Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Dodge Ram 3500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 222 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.
The 25 most recent of 222, in the owner's own words
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the steering wheel was loose. The contact pulled over and discovered that the steering shaft had detached. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who repaired the steering shaft. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.
Driving vehicle and lost the ability to steer. The inner drag link tie rod broke at pitman arm.
While driving, the vehicle will, if going over a bump, begin shaking uncontrollably, and render the driver helpless to remain in control of steering other than to slam on the brakes and hope another vehicle does not hit them. Vehicle ceases shaking when brought down to a slow rate of speed and then drives as normal. I have replaced multiple parts and cannot locate the problem. Happens frequently.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY/ROADS EVERY SO OFTEN THE TRUCK WOULD SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. BEEN DOING THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES. LUCKILY I NEVER GOT INTO A WRECK BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. NOW THE TRUCK WON?T START AND IT HAPPENED AT HOME. AFTER TROUBLESHOOTING THE PROBLEM I HAVE FOUND THE WIRELESS IGNITION NODE TO BE BAD. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THIS I CAME UP ON A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE SAME IGNITION SYSTEM ON OTHER DODGE?S AND WAS WONDERING WHY THE DODGE RAM WAS LEFT OUT. RECALL NUMBER R03/NHTSA 14V-373. *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED. I LOST POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ALL ELECTRICAL, AND ENGINE POWER. EVERYTHING STOPPED WORKING AND WENT BLACK. LUCKILY I WAS NOT PULLING A TRAILER, HAVE TO STOP, OR TURN FAST. IF I WOULD HAVE, I WOULD HAVE CRASHED.*DT CONSUMER STATED FUEL PUMP FAILED AND IT HAD A BAD GROUND. ABOVE THE REAR AXLE. IT HAD ELECTRICAL ISSUES. BACKUP CAMERA BLACKED OUT, REVERSE LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON, LIGHTS AND BLINKERS FLICKER. *JB
WIN MODULES AND/OR IGNITION SWITCH RANDOMLY TURNS ENGINE OFF AND ALL ELECTRONICS INCLUDING TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLS. VEHICLE LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING. LOSS OF TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLS. I WAS DRIVING PULLING A 10,000LBS. TRAILER AND TRUCK WAS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. GLAD I WASN'T DRIVING AROUND PEDESTRIANS, AND NO TRAFFIC, OR DRIVING INTO A CITY RUSH HOUR LIKE I USUALLY AM. NOW I DON'T PULL A TRAILER ANYMORE WITH THIS TRUCK BECAUSE I'M SCARED OF SMASHING SOMEONE OR SOMETHING. A LOT OF PEOPLE USE THESE TRUCKS AS COMMERCIAL VEHICLES AND TOWING AND THIS NEEDS ADDRESSES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. *DT*JB *DT*JB
WE WERE TURNING AROUND IN A PARKING LOT WHEN WE HEARD A BANG COME FROM THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK. THE STEERING WHEEL THEN HAD NO RESISTANCE, WE THEN PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK, EXITED THE VEHICLE, SAW THAT THE LOWER END OF THE STEERING DRAG LINK BALL JOINT HAD SHEARED OFF. THEN WE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND WAITED FOR A TOW.
ALL 4 BALL JOINTS HAVE REQUIRED REPLACING WITHIN THE FIRST 4 YEARS OF THE LIFE OF THE TRUCK.
NOVEMBER, 2015, THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL ON MY 2012 RAM 3500 DIESEL. ON MAY 29, 2017 THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL IN THE TRUCK. FORTUNATELY IT WAS IN TOWN AT 35 MPH AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ACCIDENT OR INJURY. RAM SERVICE REPLACED THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY BUT WITH THE SAME TYPE RECALL REPLACEMENT PARTS THAT FAILED 2 1/2 YEARS AFTER REPLACEMENT. I DO NOT FEEL CONFIDENT IN THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE STEERING RELIABILITY.
HISSING NOISE COMING FROM HYDROBOOST AREA. WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN STOPPED WITH ENGINE RUNNING THERE IS A HISSING NOISE UNDER THE DASH. DEPRESSING THE BRAKES, THE NOISE QUIETS. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE NOISE QUIETS. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE NOISE IS COMING FROM THE HYDROBOOST AREA.
EXCESSIVE STEERING WHEEL PLAY (+/- 3") AND ROAD WANDER. ADJUSTMENT WAS MADE TO THE STEERING GEAR BOX, BUT SYMPTOMS RETURNED AFTER 1 WEEK (APPROX. 200 MILES). SUSPECT BAD STEERING GEAR BOX.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL AT 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE. UPON INSPECTION, HE NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP MADE THE CLUNKING NOISE. THE CONTACT SEARCHED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND NOTICED LEAKAGE FROM THE STEERING GEAR BOX. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS LEAKING AND THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO A CHRYSLER DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANCHORAGE CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM CENTER (LOCATED AT 2601 E 5TH AVE, ANCHORAGE, AK 99501 (907) 276-1331) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PITMAN ARM WAS DAMAGED AND LOOSE AND THE STEERING GEAR BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: [XXX]. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 10/17/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED INDEPENDANT MECHANIC FLUIDS ARE BELOW CERTAIN FLUID LEVEL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
PART 01: NOTICED PREMATURE INBOARD FRONT TIRE WEAR AND CUPPING ON BOTH LH AND RH FRONT TIRES AT AROUND 28000 MILES. PART 02: EXPERIENCED "DEATH WOBBLE" (UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING OF VEHICLE, SEVERE SHAKING OF STEERING WHEEL, INABILITY TO STEER VEHICLE) AT APPROX 34500 MILES. THIS HAPPENED WHEN CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. SHAKING STOPPED WHEN I BROUGHT THE TRUCK TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE ROADWAY, WHICH NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH A SEMI TRUCK FOLLOWING BEHIND. PART 03: TOOK VEHICLE TO TIRE SHOP TO PURCHASE 2 NEW FRONT TIRES, AND ALSO ASKED FOR STEERING ALIGNMENT. WAS TOLD AND SHOWN BY TIRE SHOP THAT ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE PERFORMED DUE TO DEFECTIVE/WORN/LOOSE FRONT BALL JOINTS (BOTH SIDES, UPPER AND LOWER). VEHICLE HAS 35200 MILES WHEN NEW TIRES PURCHASED. TIRE SHOP SUGGESTED THAT ROOT CAUSE OF "DEATH WOBBLE" MIGHT BE DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS. TIRE SHOP CONFIRMED PREMATURE TIRE WARE WAS CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS.
VIOLENT VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED. VIBRATION STOPPED AFTER BRINGING TRUCK TO A HALT.
MY 2012 RAM 3500 IS SUBJECT TO THE BUYBACK COURT SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. MY PROBLEM IS THAT I WISH TO PROCEED WITH THIS OPTION TO HAVE MY DEFECTIVE RAM SOLD TO THE BUYBACK BUT OVER THE LAST 15 MONTHS OF JUST TRYING TO PROCEED THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS 100% CORRUPT, CROOKED, FRAUD , CRIMINAL MISCONDUCT AND I WISH TO PROCEED NOW STILL UNABLE TO HAVE ANYONE HELP OR ASSIST WITH MY TRUCKS BUYBACK, YES IT'S STILL MY DAILY DRIVER AND I WANT THE WORLD TO KNOW THIS CLASS ACTION COURT SETTLEMENT IS AND WAS A TOTAL SCAM ,FAKE ,FRAUD , PRESS PLEASER YET CROOKED AREA PERIOD AND I AM SO SORRY TO SAY THIS BUT I CALLED EVERYONE FROM CRYSLER ,FIAT , DODGE ,RAM THE DEALERS EVERYONE AND ALL SAID SAME TO MY DESIRE TO PURSUE MY BUYBACK RIGHTS ( WE DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING OF HOW THIS WORKS OR HOW TO PROCEED WITH REPURCHASE . ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE I CALLED TO INCLUDE HE VERY NAMES LISTED UNDER THE SETTLEMENT AND ALL REMAIN UNKNOWLEDGED TO HOW THIS WORKS. TALK ABOUT MAJOR CORPORATE SCANDALS BUT MORE CRIMINAL INTENT IS WHY IS THERE NO ONE ANSWERING TO THE COURTS OR SETTLEMENT OF SATISFACTORY BUYBACKS ..? I KNOW WHY SADLY. TYPICAL GOVERNMENT,CORPORATE CORRUPTION!!! IT'S NOW FEBRUARY 2017 TWO YEARS FROM THE BUYBACK COURT ORDER AND WELL I STILL HAVE MY UNSAFE RAM 3500 WHICH NOW IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE YET HOW IRONIC NO ONE HAS A DAM CLUE OF HOW OR WHAT TO DO WITH THIS AGREEMENT. I PLAN TO TAKE THE WHOLE INVOLVED SYSTEM TO COURT TO ANNOUNCE WORLDWIDE OF THIS MAJOR CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD APROX A MILLION VICTIMS AS THEY ARE ALL TOSSED TO GUTTER THE DAY AFTER THE BIG PRESS ANNOUNCED THIS HUGE BUYBACK.
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH. AFTER HITTING AN ELEVATION BUMP WHERE A BRIDGE AND MAIN HIGHWAY JOIN THE STEERING IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO SHIMMY VIOLENTLY. LOSS OF CONTROL WAS POSSIBLE. I BELIEVED I HAD A BLOWOUT OR STEERING LINKAGE FAILURE. I PUT ON THE 4 WAY FLASHERS AND MANAGED TO MAKE MY WAY TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE SHIMMY DISCONTINUED AFTER I SLOWED BELOW 40 MPH.. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A DISASTROUS AND EVEN FATAL SITUATION. THIS VEHICLE IS SOMETIMES USED TO TOW A 5TH WHEEL RV. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW, HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND ONLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THIS IS IN LINE WITH THE "DEATH WOBBLE" INFORMATION I FOUND ON LINE. THIS IS VERY SCARY AND UNACCEPTABLE!! I WAS ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH OF HIGHWAY AT THE TIME.
WHILE TRAVELLING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, I CROSSED OVER A SMALL OVERPASS THAT WENT OVER A STREAM. AT THE TRANSITION POINT OF THE PAVEMENT TO BRIDGE, THE FRONT END STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. I COULD BARELY HOLD THE WHEEL AND GUIDE THE TRUCK TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH BEFORE I WAS ABLE GAIN CONTROL.
THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED AND THE BALL JOINT BETWEEN THE STEERING BOX AND THE FRONT SUSPENSION SNAPPED MAKING A HUGE BANG NOISE.
I HAVE REPORTED THIS BEFORE BUT IT KEEPS HAPPENING! I PAID 46,000 FOR A USED 2012 RAM 3500 WITH ONLY 35,000 MILES ON IT AND ITS A PIECE OF JUNK. IN AND AROUND TOWN THE STEERING IS FINE BUT ON HIGHWAY DRIVING THE TRUCK STEERING WHEEL STARTS SHAKING UNEXPECTEDLY. IT TAKES BOTH HANDS TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD AND THE VIBRATION WILL NOT STOP UNTIL YOU GET THE TRUCK STOPPED. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING BECAUSE I HAD OFF ROAD TIRES. I SPENT CLOSE TO $1,000 AND CHANGED TO THE FACTORY SPEC TIRES. THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE! IT KEEPS HAPPENING ON HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE DODGE DEALERS REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS HAS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT SOMEWHERE IN THE FRONT END. I AM AFRAID TO TOW ANYTHING OR HAVE MY FAMILY RIDE WITH ME IN THE TRUCK. THIS ISSUE MUST BE INVESTIGATED AND RAM HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION! *TR
2012 RAM 3500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LEFT FRONT STEERING JOINT DAMAGES AND VEHICLE BUY-BACK PROGRAM ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT FRONT STEERING JOINT SNAPPED OFF, AS HE WAS DRIVING 5 MPH. *JB *JS
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I REPORTED THIS ISSUE. ON AUGUST 26 THE FRONT END STARTED VIBRATING UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN HITTING A MINOR ROUGH PATCH IN THE ROAD. I WAS ON VIRGINIA 81 HEADING NORTH OF ROANOKE TRAVELING AT ROUGHLY 70 MPH. THIS REQUIRED ME TO HAVE A DEATH GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD UNTIL I COULD SLOWLY APPLY THE BRAKES AND GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. VIBRATION STOPPED AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, AT THAT POINT YOU COULD REENTER THE HIGHWAY AND IT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR A FEW DAYS. THE LOCAL DODGE DEALER SAID THE TIE-ROD WAS REPLACED ON A RECALL AND THAT WAS ALL THEY WOULD DO UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. AS SUGGESTED BY A DEALER, A MONTH AGO I REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS THINKING THIS MIGHT HELP. IT HAS NOT! NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT THE STEERING PROBLEM IS NOR DO THEY CARE UNTIL THEY ARE FORCED BY THE NHTSA TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE ON THE 2012 RAM 3500. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY RECALL ISSUE THAT WILL EVENTUALLY GET SOMEONE KILLED!
DEATH WOBBLE SEEMS WHEN I HIT A SMALL REPAIR IN THE ROAD AT THE RIGHT ANGLE I GET THE DEATH WOBBLE WITH NO CONTROL OF THE TRUCK. I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND ALMOST STOP BEFORE IT IS OK AGAIN. I PULL A 40' 5TH WHEEL WITH MY WIFE IN THE TRUCK MOST OF THE TIME. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHEN PASSING A SEMI WITH ME HAVING TO PULL INTO THE MEDIA TO STOP THE WOBBLE. I HAVE TAKEN TO SEVERAL REPAIR PLACES AND THEY TELL ME NOTHING WRONG IT'S THE DODGE TRUCK. DEALER REPLACED A BAR ON THE FRONT END BUT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING DOESN'T MATTER HOW FAST I AM GOING OVER 40MPH. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS TRUCK BUT CAN'T AFFORD TO GET ANOTHER. MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE IT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE PURCHASED DIFFERENT NAMES OF TIRES, REPLACED THE STABILIZER SHOCK AND NOW GOING TO ADD A STEERING BOX STABILIZER
WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, ANY TIME THE VEHICLE HITS A DISCONTINUITY SUCH AS GROOVES MADE BY HEAVY TRUCKS, THE VEHICLE DRIVES ERRATICALLY AND TRIES TO MOVE SUDDENLY INTO THE OTHER LANE OR OFF THE ROAD. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER PRIOR TO WARRANTY EXPIRING AND THEY MISDIAGNOSED IT TO BE A REAR END PROBLEM AND TOLD ME I HAD TO BUY A REAR STABILIZER. I BROUGHT IT BACK AGAIN AND THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHY. I BROUGHT IT TO 2 OTHER SHOPS AND ANOTHER DEALER. THE 2ND DEALER SAID THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED BUT NOW THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY COVERED PART OF IT BUT THEY ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH DODGE. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE CALLED THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE NUMEROUS TIMES THEY REFUSE TO LET ME TALK TO A MANAGER. THEY SAY I NEED TO BRING IT BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THEY SAY THE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED AND THEY WILL NOT COVER IT.
I LIVE IN WARRENTON, VA. ON JULY 23 MY WIFE AND I WERE HEADING SOUTH ON VIRGINIA HIGHWAY 81. MY 2012 RAM 3500 AT ROUGHLY 65 MPH THE FRONT END STARTED SHAKING SO VIOLENTLY THAT I ALMOST LOST CONTROL. THIS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 TIMES DURING OUR TRIP TO OUR VACATION HOME. ONCE IT STARTED THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS TO EASE UP ON THE ACCELERATOR UNTIL THE SPEED DROPPED TO AROUND 25 MPH. THE LOCAL DEALERS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 3500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A MANUFACTURERS RECALL ON THE FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM AND STEERING. HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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