If replacing the steering linkage or drag link inner tie rod assembly at the pitman arm on a vehicle built before Febuary 14 th, 2008, verify that the pitman arm part number is 68039930AA. The part number is embossed on the pitman arm.~If the pitman arm is not a 68039930AA, it must be replaced with a 68039930AA.~ Issue 2: For 2003 to 2007 MY only. If the OE steering linkage has been replaced with 52122362AA, 52122362AB, 52122362AC, 52122362AD, 52122362AE, or 52122362AF and pitman arm 68039930AA the following service parts are available.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Dodge Ram 1500 steering problems
severe 60 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
60
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
4crashes
1injury
What stands out
Owners have filed 60 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
DODGE: BULLETIN PROVIDING ALIGNMENT PROCEDURES FOR TIE ROD BALL STUD HOUSING FOR THE RIGHT AND LEFT. MODEL YRS FOR CAB CHASSIS (REG AND MEGA PICKUPS AND 4X4) 2003-2011.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2003-2008 (DR) RAM TRUCK 1500-STEERING SHUDDER DURING PARKING LOT OR LOW VEHICLE SPEED MANEUVERS.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 steering system generates more complaints than most defect patterns. The most serious complaint is the so-called "death wobble"—violent shaking of the front end and steering wheel triggered by hitting bumps, bridge seams, or road joints at speeds above 55 mph. Owners describe losing steering control, the truck veering across lanes, and the shaking only stopping when slowed to 20–30 mph. Multiple owners report this has happened every drive since purchase, and trips to the dealer netted five, six, or more unsuccessful repair attempts. Replacing shocks, stabilizer bars, tie rods, struts, and even entire front ends has not fixed the condition in many cases.
Tie rod failures are endemic. Owners report premature wear at 22,000 miles, fractures at normal highway speeds, and repeat failures within 20,000 miles of prior repair. One owner replaced tie rods three times in 30,000 miles of ownership. Steering also pulls hard to the right on some trucks—present from purchase with under 2,000 miles—and dealerships claim the alignment is correct.
Engine stalling without warning is a third major complaint. The truck dies mid-turn or on highway merges, leaving owners without power steering or brakes for several minutes until restart. This happens especially in the first 10–15 miles after refueling. Stalling occurs repeatedly but dealers find no fault codes and no fuel system defect.
Recall parts (tie rods) for known steering defects are unavailable for weeks or months, with dealers receiving only one part per week in some cases. Some owners never received recall notices at all despite their VINs matching the affected population.
Same Dodge Ram 1500 steering reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Death Wobble / Severe Front End Vibration
Violent shaking and vibration in the front end, typically triggered by hitting bumps, bridge expansion joints, or road seams at highway speeds (55+ mph). Owners report losing steering control, difficulty keeping vehicle in lane, and requirement to slow to 20-30 mph for shaking to stop. Occurs repeatedly or intermittently. Multiple shop visits and front-end component replacements (shocks, stabilizer bars, tie rods, struts) often fail to resolve the issue.
When: At speeds 55-70+ mph, particularly after hitting bumps or bridge joints; occurs throughout vehicle life from purchase to 214,000 miles; some owners report from day one
Symptoms owners cite: Violent shaking and vibration in front end and steering wheel; Loss of steering control or difficulty controlling vehicle; Vehicle veering across lanes; Difficulty keeping vehicle in lane during wobble event; Shaking stops only when vehicle slowed to 20-30 mph; Triggered by road imperfections, bridge expansion joints, pavement seams, curves; Objects in truck rattling loose; Front wheel appears about to shake off; Condition worsens or persists despite multiple repair attempts
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite replacing shocks, stabilizer bars, tie rods, struts, front end components, track bar bushings, steering dampers, aftermarket steering box braces, full front-end rebuilds, wheel bearings, hubs, lower control arms, and rack-and-pinion systems with no permanent resolution in many cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge dealerships claim nothing is wrong or that the truck's alignment and components are within specifications. Some recalls issued for tie rod assemblies (NHTSA 13V528000, 09E001000) but parts availability and scope of recalls vary; some vehicles not included despite same issue
Tie Rod Failure and Excessive Wear
Outer and inner tie rods wear prematurely, fail, fracture, or snap during normal driving. Some shear at the shaft portion. Failures occur at relatively low mileages and recur within 20,000 miles of repair. Owners report replacing tie rods multiple times.
When: Early in vehicle life (noted as low as 9,000 miles on first failure); failures repeat at 20,000-mile intervals; reported through vehicle lifetime
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel vibration or shaking at highway speeds; Looseness in steering wheel; Clunking sound from front end; Vehicle veering or drifting to one side; Difficulty turning steering wheel; Tie rod visibly broken or fractured; Loss of steering control
Repairs/costs cited: Tie rods replaced multiple times (3-5 instances per owner in some cases); fractures involve shaft shearing through steering knuckle; outer tie rods worn after 22,000 miles of prior repair; independent mechanics and dealerships perform replacements
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 13V528000 (Steering / Faulty Left Tie Rod Assembly); NHTSA Recall 09E001000 (Steering Linkages); not all vehicles included in recalls despite same failure mode; some owners never notified of recalls; parts unavailable for weeks or months, with dealers receiving only one part per week in some cases
Excessive Pull and Drift to One Side
Vehicle pulls hard or drifts persistently to the right or left despite alignment checks and tire replacement. Appears from new with low mileage. Dealerships confirm alignment is correct but issue persists. Distinct from normal wear or standard misalignment.
When: From purchase (reported at 1,400 miles, 7 days after purchase); persistent throughout ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Strong pull to the right or left when driving straight; Excessive drift requiring constant steering correction; Pull present even after alignment adjustment; Steering wheel off-center; Uneven tire wear due to pull
Repairs/costs cited: Alignment performed multiple times with no resolution; tire replacement recommended by dealer; owner statement that all three independent shops documented the drift in writing
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge dealer suggested Chrysler engineer consult (estimated 2-month wait); engineer never arrived; dealership general manager test-drove and claimed the truck drives normally as designed; no recall issued for this issue
Stalling or Engine Shutdown During Operation
Engine dies suddenly while driving at moderate to highway speeds with no warning lights. Occurs during turning maneuvers, after refueling, or at traffic lights and stop signs. Vehicle loses power steering and braking ability. Engine restarts normally but failure repeats intermittently.
When: During normal driving at 25-70 mph; particularly after refueling (first 10-15 miles); at traffic lights and stop signs; on sharp turns and on-ramps
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning; No warning lights illuminated; Loss of power steering during stall; Loss of power braking ability; Vehicle uncontrollable during stall event; Engine restarts easily after stalling; Failure pattern repeats intermittently; Stalling occurs at low speeds (0-25 mph) after refueling; Sputtering before stall in some cases
Codes mentioned: No fault codes retrieved by dealers
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel tank and fuel system inspected with no findings; no parts replaced; no solution found despite multiple dealer visits; owner reports multiple NHTSA investigations into Chrysler vehicles with fuel tank issues where warranties were extended
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or extended warranties identified for 2007 Ram 1500; owner notes other Chrysler vehicles received warranty extensions for similar fuel-related stalling issues
Steering Column Issues
Steering column develops problems including clicking noise during turns and potential lock-up risk. Diagnosed as clock spring issue initially but actual problem is the steering column itself requiring replacement.
When: Mileage and timing not specified in narratives
Symptoms owners cite: Clicking noise when turning steering wheel; Potential steering column lock-up hazard
Repairs/costs cited: Initially misdiagnosed as clock spring; required full steering column replacement to resolve safety concern
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 09E001000 mentioned for clicking steering linkage noise; some owners unable to get replacement under recall due to vehicle not included in recall scope despite exhibiting same symptom
Power Steering Gear Box Failure
Steering gear box develops problems including fluid leakage and presumed manufacturing defect. Owners and mechanics suspect faulty gear box from factory with possible ECU/software involvement in steering control issues.
When: Reported at 54,300 miles; appears throughout ownership duration
Symptoms owners cite: Fluid leaking from steering system; Squeaking noise when turning steering wheel; Steering sway back and forth during motion; Vehicle bouncing between lane lines; Excessive shaking while braking
Codes mentioned: Low oil pressure DTC constantly active, Low voltage code, Transmission overdrive clutch code
Repairs/costs cited: Gear box replacement required; multiple other components already replaced (bearings, hubs, struts, lower control arms, rack and pinion) without resolving steering issues; owner suspects faulty gear box installation or ECU software issue
Vibration at Front End on Startup or During Operation
Strong vibration felt from front end when vehicle is started or during normal driving. Vibration located in front end area but mechanics cannot replicate or diagnose the failure.
When: From startup; noted at 89,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Strong vibration on startup; Vibration under front end during operation; Vibration progresses over time
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic unable to replicate or diagnose failure; no repair attempted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner received notification of NHTSA Campaign 14V817000 (Air Bags) but this addresses airbag issue, not vibration
Recall Part Availability and Delayed Repairs
Owners receive recall notices for known steering defects but dealers cannot perform repairs due to part unavailability. Dealers receive only one part per week or face wait times of 52+ weeks. Safety concerns remain unresolved for extended periods while owners drive unsafe vehicles.
When: Recalls issued in 2013-2015 (13V528000, 14V817000, 14V795000); repairs delayed weeks to months; at least one case mentions 52-week wait for part
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received but parts unavailable; Extended wait times for recall parts; Dealer unable to perform safety repairs; Owner placed on waiting list with indefinite timeline; Safety issue unresolved while driving vehicle
Codes mentioned: 13V528000 - Faulty Left Tie Rod Assembly, 14V817000 - Air Bags, 14V795000 - Broken Springs in Clutch Assembly, 09E001000 - Steering Linkages
Repairs/costs cited: Some repairs performed independently by mechanics when dealer delays exceeded reasonable timeframe; some owners reported multiple recall notices never received
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recalls 13V528000, 09E001000, 14V817000, and 14V795000 issued; significant part availability issues and limited distribution (one part per week) reported by dealership service managers
Synthesized from 60 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2007 Dodge Ram 1500?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2007 Dodge Ram 1500?
It's a meaningful issue. 60 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 49 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 36,000 and 96,345 miles, with the median around 60,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 36,000; a quarter make it past 96,345. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Dodge/Ram 1500.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.