2012 Dodge Ram 3500 Suspension Problems

The contact owns a 2012 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving uphill at 55 MPH, the contact became aware that the vehicle was not exceeding 55 MPH. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact continued driving to the destination. The vehicle was parked; however, upon inspection, the contact became aware that there were damages on top of the front driver’s side ball joint, the rear driver’s side axle leaf spring shackle, and the driver’s side overload spring. Additionally, there were metal fragments found in the engine oil, and a diagnostic scan retrieved DTC: P0087, P0471, U029D. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was inspected; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 215,000.

NHTSA ID

11642736

Incident

Nov 29, 2024

Mileage

215,000 mi

ALL 4 BALL JOINTS HAVE REQUIRED REPLACING WITHIN THE FIRST 4 YEARS OF THE LIFE OF THE TRUCK.

NHTSA ID

11053354

Incident

Aug 24, 2016

Mileage

123,700 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11014551

Incident

Aug 10, 2017

Mileage

34,500 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10940268

Incident

Jan 6, 2017

Mileage

21,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOBBLED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID

10898513

Incident

Aug 25, 2016

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 3500. AFTER DRIVING 50 MPH OVER DIVOTS, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERE VIBRATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.

NHTSA ID

10892911

Incident

Dec 3, 2015

Mileage

65,000 mi

THE TRACK BAR BRACKET CRACKED. THE CRACK IS LOCATED 2 INCHES ABOVE BOLT HOLE. IT DIDN'T CRACK AT THE WELD. I NOTICED IT WHEN THE TRUCK BECAME A LITTLE HARDER TO CONTROL , ZIG ZAGGING IN THE LANE. I HAD IT TEMPORARILY WELDED BUT UNKNOWN STRAIN CAUSING CONTINUING FAILURES IN BRACKET.

NHTSA ID

10852447

Incident

Nov 5, 2015

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 3500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REVERSED, THE DRIVER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE PITMAN ARM FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V529000 (STEERING). THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10822095

Incident

Jan 23, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VIOLENT SHAKING, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 58-74 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SHAKING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN OVER DIVOTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THIRD STEERING STABILIZER, CONTROL ARM, TIE ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. UPDATED 04/07/16*LJ UPDATED 05/11/18*JB *TR

NHTSA ID

10810771

Incident

Sep 16, 2013

Mileage

32,000 mi

I HAVE OPTED FOR THE BUYOUT OPTION AND THE WAY THIS HAS BEEN HANDLED IS UNACCEPTABLE. I WAS EMAILED ON OCTOBER 26 WITH A BUYBACK OFFER. I ACCEPTED, AND FAXED THE PAPERWORK TO THEM THE NEXT DAY. NO ONE HAS EVER CALLED ME BACK. I CALLED THE IMPARTIAL SERVICES PHONE NUMBER AND ASKED FOR AN UPDATE. THEY COULD NOT TELL ME WHEN THIS PROCESS WOULD BE FINALIZED. IN MY OPINION, I WOULD THINK THAT I COULD BE INFORMED OF WHATS GOING ON THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, AND THE BUYBACK IS TAKING WAY TO LONG. I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE RECALLS THAT WERE NOT REPAIRED. THIS LEAVES ME WITHOUT A VEHICLE UNTIL THIS PROCESS IS FINALIZED.

NHTSA ID

10810597

Incident

Oct 26, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, FUEL LEAKED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO EXPERIENCED THE VEHICLE SWERVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPLETE AXLE HOUSING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10783310

Incident

Jul 7, 2015

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10781517

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

I HAVE HAD THE SO CALLED " DEATH WOBBLE" 4 TIMES NOW ON MY TRUCK. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED 3 TIMES AND I'M WAITING TO TAKE IT AGAIN TODAY. THEY SAID THEY HAVE FIXED IT EACH TIME BUT OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVEN'T. OUT OF THE BLUE AT 60 TO 65 MPH THE TRUCK STARTS SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND THERE IS NO STOPPING IT UNTIL IT STOPS ON IT'S OWN. HITTING THE BRAKES, LETTING OFF THE GAS OR FLOORING IT (AS THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO DO) WHEN THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT LAST TIME DOESN'T HELP. I AM SO AFRAID THAT SOMETHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I AM SCARED EVERY TIME I DRIVE THIS TRUCK AND THEY JUST KEEP TELLING ME NOTHING IS WRONG. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED CHRYSLER TO HAVE THEM BY BACK THE TRUCK BUT THEY SAID IT HAS HAD THE RECALL DONE ON IT SO IT'S NOT ELIGIBLE. WELL WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING THEN.

NHTSA ID

10781408

Incident

Oct 9, 2015

Mileage

25,500 mi

HAD MY RAM TRUCK ALIGNMENT DONE 10 TIMES AND IT STILL PULL TO THE RIGHT AS SOON AS I LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL. EVERYTIME THEY TEST DRIVE IT THEY SAID ITS FINE. THEY SAID ITS THE CROWN OF THE ROAD. BUT ITS NOT ITS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE STEERING RACK OR COMPONENTS. IT HAS LESS 32000 MILES AND BEEN DOING THIS SINCE 2476 MILES. I HAVE HAD IT TO 4 DIFFERENT ALIGNMENT SHOP AND EVERYTIME THEY SAID IT WAS A LITTLE OFF. DIDNT GET EVEN 3 BLOCKS AND IT STILL PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALWAYS OFFSET TO THE RIGHT INSTEAD OF STRAIGHT ACROSS.

NHTSA ID

10744342

Incident

Nov 12, 2014

Mileage

11,259 mi

HAVE 2 RECALLS THE STEERING 1 WAS LAST YEAR CALL AND TALK SEVERL TIME, ALSO HAVE FUEL TANK HEATER BEEN SENCE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR. WAS TOLD BOTH ON BACK ORDER AND NEVER SEEM HAVE THEM COME IN SO CAN GET THEM TAKEN CARE OF. I WOULD THINK THIS BE A BIG SAFTY PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10743998

Incident

Feb 10, 2015

Mileage

10,000 mi

DRIVING ON SNOW COVERED ROAD I STARTED HEARING A BANGING NOISE. JACKED UP TRUCK THIS MORNING AND DISCOVERED A LOT OF UP AND DOWN MOVEMENT IN BALL JOINTS. THIS TRUCK HASN'T EVEN BEEN OFF ROAD, DODGE HAS HAD THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS, IT'S TIME TO GET THESE ISSUES RESOLVED. I AM A FLEET MANAGER, WE HAVE DODGE, FORD AND GM, DODGE IS THE ONLY TRUCK WITH FRONT END PROBLEMS. PLEASE HELP US GET THIS ISSUE TAKEN CARE OF. MY TRUCK HAS JUST OVER 38,000 MILES, AND HAS NEVER BEEN ABUSED, EVEN IF IT WAS, BALL JOINTS SHOULD NEVER GO OUT AT THIS MILEAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10670175

Incident

Jan 3, 2015

Mileage

38,389 mi

MY VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO RECALL N49/NHTSA 13V-529 RE: LEFT TIE ROD. I RECEIVED NOTICE OF RECALL QUITE SOME TIME AGO. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER, LITHIA DODGE OF MISSOULA, MT AND GOT ON "THE LIST" OF PERSONS WHO ARE SUBJECT TO THE SAME RECALL BUT WE ARE ALL WAITING FOR PARTS. I THINK I GOT ON THE LIST IN DECEMBER. I HAVE FOLLOWED UP ONCE OR TWICE WITH THE DEALER AND THEY TELL ME THEY ARE STILL WAITING ON PARTS FROM DODGE TO SATISFY THIS RECALL. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND TELL ME WHAT MY RIGHTS ARE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10637769

Incident

Sep 20, 2014

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ON TIE ROD ENDS COULD FAIL TOOK VEHICLE IN TO STEVE LANDERS DODGE IN LITTLE ROCK AR AND WAS TOLD PARTS ARE ON REORDER FROM FACTORY AND THEY ONLY RECEIVE PARTS TO FIX 4 TRUCKS A MONTH THAT THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN MY TIME COMES UP ON WAITING LIST NEVER GOT THE CALL CARRIED TRUCK IN TODAY 8/25/2014 THEY SAID THEY REPLACED PARTS BUT CANNOT ALIGN FRONT END DUE TO BALL JOINTS ARE BAD TRUCK NOW HAS 42950 MILES TRUCK IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE NOW IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT REAL BAD AND TRUCK IS ALL OVER THE ROAD THEY WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL BECAUSE MILEAGE IS PAST WARRANTY THIS IS DANGEROUS MAY CAUSE ACCIDENT PRIOR TO HAVING THIS DONE WHEN RECALL WAS GIVEN IT ONLY HAD 30000 MILES BUT DUE TO DELAYS IN GETTING PARTS IT IS PAST WARRANTY THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH DODGE AND VERY DANGEROUS SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET HURT IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT CORRECTED ON THESE VEHICLES . *TR

NHTSA ID

10628261

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

30,000 mi

LEFT TIE ROD BALL STUD. STILL WAITING. WHAT GOOD IS A TRUCK I CANT USE AFRAID TO DRIVE COULD CAUSE LOSE OF STEERING. BOUGHT FROM ANDERSON DODGE IN ROCKFORD ILLINOIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10614459

Incident

Mar 1, 2014

RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL AROUND MARCH OF 2012 N49 LEFT TIE ROD BALL STUD MAY FRACTURE. CONTACTED HUNTER DODGE IN LANCASTER, CA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE DUE TO HIGH DEMAND AND HUNTER DODGE WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY PART COMES IN. I HAVE CALLED 3 TIMES WITH THE SAME RESULTS. I JUST RECEIVED A SECOND RECALL TELLING ME TO HAVE THE SERVICE DONE. CONTACTED SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND GOT THE SAME RUN AROUND WITH NO PROMISE THAT THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE. I CONTACTED HADDAD DODGE IN BAKERSFIELD AND AN APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN SET FOR 7-27-14 AT 7:30 AM. SOME ONE NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE HUNTER DODGE AND FIND OUT WHY I HAVE TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT GET THIS TIE ROD BALL STUD. IT HAS BEEN 5 MONTHS SINCE MY FIRST CONTACT AND THEY STILL CAN'T SERVICE THIS RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10609444

Incident

Feb 3, 2014

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN JANUARY ABOUT THE LEFT TIE ROD BALL STUD POSSIBLY BREAKING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF THIS REPAIR BUT THAT THEY DID NOT CURRENTLY HAVE THE PARTS. IT HAS NOW BEEN OVER SIX MONTHS AND I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD ANY WORD FROM THE DEALER THAT THEY HAVE THE PARTS TO DO THIS NEEDED REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10606138

Incident

Jun 26, 2014

Mileage

20,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF PREMATURE WEAR AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

NHTSA ID

10583516

Incident

May 1, 2013

Mileage

27,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT TIRES HAD SHOWN SIGNS OF PREMATURE WEAR AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINTS WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

NHTSA ID

10583512

Incident

Jul 2, 2013

Mileage

22,000 mi

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE MONTHS AGO TO HAVE THE LEFT HAND BALL JOINT REPLACED. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER SEVERAL TIMES (ELKO MOTOR COMPANY ELKO, NEVADA) AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THEY ARE NOT GETTING THE PARTS FROM THE FACTORY. I BELIEVE THE DEALER. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN PULLING MY 42' TOY HAULER IF THIS FAILS. *TT

NHTSA ID

10583114

Incident

Jan 15, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE WEARING PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIE ROD AND BOLT JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,300.

NHTSA ID

10582831

Incident

Aug 17, 2013

Mileage

8,000 mi