Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
May 13,2020. 11:32am Driving north, my drive side tire violently shook & suddenly gave way pulling me hard left. I struggling to keep truck in my lane but lost control of steering , the airbags also deployed. Blocking my view. The rode was a blind spot . I thought it was a tire failure. Be of the drop & hard pull to left. While the rode was curving right . I could not get truck to fallow curve. Causing truck to cross into oncoming lane. I never saw the other car . With air bags deployed. I thought I lost a tire and hit ditch was lifted up and hit ground hard. I was told I truck hit another car after crash . Hitting a car coming the other way. Causing a young women's death. The tie rod had a clean break swing freely after break. In March 2020 had pulling or with extra movement off & on . Took to shop, they put a new sway bar on it. …
This recall N62 13V-528 was never done by Duwanne Lanes Everett WA even though I was told by the dealership service team that they had done this recall as requested while they had my truck for over 3mo ths time. On April 3 ,2022 my vehicle had a cautostraphic failure of my steerwheell column & caused my front left tire to break totally off the front steering stabilizer front ball joint tie rod end pitman arm the wheel was free spinning .I had no steering control at all while driving 65 mph on I5 in the center lane. It is sheer luck that I was able to get truck off the freeway without being injured. I think Duanne Lanes of Everett, Wa (RECALL REMEDY INCIDENT) TS
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2005 Dodge Ram 3500. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the front tie rod separated. The failure caused the front passenger side wheel to turn left and caused the vehicle to turn left into the opposite lane. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact's vehicle brushed the rear driver side bumper of the oncoming vehicle. The police were at the scene, but did not file a report. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the failure was a known issue and did not pinpoint the source of the failure. The contact was unaware of NHTSA campaign numbers: 05V462000 (power train), 09e001000 (steering), 13V528000 (steering), and 15V313000 (air bags). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 221,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Dodge Ram 3500. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact also stated that the ability to steer and brake seized. The contact crashed into the center divider before coming to a stop. The frontal air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained a dislocated right arm, which required medical attention. The contact did not specify if a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technician was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Dodge Ram 3500. While driving 45 MPH, the driver side tie rod detached and caused the contact to lose control of the vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into another vehicle. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to the contact's residence. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 09e001000 and 13V528000 (steering). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 240,000.
Hit a bump in the road and truck went into a death wobble...had to come to a complete stop to gain control again. It has happened three more times since then. I found a kit on the internet to strengthen the steering gear box and the tie rods but am about ready to be done with Dodge. I only drive the truck now at 55 or below and won't let anyone ride with me. This is a real and persistent danger to myself and the people on the road with me. I am a fairly strong man (farmer and cattleman) and I could not control the truck. I paid a lot of money for this truck to haul my cattle and the dealer does not acknowledge any problem. Sorry for the anger but if this, and it does, endanger me my family or the other folks on the road I get really mad. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that there was a noise heard frequently from the front driver's side tire area. Additionally, the ger slipped while in park and the vehicle rolled away, crashing into a telephone pole. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA campaign id number:13V528000 (steering) but was advised by the dealer that the parts needed to complete the repair were not available. The contact received the notice several years ago. The contact stated after the first recall notice was received, there was an attempt to schedule repairs with two different dealers who could not service the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 105000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Dodge Ram 3500. Upon attempting to exit the driveway, the driver side tie rod fractured without warning. The vehicle was towed to the authorized dealer who replaced the tie rod. Also, the contact stated that the steering gear fractured without warning. While traveling, the contact was not able to turn the steering wheel to the left without applying extreme force. The vehicle was taken back to the authorized dealer who diagnosed that the steering box needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failures occurred while waiting on the recall repairs for NHTSA campaign numbers: 14v81700 (air bags), 13V528000 (steering), 09e001000 (steering), and 05V462000 (power train). The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that the steering wheel failed to turn to the left while pulling out of a parking space at approximately 10 MPH. The contact discovered that the tie rod was fractured and disengaged from the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign: 13V528000 (steering); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.
While driving at about 60 MPH, I hit a minor bump in the roadway the steering wheel started shaking side to side and the truck started shaking violently. The only way it stopped was to reduce my speed, while I was in a merging express lane and I was in front of a semi truck with a full load. I had to put on flashers and drop speed to 30 MPH to regain control of steering. I think this problem should be investigated as some one is going to get killed by this happening to them. I had my wife with me. It was a very scary and dangerous situation. - 2005 Dodge 3500 Ram laramie owner / Eagle creek, or
Related recalls
Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assembly
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Dodge RAM 2500 4x4 and 3500 4x4, model year 2007-2008 Dodge RAM 3500 4x2 Cab Chassis and model year 2006-2008 Dodge RAM 1500 Mega Cab 4x4 trucks manufactured February 12, 2002, through February 13, 2008. The left tie rod assembly may break.
Remedy: Chrysler notified owners and launched its recall campaign in January 2014. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N62.
Steering › Linkages › Tie rod assembly
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…
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.
NHTSA investigations
Chrysler's execution of 13V-528 & 529
RMD opened this audit query (AQ) investigation in order to better understand and evaluate Chrysler's process(es) for timely and efficient execution of its safety recall campaigns, including its oversight and management of its parts division Mopar.Prior to opening this investigation, RMD had raised concerns with the company related to its execution of two safety recalls, 13V-528 and 13V-529, both of which involved…
Steering complaints in other Ram 3500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2005 Dodge Ram 3500?
NHTSA has 61 complaints about the steering of the 2005 Dodge Ram 3500, 31% of the model year's 196 complaints. The component named most often is gear box (other than rack and pinion) (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 steering problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 13V-528 (tie rod assembly, Nov 6, 2013); NHTSA recall 11V-350 (tie rod assembly, Jul 6, 2011). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 104,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries and 1 death to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.