2001 Dodge RAM 1500: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Jun 6, 2018 · Steering, Suspension · 96,000 miles · PA

The fabricated attachment points that hold the control arms, track bar, damper and springs to the front axle rust to the point of being unsafe. I have replaced my front axle once, and will have to do so again shortly. Fortunately this problem was detected before the axle fell out of the truck, and that is what would have happened! The manufacturer simply did not protect these critical parts from corrosion.

Filed Mar 8, 2012 · Suspension · 50 miles · TX

When we purchased this truck new in aransas pass tx & it rode like the springs were soft & bounced all over . It got worse at higher speeds. We had the springs checked & were told that they were good & this truck just rides this way. It started wearing the tires real bad and we had them replaced.then we had to have them replaced again ( only getting 13,000 miles on them before they were almost worn out) so we took it in again ( 3rd time ) to get tires with under 76,000 miles on it. We went to firestone in corpus christi texas & got new tires again but they could not do the alignment because the ball joints are real bad. We had no idea that it had a problem because we were told its normal for it to ride that way. So it has been the ball joints all along and it is getting more dangerous every day- bounces and feels like it may turn over. It really scares me. Ii found over many complaints about ball joints being bad on this vehicle from the beginning & dodge replaced them at under 25,000 miles till the 3rd year.then way too many to count have had to replace the ball joints between 36,000 and 80,000 miles. Also we have never gotten any recalls on this vehicle and we lived at the same address. There are many recalls I see that we did not get notice of . This truck is and has always been dangerous. We have had it for a long time but cant drive it much because of the bouncing and swaying. We have felt from the beginning that it is dangerous and could cause a bad accident. But we were told it just rides like that because of the vehicle and the tow package. So in 2004 we bought another vehicle to use because this one feels scary. So we have put an average of only about 6500 miles a year because we are afraid of it. Plus it is on the 4th set of tires and has always worn them out really fast. It still rides the same way it did from the 1st day we got it. Scary.

Filed Nov 30, 2010 · Steering · 50,000 miles · TN

When driving down the road at over 45 to 50 MPH, if I hit a bump or dip in the road, the front end/steering wheel shakes violently. I have to slow down and sometimes almost stop to get it to quit. My wife was driving behind me one day when it happened and she reported the tire/wheel looked like it was going o lay on its side. She was concerned the tie rod would break and cause an accident.

Filed Aug 24, 2010 · Steering, Suspension · 80,000 miles · CT

I own a 2001 dodge ram 1500 quad cab 4x4. When you hit a bump or pot hole at 50mph or faster the whole truck shakes violently so bad that you barely have control of the vehicle. It does not stop until you can slow the truck down..which is almost impossible. It happened to me 3 or 4 times on a major highway had to slam on the brakes to slow it down causing people around me to almost get in to accidents trying not to slam into me because in had no control of the truck. I have put in upper and lower ball joints,trac bar .steering column..nothing has fixed the problem and dodge wants to know nothing.someone is going to get hurt or killed if this nproblem isn't fixed by dodge. There are all kinds of complaints on the internet and also from mechanics and people I have talked to. Everyone who owns a dodge truck can tell you about the "death wobble". I have done a lot of research and have found out it could have something to do with front end alignment. Thats next for me to try.

Filed Jun 18, 2010 · Steering, Suspension · 46,000 miles · PA

From aug 08 to present at speeds of 40 MPH and up my 2001 dodge ram 1500 4x4 when hitting a bump the front end develops the "death wobble" have had to two different dodge dealers and have paid to have all ball joints, tie rod ends, steering box etc replaced and problem is still there now I start looking online and I see I am one of many out there with this problem. Something needs to be done to have dodge come up with an actual fix for this it is very dangerous and I have personally had this happen on the pa turnpike and numerous other roads and been very close to some deadly accidents with it. I have actually bought another vehicle and truck is sitting in my yard. The answer I get from dodge is trade it in if it is such a problem but I refuse to put another family in that position. So I sit here listening to my money in the yard waste away.

Filed Apr 14, 2009 · Steering, Suspension · 40,000 miles · CA

Front end death wobble on dodge ram 1500 4x4 2009 trucks. When hit a rough patch of freeway road at 70 MPH the front end shakes out of control until truck is slowed down to 45 MPH. Several repairs have been done including replacing the track bar, steering arms, ball joints, front end alignments, with no fix. The web has several problems listed but no fix. This must be fixed by dodge with a recall. Can you help!

Filed Aug 23, 2008 · Suspension · 48,435 miles · TX

This problem is on a 2001 dodge ram 1500 truck with only 48,435 miles on it. (ball joint failure) one lower ball joint had .25 inch of free play the other one had .10 inch of free play, one upper joint had .07 inch of free play . I replaced all 4 of the ball joints just for safety. Total cost was $780 . If these ball joints had grease nipples this failure would not have happened. I contacted dodge and they would only cover $110 of the replacement cost.

Filed Mar 6, 2006 · Suspension · 49,273 miles · FL

Dt*: the contact stated while turning the steering wheel there was a squeaking noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealership for inspection. They determined the upper and lower control arms needed to be replaced however no repairs were made. The manufacturer was alerted.

Filed Mar 2, 2006 · Suspension · 30,000 miles · GA

Dt*: the contact stated while taking the vehicle to the independent repair shop for normal maintenance, the mechanic discovered the front ball joints needed replaced. Upon further inspections, the seal around the ball joints were worn and the lubricant leaked out; however no repairs were made. The consumer stated there were no grease fittings on the joints. Updated 03/17/06.

Filed Jan 20, 2006 · Suspension · 46,700 miles · FL

While visiting my cousin in fredericksburg va, he notice noise from the front of the car, we spot the broken coil spring and also notice the brand new tire (front, driver side has scratch on the side wall we assume the broken coil spring cause that. I took the truck in at stafford dodge in va to have the coil spring replace. The dealership said the control and upper and lower ball joints were wearing out need to be replace it will cost about $2500. I call in to chrysler motor to let them know that for 5 years old truck, I have to replace coil spring $527.44 and control arm when I have money to replace $2500.00. That just not right.

Filed Dec 2, 2005 · Suspension · 40,000 miles · FL

Dt: the contact stated the vehicle was driving funny. He took the vehicle to the dealership for inspection. They determined the ball joints needed to be replaced at 40,000 miles. The vehicle was repaired at the contact's expense with no assistance from the manufacturer.

Filed Nov 30, 2005 · Engine, Suspension · OH

The front wheel assembly, control arms, and wheel hubs had to be replaced by local dealer. I was told by a trained technician that the wheel's could have broken away from the vehicle while driving. The engine heater core and air conditioning main element stopped functioning and had to be replaced by local dealer. The rear differential, pinion bearings and cups stopped working at 77,400 miles and had to be replaced by local dealer. This was just 2,000 miles after the previous stated parts had malfunctioned. Old parts are only available from the rear differential, but invoices are available for all work performed.