10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
15 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
72,194 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Power Wagon steering problems

steering problem

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2006 Dodge Ram 2500 Power Wagon Owner Comments (Page 1 of 11)

problem #216

Mar 162023

Ram 2500 Power Wagon

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

We were driving down the highway and it started doing the death wobble.

- Deer Lodge , MT, USA

problem #215

May 202021

Ram 2500 Power Wagon

  • miles
The truck is currently at a service station as it developed a "death wobble" while driving down the freeway a shimmed so hard I couldn't control it but managed to get it to the side of the road and finally to a stop. I did not receive any type of warning. I am being told by the mechanic at the service station it is going to require a rebuild of the front suspension. After checking to see if this has been a recall issue, I found there had been 3 but I did not receive notification of this particular recall. Not sure if the age of the truck prevents me from going back to have Dodge resolve this issue. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

- Eagle, CO, USA

problem #214

Sep 052022

Ram 2500 Power Wagon

  • miles
Driving down the road and lost all steering

- Riverton , UT, USA

problem #213

Jan 102022

Ram 2500 Power Wagon

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Drastic front end vibration and uncontrollable steering. Two incidents.

- Calvert City, KY, USA

problem #212

Nov 042021

Ram 2500 Power Wagon

  • 148,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH and hauling a travel trailer, the vehicle wobbled, and the contact lost control of the vehicle when the front driver's and passenger's tires went in different directions. The contact was able to pull over and park the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with fractured linkages and damaged strut rods. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the independent mechanic. Prior to the failure, the independent mechanic had replaced the stabilizer bar, tie rod end, steering ball joints, and linkages. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000.

- Prosperity, SC, USA

problem #211

Jul 232021

Ram 2500 Power Wagon

  • miles
While driving at highway speed in my 2006 Dodge Ram 2500 truck, the truck's front wheels began to violently shake and wobble with incredible vibration and bumpy ride. I thought I would lose control of the vehicle. I slowed, turned on my emergency flashers and hit the brakes pulling off the interstate. After a few minutes I continued on only to have the same incident described happen again a few miles later. I contacted the local Chrysler dealership and made an appointment, detailing the incident. I was told my truck was not covered by a safety campaign.

- Columbus, IN, USA

problem #210

May 312021

Ram 2500 Power Wagon

  • 100,660 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Ram. The contact stated that the vehicle was hauling a trailer while driving at 65 mph when a loud bang was heard and the steering wheel went in circles, which led the vehicle from the center lane into the median and hit the guard rail. The rear driver's side corner of the vehicle was damaged and the front driver and front passenger side of the trailer were damaged from the collision. The contact and passenger did not sustain injuries and medical attention was not received. A police report was filed. The vehicle and trailer were towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact stated that this was a recurring failure after the tie rod assembly and steering linkage were replaced in October 2020 by an independent mechanic. The contact had also received notifications of NHTSA Campaign numbers: 09E001000 (Steering) and 13V528000 (Steering), after the repair in October 2020. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,660.

- Nashua, NH, USA

problem #209

Apr 252021

Ram 2500 Power Wagon

  • 262,000 miles
Steering drag link break with a clean shear in the rod itself. Lucky, vehicle at low speed backing into driveway. All steering control lost. Would be a deadly situation on the road.

- China Grive, NC, USA

problem #208

Aug 232020

Ram 2500 Power Wagon

  • 195,000 miles
Drag link broke causing loss of steering. This was a duralast drag link P/N DS1463 purchased from autozone in 2018 to replace a bent oem part. Failure occurred at 35mph on a dirt road and I was able to safely stop. Drag link broke at upper end near steering box at the machined shoulder where the threads end. Beach marks and a dark area indicate existing crack at this location for some time prior to failure, however there was no indication of impending failure prior to event. Truck has experienced recent problem with death wobble at freeway speeds which was corrected by tire change and new shock absorbers.

- Carson City, NV, USA

problem #207

Dec 092018

Ram 2500 Power Wagon

  • 245,000 miles
Hissing noise when steering wheel is turned. Reading info on the web it states that there was a defect in the manufacturing of the hydro-boost hose. I have provided the tech bulletin. Alot of trucks are having this problem. Case number: S1119000007 release date: 09/17/2011 symptom/vehicle issue: Power steering honk or hiss may be heard during brake applications. Diagnosis: Customers may complain of a noise (honk - sometimes coupled with a hiss during brake applications) during low speed parking lot maneuvers. If you have this complaint, please perform the following: Repair procedure: 1. inspect the steering column intermediate shaft boot is in position and not making noise from rubbing on the shaft. If there is a noise when turning the steering wheel, adjust the boot appropriately and verify the noise is no longer present. 2. if the noise is still present, perform a steering system bleed procedure outlined on techconnect >service info>19-steering>pump>standard procedure>power steering system bleeding and verify the noise is no longer present. 3. if the noise is still present, verify that the pressure hose (to hydro-boost) internal tuner (white plastic hose) has not become dislodged and positioned into the hydro-boost, to do this disconnect the pressure hose from the hydro-boost and see if white plastic tube is protruding from the pressure hose. If it has, replace the hose*, bleed the system of air and verify the noise is no longer present. Note: When returning the hose to the Chrysler warranty center, please return the entire hose including the white plastic tuner element that has become dislodged. 4. if the noise is still present, replace the steering gear and bleed the system and verify the noise is no longer present. If the gear change does not eliminate the noise, please contact the star center. Sag2, Oct 26, 2011

- Keller, TX, USA

problem #206

Jul 012017

Ram 2500 Power Wagon

  • 180,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Experiencing what people call death wobble. 18 months ago hit a bump on the highway and front end shook very hard, I thought I had a flat tire. Nothing found and didn't do it for about a year. This summer it started doing it and became a regular occurrence. Starts when hitting a bump above 60 mph. Only way to stop it is to slow down to below 30 mph...very scary in highway traffic. Once had a tractor trailer veer off the road behind me. Had 2 shops look at it and can't find anything obvious. Replaced track bar, wheel bearing, stabilizer shock, regular shocks, steering gear and had front end realigned. Nothing is fixing it. Vehicle is stock height...no modifications.

- Newport, PA, USA

problem #205

Nov 052018

Ram 2500 Power Wagon

  • miles
Federal mogul issued a recall on moog branded steering components associated to the parts that have been installed on my 2006 Dodge Ram 2500. Waiting on resolution and the way ahead to fix current issues being the failure could be life threatening.

- Port Orchard, WA, USA

problem #204

Feb 152018

Ram 2500 Power Wagon

  • 10 miles
Death wobble on highway after hitting a bump in the road. The truck starts shaking and unable to control the vehicle while this is going on. Seatbelts will not release once this happens, even when seat belt is retracted all the way.

- Cibolo, TX, USA

problem #203

Jan 012009

Ram 2500 Power Wagon

  • 48,000 miles
While traveling over 40 mph and hitting small bumps or pot holes, or sometimes for no apparent reason the front tires will shake violently back and forth, shaking the whole vehicle, making the vehicle nearly uncontrollable. Commonly known as "the death shake". the only way to stop the shake is to slow down rapidly. It's a terrifying thing to experience.

- Payson, UT, USA

problem #202

Mar 232018

Ram 2500 Power Wagon

  • 164,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Dodge Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving at approximately 25 mph, the steering linkage fractured. The vehicle was towed to carson city Dodge Chrysler Jeep (3059 carson St, carson city, nv 89701) but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact believed the failure was related NHTSA campaign numbers: 13V528000 (steering) and 09E001000 (steering) which had not been remedied as of yet. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. Approximate mileage at the time of the failure was 164,000.

- Zephyr Cove, NV, USA

problem #201

Jan 292018

Ram 2500 Power Wagon

  • 197,000 miles
Front drivers side frame is cracked all the way through the frame beginning at the trac bar bracket. This makes steering extremely dangerous because the steering hardware binds. There was a recall (rcrit-15V541-5721) for trac bar bracket weld failures for vehicles from 2012 through 2014. I believe this is a related issue that seriously affects safety. I've attached five pictures.

- Surprise, AZ, USA

problem #200

Nov 282017

Ram 2500 Power Wagon

  • 165,000 miles
Death wobble 11/28/17 you already know what the death wobble is. Uncontrollable shaking of the front end making it difficult to stop and steer truck.

- Cedar Grove, TN, USA

problem #199

Oct 302017

Ram 2500 Power Wagon

  • 125,000 miles
Driving on busy pave road crossing bridge my right tire rod dislocated almost causing a bad accident.

- Islandton, SC, USA

problem #198

Oct 022017

Ram 2500 Power Wagon

  • 185,000 miles
Truck continues to experience a "death wobble" issue even after replacing most of the suspension & steering parts and even adding aftermarket "stiffner" and "problem solver" components to the vehicle. Chrysler had a recall R16 which covered newer vehicles but should have been applied to these older models as well. The steering components and geometry were largely the same and there is a fundamental design flaw with the geometry of the suspension. Symptom: Between the speeds of 45 & 70mph, hitting a large pothole or a bridge seam the vehicle will suddenly develop a violent shaking in the front end. This has caused me to almost crash a number of times since I last filed a complaint on this same vehicle a number of years ago. It is difficult to replicate the problem and when it occurs it occurs rapidly and unexpectedly. It is very difficult to control the vehicle when it occurs and applying the brakes to significantly and quickly reduce the vehicles speed is the only way to halt the vibration. I have almost caused several accidents trying to quickly stop the vehicle or to keep it from entering other lanes during the vibration. The geometry issue is that the vehicle creates a "toed out" condition when the suspension suddenly collapses from a bump. As the vehicle suspension returns to the normal state it also returns back to the "aligned" position but energy built up and stored in the characteristics of the steering components (steel steering bars & any movement in the tie rods) act like a spring causing the alignment to go past the "toed in" position which then repeats itself in reverse. The result is a continual vibration of the front end until the driving conditions change (I.e. mashing on the brakes to stop the vehicle). Google "Dodge Ram death wobble" and you will see numerous other people with the same issue.

- Woodland Park, CO, USA

problem #197

Sep 032017

Ram 2500 Power Wagon

  • 196,000 miles
Death wobble truck will start shaking violently and uncontrollably when you hit a small bump in the road

- Hurley, NM, USA

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