2012 Dodge RAM 3500 Steering Problems
Owners have filed 222 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 2012 Dodge RAM 3500, 61% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 27,750 miles. The words owners use most often: “tie rod” (20% of reports).
- 222steering complaints
- 27,750median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 68%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Tie rod: mentioned in 44 of 222 complaints (20%)
- Attempted steering: mentioned in 16 of 222 complaints (7%)
- Ball stud: mentioned in 16 of 222 complaints (7%)
- Unable provide expected: mentioned in 15 of 222 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 72 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 222 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
Dodge RAM 3500 steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 RAM 3500 | 222 | 61% | 27,750 |
| 2011 RAM 3500 | 164 | 73% | 42,000 |
| 2010 RAM 3500 | 92 | 61% | 51,618 |
| 2009 RAM 3500 | 69 | 66% | 48,220 |
| 2008 RAM 3500 | 94 | 54% | 65,000 |
| 2007 RAM 3500 | 88 | 42% | 93,000 |
| 2006 RAM 3500 | 75 | 29% | 97,200 |
| 2005 RAM 3500 | 61 | 31% | 101,800 |
| 2004 RAM 3500 | 41 | 19% | 101,270 |
| 2003 RAM 3500 | 37 | 13% | 80,000 |
| 2002 RAM 3500 | 8 | 18% | 89,250 |
| 2001 RAM 3500 | 17 | 13% | 49,100 |
| 2000 RAM 3500 | 5 | 9% | 137,000 |
| 1999 RAM 3500 | 11 | 11% | 149,312 |
| 1998 RAM 3500 | 8 | 8% | 236,500 |
| 1997 RAM 3500 | 10 | 8% | 198,000 |
| 1996 RAM 3500 | 10 | 8% | 98,090 |
| 1995 RAM 3500 | 5 | 5% | 32,613 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Steering:linkages:tie rod assembly
Problem: Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 RAM 2500 4X4 and 3500 4X4 trucks, 2008-2012 Dodge RAM 3500 4x2 Cab Chassis, and model year 2008 Dodge RAM 1500 Mega Cab 4x4. The left tie rod assembly may break.
Risk: A failure of the tie rod assembly may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler notified owners on January 16, 2014 that dealers would inspect vehicles and replace the steering linkage assembly, if necessary. On or about February 27, 2014, Chrysler ceased its recall remedy program due to parts quality concerns, and then re-initiated it on or about April 14, 2014. In July 2015, and under a consent order with NHTSA, the company agreed to offer owners three options for remedying their vehicles: perform the original remedy, offer to repurchase the vehicle at the fair market value plus 10%, or offer an additional incentive offer towards the purchase of a new Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, or Fiat vehicle. Chrysler will notify owners of the new recall options in a letter expected to be mailed on August 31, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. Chrysler's recall campaign number is N49.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the steering wheel was loose. The contact pulled over and discovered that the steering shaft had detached. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who repaired the steering shaft. The manufacturer was…
Driving vehicle and lost the ability to steer. The inner drag link tie rod broke at pitman arm.
While driving, the vehicle will, if going over a bump, begin shaking uncontrollably, and render the driver helpless to remain in control of steering other than to slam on the brakes and hope another vehicle does not hit them. Vehicle ceases shaking when brought down to a slow rate of speed and then…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2012 Dodge RAM 3500s have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 222 owner complaints about steering for the 2012 Dodge RAM 3500 (61% of the 366 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Dodge RAM 3500 steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do steering problems start?
The median reported mileage is 27,750 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 2012 Dodge RAM 3500?
The most frequent phrase is “tie rod”, in 44 of 222 complaints, followed by “attempted steering” (16).
See all 2012 Dodge RAM 3500 problems or steering problems across all RAM 3500 years.