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2017 RAM 2500 — STEERING

crash · 1704580 · 2020-11-05

Vehicle

Make
RAM
Model
2500
Year
2017
Manufacturer
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Component
STEERING
Miles at failure
57,000
Speed
55 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
No
Crash
Yes
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, ON A RIGHT HAND CORNER I TURNED AND COULD HEAR AND FEEL A 'POP'. THEN HAD SLOP IN THE STEERING, NEARLY CAUSING ME TO CATASTROPHICALLY CRASH . I CONTROLLED IT ENOUGH OFF THE ROADWAY INTO A FIELD AND STOPPED, IF THERE WAS A GUARDRAIL OR DROP OFF, I WOULD HAVE MAJORLY CRASHED. I COULD TURN LEFT, GO STRAIGHT. BUT GOING RIGHT I'D TURN THE WHEEL 1 FULL TURN BEFORE IT 'ENGAGED' STEERING. AFTER INSPECTING THE TRUCK, I NOTICED THE TRACK BAR WOULD MOVE 4-6 INCHES BEFORE THE WHEELS WOULD EVER MOVE. WHEN SHAKING THE WHEEL WHILE PARKED, THE WHEELS WOULD NOT MOVE BUT THE ENTIRE BODY OF THE TRUCK WAS MOVING LIKE CRAZY AS IF IT WERE DANCING. AFTER PULLING THE TRACK BAR OFF THE TRUCK, THE ENTIRE 'HEAD' AROUND THE BEARING ATTACHED TO FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WAS COMPLETELY SHEARED SHEARED ON 1 POINT CAUSING THE BEARING TO HAVE FREE PLAY. THIS TRUCK IS 3 YEARS OLD WITH 57,000 PAVEMENT MILES. CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE STEERING MECHANISM SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AND COULD POTENTIALLY KILL SOMEONE.

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
11373215
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown