2009 Dodge RAM 3500: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Jun 20, 2019 · Electrical, Steering · 114,215 miles · AL

My 2011 mega cab 3500 was purchased in nov of 2018 with only approx. 110k miles on odometer. After a short while of driving, a vibration started getting worse up until I took to a dealer at approx. 114k for a check on toe & alignment. It ended up being a total repair of upper & lower u-joints & ball joints. Also had to replace driver's mirror-had short, wiring harness on passenger headlight-had short, transmission shifter seal leaked, new pinion gear & seal, & few other items also. It seems like a diesel that has just started breaking in was falling apart on me before it's time. Needless to say, about 4 months or so after I made the purchase, I had to fork out a !!heap!! Of $$$$$ for repairs that I couldn't recover. Funny thing is, before I bought the truck, another gentleman told me these years of dodge trucks he had heard they were having a lot of front end trouble. I'm shocked there hasn't been a recall. It sure would be nice to be reimbursed.

Filed Aug 17, 2017 · Steering, Transmission · 128,000 miles · TN

Two issues: 1: knocking sound when turning at parking lot speeds. I've replaced bushings, linkages, ball joints, and nothing helped. I replaced wheel hub assemblies and the knocking is reduced, but not fixed. Shop owners that drive the same truck say they've spent thousands of dollars on their own vehicles and can't pinpoint the front end noises either. 2:vibration under the vehicle, from the transfer case, through the drive shaft, to the rear differential. Diesel shop says it's a common issue for the seals to get worn out due to imbalanced drive shaft. However, the drive shaft didn't lose any weights and was fine for the fist 90,000 miles. This is a very common issue with dodge adam 2500 and 3500, according to the shop. At first I thought it was the tires, so I had them replaced and kept going to different shops, thinking that some may be better at balancing than others. There's a definite vibration between 45-55 MPH and then it's really bad at 69-75+ MPH. It's been getting worse for months and after replacing worn out seal on transfer case, it still isn't proper, but somewhat better. Shop said it's temporary and partial fix until I get the driveshaft balanced, but it has to be sent off for balancing and could take 3-4 days. I can't be without my truck for 3 days. I drove a ford for 300,000 miles with no issues in the steering nor in the drivetrain. I drove a chevy for 200,000 miles with zero issues that this dodge ram 3500 has.

Filed Mar 24, 2016 · Steering · 81,000 miles · KS

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 dodge ram 3500. While driving 65 MPH, the contact lost control of the vehicle and drove into a ditch. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the driver side tie rod ball stud fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 13v529000 (steering). The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired a second time. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 81,000.

Filed Oct 30, 2015 · Steering · 103,600 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 dodge ram 3500. The contact stated that the tires prematurely had been worn out. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and an alignment was performed and the tie rod assembly was replaced. Months after the repairs, there was premature deterioration of the ball joints and tires. The tires were replaced by the contact due to the failure. The dealer later stated that the ball joints had been worn and they replaced the shocks and ball joints as well they provided an alignment. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled and it was unable to restart. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who diagnosed that the tipm and the fuse box box needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign numbers: 13v529000 (steering), 11v350000 (steering) and 09v005000 (steering). The approximate failure mileage was 103,600.

Filed Aug 31, 2015 · Steering · 252,000 miles · LA

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 dodge ram 3500. The contact had the vehicle repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 13v529000 (steering); however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for other repairs, and the mechanic noticed that the driver side tie rod fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 252,000. Ma 10/8

Filed Aug 2, 2015 · Steering, Suspension · 59,856 miles · CA

Driving on highway 101 in a northern direction driving in my lane and upon hitting a pot hole my truck went into a violent shuttering and shaking to the point of losing control of my vehicle pulling to the side of the road and coming to a complete stop in the emergency lane,then starting back up to drive until the next bump to send my truck into a front end shake athon, and violent shaking to the point of no ability to stear truck, this truck has been brought in to dealer 5 times and still it does the same thing after replacing stableizer shock absorber tie rod ends and new front shocks. The violent shaking is still continued on vehicle to this day and any bump on the road can set it off and the shaking will not stop unless I come to a complete stop!!!!

Filed Jul 28, 2015 · Suspension · 33,000 miles · MT

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 (na) dodge ram 3500. While driving at high speeds, the front end of the vehicle shook violently after hitting a bump. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front end ball joints needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 33,000.

Filed Jun 30, 2014 · Steering · 54,235 miles · MA

I received a notice for a safety recall n49/the federal safety agency 13v‑529 back in december I believe for a possible problem with the tie rod ball stud. The recall stated that the parts were not available at that time and to check with my dealership. I went in the dealership two weeks ago and they checked out my truck and stated that my vehicle qualified for the recall but they would have to put me on a waiting list as dodge would not let them stock the parts. They had to order the parts for each individual vehicle and then it was a two part process. I received another notice of recall today 6/30/14. I believe that if they are going to issue a recall then the parts need to be available or readily available to correct the problem. This truck was purchased specifically to tow our large 5th wheel camper and now we are in the middle of camping season wondering if we are going to crash every time we go out with the truck and trailer.

Filed Jun 18, 2014 · Body, Steering · 10,000 miles · OR · crash

8-7-2010, traveling e/b hwy 26 at 55 MPH near manning, or. Just passing roadside fruit stand heard pop, truck pulled to right jumped the curb and veered directly toward steel guardrail. To avoid head on t.c. With guardrail, I pulled hard to the right toward what appeared to be clear ravine. Had to steer between two trees at bottom and struck pile of 4 foot logs left by dot. Vehicle came to rest about another 50 feet. Right front tire shredded, rim damaged, steering damaged as well as major front end damage. Have digital of same. Noted that witnesses at the fruit stand said they heard the pop and observed my vehicle pull to the right and jump the curb. Roseburg lithia dodge body shop did all repairs. Note that left front tie rod fell off while on blm road. Had to be towed in and repairs again made by same shop.

Filed Jun 5, 2014 · Steering, Suspension · 17,000 miles · OR · crash

8-10-10 3500 ram e/b hwy 47 at 55 MPH passing fruit stand heard loud pop and vehicle veered right jumping curb headed toward guardrail. I pulled as hard as I could to avoid ramming the guardrail and imminent injury to both myself and son in right front seat. Dropped about 20 down into ravine in 4 foot grass and struck pile of 4 foot logs thrown there by road .crew. Front end including steering tie rod had to be replaced. 10-8-10 while driving on mountain blm road in four wheel low. I stopped to backup and left front tire turned sideways. The tie rod lock nut had come undone fell off (unknown location) tie rod dropped to ground. Had to use hay twine to tie up and hold together in order to get back to ranch out of the mountains. It took 4 hours to creep home with my son walking the vehicle around every corner to assure the tie rod stayed together. Vehicle towed to and repaired by roseburg lithia dodge. I filed safety complaint about tie rod safety hazard. Approximately a year and a half ago, noted loud snapping when turning front end. Tire shop could hear and feel, but we were unable to locate problem. Recall came out and recall parts had to be recalled. No repair. Just notified again of recall and had to have vehicle inspected to confirm recall parts needed. 6-4-14 wife took truck into roseburg lithia dodge for the inspection to get the recall parts ordered. She brought the loud snapping to service writers attention. He advised approximately 70 customers ahead of us and it would be about 4 months till repair could be make. She advised problem getting worse and possed an imminent safety hazard. Service writer showed no concern for safety and advised the problem was between us and chrysler. Should another accident or tie rod failure be proximate cause, both roseburg lithia dodge and chrysler will be held responsible for gross negligence.

Filed May 27, 2014 · Steering · 33,000 miles · WA

I have received a recall notice from chrysler about our ram 3500 for a left tie rod replacement. It has currently been over two months since I have been to the dealer to initiate the replacement. They are now telling me I have another 6 months of waiting due to chrysler not shipping the parts for the recall. Chrysler has also informed me I am operating the vehicle at our own risk in the event of a part failure, and a crash. It would seem to me that since this is a huge safety issue, that they would be making the parts available so owners are not risking self injury, and injury to others by operating the vehicle. Many of these trucks are utilized in hauling horse trailers and such, and a rental cannot be found, and owners should not have to either quit driving their vehicles for extended periods of time, or be forced to pay for a rental in order to be safe.

Filed May 21, 2014 · Steering · 49,000 miles · WI

Recall n49 states "the left tie rod ball stud on your truck may fracture under certain driving conditions. This could cause a loss of directional control and/or crash without warning." sounds fairly serious. The recall notice further states "simply contact your chrysler, jeep, or dodge dealer starting january 6, 2014 to schedule a service appointment." I did contact my dealer on january 6, 2014 and several more times since. I have also contacted other dealers in my area about five times since january. Always the same story. Parts are not available. Parts are backordered. No expected date for parts availability is known. I am somewhere between #50 - #60 on my dealer's waiting list. No one can tell me if the truck is safe to drive or when it might get fixed. Chrysler needs to step it up a bit. Do I have any recourse against chrysler at this time since my truck has been more or less setting in the garage for nearly 5 months and apparently will remain there for who knows how long?