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.
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 3500. While driving approximately 16 mph, the steering wheel locked temporarily. The dealer diagnosed that the steering column box was fractured and the tower shock assembly fractured and damaged the steering box. The dealer repaired the box, but not the tower bracket. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The approximate failure mileage was 25,000.
I received in late October 2015 a letter from fca (Fiat Chrysler automobiles) regarding safety recall R46/NHTSA 15V-541, which states 2013 Ram 3500 trucks may have an improperly welded front suspension track bar frame bracket, which could separate while driving, causing a hazardous situation including loss of steering control. Before I went to the dealer to have this remedied, I experienced an incident while driving on the interstate, where the front end suddenly started shaking violently and I lost almost all steering control, narrowly avoiding hitting a freeway sign and eventually stopping in a ditch on the side of the shoulder. This was all recorded by a dashcam video. Upon immediate inspection under the truck, the track bar mounts were separated from the frame, welds were broken, leaving the track bar dangling (see attached). The truck was towed to the closest dealer, and upon initial inspection the dealer also stated this appeared to be the issue that was under recall, but they had no remedy from fca corporate on how to fix it as of yet. For nearly a month the truck sat untouched at the dealer, unsafe to drive, until I was notified on 12/3/2015 that fca will not honor handling this recall problem because I had modified the truck with a lift kit. I say: The lift kit may or may not have accelerated the failure of the part, but the ultimate reason of this situation is fca's poorly manufactured product in which a recall was required, but ultimately not honored. This problem is not an issue in 2015 or newer heavy duty Ram, as the welding process is completely different. Therefore, fca clearly acknowledges this issue but when it is time act upon this acknowledgement, they would rather blame others. Now I have an undriveable truck that I don't know how or when will be fixed.
I was wanting to know why the Ram 2013 and the 2014 are not on the buy back program. Due to manufacture recall R46, NHTSA recall 15V-541" I took my truck in to have all the other recalls fixed on it but they told me they could not fix this due to there were no parts available and that we would be put on a waiting list and did not know when the fix was going to be available. So do we just keep putting our families in these vehicles and keep driving them in hopes nothing happens to us"
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V635000 (engine and engine cooling, fuel system, diesel) and 15V541000 (steering); however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Serpentine belt broke from supposed "wear" at 37K miles with such force that it broke the fan and radiator on a 2013 3500 Ram hd truck, rendering the truck's steering, brakes, etc., useless, if on mountain/curvy road extremely dangerous; this vehicle was on interstate highway and difficult to get from left lane to right median. Would have been impossible to correct if in curve. Truck is still in for repairs at dealership 12 days later. No invoice received; amount due $1500+
- Robertsdale, AL, USA
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While driving on the highway the truck starting shaking violently, the speed was reduced the shake ceased but the front driver side tire came off. When taken in a Dodge dealership to inquire about repair, was told they could not repair it. This vehicle has lost power when driving on the interstate highway due to faulty fuel system.
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 3500. While driving over 20 mph over a pothole, the vehicle steered to the left or right, shook tremendously, and tilted to one side. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who stated that the vehicle was equipped with a traction control module, which automatically took over the control of the wheels to maintain balance when the vehicle hits a bump. In addition, the dealer concluded that the vehicle was functioning as designed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 24,700.
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that the steering wheel started to shake and became loose. The vehicle was taken to the authorized dealer numerous times and they were not able to replicate or diagnose the failure. While traveling, the steering linkage fractured and the vehicle was slowly driven and parked at the contact's residence. The dealer sent a technician to further diagnose the vehicle in which the technician verified the failure, but no remedy was provided. The dealer also repaired the rear differential three times and the failure recurred. The contact noticed that there was abnormal swaying in the rear and the steering wheel failed to safely operate. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was less than 3,000.
Starting in July 2014 my 2013 Ram 3500 has had death wobble at least 6-7 times. Going down interstate around 65-75 mph if the right tire hits a pot hole the front end starts to shake uncontrollably. In order to get the truck to stop I have to come down on the brakes very hard almost to a complete stop. This is very dangerous not know when it can happen and a semi truck is right behind you.
Had been noticing a shimmy in the front suspension area. The steering wheel would have a very slight vibration after hitting bumps in the road when driving 35mph or greater. This issue has continued for months with several visit to dealership who has been unable to properly identify the problem. The problem has now become a "death wobble" that will shake steering wheel violently and almost shake the entire truck off the road, there have been several more attempt to address the issue with no resolve. Truck is unable to keep alignment, camber and caster is continually off/out of line, and has worn tires unevenly. Have also been experiencing intermittent electrical issues with dash lights flickering, radio lights turning off, electric windows not rolling up or down properly and reverse lights not turning on when engaged.
Steering box output shaft seal failure causing rapid loss of fluid and loss of braking capacity and steering capacity. Vehicle was still able to stop but the foot pressure and arm strength required to maintain control of the vehicle is massive.
I experienced a severe case of the Dodge "death wobble." This is the fifth time in two months and this was the worst yet. I was driving on a state highway going about 60. The left from tire hit a small bump - maybe an inch deep. The truck began shaking violently and was not controllable. I slammed on the brakes to stop the shaking but it keep shaking violently as long as it was moving. I finally slid off the road sideways and ended up on the shoulder. Fortunately it was a gentle shoulder. If it had been steep I could easily have been killed. I took the truck to a dealer after the last time it did this and he said nothing can be done. That is not an acceptable answer as this is a death trap.
Truck began to violently shake, reducing ability to steer. Shaking did not subside until vehicle speed reduced to 25mph. Dealership stated could not find anything wrong as there were no trouble codes showing. This has recurred three additional times, each time the shaking increasingly violent, and even less control of steering and breaking. Dealership states unless anomaly of can be re-inacted, no repairs will be made. Dealership service manager accuses us of faking issue of shaking or "death wobble". Chrysler representative states unless a re-creation of this anomaly no repairs will be made. We have expressed to Chrysler representative fear of having accident.
Sometimes problem it stared with a light vibration which I ignored always on a left sweeping corner always between 50-65mph and after hitting something small on the road even the center line but August 7 after hitting cow manure it started to shake violently and ended up off the road with no damage apart from my nerves I took it to the dealership the next morning where the technician test drove it on the test drive it had a episode violently shaking crossing two lanes of traffic and ending up on the intrastate shoulder the truck has 17000 miles on it now as a contractor I constantly have a goose neck with heavy equipment behind it so far it has never had a episode when loaded.
The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated when the vehicle would veer to the right and shook violently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 17,000.
Driving on I890 near campbell road exit East bound and I hit a bump in the road. The truck steering began violently vibrating and turning left to right and I lost steering control. The truck stopped wobbling when I slowed down to 30 mph. This is the second time this truck has done this. The last time was last week and I have only had the truck back for three days after it was fixed and it is doing it again.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Palestine, TX, USA