NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
40 reportsClear category filter62,700 miles · Sep 25, 2015
SteeringSuspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND RACK AND PINION WERE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT, THE FAILUR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM AND RACK AND PINION WERE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,700.
NHTSA ODI #10776609
83,600 miles · Sep 8, 2015
EngineSteeringSuspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT TIE ROD ASSEMBLY FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING BEARING ASSEMBLY TO FAIL. THE STEERING ASSEMBLY AND THE FRO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT TIE ROD ASSEMBLY FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING BEARING ASSEMBLY TO FAIL. THE STEERING ASSEMBLY AND THE FRONT TIE ROD ASSEMBLY WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING; HOWEVER, THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V529000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,600.
NHTSA ODI #10762082
47,300 miles · Sep 7, 2015
Steering
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH I HIT A FEW BUMPS CAUSING A WOBBLE IN FRONT END AND STEERING MAKING THE TRUCK ALMOST JUMP OUT OF ITS LANE. THIS CAUSED OTHER CARS TO SWERVE. NO ACCIDENT BUT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10761969
48,000 miles · Aug 19, 2015
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE AND THE FRONT WHEELS WOULD WOBBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V657000 (STEERING) HOWE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE AND THE FRONT WHEELS WOULD WOBBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V657000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY FAILED TO FIX THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
NHTSA ODI #10749899
8,500 miles · Aug 16, 2015
Power TrainService BrakesSteering
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY FRONT END STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, I STARTED TO SLOW DOWN BUT IT DIDN'T HELP UNTIL I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP . I THEN HEARD LIGHT GRINDING COMING FROM MY FRONT LEFT SIDE OF TRUCK. BEFORE I COULD MAKE IT HOME WITCH WAS ABOUT 10 MILES, THE GRINDING AND LOSS OF STEERING HAD GOT…
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY FRONT END STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, I STARTED TO SLOW DOWN BUT IT DIDN'T HELP UNTIL I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP . I THEN HEARD LIGHT GRINDING COMING FROM MY FRONT LEFT SIDE OF TRUCK. BEFORE I COULD MAKE IT HOME WITCH WAS ABOUT 10 MILES, THE GRINDING AND LOSS OF STEERING HAD GOT SO BAD THAT I WAS DRIVING 5-10 MILES AN HOUR. BARELY MADE IT HOME. THE NEXT MORNING I DROVE IT TO THE BEST SERVICE SHOP IN TOWN WHICH WAS 1/2 MILE FROM WHERE I LIVED AND IT TOOK THEM A MONTH AND $1700.00 LATER TO REPAIR. FRONT AXLE,FRONT BEARING,CALIPERS, A NEW DISC AND BRAKES,A FRONT NUCKLE AND DRIVE SPINDLE FOR THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE.
NHTSA ODI #10748943
77,800 miles · Aug 5, 2015
Power TrainSteeringUnknown Or Other
I PARKED MY VEHICLE, TURNED IT OFF WENT INSIDE FOR A FEW MINUTES. CAME OUT STARTED IT UP. WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I TRIED TO PUT IT IN GEAR (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) WOULD NOT GO IN GEAR THE SHIFTER WOULDN'T MOVE. I TRIED A FEW MORE TIMES AND IT FINALLY WENT INTO GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES ON THE SAME DAY ON 3 DIFFERENT D…
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I PARKED MY VEHICLE, TURNED IT OFF WENT INSIDE FOR A FEW MINUTES. CAME OUT STARTED IT UP. WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I TRIED TO PUT IT IN GEAR (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) WOULD NOT GO IN GEAR THE SHIFTER WOULDN'T MOVE. I TRIED A FEW MORE TIMES AND IT FINALLY WENT INTO GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES ON THE SAME DAY ON 3 DIFFERENT DAYS.
NHTSA ODI #10746405
79,500 miles · Aug 3, 2015
SteeringUnknown Or Other
WHILE EXITING OFF ROUTE 37, MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED THE LAST BEING AUGUST 1, 2015. I CHECKED THE BATTERY CABLES BOTH TIMES AND THEY ARE STILL TIGHT. I HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK TO START BACK UP.
NHTSA ODI #10745815
Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering
THE STEERING WHEEL POPS AND CLICKS WHEN TURNING AND WILL SUDDENLY CHANGES LANES.WHEN PUTTING IT IN PARK THE GEAR SHIFT WILL NOT ALLOW THE KEY TO COME OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH.THE RAM 1500 SHOULD HAVE A STEERING RECALL JUST LIKE THE REST OF THEM THEY USE THE SAME PARTS.
NHTSA ODI #10744024
500,000 miles · Sep 30, 2014
SteeringSuspensionWheels
VIOLET SHAKING OF THE WHOLE VEHICLE, AND WON'T STOP UNTIL YOU SLOW, MORE RIDERS-WORSE THE AFFECT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10640315
35,000 miles · Sep 19, 2014
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering
WIFE WAS DRIVING DONE THE RODE AT ABOUT 35 MILES AND THE TRUCK WENT DEAD , NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. PULLED IT OVER AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. BROUGHT IN TO DODGE DEALERSHIP AND THE REPLACED SOMETHING IN THE COMPUTER AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. I WAS DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY THE NEXT DAY AND IT DIED ON ME CROSSING THE HIGHWAY, S…
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WIFE WAS DRIVING DONE THE RODE AT ABOUT 35 MILES AND THE TRUCK WENT DEAD , NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. PULLED IT OVER AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. BROUGHT IN TO DODGE DEALERSHIP AND THE REPLACED SOMETHING IN THE COMPUTER AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. I WAS DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY THE NEXT DAY AND IT DIED ON ME CROSSING THE HIGHWAY, SEMI TRUCK ALMOST KILLED ME, PUT IT IN PARK AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE SPARK PLUGS, DISHED OUT 225 DOLLARS FOR THAT, SAID ITS FIXED AGAIN. DID IT AGAIN TO MY WIFE THE NEXT DAY WITH MY KIDS IN THE VEHICLE. BROUGHT IT BACK IN DODGE HAD IT FOR TWO WEEKS, KNOW THERE TELLING ME ITS THE FUSE BOX MODULE AT 1400 DOLLARS. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, TALKING TO DEALERSHIP MANAGER ABOUT WIFE NOT FEELING SAFE IN THE VEHICLE, SHE SAID ELECTRICAL WORK IS HARD TO FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO KNOW, YOU SPEND 30,000 PLUS ON A VEHICLE YOU WOULD THING THEY DODGE OR CHRYSLER WOULD BACK THERE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED WITH THIS TRUCK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10637504
Official recalls
4Mar 8, 2018
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Dodge Ram 1500 trucks currently, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Exposure to environmental conditions such as water mixed with road salt may cause the front fuel tank strap frame "T-Slot" bracket to corrode, possibly causing the fuel tank to drop and make contact with the ground.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the fuel tank were to drop and contact the ground, a fuel leak may result. Additionally, in the event of a crash, the fuel tank may not remain secured to the vehicle, possibly causing a fuel leak. A fuel leak in the presence in an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners and dealers will bolt a bracket reinforcement to the frame, free of charge. The recall began May 2, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U04.
Dec 20, 2017
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs, 2011-2017 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, 2009-2017 Ram 1500 and 2010-2017 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks, all equipped with a column shifter. Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin to stick in the open position. With the pin in the open position, the transmission can be shifted out of PARK into any gear without pushing the brake pedal or having the key in the ignition.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Being able to shift the transmission without pushing the brake pedal and/or without a key in the ignition can increase the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software, inspect the BTSI, and, as necessary, replace it, free of charge. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is T79.
Feb 6, 2013
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ram 1500 trucks manufactured from February 27, 2008, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through October 20, 2011; model year 2009-2011 Dodge Dakota trucks manufactured from February 27, 2007, through June 30, 2009, and from December 1, 2009, through September 30, 2011; model year 2009 Chrysler Aspen trucks manufactured from January 3, 2008, through December 18, 2008; and model year 2009 Dodge Durango trucks manufactured from January 3, 2008, through December 18, 2008. The rear axle pinion nut may loosen due to an undersized pinion spline that can allow relative motion between the nut and companion flange.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the rear axle pinion nut loosens, the axle can lock up and cause a loss of vehicle control and/or a vehicle crash with little warning.
Remedy: On November 7, 2013 Chrysler notified owners that dealers would install a pinion nut retainer, free of charge. In July 2015, and under a consent order with NHTSA, the company agreed to offer owners three options for remedying their vehicles: perform the original remedy, offer to repurchase the vehicle at the fair market value plus 10%, or offer an additional incentive offer towards the purchase of a new Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, or Fiat vehicle. Chrysler will notify owners of the new recall options in a letter expected to be mailed on August 31, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N08.
Oct 2, 2012
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2009-2010, Ram 1500 and Dodge Dakota trucks, manufactured from July 1, 2009, through November 30, 2009, because the rear axle pinion nut may loosen due to a lack of adhesive.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the rear axle pinion nut loosens, the axle can lock up and cause a loss of vehicle control and/or a vehicle crash with little warning.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will install a pinion nut retainer, free of charge. The recall began on June 17, 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA19001 · Electrical Overstress
Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications. The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU. In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment. FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle. Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW. These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes. An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time. In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU. This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners. Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW. The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation. The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage. There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation. The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU. If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC. Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC. All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled. In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024. With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.