1999 Dodge RAM 3500

EVER SINCE WE PURCHASED THE TRUCK USED FROM DODGE DEALER IN TUCSON ARIZONA WE HAVE HAD CONCERNS WITH SUSPENSION AND STEERING OF THE TRUCK. WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK STEERING IS BOUNCY AND UNSTABLE. WE THOUGHT IT WAS ALIGNMENT SO WE TOOK IT IN AND TRUCK CONTINUES THE SAME. WHEN PULLING OUT 34' 5TH WHEEL STEERING IS VERY SHAKY AND VIBRATES A LOT. AFTER YEARS OF BRINGING UP CONCERN WITH DODGE DEALER WE TOOK TO ANOTHER SHOP WHERE THEY GAVE US A HUGE LIST OF THINGS NEEDING TOO GET FIXED. WE WENT BACK TO DODGE DEALER WHERE THEY GAVE US A 2ND OPINION AND CAME UP WITH ADDITIONAL CONCERNS WITH TRUCK. WE HAVE CHANGED SHOCKS, STRUTS, BE ALL JOINTS AND OTHER THINGS WITH THE SUSPENSION AND TRUCK CONTINUES TO RUN THE SAME WAY. BUT RECENTLY WE GOT BRAKES, DRUMS, AND MASTER CYLINDER SINCE WE RAN OUT OF BRAKES WHILE PULLING OUT 34' 5TH WHEEL. ALL THIS THINGS WERE RECOMMENDED SO THAT THE TRUCK WOULD RUN WELL. WE HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND ISSUE IS STILL UNRESOLVED. WE WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO HELP US SINCE ALL THE RECOMMENDED REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE AND STILL HAVING SAME PROBLEM. WE TRAVEL QUITE A BIT WITH OUR ANIMALS AND WOULD HATE TO HAVE A DEADLY ACCIDENT DUE TO TRUCK PROBLEMS. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST STEP TO REPAIRING OUR TRUCK TO SAFE CONDITIONS. STEERING SHAKY AND BRAKES FAILURE EVEN AFTER ALL RECOMMENDED REPAIRS. THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY AND CRASHED INTO A RETAINING WALL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, KNOCKING THE CONTACT UNCONSCIOUS. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE NOSE AND FACE, A CONCUSSION, BRUISING OF THE LEFT SHOULDER, A HEAD INJURY AND A WRIST INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,312.

WHILE TRAVELING AT A SLOW SPEED THERE WAS A SUDDEN STEERING FAILURE RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. A LOOK UNDER THE VEHICLE SHOWED THAT THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE IDLER ARM ASSEMBLY HAD RIPPED OFF THE FRAME AND THE ARM AND STEERING LINKAGES WERE DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. THE FAILURE SEEMED TO BE CAUSE BY EXTREME RUST/ROT.

1999 DODGE RAM 3500. FRONT END STEERING FAILURE DEATH WOBBLE, $550 REPAIR, AC EVAPORATOR, $800 REPAIR, PRESENTLY ENGINE CONTROL MODULE $300 FOR TROUBLESHOOTING BY THE DEALER, $730 FOR PART AND ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR LABOR. ESTIMATE OF $1000+. ASKED DODGE FOR ASSISTANCE, TRUCK IS 6 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY AND ONLY HAS 68830 MILES ON IT. THE ENGINE (CUMMINS DIESEL) WAS WARRANTED FOR 5 YEARS, 100K, AND THE SAME WITH EMMISSIONS CONTROL 5/100. THE ECM COULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY DODGE UNDER EITHER OF THESE WARRANTIES.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, APPLIED ON BRAKES AND VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. DEALER HAS SERVICED VEHICLE BEFORE FOR SAME PROBLEM; HOWEVER HAS NOT FOUND REMEDY FOR MALFUNCTION.*AK CONSUMER ADDS AFTER FRONT PADS WERE REPLACED FRONT/REAR BRAKES CONTINUE TO LOCK UP. WHILE OPPOSITE END WHEELS ROLL FREE. MANY ATTEMPTS MADE TO CORRECT PROBLEM, BUT LOCK UP STILL HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. STEERING SEEMS VERY LOOSE AND IS HARD TO KEEP VEHICLE STRAIGHT. POWER STEERING GEAR AND STEERING GEAR BOX WAS REPLACED HOWEVER TRUCK CONTINUES TO WANDER. DRIVER SIDE SEAT CUSHION SAGGS. SEAT BOTTOM CUSHION REPLACED. CAB SQWAKS ON UNEVEN GROUND. BLACK SMOKE FROM EXHAUST WHEN COLD OR WARM. CLUTCH SLIPS. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. DIMMER ON DASH LIGHTS BURNS FINGERS. WHEN TURNING ON TURN SIGNALS, WIPERS WILL ACTIVATE AND RAPID FLASH IS HEARD. DIFFICULTY GETTING INTO FIRST GEAR. ABS JAMS WHEN UNDER A HARD STOP AND DURING COLD START. LUMBAR IS INOPERATIVE. TRANMSISSION LEAKING OIL. REPLACED OUTPUT SHAFT SEAL. MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED. MOST GEARS DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE. REVERSE IS VERY STIFF. SHIFTING 2-3RD WILL CAUSE SHIFTER TO LOCK UP AND WON'T MOVE AT ALL. NO PROBLEM FOUND. OVERHEAD CONSOLE INOPERATIVE AND REPLACED. *TT

VEHICLE WOULD WANDER AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT LINE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE THREE TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND REPLACED DRAG LINK WHICH RAN FROM FRAME TO AXLE THAT PREVENTS SIDE TO SIDE MOVEMENT, BUT DID NOT PREVENT PROBLEM FROM REOCCURRING. THIS HAS OCCURRED AT 97000/ 102000, AND 104000 MILES WITHIN THE LAST 9 MONTHS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK