Replacement of intake gasket/ catalytic converter has gone bad/ tie rod went bad. Mr the consumer experienced some belt squealing in the engine compartment. The belt was replaced under warranty. The consumer took the vehicle back to the dealer because of an engine noise. The tires were discovered to be worn.

- Watertown, WI, USA

The following is regarding a 1999 Dodge Ram 2500 van and failure of tie rods. At approximately 30,000 miles both outer tie rod ends were replaced by a dealer for torn rubber boots. At approximately 64,000 miles another tie rod failure occurred. This time it was the adjusting sleeve. The sleeve had become loose on the tie rod end and had developed sufficient movement to wear the threads down to the point where total failure (separation) of the tie rod was imminent. This occurred approximately 3,000 miles after a state inspection and with very little warning. Because the vehicle has power steering (which has a very dead feeling), the tie rod had to be very near failure before its effect could be felt in the steering. Obviously I feel this is a serious defect because tie rod separation while moving is going to result in a loss of control (go right into the ditch or worse go left into oncoming traffic). While my degree is in electrical engineering, I feel I have had enough mechanical experience and experience working on cars to offer the following comment. I think Dodge's design with a sleeve that is split its entire length and depends solely on the clamps for integrity is very poor. For example, Mitsubishi uses a solid adjusting section with two jam nuts. Toyota again uses a solid section that is split only at the ends where the clamps are used to prevent rotation. Both of the latter two designs allow for a more positive engagement of the threads.

- Slippery Rock, PA, USA