Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Dodge Ram 3500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
At random any time the truck goes over a bump in the road at about 25MPH to 65MPH the whole truck will start to shake violently and uncontrollably like an earthquake is happening and the steering wheel will shake back and fourth and not stop until the truck comes to a complete stop. I've had it happen at least fifty to a hundred times since I bought it on 3/6/2026 and the truck only has 155,000 Miles on it. From what I've read on the internet the "death wobble" is pretty common in Ram trucks from 1994 all the way through 2012 yet Ram hasn't done anything to fix the problem.
Seemingly at random whenever the truck goes over a bump at about 25MPH to 65MPH the whole truck will start to shake violently and uncontrollably like an earthquake is happening and the steering wheel will shake back and fourth and not stop until the truck comes to a complete stop. I've had it happen at least fifty to a hundred times since I bought it on 3-6-2026 and it only has 155,000 miles on it. The "Death Wobble has been a known problem on Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks built form 1994 through 2012 according to the internet. Yet nothing seems to have been done to fix it.
A week after purchasing this vehicle, my wife complained about the steering not feeling right. As I continue to use the vehicle I notice some vibration on the steering wheel, but didn't think much of it being a problem because this is our first pickup truck and the stereotype is all pickup trucks ride ruff. Now some time have past and a few thousand miles later the steering vibration is getting worse and now I'm starting to suspect something is wrong. As I went underneath the vehicle to check the front suspension I notice the new tires which came with the vehicle when purchase was completely worn on the inside threads after 8K miles. I did some research on the net to find out that a lot of users of this vehicle are experiencing what's known as the (depth wobble). I first called Dodge mfg. And complained about this issue and they inform me that this is an ongoing issue. …
I called three/3 dealers to inquire about having my vehicle recalls attended to. I have been waiting months and months for this. Jack key Dodge (alamogordo, nm) put me on hold for 45 minutes after I told the reception of the n49 recall. Sierra blanca motors (ruidoso, nm) said the parts were on back order and the service manager would call me immediately (Monday morning) after calling Dodge....he has not called. Roswell Dodge (roswell, nm) said all parts on back order and I would not be seen until November. This program is a joke. I will not have my truck repaired due to the uncaring, abrasive, and nonchalant attitude about a very serious matter. I demand to have a buyback, as is my option, and I view this as absurd that we must wait so long for our money in this age of instant communication. Absurd. I do not believe Dodge can or will fix my recalls competently. …
At 34500 miles. The front suspension "track bar" was completely worn out. As a result at 40 MPH (hwy 2 in mt driving straight in the east bound lane) I experienced such a vibration that the truck was uncontrollable and my only option was to slow down without braking. Luckily there were no oncoming traffic so no accident or damage to the truck occurred, thank god. I replaced the track bar and the steering damper as well and the truck is now fine. I did some research on this only to discover that Chrysler has know about this problem for over a decade, yet the problem still exists. When talking to a dealer in idaho, I was told that the Dodge death wobble is common. This is dangerous. The truck shook so bad that everything was blurry until the wobble stopped.
From 45 to 70 MPH. If you hit a bump just right in the road it will cause the steering to violently shake and have to slow to 30 MPH to bring back to normal. Ball joints steering stabilizer track bar have all been replaced truck had been to shop for alignment. Tires were put on around 90K and truck had around 98K when death wobble started happening I do not feel safe hauling anything with this vehicle or having my family ride with me.
While driving at speeds between 50-70 MPH I have run across small bumps or holes that cause either front wheel to shake uncontrollably causing me to have to reduce speed dramatically or even stop to get it back under control. I understand this is called the "Dodge death wobble".
I experienced the Dodge "death wobble" on two occasions during a short drive yesterday. First was on an on-ramp to the right with a slight incline at a speed of approximately 50mph - denver area northbound c470 ramp to i70 eastbound. I crossed an expansion joint at a very slight angle to the vehicle, and immediately experienced a totally unexpected violent wobble in the front end with a near total loss of control. It was frightening! I lightly applied brakes with no immediate wobble reduction. I slowed, and at perhaps 30 MPH, the front end stabilized and I was able to continue. A few miles later on i70 I took the ramp - again to the right but on a modest incline this time - to highway 58 westbound. I was still wary and when crossing an expansion joint I again experience the same death wobble, not as bad, but I was expecting it and I was going a little more slowly. …
I've been experiencing this "wobble" or vibration/shake issue for about a year in the front end. While driving down the interstate I hit an expansion joint and the front end shook and wobbled in a way that didn't seem right. I took it to the dealer the next day and asked for a full inspection. They said everything was fine. I continued to drive the truck and experienced the issue every so often and it kept getting worse. I thought it might be the front steering stabilizer so I changed it. No difference. I changed all 4 shocks. No difference. I thought maybe it was the tires which were close to the end of their mileage life. Still experienced the same issue. I took it to another dealer who inspected it and said it was the track bar. I asked if the failure could have anything to do with the tie rod recall and was told no. …
The truck has a death wobble and steering linkage n64 was schedule to be replaced by a safety recall by manufacture at the local dealership. I was put on a list around mid February because the dealership stated they could only get so many replacement parts a month. I called Monday 10 March 2014 to get an update and was told that the recall was canceled by Chrysler due to the part was not defective. I called Chrysler national recall center and was told by them that other parts are the problem and the parts are on back order and I would be notified when parts are available. I do not understand how a part can be defective then declared not defective. Dodge has 1000's of these 3/4 and 1 ton trucks out there that the steering linkage May break at anytime. Most of these trucks are pulling 5000+ loads down the road. …
Suspension complaints in other Ram 3500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 2011 Dodge Ram 3500?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the suspension of the 2011 Dodge Ram 3500, 12% of the model year's 225 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2011 Dodge Ram 3500 suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for the 2011 Dodge Ram 3500, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2011 Dodge Ram 3500 suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 35,000 miles, and 38% before 25,000 miles.
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.