2003 Dodge RAM 2500: steering wheel locks up

Filed Aug 4, 2015 · Steering, Transmission · 20 miles · PA · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge ram 2500. While driving in snow at approximately 30 MPH, the steering wheel seized and required excessive force. The contact crashed into guard rails. The vehicle sustained front end, passenger, and rear end damage. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was not repaired. On another occasion, when the vehicle was shifted into park with the engine running, the gear independently shifted into reverse. The contact placed the vehicle into park and shut off the vehicle engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure could not be determined. An alarm system was applied to the vehicle to alert the driver of independent gear changes, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the vehicle was unsafe to operate. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20.

Filed Jun 9, 2015 · Body, Suspension · 60,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge ram 2500. The contact stated that the dashboard was falling apart. When the air conditioner was activated, there were particles flying out of the vents. While driving approximately 10 MPH over a bump, the steering wheel seized and something on the front end felt loose. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician diagnosed that the upper ball joint and stabilizer bar needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired and the dashboard was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

Filed Jul 15, 2014 · Steering · 139,000 miles · AZ · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 dodge ram 2500. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 35 MPH to make a right turn, the front end of the vehicle was shaking violently and the steering wheel seized causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into a tree. A police report was not filed. The contact sustained major injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign id number: 13v528000 (steering) after the incident. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 139,000.

Filed May 9, 2007 · Steering · 28,000 miles · KY

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 dodge ram 2500. The contact stated that when recovering from making a turn, the steering wheel locks when he attempts to straighten the wheel. The failure causes him to loose control of the vehicle. The failure has occurred approximately forty times. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The VIN was unknown. The current mileage is 44,000 and failure mileage was 28,000.

Filed Dec 20, 2005 · Steering · 35,000 miles · VA

I own a 2003 dodge ram 2500 pickup truck. Four wheel drive with a diesel engine. Vehicle has 30,000 miles. On 2 december 2005, while driving to work with out any warning the steering locked, rendering me helpless unable to steer the vehicle. After I was able to get the vehicle to a safe location I attempted to test the steering. The steering wheel would not steer to the right of center. It will steer to the left but seems to have a diminished power assist performance at first. While cycling the steering system several times the power assist to the left improves. However once the steering reaches the center point to the right the steering locks and would not go any further right of center. The vehicle is currently at dominion dodge service rep 1259 e. Main street salem virginia, and they have determined that the steering gear box has failed. Although it is very possible that a component of this type could fail, in the 30 years as an automotive mechanic and a master in hydraulic systems technology I have yet seen or heard of a steering gear box failure that would render a vehicle completely incapable of controlling steering. Most of my experience in this field is usually worn component that cause poor performance in the steering capability. Usually this occurs at greater than 100,000 miles, not at 30,0000.

Filed May 22, 2005 · 18,995 miles · PA

Bought brand new 2003 dodge ram pickup from raymond dodge. Truck started stalling during driving at all types of speeds, truck stalls when idoling, and when after reversing shifting into drive. 04-27-04 18995 miles- customer states truck stalls / corrected, by updating the flash module 09-21-04 29821 miles- customer states car stalls hard to restart / test drove and found no condition present, checked codes none present 12-13-04 32380 miles- customer states stalls while driving , hard to restart, / replaced oil pan, removed accumlator piston and was ok at time, could not duplicate customer concern, replaced the transmission filter while inspecting the accumlator piston. 04-08-05 36028 miles customer states stalls while drives and stops. / test drove could not duplicate problem, updates are all current no parts replaced. 04-12-05 36079 miles took back to dealer for 5th time for the stalling, power steering locks up and no brakes, my son and I were almost hit for the 2nd time due to the staling. Raymond dodge could not find anything wrong with it. Been taking it to weathers dodge in lima pa they cannot duplicate anything wrong with it either. 5 times in 1 year time. It is a safety hazard and they are not fixing the problem.