NHTSA complaint: 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 — STEERING
MY GIRLFRIEND'S SON WAS DRIVING OUR 1998 DODGE RAM 1500 GOING ABOUT 35 OR 40 MILES PER HOUR (HE AND HIS GIRLFRIEND WERE TAKING A RIDE WAITING FOR A PIZZA) SO JUST MOSING ALONG THANK GOD . HE ROUNDED A CURVE AND LOST STEERING HE TRIED TO JERK IT BACK AND SAID IT MADE A CRACKING NOISE AND HE HAD NO STEERING ABILITY. HE RAN OFF THE ROAD STRIKING TREES, KNOCKED HIMSELF OUT BY HITTING HIS HEAD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. WHEN HE CAME TO, HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS KNOCKED OUT. HE GOT HER ALERT AND CALLED 911. SHE WAS LIFE FLIGHTED, 5 BROKEN RIBS, MAJOR CONCUSSION AND HE HAD CUTS AND SCRATCHES AND A CONCUSSION. HE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED. I ASKED THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER TO CHECK IT BUT HE LOOKED AT IT (NEVER TORE THE STEERING COLUMN APART) AND SAID IT LOOKED OK. THEY MOVED IT TO A SALVAGE YARD. SINCE THE ACCIDENT 3 PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR RAM 1500. NOW HER SON IS BEING FINED FOR DRIVING TOO FAST AROUND THE CURVE..GUESS IT IS ALWAYS A FINE NEVER A TRUE ACCIDENT ANYMORE, BUT I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT THE KIDS ARE BOTH ALIVE AS THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED FROM THE TREES AND STUMPS THEY HIT. HER SON FEELS HE MAY HAVE LEANED ON THE GAS PEDAL WHEN HE WAS KNOCKED OUT BUT KNOWS HE WAS ONLY GOING 40 MPH TOPS PRIOR TO THE STEERING FAILING. *JB
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation