Check a VIN

Dodge RAM 3500 ball joint problems

358 of the 3,084 owner complaints about the Dodge RAM 3500 describe ball joint or control arm failure, most of them for the 2012 model year.

owner complaints
358
worst model year
2012
typical repair cost reported
$937
typical mileage
64,000
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.

By model year

What owners say

Filed Jul 13, 2026 · Steering · OH

Steering yes it is available for inspection upon request The steering becomes so out the vibration becomes so violent that you can NOT HOLD THE WHEEL you have to pull over anyone driving could be in danger including vehicles around you with how violent the steering wheel vibrates When taken for alignment was told there definitely was a problem said could be a brake caliper hanging up so we put new calipers changed ball joints shocks control arm steering geer box shocks steering dampers trac bar front end alignment & tires balanced Vehicle has not been inspected by anyone but the mechanic that aligned it No warning lights the problem started with a shimmy so we would get it aligned and check tires went on line and found and found a letter that there was a serious problem with 1994 to 2008 Dodge Rams Steering Linkage and the system on our vehicle a Y design is not capable of handling the weight of this vehicle from a article and a letter i read from Chrysler incident has been going on for some time but date below was very serious

Filed Sep 9, 2025 · Suspension · WA

upper control arm cracked which is a safety violation and should be a recall. TRW 52106776 Control arm is the cracked part in the picture My son replace both control arm and send it for alignment total cost was as below; Parts $280 + Alignment $192.59= $472.59 I like Dodge to refund me for $460

Filed Feb 14, 2025 · Suspension, Transmission · 215,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2012 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving uphill at 55 MPH, the contact became aware that the vehicle was not exceeding 55 MPH. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact continued driving to the destination. The vehicle was parked; however, upon inspection, the contact became aware that there were damages on top of the front driver’s side ball joint, the rear driver’s side axle leaf spring shackle, and the driver’s side overload spring. Additionally, there were metal fragments found in the engine oil, and a diagnostic scan retrieved DTC: P0087, P0471, U029D. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was inspected; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 215,000.

Filed Dec 12, 2024 · Steering · MD

Driving vehicle and lost the ability to steer. The inner drag link tie rod broke at pitman arm.

Filed Jul 25, 2024 · Suspension · 225,000 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2003 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was a clunking sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact who is a certified mechanic, inspected the vehicle. Upon expecting the vehicle, the contact determined that both upper control arms had completely rusted and needed to be replaced. The upper and lower ball joints and suspension had been replaced by the contact. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 225,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Jun 25, 2024 · Steering · 162,020 miles · WV

.The contact owns a 2008 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse in the driveway, the steering wheel made an abnormal cracking sound and became significantly loosened. The contact stated that upon inspecting the vehicle, he noticed that the tie rod had fractured. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 13V529000 (Steering). The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 162,020. The VIN was not available.

Filed Aug 28, 2023 · Body · 97,000 miles · MO

The contact owns a 2012 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while reversing at approximately 1 MPH, the front driver’s tie rod fractured and put a whole in the aluminum wheel. The contact who works as an independent mechanic completed the repair. The contact stated that a recall repair for the driver’s side outer tie rod had been completed in July 2019. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

Filed May 3, 2022 · Steering, Suspension · TX · crash · 1 injury

May 13,2020. 11:32am Driving north, my drive side tire violently shook & suddenly gave way pulling me hard left. I struggling to keep truck in my lane but lost control of steering , the airbags also deployed. Blocking my view. The rode was a blind spot . I thought it was a tire failure. Be of the drop & hard pull to left. While the rode was curving right . I could not get truck to fallow curve. Causing truck to cross into oncoming lane. I never saw the other car . With air bags deployed. I thought I lost a tire and hit ditch was lifted up and hit ground hard. I was told I truck hit another car after crash . Hitting a car coming the other way. Causing a young women’s death. The tie rod had a clean break swing freely after break. In March 2020 had pulling or with extra movement off & on . Took to shop, they put a new sway bar on it. Seemed to help, no problems until this sudden catastrophic Paul and drop hard enough to deploy airbags. Truck is totaled but is here & available for inspection. Steve Erwin @ Scientific Analysis Inc. in Dallas TX 214 320-8686 has many pictures & Analysis. He mainly does accident recreations. He mentioned we need to find metals specialist to examine part failures.Due to failure being close to impact.

Filed Apr 14, 2022 · Steering, Suspension · WA

This recall N62 13V‑528 was never done by Duwanne Lanes Everett WA even though I was told by the dealership service team that they had done this recall as requested while they had my truck for over 3mo ths time. On April 3 ,2022 my vehicle had a cautostraphic failure of my steerwheell column & caused my front left tire to break totally off the front steering stabilizer front ball joint tie rod end pitman arm the wheel was free spinning .I had no steering control at all while driving 65 mph on I5 in the center lane. It is sheer luck that I was able to get truck off the freeway without being injured. I think Duanne Lanes of Everett, Wa (RECALL REMEDY INCIDENT) TS

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.

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Questions about the Dodge RAM 3500 ball joint

Which Dodge RAM 3500 years have ball joint or control arm failure problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2012 (59 complaints), 2006 (43 complaints) and 2011 (42 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix ball joint or control arm failure on the Dodge RAM 3500?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $937 (median of 15 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used Dodge RAM 3500?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history