2022 RAM 1500 Suspension Problems

While driving, the front passenger side ball joint failed catastrophically. The wheel completely separated from the control arm and folded under the truck, causing the vehicle to drop hard onto the suspension and nearly lose control. I was extremely fortunate not to be involved in a crash or killed. Photos taken immediately after the failure show the wheel collapsed under the truck and the damaged suspension components (upper/lower control arm and ball joint area). This is a sudden, total failure of a critical steering/suspension part with no prior warning symptoms that I noticed.

NHTSA ID

11752805

Incident

Jul 24, 2026

I was leaving work driving 50 mph when the right side suspension broke loose and the right front tire and wheel came under the truck and all and the break system failed with no indication of anything being wrong.

NHTSA ID

11745083

Incident

Jun 16, 2026

My 2022 Ram 1500 TRX has recurring safety-related failures of the infotainment system affecting Uconnect 5 (12” screen). These issues are widespread in 2021–2024 Ram TRX and Ram 1500 models and began or worsened after forced over-the-air updates. The primary defect is black-screen failures while driving. When the screen goes black or freezes, the truck loses all functions controlled through the display, including HVAC/defrost, backup camera, vehicle settings, seat controls, and performance gauges. This creates an immediate safety hazard: I cannot adjust climate/defrost, cannot see the required rear-view camera when shifting to reverse, and cannot access key vehicle information. Owners across multiple years consistently report: • Black screens, freezes, and reboots • Loss of HVAC control and dual-zone functions • Backup camera not displaying • Backup camera freezing with picture • Vehicle/Apps tabs failing to open • Uconnect error messages • Smaller, harder-to-read gauges after updates • Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto failures • No option to decline or roll back OTA updates These failures distract the driver, remove access to federally required equipment (rear camera), and eliminate visibility and climate controls that directly affect safe operation. The system becomes unpredictable and unstable despite the vehicle being in motion. My vehicle experiences the same issues, including what was listed above Because this affects essential safety-related controls and visibility, I believe this is a safety defect in Ram/Stellantis Uconnect 5 systems. I request NHTSA open a defect investigation and require Ram to correct these failures.

NHTSA ID

11732772

Incident

Aug 1, 2024

The contact owns a 2022 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while making a left turn out of the driveway, there was a clunking sound coming from the front passenger’s side of the vehicle, and the vehicle failed to steer or turn properly. The vehicle was towed to a dealer but was not yet diagnosed; however, the tow truck driver stated that the ball joint of the upper control arm on the passenger’s side had fractured completely. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

NHTSA ID

11727926

Incident

Mar 28, 2026

Mileage

45,000 mi

The contact owns a 2022 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH and approaching a speed hump, the driver's side front wheel detached at the ball joint, disabling the vehicle. The vehicle was towed by AAA to a certified mechanic. The mechanic determined that the driver's side ball joint cotter pin was either fractured or missing. The mechanic became aware of a failure with the passenger’s side wheel, also. The vehicle was repaired. The contact attempted to contact the manufacturer, but the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.

NHTSA ID

11723483

Incident

Mar 10, 2026

Mileage

54,000 mi

As I was driving in the left lane of a four lane local road. I passed over a small hump in the road. The suspension lifted and as it settled. I lost control of the steering and the truck abruptly pulled left. I managed to gain control and guide the truck from collision with another vehicle and the bridge guard rail. I had no warning lights and the truck drove straight at the time. Tire wear was normal and I had an appointment in three days for new ties and alignment since I did hear a clunk a few days earlier.

NHTSA ID

11715379

Incident

Feb 3, 2026

RAM does over the air software updates. An update they did early summer 2025 was likely for the RAM RHO and not the TRX. A lot of features changed to RHO graphics and the U Connect 5 system became unstable and would not load properly. While in this state, the ability to select vehicle functions was not possible. (Radio, suspension selections and modes, air conditioning etc.) Attempting a reset proves unsuccessful and the only way to get the system to reset is to turn the vehicle off for a period of time or disconnect the battery for a time. This makes the system work for a while until it decides to be unstable and not load properly again. It does this at inopportune times and is very annoying, and I feel makes the vehicle unsafe. The sad thing is the vehicle was working nicely before this OTA update and RAM seems extremely slow to acknowledge the issue. Almost all of the graphics now show RHO instead of TRX and one wonders what this has done to the performance of the vehicle since they have different power trains.

NHTSA ID

11703989

Incident

Jun 1, 2025

My 2022 Ram 1500 TRX has recurring safety-related failures of the infotainment system affecting both Uconnect 5 (12” screen) and earlier Uconnect 4 units. These issues are widespread in 2021–2024 Ram TRX and Ram 1500 models and began or worsened after forced over-the-air updates. The primary defect is black-screen failures while driving. When the screen goes black or freezes, the truck loses all functions controlled through the display, including HVAC/defrost, backup camera, vehicle settings, seat controls, and performance gauges. This creates an immediate safety hazard: I cannot adjust climate/defrost, cannot see the required rear-view camera when shifting to reverse, and cannot access key vehicle information. Owners across multiple years consistently report: • Black screens, freezes, and reboots • Loss of HVAC control and dual-zone functions • Backup camera not displaying • Vehicle/Apps tabs failing to open • Uconnect error messages • Smaller, harder-to-read gauges after updates • Wireless CarPlay/Android Auto failures • No option to decline or roll back OTA updates These failures distract the driver, remove access to federally required equipment (rear camera), and eliminate visibility and climate controls that directly affect safe operation. The system becomes unpredictable and unstable despite the vehicle being in motion. My vehicle experiences the same issues, including: Forward Collision warning randomly stops working until a restart. My TRX has multiple suspension modes, since the update I am stuck in Off Road mode, which means my suspension is very loose and not really meant for on road driving. Because this affects essential safety-related controls and visibility, I believe this is a safety defect in Ram/Stellantis Uconnect 4 and Uconnect 5 systems. I request NHTSA open a defect investigation and require Ram to correct these failures.

NHTSA ID

11702968

Incident

Jun 10, 2025

1. On August 14th, 2025, Rear Air Ride Suspension failed. Received a “ Service Air Suspension Immediately” warning light right before the air suspension failed and lost control of the rear suspension. Yes it’s available for inspection. 2. The rear shocks lost air and the vehicle started to drive erratically and bouncing up and down. Could not keep control of the steering due to this. 3. It was confirmed at the dealership 8/18/2025 when the dealer representative installed the diagnostic reader in my obd port of my vehicle they determined codes for air leak and possible faulty air compressor or rear Air shocks. 4. The vehicle nor it’s components have not been inspected by manufacturer, police or insurance representative. 5. No previous warnings of this issue.

NHTSA ID

11681397

Incident

Aug 14, 2025

On Sunday [XXX] my family and I were driving home from Fort Smith Arkansas and the truck lost the entire front right suspension. When I purchased the truck ([XXX]) from Meador Dodge I purchased the truck with the lift, tires and wheels that were installed by Meador dodge. In July of 2023 I took the truck to Alliance Dodge for an oil change and alignment. The Alliance dealership informed me at that time that the factory control arms were still on the truck and with the lift that Meador Dodge installed they should have installed the correct control arms for the lift. Due to availability based on Meadors schedule i was not able to get the truck repaired by Meador until December of 2023. Date of purchase : [XXX] Date found that the wrong control arms on the truck: [XXX] - Truck had 20,088 Miles Date when correct control arms were installed: December 20,2023 - Truck had 26105 Miles Date of Accident: [XXX] - Truck had 46,186 Miles on it In short due to Meador not installing the correct control arms and I drove the truck for over 26,000 miles which is more than 1/2 of the miles driven on the truck that the incorrect control arms caused the other parts to fail and caused the accident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11668420

Incident

Jun 15, 2025

On the morning of 10/31/2023 I was on my way to work. I had the cruise set at 75 MPH, and I heard what sounded like an explosion/ loud bang. The truck immediately veered off to the left, hit a drainage culvert, and went airborne. With the front tire folded in, no steering was available to use. Upon inspection, while at the tow yard, the lower control arm snapped in half, as well as the CV joint (half shaft), so this was obviously the cause of the loud explosion/ bang sound that I heard. This lower control arm is made of aluminum, not steel. I could have been killed if I would have hit the culvert more square, as the truck missed the steel barrier cable posts by only a few feet, which was evident upon re-visiting the accident site two days later... the truck narrowly avoided being impaled by the barrier posts. It us unknown weather the police or insurance company inspected the vehicle when the body shop performed the repair assessment. There was no warning, just a catastrophic failure of the lower control arm.

NHTSA ID

11557451

Incident

Oct 31, 2023

The vehicle’s wheel, brake, suspension, and electrical systems have all failed since June 2022. The wheel and suspension systems have been attempted to be repaired multiple times by two different Chrysler Dodge dealerships. To no avail, no resolve. In fact while I was driving the highway after picking up the vehicle this last time, the tailgate opened and triggered the backup camera emergency brakes. We stopped instantly in the middle of the highway. We didn’t hear or know about a recall until three weeks later when we got a letter in the mail. The dealer we purchased the vehicle from did not reach out. All of the problems associated with the truck have been acknowledged by the dealer, second opinion dealership, and Chrysler. The vehicle is a lemon.

NHTSA ID

11504160

Incident

Jan 10, 2023

I started my truck to go to work and 3 warning came on, the abs system, the traction control service, and 4x4 disengaged. This vehicle has 16,100 miles on it. I tried to drive it to the dealership for repair and the rear tires are locked up.

NHTSA ID

11501424

Incident

Jan 11, 2023

I have a noise in the rear of vehicle when i hit a bump, I have a severe sway in the rear end towing anything. I have had m camper for over ten years, towed it with several vehicles. never have i had a sway towing m camper. with this truck I cant exceed 55mph or the camper is all over the road. the slightest wind will push the rear of truck so bad that it pushes me off the side or over the center line. it is very nerve racking and dangerous. i have an appointment at the dealer next week. but have read online where others are having the same problem and the dealer ships can't find anything wrong.

NHTSA ID

11482151

Incident

Aug 1, 2022