2018 Ram 2500 Steering Problems

Which parts fail

• Linkages › Drag › Link › Connection
  2
• Critical fasteners
  1

Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  1552%
• 25k–50k
  517%
• 50k–75k
  310%
• 75k–100k
  27%
• 100k–150k
  310%
• 150k+
  13%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 Ram 2500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated while her husband was driving approximately 25 MPH the steering wheel lost functionality, the vehicle veered to the left off of the roadway. The vehicle collided with a reinforced cinder block wall on the driver's side front end, the hood impacted first and was crushed with additional damage to the undercarriage. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The airbags did not deploy. The husband was transported from the scene by ambulance to a hospital. The husband received cuts to left side of head and left side of face, additionally the contact had minor cuts to the left side of her face and bruised left forearm. The police were on scene and an incident report was written. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot and later towed to a collision repair center. The vehicle was not repaired. …

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at 40-45 MPH, the brakes and steering became inoperable, causing him to crash into an unknown vehicle. The air bags in the other vehicle did deploy. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployments, or fire for the contact's vehicle. A police report was filed. The traction control and ABS warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, where it was diagnosed that the failure was related to the HCU and ABS control unit/NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The parts were backordered, and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 90,598.

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that the steering wheel was loose, causing the vehicle to wobble while driving over a minor bumpy road surface. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was inspected, and the dealer determined that the welds of the nut to the adjuster sleeve were fractured. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V021000 (Steering); however, the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the ABS and the traction control warning lights were illuminated, causing the cruise control mode to become inoperable. Additionally, the vehicle made a beeping sound. …

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the ABS warning light illuminated with an audible chime. The contact stated that the failure had been intermittent but had become a recurring failure while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that when the ABS warning light illuminated with the cruise control engaged, the vehicle would revert to manual mode and turn off the cruise control. Additionally, the cruise control could not be re-engaged. The contact also stated that when the ABS warning light was illuminated, the brake pedal would feel soft or "mushy" while depressed. Additionally, the contact stated that while making a tight turn to either to the right or left, the steering wheel felt loose. …

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced excessive and premature front tire tread wear. The vehicle was taken to Discount Tire, and the contact was informed that the front-end alignment mechanism was welded, which prevented an alignment from being performed, which caused the premature tread wear. The technician associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V021000 (Steering). Additionally, the contact stated that the ABS warning light illuminated, followed by a continuous warning chime while driving. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. …

Please add this to complaint number: 11702732 This is a supplemental complaint regarding the same safety issue I previously reported involving Safety Recall C4B on my 2018 Ram 2500 - complaint # 11702732 In addition to the safety concerns and the prior accident I described in my original complaint, the unresolved recall has also caused significant financial harm. I still owe approximately $15,100 on the vehicle and must make a $515 monthly payment. Because the recall remedy has been unavailable for years, I cannot legally sell or trade the vehicle, even though it should have substantial equity. The truck's resale value has dropped due to the open safety recall with no remedy, leaving me financially stuck with an unsafe vehicle I cannot get rid of and a high payment that I currently cannot afford due to job loss. …

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The ABS and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, who related the failure to the recall; however, parts were not yet available. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Sterling Heights Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram (40111 Van Dyke Ave, Sterling Heights, MI 48313) for a second opinion. The contact was informed that the drag link needed to be replaced and a front-end alignment was required, and the drag link needed to be unwelded from a prior recall repair. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired under the recall on the VIN. …

Regarding the Safety Recall V06 / NHTSA 19V-021 Drag Link. This issue regarding the jam nuts on the drag link needs to be remedied. It calls for welding an adjustable part of the steering linkage rendering it non- adjustable when having the front end aligned in the future. Not to mention the effect of welding, potentially causing a problem with the integrity of the metal. The correct fix for this SAFETY issue is to REPLACE this steering linkage component, the entire Drag Link! And NOT a weld job on the steering linkage of all things! I am appalled that NHTSA approved such a thing. PLEASE revisit this issue and do the right thing. Require Chrysler (FCA US LLC) to REPLACE this defective part with the proper part. Note.... Chrysler is not welding the nuts on the drag links on trucks coming off the assembly line! They are coming off with proper, safe, adjustable drag links!

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that prior to owning the vehicle, the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V021000 (Steering). The remedy for the recall called for the dealer to check the steering linkage jam nut tightness, replacing the drag link assembly, or welding the nut to the adjuster sleeve. The contact recently took the vehicle to an independent mechanic for a wheel alignment and was informed that the alignment could not be performed due to the welding of the drag link. The contact was informed that the drag link would have to be cut to perform the wheel alignment. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where it was recommended that the drag link be replaced; however, the manufacturer refused to cover the cost of the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the cruise control function unexpectedly disengaged, and the service ABS and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that there was an audible chime during the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and 19V021000 (Steering); however, the parts to perform the recall repairs were not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet unavailable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Steering complaints in other 2500 years