RoadVitals

2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
231
Latest May 23, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
35%
of 668 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
15
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 231 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

The 25 most recent of 231, in the owner's own words

SteeringSuspension
Filed May 23, 2026

I took my vehicle into the dealership. Almost three weeks ago for a recall on the front end, a steering component. However, they told us that the parts were back ordered several days after the vehicle had been there for three weeks. And then all of a sudden, they call and a week and a 1 after that. And send a vehicle is done. I picked up the vehicle yesterday and it is not fixed. The problem still exists. We just about crashed on the freeway coming home when it started to do the death wobble shake that dodge ram is known for we nearly wrecked the truck on the freeway. It is not safe to drive. And the problem is not fixed. We have had nothing but problems with this dealership. In the past, and I believe they said they performed the recall safety issue. However, the truck was never fixed. We have pictures and proof

NHTSA ID
11739726
Incident
May 21, 2026
Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Sep 3, 2025

Truck does not want to stay in the road. It hops to the right with the steering not being turned. Cannot tell when it is going to do it.

NHTSA ID
11684795
Incident
Dec 31, 2024
Exterior lightingSteering
Filed May 20, 2025

Steering linkage and tie rod issues. Steering not working properly. I see that my vehicle is not listed in the recalls. Although. I am having steering issues. Constant tail light replacing.

NHTSA ID
11662234
Incident
May 1, 2025
SteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 16, 2023

We were driving down the highway and it started doing the death wobble.

NHTSA ID
11512206
Incident
Mar 16, 2023
SteeringSuspension
Filed Nov 18, 2022

The truck is currently at a service station as it developed a "death wobble" while driving down the freeway a shimmed so hard I couldn't control it but managed to get it to the side of the road and finally to a stop. I did not receive any type of warning. I am being told by the mechanic at the service station it is going to require a rebuild of the front suspension. After checking to see if this has been a recall issue, I found there had been 3 but I did not receive notification of this particular recall. Not sure if the age of the truck prevents me from going back to have Dodge resolve this issue. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

NHTSA ID
11494135
Incident
May 20, 2021
Steering
Filed Sep 6, 2022

Driving down the road and lost all steering

NHTSA ID
11482954
Incident
Sep 5, 2022
Steering
Filed Feb 8, 2022

Drastic front end vibration and uncontrollable steering. Two incidents.

NHTSA ID
11450911
Incident
Jan 10, 2022
Steering
Filed Dec 8, 2021

The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH and hauling a travel trailer, the vehicle wobbled, and the contact lost control of the vehicle when the front driver's and passenger's tires went in different directions. The contact was able to pull over and park the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with fractured linkages and damaged strut rods. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the independent mechanic. Prior to the failure, the independent mechanic had replaced the stabilizer bar, tie rod end, steering ball joints, and linkages. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000.

NHTSA ID
11443063
Incident
Nov 4, 2021
Mileage
148,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 30, 2021

While driving at highway speed in my 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 truck, the truck's front wheels began to violently shake and wobble with incredible vibration and bumpy ride. I thought I would lose control of the vehicle. I slowed, turned on my emergency flashers and hit the brakes pulling off the interstate. After a few minutes I continued on only to have the same incident described happen again a few miles later. I contacted the local Chrysler dealership and made an appointment, detailing the incident. I was told my truck was not covered by a safety campaign.

NHTSA ID
11427149
Incident
Jul 23, 2021
Steering
Filed Apr 25, 2021

STEERING DRAG LINK BREAK WITH A CLEAN SHEAR IN THE ROD ITSELF. LUCKY, VEHICLE AT LOW SPEED BACKING INTO DRIVEWAY. ALL STEERING CONTROL LOST. WOULD BE A DEADLY SITUATION ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID
11413835
Incident
Apr 25, 2021
Mileage
262,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 26, 2020

DRAG LINK BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING. THIS WAS A DURALAST DRAG LINK P/N DS1463 PURCHASED FROM AUTOZONE IN 2018 TO REPLACE A BENT OEM PART. FAILURE OCCURRED AT 35MPH ON A DIRT ROAD AND I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STOP. DRAG LINK BROKE AT UPPER END NEAR STEERING BOX AT THE MACHINED SHOULDER WHERE THE THREADS END. BEACH MARKS AND A DARK AREA INDICATE EXISTING CRACK AT THIS LOCATION FOR SOME TIME PRIOR TO FAILURE, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF IMPENDING FAILURE PRIOR TO EVENT. TRUCK HAS EXPERIENCED RECENT PROBLEM WITH DEATH WOBBLE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS WHICH WAS CORRECTED BY TIRE CHANGE AND NEW SHOCK ABSORBERS.

NHTSA ID
11351486
Incident
Aug 23, 2020
Mileage
195,000 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 11, 2018

HISSING NOISE WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. READING INFO ON THE WEB IT STATES THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE HYDRO-BOOST HOSE. I HAVE PROVIDED THE TECH BULLETIN. ALOT OF TRUCKS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. CASE NUMBER: S1119000007 RELEASE DATE: 09/17/2011 SYMPTOM/VEHICLE ISSUE: POWER STEERING HONK OR HISS MAY BE HEARD DURING BRAKE APPLICATIONS. DIAGNOSIS: CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A NOISE (HONK - SOMETIMES COUPLED WITH A HISS DURING BRAKE APPLICATIONS) DURING LOW SPEED PARKING LOT MANEUVERS. IF YOU HAVE THIS COMPLAINT, PLEASE PERFORM THE FOLLOWING: REPAIR PROCEDURE: 1. INSPECT THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT BOOT IS IN POSITION AND NOT MAKING NOISE FROM RUBBING ON THE SHAFT. IF THERE IS A NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, ADJUST THE BOOT APPROPRIATELY AND VERIFY THE NOISE IS NO LONGER PRESENT. 2. IF THE NOISE IS STILL PRESENT, PERFORM A STEERING SYSTEM BLEED PROCEDURE OUTLINED ON TECHCONNECT >SERVICE INFO>19-STEERING>PUMP>STANDARD PROCEDURE>POWER STEERING SYSTEM BLEEDING AND VERIFY THE NOISE IS NO LONGER PRESENT. 3. IF THE NOISE IS STILL PRESENT, VERIFY THAT THE PRESSURE HOSE (TO HYDRO-BOOST) INTERNAL TUNER (WHITE PLASTIC HOSE) HAS NOT BECOME DISLODGED AND POSITIONED INTO THE HYDRO-BOOST, TO DO THIS DISCONNECT THE PRESSURE HOSE FROM THE HYDRO-BOOST AND SEE IF WHITE PLASTIC TUBE IS PROTRUDING FROM THE PRESSURE HOSE. IF IT HAS, REPLACE THE HOSE*, BLEED THE SYSTEM OF AIR AND VERIFY THE NOISE IS NO LONGER PRESENT. NOTE: WHEN RETURNING THE HOSE TO THE CHRYSLER WARRANTY CENTER, PLEASE RETURN THE ENTIRE HOSE INCLUDING THE WHITE PLASTIC TUNER ELEMENT THAT HAS BECOME DISLODGED. 4. IF THE NOISE IS STILL PRESENT, REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR AND BLEED THE SYSTEM AND VERIFY THE NOISE IS NO LONGER PRESENT. IF THE GEAR CHANGE DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE NOISE, PLEASE CONTACT THE STAR CENTER. SAG2, OCT 26, 2011

NHTSA ID
11160845
Incident
Dec 9, 2018
Mileage
245,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 23, 2018

EXPERIENCING WHAT PEOPLE CALL DEATH WOBBLE. 18 MONTHS AGO HIT A BUMP ON THE HIGHWAY AND FRONT END SHOOK VERY HARD, I THOUGHT I HAD A FLAT TIRE. NOTHING FOUND AND DIDN'T DO IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR. THIS SUMMER IT STARTED DOING IT AND BECAME A REGULAR OCCURRENCE. STARTS WHEN HITTING A BUMP ABOVE 60 MPH. ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO SLOW DOWN TO BELOW 30 MPH...VERY SCARY IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. ONCE HAD A TRACTOR TRAILER VEER OFF THE ROAD BEHIND ME. HAD 2 SHOPS LOOK AT IT AND CAN'T FIND ANYTHING OBVIOUS. REPLACED TRACK BAR, WHEEL BEARING, STABILIZER SHOCK, REGULAR SHOCKS, STEERING GEAR AND HAD FRONT END REALIGNED. NOTHING IS FIXING IT. VEHICLE IS STOCK HEIGHT...NO MODIFICATIONS.

NHTSA ID
11153277
Incident
Jul 1, 2017
Mileage
180,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 7, 2018

FEDERAL MOGUL ISSUED A RECALL ON MOOG BRANDED STEERING COMPONENTS ASSOCIATED TO THE PARTS THAT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON MY 2006 DODGE RAM 2500. WAITING ON RESOLUTION AND THE WAY AHEAD TO FIX CURRENT ISSUES BEING THE FAILURE COULD BE LIFE THREATENING.

NHTSA ID
11149874
Incident
Nov 5, 2018
Seat beltsSteering
Filed Oct 19, 2018

DEATH WOBBLE ON HIGHWAY AFTER HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE TRUCK STARTS SHAKING AND UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHILE THIS IS GOING ON. SEATBELTS WILL NOT RELEASE ONCE THIS HAPPENS, EVEN WHEN SEAT BELT IS RETRACTED ALL THE WAY.

NHTSA ID
11141407
Incident
Feb 15, 2018
Mileage
10 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 11, 2018

WHILE TRAVELING OVER 40 MPH AND HITTING SMALL BUMPS OR POT HOLES, OR SOMETIMES FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE FRONT TIRES WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY BACK AND FORTH , SHAKING THE WHOLE VEHICLE, MAKING THE VEHICLE NEARLY UNCONTROLLABLE. COMMONLY KNOWN AS "THE DEATH SHAKE". THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE SHAKE IS TO SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY. IT'S A TERRIFYING THING TO EXPERIENCE.

NHTSA ID
11119305
Incident
Jan 1, 2009
Mileage
48,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 11, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE REAR TIRES CONSTANTLY VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SHERWOOD AUTOMOTIVE (1915 N SALISBURY BLVD, SALISBURY, MD 21801, (410) 548-4600) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIE ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIE ROD WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.

NHTSA ID
11110709
Incident
Jul 10, 2018
Mileage
190,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 26, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING LINKAGE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CARSON CITY DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP (3059 CARSON ST, CARSON CITY, NV 89701) BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V528000 (STEERING) AND 09E001000 (STEERING) WHICH HAD NOT BEEN REMEDIED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE WAS 164,000.

NHTSA ID
11081289
Incident
Mar 23, 2018
Mileage
164,000 mi
Body & structureSteering
Filed Feb 14, 2018

FRONT DRIVERS SIDE FRAME IS CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE FRAME BEGINNING AT THE TRAC BAR BRACKET. THIS MAKES STEERING EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE STEERING HARDWARE BINDS. THERE WAS A RECALL (RCRIT-15V541-5721) FOR TRAC BAR BRACKET WELD FAILURES FOR VEHICLES FROM 2012 THROUGH 2014. I BELIEVE THIS IS A RELATED ISSUE THAT SERIOUSLY AFFECTS SAFETY. I'VE ATTACHED FIVE PICTURES.

NHTSA ID
11072980
Incident
Jan 29, 2018
Mileage
197,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Dec 1, 2017

DEATH WOBBLE 11/28/17 YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT THE DEATH WOBBLE IS. UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING OF THE FRONT END MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP AND STEER TRUCK.

NHTSA ID
11051714
Incident
Nov 28, 2017
Mileage
165,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 31, 2017

DRIVING ON BUSY PAVE ROAD CROSSING BRIDGE MY RIGHT TIRE ROD DISLOCATED ALMOST CAUSING A BAD ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
11041534
Incident
Oct 30, 2017
Mileage
125,000 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 4, 2017

TRUCK CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE A "DEATH WOBBLE" ISSUE EVEN AFTER REPLACING MOST OF THE SUSPENSION & STEERING PARTS AND EVEN ADDING AFTERMARKET "STIFFNER" AND "PROBLEM SOLVER" COMPONENTS TO THE VEHICLE. CHRYSLER HAD A RECALL R16 WHICH COVERED NEWER VEHICLES BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO THESE OLDER MODELS AS WELL. THE STEERING COMPONENTS AND GEOMETRY WERE LARGELY THE SAME AND THERE IS A FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN FLAW WITH THE GEOMETRY OF THE SUSPENSION. SYMPTOM: BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 45 & 70MPH, HITTING A LARGE POTHOLE OR A BRIDGE SEAM THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY DEVELOP A VIOLENT SHAKING IN THE FRONT END. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST CRASH A NUMBER OF TIMES SINCE I LAST FILED A COMPLAINT ON THIS SAME VEHICLE A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO. IT IS DIFFICULT TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND WHEN IT OCCURS IT OCCURS RAPIDLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN IT OCCURS AND APPLYING THE BRAKES TO SIGNIFICANTLY AND QUICKLY REDUCE THE VEHICLES SPEED IS THE ONLY WAY TO HALT THE VIBRATION. I HAVE ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS TRYING TO QUICKLY STOP THE VEHICLE OR TO KEEP IT FROM ENTERING OTHER LANES DURING THE VIBRATION. THE GEOMETRY ISSUE IS THAT THE VEHICLE CREATES A "TOED OUT" CONDITION WHEN THE SUSPENSION SUDDENLY COLLAPSES FROM A BUMP. AS THE VEHICLE SUSPENSION RETURNS TO THE NORMAL STATE IT ALSO RETURNS BACK TO THE "ALIGNED" POSITION BUT ENERGY BUILT UP AND STORED IN THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STEERING COMPONENTS (STEEL STEERING BARS & ANY MOVEMENT IN THE TIE RODS) ACT LIKE A SPRING CAUSING THE ALIGNMENT TO GO PAST THE "TOED IN" POSITION WHICH THEN REPEATS ITSELF IN REVERSE. THE RESULT IS A CONTINUAL VIBRATION OF THE FRONT END UNTIL THE DRIVING CONDITIONS CHANGE (I.E. MASHING ON THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE). GOOGLE "DODGE RAM DEATH WOBBLE" AND YOU WILL SEE NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11031753
Incident
Oct 2, 2017
Mileage
185,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 4, 2017

DEATH WOBBLE TRUCK WILL START SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN YOU HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD

NHTSA ID
11021374
Incident
Sep 3, 2017
Mileage
196,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 23, 2017

DEATH WOBBLE WHEN HITTING ROUGH BRIDGE ON INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH, AND SLOWING DOWN TO ABOUT 30 MPH TO GET IT TO STOP, VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO THAT SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE WITH TRACTOR TRAILERS BEHIND ME.

NHTSA ID
10946939
Incident
Jan 6, 2017
Mileage
105,000 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Nov 22, 2016

WHILE DRIVING AT 70< HIT A SMALL BUMP AND THE TRUCK STARTED SHAKINV VIOLENTLY. ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE. STARTED BACK OUT AND IT WORKED FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES. I HAVE WENT AS FAR AS TO HAVING THE TORQUE CONVERTOR REPLACED WITH NO LUCK. IT DOES THIS TO ME AT THE SPEED OS 65 TO 75 MPH.I HAVE BEEN READING AND LEARNED ITS REFERERD AS THE DEATH WOBBLE AND IS CAUSED BY FAULTY SUSPENSION AND STEERING COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ID
10927494
Incident
Oct 29, 2016
Mileage
135,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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