2017 Ram 1500: ball joint or control arm failure

Filed Mar 2, 2026 · Steering · IL

Steering is stiff at center. When turning left or right, it starts to free up and at 1/4 turn its stiffens up again then frees then stiff. The steering repeats this returning to center. I have also experienced in the last 6000 miles the truck pulling hard to the left somedays and other days pulling hard right. there was also an episode when the steering wheel shook valiantly at 70mph on a newly paved road. this lasted about 3 seconds and went away. I have inspected the ball joints and tie rod ends and these components are good. I haven't taken it to the dealer yet. I have researched this issue and found that the dealers won't fix this issue if your VIN doesn't match the "known" batch of EPS units installed at the factory. I ran my VIN number through both the Manufactures recalls and this sites and there are no recalls with this issue listed. I haven't had an official inspection done yet. From what I understand, the dealer will need to look at the serial number on the EPS unit, then determine if its a "known bad batch of EPS units" then see if you vehicle qualifies. since my VIN yielded no recalls, the common practice is the dealer will not fix the issue on a recall. No lamps have came on. This started in the fall of 2025. I have since replaced the ball joints and struts, but the steering is still stiff, loose, then stiff and doesn't want to return to center as described earlier.

Filed Feb 17, 2025 · Suspension · PA

Was driving my truck and the air suspension stopped working. My truck is roughly 2-3 inches from the ground. Both of my front tires are pointing inward when you look at it from the front from the weight of the motor on the deflated suspension. Hits small bumps like explosions. Very unsafe to drive. If I keep driving it the way it is the front ball joint or wheel bearings are going to come off. The manufacturer knows there is a problem with this and has not made any reasonable fixes for it. Took it to my dealer and so far I am in $2000.00 without being fixed. This needs to be recalled before someone gets killed. If you read some of these message boards online there are hundreds if not thousands of these vehicles doing this. I can not drive above 45mph without the front end bouncing up and down violently.

Filed Aug 14, 2024 · Fuel system, Steering · VA

I am writing this letter about a vehicle I purchased in November 2023. The vehicle purchased was a 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Diesel from Rick Chevrolet in Virginia Beach VA. The truck has many defects. The first month I took it back for a leaking tire, broken windshield, oil leak and because it drove funny and I did not know what was wrong with it, but I knew something was wrong. They kept the truck for approximately a week or two. In April I hit a pothole in Norfolk off [XXX] and I didn’t know what had happened to the truck. I left it in Norfolk until the next morning because I could not get a tow truck to come out that night. I had my truck towed to Dodge, Ram and FIAT in Norfolk VA. They told me the Tie Rod, Axle, had broken. The Dealer then, told me that the truck would not align so they sent it to the Collision Center. The collision center told me that the truck had a bent frame and it did not happen due to the pothole. That the truck was a death trap and I need not to drive it that the dealer should not have sold me that truck. I went and talked to the Manager at Rick Chevrolet named Kerry and he said we could swap the truck, but I had to make a down payment of an excessive amount due to my credit. I did not know that this truck was a nightmare and I feel why should I have to pay for someone selling me a truck that can kill me and whoever is riding with me. I bought the truck because they are supposed to be safe. This is ridiculous and the dealership is not trying to help me out of this by putting me in a safe vehicle. I am paying for something that is going to cause me bodily harm or my life, and they want me to pay more to get into a safe vehicle. This truck should not have been sold and because it was, they need to take responsibility and swap me out of this death trap. Can you please look into this matter. The collision center gave me copies of what they did, and what they found wrong with the truck and a picture of frame being bent. The firewall INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATIO

Filed May 2, 2024 · Body, Suspension · 200,000 miles · MS

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 45-50 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering violently and was pulling to the left and to the right. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the front lower control arms had detached and the front subframe was fractured. The vehicle was not repaired. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

Filed Sep 20, 2023 · Suspension · MI

While hard accelerating from a stop light and towing a moderately loaded trailer (~ 3,000 lbs), I felt the turbo engage and heard a loud bang and felt the rear end get wobbly. The truck pulled violently to the right and I instantly lost accelaration and heard something dragging on the concrete, I coasted into the left turn lane and got out to find my driveshaft had broke at the rear differential yoke and was resting on the ground, still attached to the transfer case. I hopped back in and put it in 4wd to power the front tires to limp to a safe location about 100 yards down the road. Upon closer inspection both upper control arm ends that attached to a frame via a bushing broke causing the differential to rotate to the point the rear u-joint yoke broke off the drive shaft. I called a dealer but the repair time was > 1month so I repaired it myself by replacing both control arms (with Moog aftermarket arms) and a new Mopar drive shaft. Upon closer inspection both control arm ends had poor weld quality (poor weld fusion) where the bushing loop attaches to the control arm shaft. They should not have failed given the normal driving and the low miles on the vehicle. This is definitely a manufacturers defect that could have caused a serious accident had the loss of control caused the vehicle to swerved into oncoming traffic. I still have the defective part if needed for closer inspection/testing. This incident was shared with FCA recalls but was not covered nor were they interested in the issue. I also have pictures on my phone that would upload properly but i could send in an email...

Filed Sep 30, 2019 · Engine, Steering · 40,000 miles · NY

Noticed at 40k miles there is issue with tie rod ends joints become loose may cause accident reported this to a dealership they trying to brush me off bs that there is issue with rockers and lifters in the engine and exhaust manifold studs are snapping causing exhaust to leak and become louder that's a emission issue also