The contact owns a 2015 Ram 3500. While attempting to have an alignment performed, the contact was informed that the steering drag link and the tie rod were both cracked. The failure caused rapid, premature wear on the tire. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V021000 (Steering); and believed that the welding that was performed in the recall repair had directly caused the current failure. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer, where the technicians diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the previous recall repair made it impossible to perform a proper wheel alignment. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 193,000.
Ram 3500 ball joint problems
25 of the 2,369 owner complaints about the Ram 3500 describe ball joint or control arm failure, most of them for the 2014 model year.
- owner complaints
- 25
- worst model year
- 2014
- typical mileage
- 100,000
By model year
Often reported together
What owners say
Both front ball joints wore out at 20,000 miles The 3rd break light leaks into the cab at 26,000 miles & won't be warrantied even though there's an active recall for our same truck, same part just different model
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 3500. The contact stated while driving 65-68 MPH over a bumpy road surface, the steering wheel and the front end of the vehicle shuddered significantly. The contact decelerated, exited the freeway, and pulled over to the shoulder of the road. The contact was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle had experienced the death wobble. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the upper ball joints and control arms needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the upper control arms. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, where the upper ball joints were replaced. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times while driving. The contact stated that the upper and lower ball joints, the control arms, the bushings, and other unknown parts were replaced several times; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The truck had a recall done on its steering system. The steering part affected is the drag link. The drag link connects to the steering wheel to the tie rod . The recall fix was to weld the drag link jam nuts so they wouldn't come loose and cause a steering loss. Since the recall the vehicle s drag link can't be aligned correctly with the tie rod the drag link is attached to the steering wheel so when the truck is aligned it backs one side out to far to keep the steering wheel straight. This drag link that was recalled is a (safety issue) it's a bad design and causes the vehicle to sway all over the road and if it fails the truck looses all steering and goes where ever it wants to go Wich will cause a horrible accident and harm innocent family's on the highway including my own family it can lead to the death of people in my vehicle and around my vehicle it's a serious safety issue and a horrible recall fix on rams end. I have a appointment at the ram dealership to get new tires on but I don't want the new tires put on until this issue is fixed as the truck needs alignment and this safety issue aka the welded drag link replaced with the correct fix that the new rams have the new style drag link . It's a safety hazard. And innocent people can get hurt by the horrible recall fix. It's in acceptable. And very unsafe it's hard to keep the truck in a straight line on the roads it's all over the place like a drunk driver .
I have concerns about the ball joints on my Ram 3500 they have been replaced 4 times under warranty. Each time the truck becomes hard to keep under control and wonders back and forth while driving. This is a known issue with Ram
My ABS system has been experiencing intermittent failure, warning light comes on vehicle loses abs Also can’t align front end due to previous recall where dealership welded tie rod adjusting sleeve due to defect in lock nuts. Now vehicle eating front tires. How can a permanent fix remove a necessary adjustment. I understand welding as a temporary fix, until parts available to correct original factory defect. This is ridiculous
While turning around on a paved cul de sac type end of road area I could not complete the turn 100% turning left. I stopped, put truck in reverse and turned the wheel right in order to back up some. Truck would not move hardly at all. Initially I thought the 4wd or transmission was "locked". I put truck in park and found the passenger side tie rod end/drag link separated from the knuckle. The tie rod end ball socket had apparently separated from the male ball part connected to the knuckle due to a "crack" in the metal. See attached picture. Truck was flat bed towed to rick hendrick dodge, savannah hwy, charleston sc.
The tie rod end, which was previously recalled, broken in to two piece at the adjustment sleeve while driving.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, without warning a violent shaking occurred within the steering wheel. The contact managed to regain control of the steering wheel, veered to the shoulder of the road, turned the vehicle off and back on which then resumed back to normal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the front end was inspected and determined that the front lower control arms needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer, planet ford-dodge located at 19000 eastex fwy, humble, tx 77338 was contacted and informed the contact that no warranty was available on the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 162,000.
The vehicle was taken in for a front end alignment. When the technician loosened the tube retaining clamp to adjust the outer tie rod, one side of the threaded portion of the adjuster tube, socket, tie rod end (68369910ac) fell on the ground. The metal wall sheared at the start of the adjustment threads and showed signs of metal fatigue. The opposite side was fully cracked in the same location but had not sheared off the adjuster tube, socket, tie rod end yet. It took very little effort to break the piece off by hand. Failure would have been imminent if left untouched. Failure while the vehicle was in operation would have resulted in loss of control of the vehicle. The vehicle was stationary at an alignment shop. The adjuster tube, socket, tie rod end is identified as part (1) in the attached drawing. Failure point is at the end where adjuster tube (2) is threaded in and tube retaining clamps (15) and (16). Pictures of the failed component are attached.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Ram 3500 ball joint
Which Ram 3500 years have ball joint or control arm failure problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2014 (7 complaints), 2013 (5 complaints) and 2015 (3 complaints).
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