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE WATER IS SPLASHING, JUST THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. *NM