Two problems related to steering rack and pinion have been reported for the 2003 Dodge Ram 2500. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving 45 mph, suddenly the left tie rod snapped causing the vehicle to veer off of the road into a bush. The contact did not sustain any injuries. The vehicle was taken to dealer who stated the tie rod, tire, rim, springs, rack and pinion would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired, including the NHTSA campaign number: 13v528000 (steering). The failure mileage was 62,432. Updated 08/28/lj.
At highway speeds, 65 mph and above, all 2003 and 2004 ram trucks with four wheel drive vibrate because of a new engineering design. I have taken my truck to the dealer for repair and Chrysler, while they know of this problem and made an adjustment to the pinion gear, insists it is normal for this vehicle. The problem is caused by a new design by which the front drive pinion in four wheel drive vehicles spins continuously, even at highway speeds. This design is not normally used in four wheel drive specifically because of vibration issues. It makes the mirrors shake and also makes occupants nauseous. To make matters worse, if a 65 mph highway is not available for evaluation prior to purchase (such as in my case), the buyer is unaware of this serious issue.