The defect
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN CONTAINS AN UNDER-SIZED TERMINAL FOR THE HVAC BLOWER MOTOR CIRCUIT. LOCALIZED HEATING FROM CURRENT FLOW WITH THE BLOWER SPEED SET ON HIGH MAY CAUSE THE TERMINAL CONTACTS TO RELAX AND LOSE ELECTRICAL CONTACT. THIS CAN CAUSE THE HVAC BLOWER MOTOR TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.
The risk
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE IMPAIRMENT OF VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS OVERLAY TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 15, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Dodge Ram 1500 | 2002 |
Components: STEERING:COLUMN
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Ram 1500 | 2002 | 815 | 3 |
Other steering recalls in 2003
30 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the steering; DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION filed 203 campaigns in all.
| 03V492000 26 Dec 2003 | AUTOCAR, LLC |
| 03V522000 11 Dec 2003 | MACK TRUCKS, INC |
| 03V527000 11 Dec 2003 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 03V513000 10 Dec 2003 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 03V517000 10 Dec 2003 | SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. |
| 03V488000 4 Dec 2003 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
| 03V491000 1 Dec 2003 | AUTOCAR, LLC |
| 03V453000 14 Nov 2003 | AUTOCAR, LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003