Fiat Chrysler to buy back pickups

[Festus2]

Originally Posted by TheSweetLife

Does this effect 2014 and newer models? I am/was shopping for a 2014 but am a little hesitant now.

Check out the link in Post #1 --- it doesn't appear as though 2014 models will be affected but why not wait until the "official" word comes out before making any buying decisions?

[TheSweetLife]

Good call. Plus as long as truck doesn't sell then the price may drop some more.

[bsmith0404]

From what I've seen, the recall/buy back only goes through 2012 since 2013 saw a redesigned front suspension/steering. With that said, check out this video of a 2013. There have been a number of things blamed for/related to the death wobble from tie rods, to ball joints, even steering boxes. Apparently changing everything out can solve the problem temporarily, but for some reason they can't come up with a perm fix.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J5WSkokN1M

[Desert185]

Originally Posted by vampress_me

We had a'99 Dodge 2500 Cummins, a friend had a '98 2500 Cummins. Both of us had to replace the track bar in the front end once or twice a year because of how loose the steering would become. Especially scary in winter when you weren't sure if you were driving on sheet ice in a storm or just wandering due to poor steering. So, you gotta wonder if the "death wobble", the track bar issues, and now this all come from the same poor design that they kept trying to "improved"?

Of course, this was the same truck I accidentally found out the power steering pump also controlled the brakes. When brand new power steering pump blew a hose because installed wrong by our local dealer, I had no brakes. I loved that engine, but sometimes I can't believe we survived the truck due to some of the engineering design.

Its called a hydro boost system vs a vacuum boost system. Diesels don't have vacuum like gas engines, so you either have a vacuum pump as a vacuum source or a hydro boost system that uses a hydraulic pump off the power steering pump, which is actually more powerful and effective than a vacuum boost system for what we do with these TV's.

https://matthewghrist.wordpress.com/...brake-systems/

[T3/T4 Hybrid]

Originally Posted by Desert185

I've had two Dodge Rams of that vintage with over 300,000 miles combined. Never had a wobble. Could it be something I'm doing wrong?

Desert, you and me are in the same boat. I didn't have any issues with either my 01 4X4 off road or my 04 2500 4X4 other than both rode like trucks. LOL Im not saying its not there in some trucks I guess I was lucky for once.

My new 15 Ram rides as well as my sisters Tahoe so I'm pretty happy because the DW is happy and us married guys know what I'm talking about.

[DirtyOil]

Originally Posted by T3/T4 Hybrid

Desert, you and me are in the same boat. I didn't have any issues with either my 01 4X4 off road or my 04 2500 4X4 other than both rode like trucks. LOL Im not saying its not there in some trucks I guess I was lucky for once.

My new 15 Ram rides as well as my sisters Tahoe so I'm pretty happy because the DW is happy and us married guys know what I'm talking about.

x3... never had any issues with 1st gen 3500, or the 2005 3500 which also had 35" tires and 6" lift and so far nothing on the 2013 and I use them as my work and play truck.

[BirchyBoy]

We've started looking around for a used 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck for a tow vehicle. I called the dealer we bought our Grand Cherokee through to see what they have. He started to tell me about great deal on a 2010 Dodge 3500 quad cab. I took a look a the recent recall/buy back and it covers 2008 - 2012. It also says that a truck that has had recalls fixed is not eligible for the buy back, and that owners can choose to have their truck fixed instead of selling it back. I ran the VIN and it came back as having no recalls outstanding.

Now I'm really confused. Are these trucks safe or not?

[bsmith0404]

Originally Posted by BirchyBoy

We've started looking around for a used 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck for a tow vehicle. I called the dealer we bought our Grand Cherokee through to see what they have. He started to tell me about great deal on a 2010 Dodge 3500 quad cab. I took a look a the recent recall/buy back and it covers 2008 - 2012. It also says that a truck that has had recalls fixed is not eligible for the buy back, and that owners can choose to have their truck fixed instead of selling it back. I ran the VIN and it came back as having no recalls outstanding.

Now I'm really confused. Are these trucks safe or not?

There is so much he said she said going on with these trucks. For everyone that has had problems there's someone else who hasn't had a problem. Personally, I say why take a chance? Would you buy a 6.0 Ford knowing all of the problems they've had? Again, some say they are great, others can't keep one running. Same with the early, 01/02 duramax with injector problems. I'd prefer to buy a truck that doesn't have a known problem history.

[BirchyBoy]

Originally Posted by bsmith0404

There is so much he said she said going on with these trucks. For everyone that has had problems there's someone else who hasn't had a problem. Personally, I say why take a chance? Would you buy a 6.0 Ford knowing all of the problems they've had? Again, some say they are great, others can't keep one running. Same with the early, 01/02 duramax with injector problems. I'd prefer to buy a truck that doesn't have a known problem history.

Good point. Thanks.

[notanlines]

•278,229 vehicles recalled on February 6, 2013 because of a defect that may cause the axle to lock including the:

2009 model year Chrysler Aspen

2009 model year Dodge Durango

2009-2012 model years Dodge Ram 1500

2009-2011 model years Dodge Dakota

•36,710 vehicles recalled on November 6, 2013 because of a defect that may cause the driver to lose steering power and crash:

2008-2012 model years Dodge Ram 4500

2008-2012 model years Dodge Ram 5500

•265,057 vehicles recalled on November 6, 2013, to repair and replace steering linkages that may cause the driver to lose steering power and crash:

2008 model year Dodge Ram 1500

2008-2012 model years Dodge Ram 2500

2008-2012 model years Dodge Ram 3500

[DirtyOil]

OMG!!!... I finally experienced the dreaded "Death Wobble", it was frightening... I am still shaking. Thank God the DW wasn't there to experience it... my ears would be still ringing.... (she's a "screamer"). I started off the day with a visit to the local Costco to fetch a few things... stock up sorta thing. Grabbed a cart and pulled my Costco "badge/ID" out of the wallet and presented it to the very stern and intimidating grandmother looking lady at the overhead door entrance. As I pushed my cart down the various towering aisles, I noticed the right front wheel start to shimmy.... just a wee bit, wasn't constant but as I added a case lot of Bush's baked beans it shimmied a bit more... next few aisles I added more to the cart - bale of toilet tissue (Kirkland brand) and yet another, bale of paper towels and then down another towering aisle loaded up a barrel of vanilla extract (I like to bake as well). That front right really started to wobble, it wasn't till I loaded on "Triple chocolate 2-bite brownies" that it got to the point it was taking almost all I had to control the front end of my cart. I sped up... still couldn't control it.... I slowed down my pace and still it wobbled. Just as I turned towards the meat counter to pick up some triple AAA Alberta beef, a young mother with 4 young children (one was screaming at the top of her lungs for ice-cream) the other 3 hanging off the cart turned towards me... EGADS!!! both front wheels on her cart were wobbling like crazed squirrels in a peanut processing plant. We collided, carts entangled, kids screaming, vanilla extract flooding the area and my pallet of Kirkland eggs crushed. Thankfully, no one was hurt, Costco employees swooped in like frozen molasses dragging a case of Swifter Wet Mops to start the clean-up. Since everything in my cart was destroyed I left Costco with only, a tray of apple turnovers and a five gallon jerry can of chocolate milk to steady my nerves... never again will I use a Costco shopping cart!

[bsmith0404]

Originally Posted by DirtyOil

OMG!!!... I finally experienced the dreaded "Death Wobble", it was frightening... I am still shaking. Thank God the DW wasn't there to experience it... my ears would be still ringing.... (she's a "screamer"). I started off the day with a visit to the local Costco to fetch a few things... stock up sorta thing. Grabbed a cart and pulled my Costco "badge/ID" out of the wallet and presented it to the very stern and intimidating grandmother looking lady at the overhead door entrance. As I pushed my cart down the various towering aisles, I noticed the right front wheel start to shimmy.... just a wee bit, wasn't constant but as I added a case lot of Bush's baked beans it shimmied a bit more... next few aisles I added more to the cart - bale of toilet tissue (Kirkland brand) and yet another, bale of paper towels and then down another towering aisle loaded up a barrel of vanilla extract (I like to bake as well). That front right really started to wobble, it wasn't till I loaded on "Triple chocolate 2-bite brownies" that it got to the point it was taking almost all I had to control the front end of my cart. I sped up... still couldn't control it.... I slowed down my pace and still it wobbled. Just as I turned towards the meat counter to pick up some triple AAA Alberta beef, a young mother with 4 young children (one was screaming at the top of her lungs for ice-cream) the other 3 hanging off the cart turned towards me... EGADS!!! both front wheels on her cart were wobbling like crazed squirrels in a peanut processing plant. We collided, carts entangled, kids screaming, vanilla extract flooding the area and my pallet of Kirkland eggs crushed. Thankfully, no one was hurt, Costco employees swooped in like frozen molasses dragging a case of Swifter Wet Mops to start the clean-up. Since everything in my cart was destroyed I left Costco with only, a tray of apple turnovers and a five gallon jerry can of chocolate milk to steady my nerves... never again will I use a Costco shopping cart!

There's a good chance your Costco shopping cart and 3500 Ram have the same front suspension parts I'll be watching for the Costco cart recall and hope I don't get one with a Dodge front end on my next visit.

[DirtyOil]

I thought the same... but the cart looked beat up, could have been a Chevy as they also have succumbed to " Death Wobble"... or was it just another Ford, they too experienced death wobble. Now, that I think of it... I believe I saw a "Blue Oval" insignia attached to the "child seat" of my cart!?

[bsmith0404]

Originally Posted by DirtyOil

I thought the same... but the cart looked beat up, could have been a Chevy as they also have succumbed to " Death Wobble"... or was it just another Ford, they too experienced death wobble. Now, that I think of it... I believe I saw a "Blue Oval" insignia attached to the "child seat" of my cart!?

If it had doors we could answer the question for sure, if they don't close, old Dodge, if they close only after being slammed really hard old Ford, if they had rust along the bottom, but close okay old chevy....since your cart was a doorless model we may never know for sure.

[DirtyOil]

Originally Posted by bsmith0404

If it had doors we could answer the question for sure, if they don't close, old Dodge, if they close only after being slammed really hard old Ford, if they had rust along the bottom, but close okay old chevy....since your cart was a doorless model we may never know for sure.

LOL.... it might have been a old Willys MB Jeep.

[rhagfo]

Only time I had death Wobble, was a 64 Econoline Van, hit a set of RR tracks and yeahaw! New set of King Pin Bushings fixed the issue!!

[notanlines]

"There's a good chance your Costco shopping cart and 3500 Ram have the same front suspension parts" Now that's funny I don't care who you are!

[ncgrl1]

Originally Posted by notanlines

"There's a good chance your Costco shopping cart and 3500 Ram have the same front suspension parts" Now that's funny I don't care who you are!

I didn't think so!

[C130]

I'm not stating any opinion on any of the trucks but I had an interesting conversion a couple of days ago with a RAM owner. We were filling up our trucks with diesel and he asked me how I liked my truck. He then went on to tell me his truck, a 2014 RAM DRW, was part of the "buyback". He had just returned from a month offshore and was trying to figure out what to do with the truck. He told me had had gone through 4 sets of front tires, front end wobbled like crazy at certain speeds and conditions. He said he'd take it in for an alignment check and it would be good but when he drove it the front front wheels would be at an angle, out of alignment bad, and wear the tires out in a very short period of time.

He said other than the front end he loved the truck but let's just say he was pissed overall. He said he was definitely not buying another RAM and not giving the truck back to them unless he got a fair price and was really dreading dealing with the whole issue. I knew about the recall as my brother in law recently traded in his RAM as part of the recall but didn't realize it affected the 2014 DRW trucks also. I've owned a a very problematic vehicle and it sucks and costs a clot of money starting all over with a new payment. What a mess, it can happen to any manufacturer and I'm definitely not putting down the RAM's, just sucks for the owners.

[hankpage]

Originally Posted by C130

He told me had had gone through 4 sets of front tires, front end wobbled like crazy at certain speeds and conditions. He said he'd take it in for an alignment check and it would be good but when he drove it the front front wheels would be at an angle, out of alignment bad, and wear the tires out in a very short period of time.

He doesn't need another truck, he needs another front end shop. Dealers are just highly paid parts changers. Yes, it will return but it can be fixed with after-market parts and last on most for 60 - 100K. Not good but the nature of the beast and better than loosing your shirt and offering mega $$$ and your first born for a new truck. This is just my opinion and what I would do if my truck was affected. Front ends have always been a weakness on Dodge trucks.