Chrysler Techs Can’t Follow Tie-Rod End Directions – Recall Announced
Tim Esterdahl | Nov 13, 2013 | Comments 12
Chrysler announced it will be recalling 1.2 million Ram trucks to fix a steering alignment issue. The problem? The tie-rod ends were installed incorrectly because technicians “misinterpreted” instructions. Yep. Really.
Apparently, Chrysler technicians didn’t follow the directions and installed tie-end rods incorrectly resulting in six accidents. Now, Chrysler has announced a recall to fix the problem. Good grief!
Officially, Chrysler announced three recalls late Friday afternoon. The first recall involves 842,400 Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks released for the 2003 through 2008 model years. Chrysler has repaired 116,000 with tie-rods in the steering system that are likely out of alignment.
The Chrysler statement says it believes there have been six crashes and two people have been injured due to this front-end alignment issue. They blame incorrectly installed tie-end rods for creating alignment issues which resulted in steering failures.
The other two recalls involve trucks with tie-rod assemblies that were repaired in previous recalls, according to Chrysler. Those two cover approximately 294,000 Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks released for the 2008 through 2012 model years, and 2008 Ram 1500 4×4 mega cabs.
At least 43,000 Ram 4500 and 5500 4×4 chassis cabs released for the 2008 through 2012 model years are also involved.
Chrysler believes that only 453,000 Ram trucks will actually need work, but they need to inspect the others to see if the tie-end rods were installed correctly.
Owners of Ram 4500 and 5500 models can bring their trucks to their local dealer for “interim repairs” since the parts may not become available until late 2014, the statement said. The interim service would involve realignment of the front ends.
Wow, good work Chrysler employees! Remind us of the time when you deliberately sabotaged your truck’s production and also the time you were caught drinking and smoking pot during your lunch break.
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Filed Under: Auto News
At first Tim I was going to say you remember the Chrysler/ram workers purposely didn’t build the truck right for QA issues. Now that this recall goes way back makes me believe the techs are plain incompetent period. This definitely is a serious issue with Ram.
Mickey,
I immediately thought of the story you reference. WTH is going on with Ram? Can’t they train their employees correctly?
-Tim
Tim the training is there for the employees. It’s the old saying “You can lead a horse to the trough but you can’t make the horse drink. I think it’s just the employees way of showing they are dissatisfied with something at the Dodge factory.
Agreed!
-Tim
more than 100% agreed with you.
Now that I own a diesel ram I can tell you that the suspension of the truck is in no way the quality that is built by Toyota. I will also state that there is no company on earth which builds a better engine then Cummins. So, I have a great engine in a weak 3/4 ton truck with bad ball joint and front bearing design. I knew that was the case before I bought the truck. Putting up with a weak front suspension design was the price I had to pay for the best engine on the market and the 6 speed manual transmission I demanded which gets me 16 MPG in town and 21 MPG over the highway with a 6000 pound truck and no DEF fluid and no particulate burn off filter.
Now as for improper tie-rod installation. This is not rocket science and I have replaced a tie-rod or 2 in my life time. I will say it is still possible to screw it up and surely a UAW worker counting the days till retirement could screw it up.
But and this is a real big one.
The Chrysler statement says” it believes there have been six crashes and two people have been injured due to this front-end alignment issue.”
How can a tie rod alignment issue be so bad as to create six crashes without a driver feeling there is a serious problem with the alignment. Anything less then the tie rod coming apart won’t cause this. Just what was the problem? The author gives us nothing.
If the alignment issuers are that bad then the only thing dumber then the driver who can’t feel it, or can feel it and keeps driving it is the author of the article who did nothing to explain what was assembled incorrectly.
Tim, this one wan’t worth posting.
And,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, yes, the Tundra is a much better built truck then my RAM 2500, expect for the leather seats and the automatic transmission.
I hope you like this post. I think it’s up there with my best rants.
Larry,
Geez man, taking me to task! 🙂
I thought it was incredibly interesting to write and no, there wasn’t any explanation I could find for how it caused accidents or how it was not assembled correctly (Chrysler isn’t saying). Nor did I think of something clever to attribute it to either. I let the facts and the Chrysler statement stand for itself.
-Tim
What year is your RAM 2500 with a Cummins? Just curious.
It’s off topic but since you asked, I got a 2006 model, standard cab, diesel, 6 speed manual transmission, log bed, no electric windows, no electric door locks, rubber floor, no carpet. Nothing to brake (except the front suspension). 20500 dollars, 119,000 miles. You wouldn’t believe how many trucks I had to look at to find one with manual roll up windows. One of the best parts,,,,, I had 6 spare keys made for 15 bucks. Micro chipped keys for 150 dollars, seriously, who comes up with this stuff. I would not consider any RAM diesel newer then 2007.5 since that is when DEF and filters took over. The engine also moved up form 5.9 to 6.7 and that’s just too big. 600 foot pounds is already overkill for me 800 is nuts.
This is a good old American steel truck,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, NOT,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Dodge RAM made in Mexico. So to all you redneck buy American types, do your homework. Toyota Tundra made in USA,,,, my Dodge RAM 2500 is a taco truck. That’s the straight truth.
The truck is okay but, the engine is too heavy for the front suspension. It’s very hard on ball joints and it’s no fun replacing them. 2000 pounds sitting one each lower joint up front. Not a grease fitting on any drive line component from the factory. Nothing has anti-sieze compound from the factory and it’s tough to get it apart.
I would be driving a brand new gas Tundra if it was available with the 6 speed manual transmission which is available in the Tacoma.
When looking at the new requirements for diesel and it’s cost I don’t see how anyone could make up the cost over the solid gas motor Tundra has. Can’t see Toyota making a profit on a diesel Tundra with their small market share.
I didn’t mean to be so hard on Tim, he didn’t write the article and if he did I am sure he would have given the details. I’m sure he knows it’s all in fun.
I took a long look at the Ram 1500 V6 but just couldn’t buy into the new 8 speed auto trans. It might be fine but I wasn’t willing to take the risk with 35,000 dollars. It’s also lame that they have to recall that many trucks over a stupid tie-rod issue. The big 3 just can’t seem to get out of their own way.
From my history with Toyota I don’t see that kind of quality with other brands only wish the dealer I purchased from was even close to as good as my Toyota truck.
Larry – Thanks for yelling at Tim for me. Finding out the specifics of this problem would have been the thing to do, considering the news was already two days old when we posted it. 😉
Hey now! Like I said to Larry, Chrysler isn’t commenting on it. 🙂
-Tim
This pretty much sums it up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2xauk4l_Hg