Steering. Review the 210 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports6 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

297 reports

64,000 miles · May 20, 2013

Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE RUNNING BOARD COMPLETELY FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10512770

19,500 miles · May 6, 2013

Steering

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WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON HWY101 AT APPROX 70MPH I DROVE OVER AN EXPANSION JOINT WHEN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHAKE TO THE POINT OF ALMOST LOSING CONTROL. I WAS FORCED TO BRAKE TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE NUMBER ONE LANE/SHOULDER AND THOUGH THE ABS WAS ACTIVATED IT DIDN'T SEEM EFFECTIVE DUE TO THE VIOLENT SHAKING (I BELIEVE THE FRONT WHEELS WHERE ACTUALLY LEAVING THE GROUND). I WAS ABLE TO HOLD THE VEHICLE IN A GENERALLY STRAIGHT DIRECTION BUT DID NOT HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL. ONCE I CAME TO A STOP THE VIOLENT SHAKING STOPPED AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE NORMALLY. THIS WAS THE SECOND INCIDENT OF A SIMILAR OCCURRENCE. I HAD THE ALIGNMENT AND STEERING COMPONENTS CHECKED AND ALL SEEMED TO BE WITHIN STANDARD TOLERANCES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510826

3,000 miles · Apr 12, 2013

Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN REVERSE HE NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL, BRAKE PEDAL, AND IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE RACK AND PINION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE…

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NHTSA ODI #10508037

8,000 miles · Mar 25, 2013

Vehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE GEAR LEVER WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LUNGE FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED IN COLD WEATHER TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER EIGHT TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS REPLACED AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS UPDATED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

NHTSA ODI #10504391

31,750 miles · Mar 12, 2013

SteeringSuspensionCrash

TRUCK CIRCULATING DIRT ROAD AFTER 25 MILES CONSTANT. THE BILLET SHOCK TOWER, LEFT DEFORMED MATERIAL FATIGUE. DEFORMING THE CHASSIS SUPPORT AREA, AND THE SHOCK IS DESTROYED. GENERATING A WOBBLE UNCONTROLLABLY, CUTTING RODS. BOTH WHEELS BEING UNCONTROLLED. THE UPPER COIL SUPPORT, SHOWS A CLEAR IN ITS ZONE FATIGUE. THIS SAME FAULT …

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NHTSA ODI #10502587

25,000 miles · Jan 30, 2013

Service BrakesSteering

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WHEN GETTING OFF THE EXPRESSWAY RAMP THE BRAKES SEEMED WEAK, THEN I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL AND HAD TO ALMOST STOP. I HAD NO POWER ASSIST ON THE STEERING AT THIS POINT. ONCE THE WHEELS WERE STRAIGHT AGAIN IT SEEMED FINE. THE NEXT FEW TURNS HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS CAUSING ME TO ALMOST HIT OBJECTS AND OTHER CARS AS I COULD NOT TURN THE VEHICLE. I WAS NOT PULLING ANYTHING AT THE TIME. MY SON-IN-LAW HAD THE SAME ISSUE ON HIS SAME MAKE/MODEL/YEAR DODGE TRUCK AT ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE LAST YEAR WHILE PULLING A 5TH WHEEL. HE TOOK IT IN AND THEY FLUSHED OUT THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM AS A FIX AND IT HAS NOT OCCURRED AGAIN....YET. PROBLEM COULD BE RELATED TO CONTAMINATION IN THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM WHICH WILL JAM VALVES, OR IT COULD BE IN ELECTRONICS MODULES. EITHER WAY ITS NOT GOOD, ESPECIALLY WHEN PULLING A LARGE 5TH WHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10495201

16,600 miles · Jan 27, 2013

Steering

EXPERIENCED EXTREME VIBRATION, NEARLY LOST CONTROL. WAS ON FAIRLY SMOOTH FREEWAY. SMALL LOAD IN BED OF ABOUT 300LBS. DRIVER AND ONE PASSENGER. NO TRAILER. TRUCK IS STOCK RAM 2500 POWER WAGON NO MODIFICATIONS.. AFTER GOING OVER A SLIGHT BUMP ON FREEWAY, TRUCK BEGAN VIOLENT SHAKING, SO VIOLENT THAT I WAS NEARLY UNABLE TO MAINTAI…

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NHTSA ODI #10494858

18,000 miles · Jan 14, 2013

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THE EXHAUST WAS LEAKING INTO THE CABIN AND THE ODOR WAS UNBEARABLE WHILE DRIVING. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS OPERABLE THE EXHAUST SMELL ENTERED THE VENTS AND THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING ON THE EXHAUST LEAK BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR IT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT DID NOT OFFER ENOUGH MONEY FOR A BUY BACK OPTION. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXHIBIT EXHAUST LEAKS AND IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000. UPDATED 02/12/2013*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10492852

42,000 miles · Jan 11, 2013

SteeringSuspension

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WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 55MPH, IF AN EXPANSION JOINT, POT HOLE, OR ANY FORM OF A LARGER BUMP IS HIT, THE VEHICLE WILL GO INTO WHAT IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS "DEATH WOBBLE." TO BE MORE SPECIFIC, THE FRONT AXLE IS SHIFTING SIDE TO SIDE UNDERNEATH THE BODY OF THE TRUCK, CAUSING A VIOLENT SHAKE THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE. BEING AN ASE CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN, I INSPECTED MY PERSONAL VEHICLE WITH TWO OTHER ASE CERTIFIED TECHNICIANS, AND DISCOVERED NO LOGICAL CAUSES FOR SUCH A SHAKE, BUT PROCEEDED TO RETORQUE EVERY NUT AND BOLT UNDER THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH ADDING A NEW HEAVY DUTY STEERING STABILIZER, PER DODGE DEALER SUGGESTION. TO NO AVAIL, THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I CAN NO LONGER ALLOW MY SIX MONTH OLD DAUGHTER TO RIDE IN MY TRUCK FOR FEAR OF DEATH WOBBLE OCCURRING. I REFUSE TO ALLOW MY WIFE TO DRIVE MY TRUCK FOR FEAR OF HER SAFETY. MAKE THIS SITUATION RIGHT WITH RAM TRUCK OWNERS, BEFORE IT TAKES A LIFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10492318

10,500 miles · Jan 11, 2013

SteeringSuspension

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TELL US WHAT HAPPENED: I NOTICED A SEVERE WOBBLE WHICH ALMOST CAUSED ME TO WRECK IN THE LEFT FRONT AFTER HITTING A SMALL BUMP IN THE FREEWAY WHILS TRAVELING 70 M.P.H. THE WOBBLE STOPPED WHEN I SLOWED DOWN. THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN WHEN I HIT ANY KIND OF A BUMP AT SPEEDS OF 70 OR MORE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, IT WAS THERE FOR 4 DAYS, THEY SAID THEY REPAIRED THE PROBLEM, THE DEALER RECOMMENDED I HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED, WHICH I DID AND PAID FOR IT MYSELF. THE NEXT TIME I DROVE ON THE FREEWAY AND HIT A BUMP THE TRUCK WENT INTO A DANGERIUS WOBBLE AGAIN .. I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER,WHICH TIME THE MECHANIC RODE WITH ME AND FELT THE WOBBLE WHEN I HIT A BUMP AT 70 M.P.H. THE MECHANIC SAID HE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE THE FRONT END APART TO FIND THE PROBLEM ,WHICH HE SAID WOULD TAKE A ENTIRE DAY. I LEFT THE TRUCK,, 4 DAYS LATER I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE FRONT END AND IT MIGHT BE THE TIRES..( THE TRUCK HAS 11000 MILES ON IT) I PICKED THE TRUCK UP AND LEFT,AS I WAS DRIVING HOME I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AT 70 M.P.H. AND ALMOST WRECKED.. I'M LOST.. PAID $50.000.00 FOR A DEATH TRAP AND NO WHERE TO TURN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10492203

Official recalls

17V821000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift

Dec 20, 2017

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs, 2011-2017 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, 2009-2017 Ram 1500 and 2010-2017 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin to stick in the open position. With the pin in the open position, the transmission can be shifted out of PARK into any gear without pushing the brake pedal or having the key in the ignition.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Being able to shift the transmission without pushing the brake pedal and/or without a key in the ignition can increase the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, inspect the BTSI, and, as necessary, replace it, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T79.

14V635000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel; Fuel System, Diesel

Oct 8, 2014

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured March 27, 2009, to September 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the electrical connectors of the diesel fuel heater may overheat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the harness side connector with a silver plated beryllium copper terminal service kit, and inspect the fuel heater for leaks, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Chrysler issued interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The recall began on April 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P65.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Fuel System, Diesel

Consequence: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the harness side connector with a silver plated beryllium copper terminal service kit, and inspect the fuel heater for leaks, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Chrysler issued interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The recall began on April 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P65.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel

Consequence: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

13V529000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly

Nov 6, 2013

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 RAM 2500 4X4 and 3500 4X4 trucks, 2008-2012 Dodge RAM 3500 4x2 Cab Chassis, and model year 2008 Dodge RAM 1500 Mega Cab 4x4. The left tie rod assembly may break.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler notified owners on January 16, 2014 that dealers would inspect vehicles and replace the steering linkage assembly, if necessary. On or about February 27, 2014, Chrysler ceased its recall remedy program due to parts quality concerns, and then re-initiated it on or about April 14, 2014. In July 2015, and under a consent order with NHTSA, the company agreed to offer owners three options for remedying their vehicles: perform the original remedy, offer to repurchase the vehicle at the fair market value plus 10%, or offer an additional incentive offer towards the purchase of a new Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, or Fiat vehicle. Chrysler will notify owners of the new recall options in a letter expected to be mailed on August 31, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N49.

11V350000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly

Jul 6, 2011

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 2500/3500 4X4, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH MARCH 28, 2011; MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 3500 CAB CHASSIS 4X2, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH MARCH 28, 2011; AND MODEL YEAR 2008 DODGE RAM 1500 MEGA CAB 4X4, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH AUGUST 15, 2008, BECAUSE THE LEFT TIE ROD BALL STUD MAY FRACTURE. THIS CONDITION TENDS TO OCCUR DURING LOW SPEED PARKING LOT TYPE MANEUVERS WHEN THE CUSTOMER IS MAKING A TIGHT TURN. ADDITIONALLY, MODEL YEAR 2003-2008 DODGE RAM 2500/3500 VEHICLES MAY HAVE RECEIVED THE AFFECTED TIE ROD ASSEMBLY AS A REPLACEMENT PART DURING NORMAL SERVICE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL STABILITY IN THE LEFT HAND FRONT WHEEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TIE ROD ENDS FOR RELATIVE ORIENTATION AND REPLACE THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD AS REQUIRED AND PERFORM A FRONT END TOE ALIGNMENT AS NEEDED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 3, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

EA19001 · Electrical Overstress

Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications. The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU. In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment. FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle. Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW. These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes. An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time. In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU. This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners. Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW. The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation. The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage. There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation. The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU. If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC. Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC. All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled. In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024. With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.