Steering. Review the 152 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports4 fire reports6 injury reports

Steering complaints

152 reports

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29,367 miles · Oct 16, 2012

Steering

AFTER TIE ROD END REPLACEMENT ON DODGE RAM TRUCKS (CHRYSLER RECALL L16) ALIGNMENT NEEDS TO BE CHECKED. RECALL NOTICE L16 DOES NOT REQUIRE CHRYSLER TO CHECK ALIGNMENT, AND ONE DEALERSHIP IN GRESHAM OREGON DOES NOT CHECK CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION IF ALIGNMENT IS OUT.

NHTSA ODI #10481601

23,160 miles · Sep 18, 2012

SteeringSuspension

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH HIT A SMALL BUMP AND THE FRONT END STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY,THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE. I HAD TO PULL OFF AND STOP BEFORE IT WOULD STOP. THEN PROCEEDING ON DIDN'T HAVE ANYMORE PROBLEMS YET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10475787

69,851 miles · Aug 29, 2012

SteeringStructure

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FRONT LEFT TIE ROD WAS A SAFETY RECALL IN MARCH. I HAD IT LOOKED AT AND THE DEALER SAID IT WAS FINE. ON FRIDAY AUGUST 24TH I WAS TURNING AROUND IN A DRIVEWAY AFTER I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY 10 MINUTES PRIOR WHEN THE TIE ROD BROKE. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE IN WHICH THEY TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER SINCE WE WERE 58 MILES FROM HOME. THE DEALER GAVE ME A RENTAL CAR AND TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING, CHRYSLER WOULD HANDLE IT. ON SATURDAY THE 25TH, THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO USE MY EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE CHRYSLER SAID THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THIS, EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS A RECALLED PART. I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE 100.00 DEDUCTIBLE. I THEN FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CHRYSLER, WHO THEN CALLED ME ON MONDAY THE 27TH AND TOLD ME THEY WOULD PAY THE DEDUCTIBLE AND I WOULD HAVE TO ISSUE THE CHECK FIRST AND THEY WOULD SEND ME THE CHECK. I DID NOT HAVE 100.00 AND TOLD THEM THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO PAY UPFRONT. THEY SAID THEY WOULD TALK TO THE DEALER AND TAKE CARE OF IT. ON TUESDAY, THE 28TH I GO TO PICK UP MY TRUCK AND THEY SAID CHRYSLER DID NOT PAY AND I HAD TO BORROW 100 TO TAKE CARE OF THE DEDUCTIBLE AND ALSO HAD TO FILL UP THE RENTAL CAR. I FEEL THAT THIS WAS ALL ON CHRYSLER AND I HAVE BEEN A DODGE OWNER SINCE EARLY 90'S AND I REFUSE TO BUY DODGE EVER AGAIN BECAUSE OF THEIR LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE. I COULD OF BEEN KILLED IF THIS WAS TO HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND CHRYSLER JUST DOES NOT CARE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10472865

31,300 miles · Aug 11, 2012

SteeringSuspensionWheels

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I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DOING AROUND 75 AND HIT A SMALL BUMP AND ALL 4 TIRES LOCKED UP, THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN SHOOK VIOLENTLY, THE DASHBOARD AND EVERYTHING SHOOK REALLY HARD. I STARTED TO HIT THE BRAKES AND DID NOT LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL EVEN IF IT WAS SHAKING HARD. MY TRUCK STARTED TO GO ONTO THE SHOULDER THEN WENT INTO THE GRASS ON THE RIGHT AND CAME TO A STOP. IT WAS STILL RUNNING AND I GOT OUT TO LOOK AT THE TIRES AND UNDERNEATH BUT NOTHING WAS WRONG. I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER AND TOLD THEM I EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE AND NOT TO TRY TO DUPLICATE THE COMPLAINT BECAUSE IT WILL GO OUT OF CONTROL. TODAY THEY CALLED ME TO SAY THEY REPLACED THE BALL JOINT (UNDER WARRANTY) BUT I HAVE TO PAY FOR AN ALIGNMENT. I TOLD THEM THAT I LOOKED THE SYMPTOMS UP ON THE INTERNET AND SAW THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM THAT CANT BE FIXED AND I DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO ME AGAIN, THEY CAN KEEP IT. WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY 700.00/MONTH PAYMENTS AND ALSO PAY WITH MY LIFE OR SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE TOO? I WILL NOT PICK THIS 'FIXED' TRUCK UP FROM THE DEALER. ON THE INTERNET AND YOU-TUBE ITS CALLED, THE DEATH WOBBLE AND IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME, ONLY WORSE AND TWICE! SO, TODAY I WENT TO NHTSA AND FILED BOTH COMPLAINTS. BELIEVE ME, I MAY NOT HAVE IT ON VIDEO BUT ITS VERY VIOLENT AND YOU CANT STEER! THE STEERING SHAKES SO BAD THAT YOU CAN BARELY HANG ONTO IT AND I THINK ALL THE TIRES QUIT TURNING BECAUSE YOU LITERALLY ARE BOUNCING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10470240

18,200 miles · Aug 11, 2012

SteeringSuspensionWheels

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I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, IT WAS RAINING AND HIT A SMALL BUMP AND THE WHOLE TRUCK STARTED VIOLENTLY BOUNCING EVERYWHERE (INSIDE THE CAB AND OUTSIDE) LIKE ALL FOUR TIRES STOPPED TURNING. IT WAS SO BAD THAT MY BRIEFCASE, CELL PHONE AND WATER GOT THROWN. I COULDN'T STEER TOO WELL SO I HIT THE BRAKES AND STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY THEN WENT VERY SLOW TO A GAS STATION AND TWO STRANGERS FOLLOWED ME TO SEE IF I WAS OKAY AND THEY BOTH SAID THAT THEY THINK MY TRUCK WENT INTO 4-WHEEL DRIVE BY ITSELF BECAUSE MY TIRES WEREN'T TURNING. I TOOK IT INTO THE WYATT ARP DEALER, THEY GAVE ME A RENTAL FOR 2 DAYS. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE AND MY 4-WHEEL DRIVE PROBLEM. THE PAPERWORK SAYS, "CUSTOMER STATES WAS TRAVELING 75 MPH ON HWY I-10 WHEN RAINING REAR TIRES LOCKED UP AFTER HITTING BUMP. UNABLE TO DUPLICATE CUSTOMER CONCERN AT THIS TIME". *TR

NHTSA ODI #10470237

45,000 miles · Mar 8, 2012

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMB: 11V350000 (STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REMEDY THE RECALLED COMPONENT WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT PROVIDED A TIMETABLE AS TO WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE SITUATION. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10450721

10,615 miles · Feb 25, 2012

Steering

BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. GOT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND SAW THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD BROKEN. LUCKILY I WAS ONLY GOING IN REVERSE AND NOT DOING 55 MPH. I HAD NY WHOLE WIFE AND 3 KIDS IN THE TRUCK. A QUICK SEARCH ON GOOGLE AND YOU WILL FIND NUM…

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NHTSA ODI #10449323

61,000 miles · Feb 2, 2012

Steering

DRIVERS SIDE TIE ROD END BROKE WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE WITH WHEEL TURNED TO LEFT. THIS CAUSED COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS, OR NOISES TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING FORWARD AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED IT WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE CAUSE A ACCIDENT. IN ADDITION H…

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NHTSA ODI #10446258

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2012

Steering

DRIVERS SIDE TIE ROD END BROKE IN HALF WHILE BACKING UP WITH WHEEL TURNED TO RIGHT. THIS CAUSED COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS, OR NOISES TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING FORWARD AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED IT WOULD PROBABLE HAVE CAUSE A ROLL OVER. IN ADDITION HAD THE RECA…

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NHTSA ODI #10445607

60,000 miles · Jan 17, 2012

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, THE CONTACT HEARD SOMETHING SNAP COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AFTER THE SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V657000 (STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY)BUT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10444104

Official recalls

17V821000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift

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.

14V635000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel; Fuel System, Diesel

Oct 8, 2014

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured March 27, 2009, to September 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the electrical connectors of the diesel fuel heater may overheat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the harness side connector with a silver plated beryllium copper terminal service kit, and inspect the fuel heater for leaks, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Chrysler issued interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The recall began on April 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P65.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Fuel System, Diesel

Consequence: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the harness side connector with a silver plated beryllium copper terminal service kit, and inspect the fuel heater for leaks, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Chrysler issued interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The recall began on April 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P65.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel

Consequence: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

13V529000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly

Nov 6, 2013

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 RAM 2500 4X4 and 3500 4X4 trucks, 2008-2012 Dodge RAM 3500 4x2 Cab Chassis, and model year 2008 Dodge RAM 1500 Mega Cab 4x4. The left tie rod assembly may break.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler notified owners on January 16, 2014 that dealers would inspect vehicles and replace the steering linkage assembly, if necessary. On or about February 27, 2014, Chrysler ceased its recall remedy program due to parts quality concerns, and then re-initiated it on or about April 14, 2014. 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 N49.

11V350000 · Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly

Jul 6, 2011

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 2500/3500 4X4, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH MARCH 28, 2011; MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 DODGE RAM 3500 CAB CHASSIS 4X2, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH MARCH 28, 2011; AND MODEL YEAR 2008 DODGE RAM 1500 MEGA CAB 4X4, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2008, THROUGH AUGUST 15, 2008, BECAUSE THE LEFT TIE ROD BALL STUD MAY FRACTURE. THIS CONDITION TENDS TO OCCUR DURING LOW SPEED PARKING LOT TYPE MANEUVERS WHEN THE CUSTOMER IS MAKING A TIGHT TURN. ADDITIONALLY, MODEL YEAR 2003-2008 DODGE RAM 2500/3500 VEHICLES MAY HAVE RECEIVED THE AFFECTED TIE ROD ASSEMBLY AS A REPLACEMENT PART DURING NORMAL SERVICE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL STABILITY IN THE LEFT HAND FRONT WHEEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TIE ROD ENDS FOR RELATIVE ORIENTATION AND REPLACE THE LEFT OUTER TIE ROD AS REQUIRED AND PERFORM A FRONT END TOE ALIGNMENT AS NEEDED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 3, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

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

EA19001 · 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.