First of all, Happy Holidays to everyone !!! My 2004 Dakota 4X4with 4.7 V-8 with 35,400 miles has had two steering racks both covered under warranty. The steering is going south again. In the morning you have to use two hands to steer for a couple miles. When trying to turn on an off ramp or parking in a space, the steering will go tight, loose, tight, loose. It is intermittent except for the morning thing. This is what the problem was the first two times, except the second rack was never right since installed. The dealer actually says this is normal ? Since I only have 600 miles left until the warranty is up, it looks like Dodge is going to stick "me" with actually fixingthe problem, however, I still plan to take it back one more time while it is under warranty. Anyone have any ideas as to the problem, andare there any companies that make aREAL heavy duty rack for the Dakota. If I'm going to have to spend a grand+after it is out of warranty to have a whole new front end puton it, I want to get parts that will actually work, not the junk Chrysler is using.

 

That sucks! Raise hell with the dealer and if they won't fix it right getDC (whatever they are calling themselves)involved. I test drove a used one that had the same problem. I assumed it had been wrecked and walked away. The dealer actually knew of the problem and let me test drive it with my 3 yr old with me. Then wanted to make me a 'deal', if I bought it he would only tack $1900 on and fix the rack for me.

 

Are you sure that the power steering fluid level is correct? Check to see if the fluid level is correct. It sounds like it could be a bad install. I would bring it back to them if it is still under warranty.

 

My bet would be a P/S pump problem. If you took it back to the dealership again they should replace the pump. I mean, one rack with a problem I might could understand but not two. Sounds like either bad install or bad diagnostics.

 

Took it back to the dealer, and they could not diagnose the problem. Now they want me to drop it off and leave it over night. They said they have to hook up pressure guages to the power steering pump lines and test the pressure while it is cold ??? SupposedlyDodge dealersare changing to many rack units and power steering pumps, and it iscostingDodge a fortune. They now make the dealer check ALL posibilities before they will cover parts cost. If all these trucks are apparentlyexperiencing steering problems, shouldn't they be investigating why ? Poor design, faulty components. A steering rack, pump etc., etc., should last more than 36,000 miles don't you think. My brother has a Nissan pick up, and except for normal maintenance, has changed the timing belt only. The truck has 219,000 miles !!! Original clutch !!!

 

OK, the truck has 36,340 miles on it now which means I was stuck with the steering problem, as Chrysler appeared to not want to fix it. I drove an hour and a half to where we used to live, and took it to a front end specialist place, "Schumann front end". That is all they do. A lot of dealers take problem vehicles to them. He test drove it and said it was NOT normal. They flushed the power steering system, "I had no idea they could do that". I know they had the hoses off the rack. He put a different fluid in it. He said the fluid in it was original, but they had a lot of problems with it. He used a needle injectorand punctured small holes in the boots on the steering linkage, ball joints, etc. and pumped grease into them. I guess the truck has no grease fittings from the factory. This all cost $80. The difference in the steering is unbelievable. It has been like 20- degrees in the mountains here, and I did notice the steering a LITTLE stiff in the morning for a mile or so, but other than that it is 100% better than it was. He said to plan on getting the ball joints done around 50,000 miles, and recommended Moog units, as they are greasable. I will probably just let them do it. He said I may be told that the lower control armhas to be changed, but the ball joints can be pressed out of the control arms on it now. For the aggravation this has caused, $80 is a cheap way out. I should have just taken it there when this all startedsix monthsago.

 

That's the same issue I was having 2 years ago. I know for a FACT that it's a flaw in their design of the steering linkage, but they're too cheap to fix it. As I stated, I had the connecting rod (running from the power steering to the bottom of the steering shaft) replaced 2 years ago. Guess what? The problem is AGAIN occuring. Here's my post on the whole issue.

https://dodgeforum.com/m_1322952/tm.htm

 

Wanted to chime in and let you guys know that my 3rd gen also suffers from steering problems. I had the steering shaft replaced because it moaned and groaned, and had a "hump" in the steering. Now I have the same problem with stiff and loose spots on and off. Noticed the power steering fluid was low and added some. Seems to have helped but that doesnt mean its fixed. For all I know 3mo from now it will be low again because of some problem.

I also heard dodge replaces an alarming ammount of racks and pumps. like 150 racks to every 1 gm replaces. Oh well. Dont get a 3rd gen to solve this problem!

 

The fact that they have to replace any alarms me!
They wonder why people are turning away from American vehicles (besides the fact that the "old Big Three" don't put out very MPG-impressive vehicles), maybe its because people don't like having all kinds of problems with their cars/trucks.
Apparently they must think its cheaper to have vehicles in for warranty work than it would be to make the parts right the first time?

 

Dealer says "That's Normal"? Ask him how much money the engineer makes to design it that way. It's unbeleivable that an engineer would make a steering system act that way. You mean that they actually paid a person to design it like that? He's a genius and not nearly making enough.
Tell the dealer's (dis)service manager any or all of the above. I garuntee that you will get a response. If it's not a favorable one, start going up the food chain.