Two problems related to steering wheel have been reported for the 1996 Dodge Ram 1500. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Vehicle was purchased in July of 96. In July of 97 a popping noise started coming out of the steering column. . The vehicle had 21,500 miles on it. My dealer replaced the steering column with a new one under warranty. July of 99 the steering column started making the same noise. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer again and I was told that the clock spring was bad. I had a new clock spring installed but this didnot correct the problem. The dealer refunded my money for the clock spring and the cost of the labor to install it. Front end of vehicle was disassembled to find out where the noise was coming from. I was told that the steering column had gone bad again. At this time the vehicle had 55984 miles on it and it is out of warranty. The new steering column lasted just a few days shy of two years and a little over 30,000 miles. The dealer said that since the vehicle is out of warranty, I'll have to pay the full repair bill to have the vehicle repaired. I called chryslers hot line number and explained to them that the new steering column shouldn't have gone out in only two years and 30,000 miles. They told me that as a good faith messure they would go 50-50 with me on the repair. This isn't right! no way should that part go out in two years. That means, if I keep the vehicle, every two years I'll be spending $500 for a new steering column.
I am on my fourth steering column with less than 25,000 miles. Did I buy a lemon or can you help me? the Dodge people only said they would only document it. Thank you.