61 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 cite steering, 5% of all 1,214 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.
“I was driving about 45-50 mph and pushed on my breaks. When i pushed on my breaks, i had no power steering and was unable to accelerate. No warning lights. I pulled over and restarted the vehicle and it was fine. Was just purchased used and driving home from dealer.”
“When wet or in heavy rain, the battery will shut off and the truck will lose power steering. The truck speedometer will still work and the engine will run, but the battery voltage gauge drops to 0 and the radio and power steering turn off, dangerously, leaving you to have to steer without power steering for the truck.”
“WHILE DRIVING MY TRUCK STRAIGHT DOWN REMEMBRANCE ROAD (SECONDARY HIGHWAY) IT STALLED, LOOSING POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. I WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF APPROX 45 MPH WITH NO TURNS, COASTED TO THE SHOULDER PUT IN PARK AND RESTARTED LUCKILY THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC. TRUCK RESTARTED AND I PROCEEDED HOME. I PARKED THE TRUCK ALL SEEMED FINE. WENT OUT THE NEXT DAY AND TRUCK WOULD NOT CRANK. BATTERY LOAD CHECKED OK, IF I JUMP THE STARTER RELAY @ PIN 30 TO 87 TRUCK WILL CRANK. WHEN KEY IS TURNED ON THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON ALONG WITH RADIO, HEADLIGHTS, AND BLOWER FOR HEAT/AIR. THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 56,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL TAKEN CARE OF BY ME. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THE GAS GAUGE DID NOT MOVE WHEN IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED ON EVEN THOUGH IT HAD HALF A TANK, IT WORKED FINE WHEN I PARKED IT. I HAVE SEARCHED ON LINE FOR THIS STALL CONDITION FOR MY 2005 RAM 1500 4.7L 4X4. IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN ALOT IF YOU SEARCH THIS CONDITION ON LINE WITH OTHER DODGE VEHICLES ALSO AND IS VERY DANGEROUS, WHAT IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY DOING 70 AND LOST MY ABILITY TO STOP OR STEER THIS VEHICLE OUT OF HARMS WAY. WELL THE MOST OBVIOUS ANSWER, I WOULDN'T BE HERE WRITING THIS…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS UNDER 20 MPH, THE RPMS DROPPED BELOW ONE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING FAILED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,040.”
“GETTING OFF THE OFF RAMP I COULD NOT STOP IN A SECOND VIBRATIONS STARTED ANOTHER CAR IN THAT CAR WENT TO ANOTHER CAR WITH A PREGNANT GIRL...... I HAVE ASKED OVER AND OVER FOR HELP AND COSTS ARE KILLING MY BUSINESS AND HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS ETC. YOU GUYS PLEASE HELP ME HERE...?”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH OVER A POTHOLE, THE STEERING COLUMN AND FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE BOTH THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE TIE RODS AND SHOCKS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO WEEKS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY AND OTHER RELATED COMPONENTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Showing 6 of 61 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
FABTECH IS RECALLING CERTAIN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT PITMAN ARMS, P/NOS. FTS93001 AND FT44039, INSTALLED FOR USE ON CERTAIN 2003 THROUGH 2008 DODGE 2500 4WD, 3500 4WD, AND 1500 4WD MEGA CAB VEHICLES. THE PITMAN ARM CAN FRACTURE AND BREAK AWAY FROM THE STEERING BOX CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.