9.9

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$910
Average Mileage:
107,250 miles
Total Complaints:
31 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (28 reports)
  2. replaced steering dampeners (2 reports)
  3. install steering box brace (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Dodge dealer.

problem #31

Jan 062017

Ram 2500 Laramie 5.9L Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 105,000 miles

bought new in 2006, death wobble a year later with only 11000 miles, dealer replaced ball joints, and I have replaced them twice more since then. I just replaced ball joints last year in 2016, and got death wobble again after hitting rough bridge on I-81 at 65 mph and had to slow down to 30 mph for it to stop. From what I hear, the tie rod ends might have a lot to do with this problem. There is a recall on the tie rod ends but I have not gotten any recall notifications on this. This truck is only used for pleasure driving and not treated rough and I'm afraid to drive on the interstate anymore.

- dwcroson, Clear Brook, VA, US

problem #30

Jun 092017

Ram 2500 Big Horn 5.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 218,230 miles

This was a very scary situation since we have only own this whicle for a couple of months. It so so bad my wife now refuses to ride in the truck. This happened a second time so now I know it is a Ram issue and wonder why Dodge doesn't do something. The truck was checked by a mechanic and he suggested new heavy duty shocks. These were installed and it was after the shocks were installed that the second death wobble occurred.

- dobbe, Bellevue, US

problem #29

Mar 012016

Ram 2500 Mega Cab 5.9L Turbo Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 99,483 miles

I, like many thousands of Dodge Ram owners keep experiencing the "Death Wobble". I have changed out components trying to stop the condition from happening with no results. The dealership acknowledges the issue but has stated they can do nothing about it. I guess I have to wait for an injury, or worse to happen and then sue for all I can get. WHY won't the manufacturer find a way to stop or at least reduce the issue??

- Norm C., Lansing, KS, US

problem #28

Jul 272017

Ram 2500 Big Horn 5.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 219,574 miles

I just want a fix. I have no sloppy steering, no ball joint play, so tell what it takes to fix this.

- dobbe, Bellevue, US

problem #27

May 042017

Ram 2500 SLT 5.9L Inline 6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 144,100 miles

2006 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 Dodge Death Wobble - when riding down the road at 60 mph and hit a bump and vehicle starts bouncing off of ground and will continue to bounce until vehicle drops to 35 mph. Very dangerous. This problem has happened for over a year. Dodge dealer of no help.

- Sean W., Tucson, AZ, US

problem #26

Apr 012013

Ram 2500 SLT V8

  • Manual transmission
  • 72,000 miles

When driving over 60 miles an hour I can hit a small bump in the road and 50 % of the time the truck will shake so violently that I have to reduce my speed to 30mph or under until the steering is back under control. When I say violent, I am being conservative. It is extremely dangerous!!! We refuse to take the truck on the road anymore because of the problem. We have changed ball joints, tires, etc.....thousands and thousands of dollars to try and fix this problem!

- rjjohnson0302rj, Duxbury, US

problem #25

Jan 162017

Ram 2500 SLT 5.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

This wobble has happened at least twice a year for the last few years and recently two days in a row. Its so bad all of the change and whatnot jumps out of there holders and the remedy is coming to a complete stop and letting tires align(?) then continuing! Im currently looking for a car I will use on the highways while hoping to use my truck locally after I bring it to dealer for one of there recalls. replace stabilizer bars, front end is to loose when hit bump

- Eugene C., Medford, MA, US

problem #24

Apr 092008

Ram 2500 Laramie 5.9L Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 13,000 miles

bought 2006 dodge ram 2500 with cummins motor new on nov 2006, april 2008 with 13 thou miles I got the death wobble on the interstate pulling a bass boat, talking about scarring the sh*t out of somebody. warranty covered fix of new ball joints and tie rod ends. I don't travel the interstate much but when I do, that's when it occurs with higher speeds and a little bump in the road, like the edge of overpass bridge. People that drive 55 to 60 mph wont get this problem but you get up to 65 or 70 mph and you will sh*t yourself when it happens. If you don't want to deal with this problem, stay off the big roads. Sad to say but dodge needs to fix this problem no matter how old the truck is. O by the way I have 105 thou miles on my 06 and I just put my third set of ball joints on this truck and I got the wobble last week on I-81 taking my daughter back to school. I thought it shoudnt be the ball joints, they only have seven thou miles on them, so I'm thinking its the tie rod end. Going to take to dealer in two days to see if recall will take care of it. Not a fan of dodge but I just love my cummins, best diesel out there.

- dwcroson, Clear Brook, VA, US

problem #23

Sep 012015

Ram 2500 9.6L Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 84,000 miles

The first time this happened I was doing 70mph in the fast lane and hit a minor bump in the road and the whole front end went wobble crazy. Just lucky there was no traffic on my right and was able to brake while changing 3 lanes. VERY SCARY. So I thought I needed new shocks which I purchased. A short time later it happened again (very scary) so I thought I needed tire balancing.which I had done. A few months later it happened again (scared and pissed off). so I thought I would call the shock mfg. and complain that they were no good. That's when I was informed about the infamous DEATH WOBBLE of Dodge trucks (mine is a 2006 4x4 2500 diesel). Last week I lent my truck to my son in law and he came home white as a ghost having experienced the same problem. I took it to Dodge to have all the recall problems (air bags and front linkage) fixed. They stated that the front end recall problems did not need repair and any additional work on the suspension is to be at my expense. This Death Wobble problem has been covered up by Dodge, despite the fact that it is life threatening and should be addressed by the organizations responsible for safety. At the moment my truck is on a rack at the Dodge dealership and I'm waiting for the the bad news as to what it's going to cost to have it fixed. (most likely my life savings). All this because of poor design and engineering on Dodges part. Just got a call back, the (upgraded?) parts and labor......$ 1,658.95 What a bargain.

- firecpt, Burbank, CA, US

problem #22

Jan 242016

Ram 2500 5.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,950 miles

Just bought it used in January 2016. Problem from day one. Used car dealer wouldn't fix so he brought it to a Dodge dealer. Has replaced steering box, pitman arm, drag link, tie ends and spent $1000. Truck still wanders all over the road and gets death wobble when driving at higher speeds. Dealer told him nothing else can be done. Help?

- Steve D., Sharon Springs, NY, US

problem #21

Oct 012016

Ram 2500 SLT 5.9L Cummins

  • Manual transmission
  • 80,000 miles

This issue occurred 3 times on a two hour drive. It is deplorable that a company would design much less continue to produce such a piece of crap.

- Joe C., Dalton, PA, US

problem #20

May 282016

Ram 2500 Big Horn 5.9L Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 141,000 miles

The worst wobble yet. Shook violently at highway speed. Had to drastically slow down to control the truck. Luckily it was a Saturday and there were only a few vehicles behind me.

- kjoyner, Lancaster, CA, US

problem #19

May 012016

Ram 2500 LX 5.7L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,008 miles

Two separate incidents 5 minutes apart traveling on I90 by Rockford, IL of the death wobble. Truck hits slight bump in road and steering and front end shakes vigorously. Difficult to control vehicle. Slowed from 65 mph to 40 mph and shaking subsided.

- Darek R., Janesville, WI, US

problem #18

Apr 062016

Ram 2500 LX 5.7L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 84,544 miles

Violent shaking in front end and to steering wheel after hitting small bump on I90 traveling 70 mph. Shaking lasted about 12 seconds before subsiding after braking and decelerating to 45 mph. Very dangerous.

- Darek R., Janesville, WI, US

problem #17

Jul 112008

Ram 2500 Laramie 5.7L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 18,600 miles

This was the 2nd time I felt the DEATH WOBBLE. Once again, no issues found in any of the steering components.

I decided to upgrade the steering dampener thinking the stock unit was just not doing its job.

- Mark O., Shamong, NJ, US

problem #16

Jan 052016

Ram 2500 5.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,000 miles

we have a shake in the steering wheel trying to narrow it down. death wobble is what we are told but we aren't sure yet. We have a checking engine light that comes on and go off every other day. so we have to take it to dodge to see what they say. no word if they will fix the problem.

- Linda B., Winchendon, MA, US

problem #15

Apr 062016

Ram 2500 SLE Cummins

  • Automatic transmission
  • 122,000 miles

Huge shaking in the front end after road bumps at highway speeds, feels so bad you think your losing a wheel.

- Vern F., Oakdale, CA, US

problem #14

Oct 252015

Ram 2500 Hemi

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

ON OCTOBER 25, 2015 AROUND 11:00 AM WHILE DRIVING 65-70 MPH ON THE PA TURNPIKE NEAR ALLENTOWN AREA (SOME MINOR ROAD DEFECTS APPEARED TO BEIN THE ROADWAY, WEATHER CONDITIONS GOOD) THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SHOOK AS IF ALL THE TIRES WERE BASKETBALLS. HAD TO HOLD ONTO STEERING WHEEL AS BEST AS ICOULD FROM ALL THE SHAKING WHILE APPLYING BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOWDOWN. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS VEHICLE AFTER.WE CHECKED WITH THE DODGE DEALER TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON ANYTHING SIMILAR AND THEY TOLD US NO. SO WE BEGAN REPLACING TIRES, SHOCKS, STEERING SHAFT AND STEERING BOX, FRONT STABILIZER SHOCK, LEFT FRONT BALL JOINTS AND U JOINT, NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS ALL THE WAY AROUND AND THE ONES WE TOOK OFF WERE STILL VERY NEW LOOKING, SERVICE STATION WANTED TO KNOW IF WE WANTED TO KEEP THEM, WE SAID NO. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ALMOST IN THE SAME AREA AS 10/25/15 WHILE TRAVELING TO TENNESSEE SO WE DID NOT TRAVEL OVER 60 MPH,THEN

AGAIN TRAVELING BACK TO PA,THIS WAS WHEN WE CHANGED OUT THE AFOREMENTIONED PARTS, THE THIRD TIME HAPPENED WHILE OUR SON WAS DRIVING 60 MPH ON ROUTE 33 IN EASTON, PA. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG!! I JUST THANK GOD MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING BECAUSE IWOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GETIT UNDER CONTROL..WE WOULD APPRECIATEIT VERY MUCH IF YOU COULD INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE.THANK YOU •TR

- Donna C., EFFORT, PA, US

problem #13

Oct 262015

Ram 2500

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,000 miles

PROBLEM 1) I'VE HAD 2 RECALLS ON THIS. 1ST THE AIRBAG, THEN THE TIE-ROD SINCE. THIS IN A MATTER OF A COUPLE WEEKS. I HAVE EXPERIENCE THE DEATH WOBBLE AND I HAVE TO COMPLETELY BRING THE TRUCK TO A STOP TO GET IT TO STOP. I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHERE THE TRUCK IS TRAVELING ON THE ROAD.

PROBLEM 2) THE STEERING IS TERRIBLE AT A DEAD STOP TO TRY AND MOVE IT LIKE IT DOESN'T EXIST NO POWER STEERING TO HALF TO ARMSTRONG THE WHOLE TIME.

- Linda H., Litchfield, MI, US

problem #12

Dec 212015

Ram 2500 V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

I've been complaining about the death wobble since I bought my truck with 85,000 miles on it. the dealer says there's nothing wrong with it. today the death wobble occurred and my drivers side tie rod sheared at 55 MPH. I called dodge to complain again and their response was the truck is 10 years old. I told them that I don't care how old the truck is the tie rod should not shear at 55 mph driving down a highway, especially on a truck that they advertise as Heavy Duty. What a piece of junk.

- Roderick K., Manahawkin, NJ, US

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