Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 5500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
2012 DODGE 5500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AND CLOCKSPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN ISSUES AND OTHER ELECTRICAL FAILURES. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ELECTRONIC FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WERE INOPERABLE. THIS INCLUDES THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. UPDATED 09/11/2017*JS
HAVE PROBLEMS WITH TRUCK WANDERING ALL OVER ROAD AT SPEEDS OVER 40-45-MPH FROM WHEN TRUCK WAS NEW... MANY TIMES I TRIED TO GET TRUCK IN AFTER RECALL NOTICES AND DID NOT HAVE PARTS. NOT RESOLVED TO THIS DATE. NOW NEW PROBLEM I HAVE IS STEERING IS VERY TIGHT AND DOES NOT RETURN TO CENTER AFTER TURNING AND IS A MAJOR DANGER. TRUCK WAS JUST IN DEALER FOR THE PROBLEM AND FIXED ONE RECALL WHICH WAS TO REPLACE STEERING LINKAGE THAT WAS DONE BUT DID NOTHING NOTHING TO FIX MY HARD STEERING AND NOT RETURNING TO CENTER STEERING PROBLEM .I HAVE BEEN WAITING ALMOST A WEEK FOR A CALL BACK FROM DODGE CUSTOMER CAR NOW. THERE IS STILL A RECALL ON FRONT AXLE WELDS THAT HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE OF LACK OF PARTS THAT I HAVE TRIED TO TAKE CARE OF ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS ?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RAM 5500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MPH, THE STEERING FAILED DUE TO THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD BALL DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REMEDIED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V527000 (STEERING) AND 15V459000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,386.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 5500. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE TIE ROD SEPARATED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIE ROD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V527000 (STEERING), 14V635000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL), AND 15V459000 (AIR BAGS); 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 FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 5500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V635000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL) AND 13V527000 (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 REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
2012 RAM 5500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DIESEL FUEL HEATER ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR RECALL PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TO COMPLETE RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER ALSO RECEIVED RECALL # 13V527000. UPDATED 04/11/16.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 5500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME UNSTABLE AND SPUN AROUND UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY FRACTURED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V527000 (STEERING) DUE TO THE PART NOT BEING AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,844.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 5500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRAG ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OUTER TIE ROD ASSEMBLY FRACTURED. THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V527000 (STEERING) WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL, BUT THE REMEDY WAS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 5500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 13V527000 (STEERING). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE AND DID NOT KNOW WHEN IT WOULD ARRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 5500. THE CONTACT STATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V527000 (STEERING) HAD SURPASSED THE REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 5500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V527000 (STEERING) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT THE DEALER WAS RECEIVING ONE PART EVERY WEEK. THE CONTACT FELT THAT SINCE THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED IN NOVEMBER OF 2013, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A REMEDY AVAILABLE BEFORE MARCH OF 2014. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A DODGE 2012 RAM 5500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V527000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE BEFORE BEING ABLE TO HAVE THE RECALL SERVICE PERFORMED DUE TO A LACK OF PARTS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45743.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 5500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND APPROACHING AN EXIT, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEGAN WOBBLING. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE WHEEL BEARING WAS EXPOSED AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD DETACHED FROM THE WHEEL WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD, AXLE AND BRAKE PADS. THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT THE VEHICLE BEING INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V527000 (STEERING) BUT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT ASSOCIATED TO THE RECALL. ADDITIONALLY, THE PARTS NEEDED TO PERFORM THE RECALL SERVICE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36784.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 5500 HD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V527000 (STEERING) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT THE DEALERS WERE RECEIVING ONE PART PER WEEK. THE CONTACT FELT THAT SINCE THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED IN NOVEMBER OF 2013, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A REMEDY AVAILABLE BEFORE MARCH OF 2014. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE...UPDATED 05-13-14 *BF *TR
AFTER PICKING UP THE 5500 WITH THE SERVICE DECK FITTED IMMEDIATELY NOTICED HANDLING WAS POOR. STEERING THE VEHICLE REQUIRES DRIVERS FULL ATTENTION AS TRUCK DOES NOT SELF CENTER AFTER CURVES. IF YOU CAN GET IT GOING STRAIGHT AND HOLD THE WHEEL STEADY IT WILL SUDDENLY START TO DRIFT RIGHT OR LEFT, FORCING YOU TO CORRECT STEERING AND THUS START THE WANDERING SIDE TO SIDE WHICH SEEMS TO GET THE BACK END WHIPPING SIDE TO SIDE AS WELL. IN A SHORT HALF HOUR DRIVE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THE TRUCK IN YOUR LANE PROVIDING THE DRIVER WITH SOME VERY TENSE DRIVING. THIS TRUCK IS NOT OVER THE MANUFACTURERS GVW. WHEN TOWING A HEAVY TRAILER IT SEEMS TO CALM THE WANDERING DOWN SLIGHTLY. THE DEALER HAS TRIED A NEW STEERING BOX ON THE TRUCK THAT DID IMPROVE STEERING FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS BUT NOTHING HAS CURED THE PROBLEM WITH MULTIPLE DEALER VISITS OVER THE LAST YEAR. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND TRUCK TO ANYONE WHO PLANS TO DRIVE IT FOR MORE THAN 1 HOUR AT A TIME. *TR
OVER 9 MONTHS AGO WE RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FROM CHRYSLER: SAFETY RECALL N26 / NHTSA 13V-239 FRONT AXLE TUBE WELDS LETTER STATES THAT PARTS NEEDED TO DO REPAIRS ARE NOT ON HAND. AS SOON AS THEY ARE MADE AVAILABLE THEY WILL CONTACT US FOR REPAIRS. HERE IT IS 9MONTHS LATER AND WE GET THE SAME EXACT LETTER. THE LETTER STATES THAT THIS DEFECT COULD CAUSE A DRIVER TO WRECK AND LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT TIME HAS EXCEEDED FOR THEM TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. *TR
OVER 9 MONTHS AGO WE RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FROM CHRYSLER: SAFETY RECALL N26 / NHTSA 13V-239 FRONT AXLE TUBE WELDS LETTER STATES THAT PARTS NEEDED TO DO REPAIRS ARE NOT ON HAND. AS SOON AS THEY ARE MADE AVAILABLE THEY WILL CONTACT US FOR REPAIRS. HERE IT IS 9MONTHS LATER AND WE GET THE SAME EXACT LETTER. THE LETTER STATES THAT THIS DEFECT COULD CAUSE A DRIVER TO WRECK AND LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT TIME HAS EXCEEDED FOR THEM TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. *TR
OVER 9 MONTHS AGO WE RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FROM CHRYSLER: SAFETY RECALL N26 / NHTSA 13V-239 FRONT AXLE TUBE WELDS LETTER STATES THAT PARTS NEEDED TO DO REPAIRS ARE NOT ON HAND. AS SOON AS THEY ARE MADE AVAILABLE THEY WILL CONTACT US FOR REPAIRS. HERE IT IS 9MONTHS LATER AND WE GET THE SAME EXACT LETTER. THE LETTER STATES THAT THIS DEFECT COULD CAUSE A DRIVER TO WRECK AND LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT TIME HAS EXCEEDED FOR THEM TO MAKE THIS RIGHT. *TR
THE RAM 5500 TENDS TO WANDER OVER UNDULATING OR IRREGULAR SURFACE ROADS REQUIRING A HIGH LEVEL OF VIGILANCE TO REMAIN IN ONE'S LANE. THE STEERING ALSO HAS A HIGHER THAN NORMAL STICTION LEVEL IN THAT IT IS HARDER THAN NORMAL TO TURN ENTERING A CORNER AND THEN FAILS TO READILY RETURN TO CENTER WHEN EXITING A CORNER. IN ADDITION, THERE SEEMS TO BE AND UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING FOR A NEW VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, HOWEVER, THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS. THE DEALER FOUND, DURING A SUBSEQUENT ALIGNMENT CHECK, THAT THE FRONT AXLE WHEEL CASTER ANGLES WHERE OUT OF THE MANUFACTURERS LIMITS. THE LEFT WAS AT 4.8 DEGREES (SPEC 6.0-7.0 DEGREES) AND THE RIGHT AT 5.1 DEGREES ( SPEC 6.5-7.5 DEGREES), HOWEVER, THE CASTER ANGLE IS NOT ADJUSTABLE IN THE FIELD BY THE DEALER. THE FRONT AXLE IS CURRENTLY ON RECALL FOR ANOTHER ISSUE, THAT BEING THE WELDS ON THE DIFFERENTIAL, HOWEVER, THE TWO ISSUES ARE NOT DIRECTLY RELATED. CASTER ANGLE IS IMPORTANT IN THAT IT PROVIDES DYNAMIC STABILITY, AIDING IN THE STRAIGHT LINE TRACKING OF THE VEHICLE. CHRYSLER RECOGNIZED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING ON THE 2012 RAM HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES AND MADE A NUMBER OF CHANGES TO THE 2013 MODELS WHICH INCLUDED INCREASING THE CASTER ANGLES AND RELOCATING THE TRACK BAR OVER THE DRAG LINK. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT ISOLATED TO MY VEHICLE, BUT IS FLEET WIDE, AND THAT THE AXLE/STEERING PROBLEMS ARE MORE EXTENSIVE THAN JUST THE WELDS ON THE FRONT CARRIER FITTINGS. AT THE PRESENT TIME CHRYSLER DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT AXLES TO COMPLY WITH THE CURRENT RECALL WHICH WAS INITIATED IN JULY 2013. TO DATE THE DEFICIENCIES ON MY VEHICLE HAVE NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 5500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STAY IN THE LANE AND THE STEERING PULLED LEFT AND RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE STEERING BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED DAYS LATER AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 580.
THE TRUCK WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE STEERING. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING DOWN ALL TYPE OF ROADS AND SPEED. *TR ## VIN PASSED ## DODGE RAM 5500 2012 ##
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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