8.5

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,300
Average Mileage:
29,900 miles
Total Complaints:
4 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (3 reports)
  2. replace with aftermarket ball joints (1 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Dodge dealer.

problem #4

Jul 012006

Ram 3500 5.9L Diesel

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,000 miles

This has been a problem for dodge for a while with the ball joints and wheel bearings going bad every 10,000 miles dont you think that they would fix it instead of selling more trucks with the same problem, they should put that on the sticker that you will have to change ball joints every 10,000 miles

- Steve L., Waconia, MN, US

problem #3

Jul 212008

Ram 3500 5.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles

Needless to say, I was very surprised to see ball joints going at 30,000 miles on a so-called heavy duty one ton truck. Maybe at 150,000. Maybe. Internet research turned up the fact that this problem is really huge, over several model years and for all three light truck sizes. Dodge appears to be just shrugging it off, covering it under warranty if they have to, getting out of it when they can and not doing a damn thing to come up with better, stronger parts with external lubrication fittings, etc.

- arkbane, Courtenay, BC, Canada

problem #2

Jan 052010

Ram 3500 5.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,466 miles

Okay, now I'm really pissed. 18,000 miles after having a full set of ball joints replaced, fortunately under warranty, they have to be replaced again. Since the first time (2007), I found out that this is a major problem for Dodge. They have yet to acknowledge it or do anything about it. I offered to pay the difference between what the dealer could claim for OEM parts and after-market parts that I know won't fail, but Dodge refuses, forcing me to either pay for the whole thing out of my own pocket or have their crappy parts installed again. Once again, I was covered under warranty (except for the front end alignment that the repairs make necessary) but if I have to replace ball joints every 20 or 30 thousand miles, eventually I am going to have to pay through the nose for it. What I want to know is what is Dodge doing or going to do to fix this. They need to bring out proper replacement parts that will stand up to normal use.

- arkbane, Courtenay, BC, Canada

problem #1

Nov 012007

Ram 3500 SLT 5.9L

  • Manual transmission
  • 31,069 miles

Upper and lower ball joints went bad under normal (Hwy, and paved roads) use. (I don't even work with the truck!!!!!) The 3500 has an extremely weak front end. Dodge Warranty is also a waste - didn't cover Upper and Lower Ball joints because: "it's within the dealers allowable play." Replaced with Moog and the problem was fixed. Axel U-joints and seals were replaced under warranty because they were ALSO gone and leaking. Had to replace drive shaft u-joints (not covered under warranty because it was with-in the dealers allowable play). There was play in the joints and before they were replaced caused a huge vibration on acceleration... WTF is the point of the Dodge warranty if it doesn't cover ANYTHING!!!!!

My problems with the Dodge are all fixed now that everything was replaced with aftermarket.

- procircuitmx, Comox, BC, Canada