1996 Dodge RAM 2500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45-55 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE FRONT END SHAKES AND VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING OVER GROOVED PAVEMENT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER URNESS MOTORS (505 CHERRY HEIGHTS ROAD, THE DALLES, OR. 97058) AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,000. *DT*JB*DT CONSUMER ASKS FOR SAFETY RECALL AND STATED HE COULD NOT DRIVE ON OPEN FREEWAY.*JB

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DOING ABOUT 55MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED TO HAVE A BAD VIBRATION. IT CAUSED THE WHOLE TRUCK TO SHAKE. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER IT AND ALL AROUND IT BUT FOUND NOTHING. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT AND IT DROVE FINE. EVERY TIME IT GETS AROUND 55 IT STARTS THE SHAKING. I KEEP FINDING ONLINE THAT IT IS CALLED THE "DEATH WOBBLE" AND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE CASES.

THE STEERING COLUMN ON THIS TRUCK HAS GOTTEN VERY HOT UNDER THE IGNITION SWITCH AREA. SO HOT IN FACT THAT THE WIRES AND PLASTIC COLUMN COVER HAVE SMOKED AND MELTED THROUGH. I FEEL THERE MAY BE A FIRE SOON. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG WITH MY MODEL YEAR BUT THE MELTED HOLE IN MY STEERING COLUMN SAYS OTHERWISE I'VE READ THERE WAS A RECALL OF THIS NATURE BUT WAS TOLD IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE HELPING ME. HELP... *TR

MY 96 RAM 2500 HAS A MAJOR STEERING/HANDLING PROBLEM AT OR ABOUT ANY HIGH SPEED IF I HIT ANY POTHOLES, ROUGH SPOTS, OR IF I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT FOR A PROLONG PERIOD OF TIME MY STEERING WHEEL STARTS SHAKING LIKE I HAVE BLOWN A TIRE VIOLENTLY SHAKING/HOPPING SO ERRATIC THAT IT SHAKES A 20 LB BACKPACK OFF OF MY PASSENGERS SEAT AND ON TO THE FLOORBOARD. I HAVE TO BRING THE TRUCK TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP TO ELEVATE THE PROBLEM. THIS WORKS UNTIL THE NEXT BUMP OR ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD. THE OTHER DAY MY GIRLFRIENDS BROTHER WAS FOLLOWING ME IN MY 98 TAURUS AND SAID THAT HE THOUGHT FOR SURE I WAS GOING TO ROLL OR LOSE CONTROL. HE STATED THAT MY FRONT WHEELS WERE SHAKING VIOLENTLY LEFT TO RIGHT ALTHOUGH I WAS IN A STRAIGHT ON MY STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES 1. CONVERSE COUNTY MOTORS, DOUGLAS, WYOMING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRACK BAR WAS FAULTY SO IT WAS REPLACED BY THE NEXT SHOP LISTED BELOW. AMOUNT SPENT AT THIS SHOP WITH BEING AN EMPLOYEE WAS $40.00 LABOR AND $214.19 FOR A COMPLETE REPLACED FRONT DRIVELINE. 2. OK WRECKING, DOUGLAS, WYOMING- I HAVE TAKEN THE TRUCK TO THIS SHOP AFTER REPLACING THE STEERING STABILIZER SHOCK, PASSENGER SIDE TIE ROD, FRONT SHOCKS, AND FRONT BRAKES. THEY REPLACED TRACK BAR AND FRONT BRAKE LINES. TOTAL SPENT THIS REPAIR $432.60 THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT THE FRONT END COMPONENTS WERE NOW TIGHT AND IT SHOULDN'T DO IT ANYMORE NO SUCH LUCK!! TO MY DISMAY I STILL CAN'T GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED I HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM QUITE FREQUENTLY NHTSA PLEASE COME DRIVE MY TRUCK AND YOU WILL BE SHOCKED AT THIS PROBLEM!!!! MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM WITH STEERING AND HANDLING!!! *JB

THE STEERING PITMAN WORN OUT AT 74,103 MILES. THE PART WAS FULLY FILLED WITH GEASE. THE SYMPTOMS WERE VEHICLE STEERING WAS WONDERING (L)& (R) BY ITS SELF. THIS COMPONENT SHOULD LAST AT LEASE 200,000 MILES IF PROPERTY MAINTAINED WITH GEASE. THE MANUFACTURER IS TRW PART #MA-12-1 EY3 . DODGE 981/2 YR. MODEL #25000 24V DIESEL L-6 DIESEL ENGINE CUMMINS VIN#[XXX] VEHICLE MILEAGE IS (74,103). THE PART REPLACEMENT COST IS $60.00. INSTALLED BY OWNER. THE PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THIS PART HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. FIRST TIME WAS AT 62,000, WHEN IT QUICKLEY DEVELOPED LOSE STEERING AND THEN AGAIN AT 100,000 MILES AND NOW AT 157000 MILES. WHEN I HAD THE SECOND ONE DONE I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK. THE DEALER SAID THAT DODGE HAD MADE A CORRECTION TO THIS PART AND THAT THE ONE THEY PUT ON AT 62,000 MILES WAS THE NEW MODEL. BUT IT FAILED AT 100,000. I CONTACTED DODGE AND THEY CLAIMED THEY HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS, BUT THE DEALER SAID THERE HAS BEEN AND ALSO THE FRONT END SHOP THAT REPLACED THE ONE AT 100,000. I FEEL THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF IT LET GO COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. I WOULD BE GLAD TO HELP YOU RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM.*AK