I have had this truck inspected several times due to the steering bracket weld failures as per the recalls. I was recently at the metroplex Dodge on denton dr. By love filed airport in dallas and on my way home I heard a rubbing noise coming from the front passenger side wheel I noticed the wheel well cover was loose and was rubbing against the tire. Upon further inspection I noticed the welds on…
2014 RAM 3500 steering problems
moderate 41 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
41
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 41 steering complaints filed for the 2014 RAM 3500, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 9 model years of RAM 3500 we track for steering problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 41.
Owners have filed 41 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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: 2014 RAM 3500s have a well-documented track bar bracket and drag link problem that causes dangerous loss of steering control. Many recalls remain incomplete due to parts shortages, dealer failures to properly perform repairs, or refusal to service lifted vehicles—leaving you potentially unsafe on the road.
Owners describe two main steering-system failures. The first is fracturing or faulty welds on the front track bar bracket, which causes severe shaking—often called "death wobble"—that makes the vehicle difficult or impossible to steer at highway speeds. This typically happens after hitting a bump or dip in the road. The second is loosening of the drag link adjuster, which also compromises steering control.
NHTSA Campaign 15V541000 was issued to address the track bar bracket by welding a reinforcement bracket onto it. However, owners report widespread problems with the recall itself. Many dealerships cannot complete the work because the reinforcement brackets are unavailable for certain configurations (two-wheel drive, diesel dually, Power Wagon). Some dealerships marked recalls complete without actually performing them—one admitted to only a visual inspection. When customers with aftermarket lifts try to get the recall done, dealers refuse service, citing manufacturer policy. One owner found the original bracket still on the truck after being told the recall was done years earlier.
For the drag link, the recall remedy involves welding the adjuster solid. Owners object to this because it prevents future steering-wheel centering during alignment, leaving them with an off-center wheel. Replacement drag link parts exist but are not being supplied for 2014–2015 model years. Independent shops refuse to touch welded steering components due to liability concerns.
Multiple owners report waiting months or longer for recall parts with no resolution. At least two dealerships told customers parts were unavailable indefinitely or repeatedly stated they were ordering parts without follow-up.
Same RAM 3500 steering reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Track bar bracket fracture
Front suspension track bar frame bracket welds fail or the bracket itself fractures, typically due to insufficient weld fusion during manufacturing or inadequate weld during recall repair. Many reports describe the problem as recurring even after recall attempts.
When: Between 22,000 and 139,000 miles; some owners report the issue present from purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Severe front-end shaking or 'death wobble' at highway speeds; Vehicle difficult or impossible to steer; Steering becomes unstable and vehicle veers left or right; Loss of steering control at 35+ MPH; Clucking or popping noises from steering column; Vehicle jerks unpredictably when accelerator engaged
Repairs/costs cited: NHTSA Campaign 15V541000 calls for welding a reinforcement bracket to the track bar frame bracket. Multiple owners report dealers cannot complete the repair because: (1) reinforcement brackets are not available for all configurations (e.g., two-wheel drive models, diesel dually trucks), (2) the vehicle has an aftermarket lift (dealers refuse to work on lifted trucks per manufacturer guidance), (3) the original bracket was never replaced during prior recall attempts despite being marked complete. One owner was told dealer had only performed a visual inspection, not actual replacement. At least one owner has a partial repair marked 'inspected' rather than completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15V541000 (Steering). Manufacturer has advised that recall was not completed on lifted vehicles or Power Wagon models. Some dealers report brackets unavailable for their specific truck configuration (e.g., two-wheel drive or diesel models). Multiple owners contacted Ram Cares with no resolution. Multiple recall notices issued (three owners report receiving multiple notices since January 2015) but parts distribution and availability issues cited repeatedly.
Drag link adjuster loosening
The drag link adjuster nut becomes loose or the drag link itself becomes loose, compromising steering control. The recall remedy (V06 or 15V541000 related) involves welding the adjuster solid, but this creates downstream problems with future alignments and steering wheel centering.
When: Around 60,000 miles or more; some owners report issue present early in ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel feels loose; Clucking noise in steering on bumpy roads; Steering unstable at highway speeds; Difficult to steer or excessive steering force required; Loose adjuster nut found during inspection
Repairs/costs cited: Recall remedy involves welding the drag link adjuster. However, owners report this creates a secondary problem: once welded, the steering wheel cannot be re-centered during alignment because the adjuster is no longer adjustable. This leaves the steering wheel off-center, which is itself a safety issue. Independent shops refuse to work on welded components due to liability. A replacement drag link part exists but Chrysler has not supplied it for 2014-2015 models (only for 2017-2018 according to one owner). One owner reports the replacement part is 'now in stock' but Chrysler does not authorize its use. Another notes a DOT inspection could result in truck impoundment if welding is present on steering components.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Initial recall remedy was welding. Replacement parts became available later but not made available for all model years. Ram Cares contacted by multiple owners but cited missing DM notes or lack of follow-up. One owner reports Chrysler stated they are only fixing 2017 and 2018 model years.
Loose outboard steering linkage jam nut
The jam nut on the outboard steering linkage becomes loose, causing steering instability.
When: At 139,000 miles in one report
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel feels loose; Steering unstable and vehicle difficult to control at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosed as loosened outboard steering linkage jam nut; not repaired per report.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners were told the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign 19V021000 (Steering), yet the symptoms and failure mode match the recall description.
Steering rod detachment or failure
Steering rod becomes detached or fails, causing immediate loss of steering control.
When: At 78,000 miles in one report
Symptoms owners cite: Pop or clunk sound under front of vehicle; Complete loss of steering control; Steering rod physically detached
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosed as steering rod failure requiring replacement. Part not available at time of report.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified and provided case number 58393140; no resolution noted.
Death wobble (severe front-end vibration after road irregularities)
Vehicle develops violent, uncontrollable front-end and steering wheel vibration after hitting a bump or dip, especially at highway speeds. This is a recognized issue owners call 'death wobble' or 'death rattle.' Often stops when speed drops below 25–35 MPH.
When: Varies; reported at 35,000 miles, 44,000 miles, and at various speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Severe, violent vibration in steering wheel and suspension after hitting road irregularity; Vehicle shakes uncontrollably, feeling like loss of control is imminent; Vibration only stops when speed reduced significantly (below 25–35 MPH); Recurs multiple times during same trip or over time; Occurs after going over bumps, dips, or at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Not successfully repaired in any reports. One owner notes this is a known issue with Dodge Ram. Another reports the issue has been present since purchase and persists after multiple dealer alignments and tire rotations.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners report Dodge acknowledges it as a known issue but does not have a fix. Some relate it to NHTSA 15V541000, suggesting it is the track bar bracket problem manifesting as death wobble.
Steering column popping noise after recall repair
After a recall repair is performed on the track bar bracket, the steering column emits a popping noise and steering instability persists despite multiple remedies.
When: At 27,208 miles, after recall repair
Symptoms owners cite: Popping noise from steering column when steering the vehicle at 35 MPH; Steering instability continues despite multiple repair attempts
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple repairs performed but failure persisted. Vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified and did not assist.
Steering pulls to one side with excessive force required
Vehicle pulls strongly to the left or develops steering that is difficult to control, veering unpredictably without warning.
When: Various mileages: 2,000 miles, 28,000 miles, and at various highway speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle pulls to left or jerks to left without warning; Steering requires excessive force to correct; Occurs at various speeds, including with cruise control engaged; Failures recur numerous times; Steering wheel becomes difficult to maneuver
Repairs/costs cited: Not diagnosed or repaired in multiple dealer visits in some cases. In one case, alignment was provided more than five times without resolving the issue. Tire rotation also did not help. One case notes the failure is progressively getting worse.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware but did not provide remedy.
Spring perch bracket weld failure
Welds on the spring perch bracket, which is welded to the frame rails, break and fail. This pushes the plastic wheel cover off and bends the spring perch upward, risking spring detachment.
When: Reported during inspection after hearing rubbing noise; truck had approximately recent service
Symptoms owners cite: Rubbing noise from front passenger side wheel well; Loose wheel well cover; Visible weld breaks on spring perch bracket; Spring perch bent upward; Spring at risk of coming off
Repairs/costs cited: Owner notes the welds have insufficient fusion, which matches the language in the steering bracket recalls. Owner notes that a complete break would have caused a rollover and considers themselves lucky to have discovered it.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response noted in complaint. Owner cites that future recalls should mention this specific failure to prevent accidents.
Recall parts unavailability and delayed repairs
Multiple owners received NHTSA Campaign 15V541000 (Steering) recall notices but cannot obtain the parts needed to complete the repair. Dealers report parts are not available, with no estimated timeframe for arrival. This delays repairs for months or indefinitely.
When: Ongoing issue reported in 2015–2016 timeframe and beyond
Symptoms owners cite: No symptoms reported (preventive recall issue)
Repairs/costs cited: Parts unavailable for extended periods (one owner waited over a month with no ETA; another was told March 2016 for availability when reporting in late 2015). Some owners report parts simply never arrived. One dealer repeatedly claimed parts were on order six or more times.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer received complaints about parts unavailability and extended repair wait times. Multiple owners contacted manufacturer who could not provide an ETA. NHTSA confirmed parts not available in multiple cases via VIN tool.
Recall marked complete when not actually performed
Dealerships mark recalls as completed in the system when they were only visually inspected or partially performed, or when the work was not done at all. When the same vehicle later experiences a failure, dealers refuse to complete the recall, citing that it is already marked done or citing other reasons (e.g., aftermarket lift).
When: Discovered during subsequent failures at 60,000 miles and beyond
Symptoms owners cite: Recall marked complete in system but original bracket still on vehicle; Dealer admits visual inspection only, no actual part replacement; Subsequent failure of the same component; Recall history updated from 'Completed' to 'Inspected' after owner complaint
Repairs/costs cited: One dealership admitted to performing only a visual inspection in 2016 and not installing the bracket. When bracket later fractured, same dealership refused to fix it citing the aftermarket lift. Another case shows dealer did not install the reinforcement bracket as part of the recall, leaving the truck with the original bracket.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer advised contact that reinforcement bracket was not installed. Later manufacturer updated recall status from 'Completed' to 'Inspected' upon owner's report. However, manufacturer subsequently refused to complete repair on lifted vehicles.
Vehicle unavailable for recall repair due to aftermarket modifications
Owners with aftermarket suspension lifts are unable to receive recall repairs. Dealers and manufacturer refuse service, stating that lifted vehicles are outside the scope of the recall or that the modifications prevent proper repair.
When: When recalled for repairs, typically several years after purchase
Symptoms owners cite: No symptoms (administrative issue)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report that dealers will not perform recall repairs if the vehicle has an aftermarket lift. One owner purchased the truck with a lift already installed and has no way to remove it per dealership requests. Another owner notes that the lift did not cause the problem and should not prevent recall repair. Owner argues removal of the lift would be cost-prohibitive and impractical.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer guidance apparently includes not performing recalls on lifted vehicles. Dealers cite this as reason for refusal. One dealer submitted a report to the manufacturer about the incomplete recall due to the lift, and manufacturer updated the status to 'Inspected' rather than completing the work.
Synthesized from 41 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
This truck occasionally after going over a bump in the road at highway speeds will develop a jarring, constant severe vibration in the steering wheel and suspension. From what I can tell this is the "death wobble" I have seen reported online. It is a very violent vibration that can only be stopped by slowing the truck below 25-30mph. It is so severe that it feels like you are going to lose…
this was a recall and all parts broke again . called dealer december 18 2023 and they have no idea what to do .
While driving, heard loud pop. Lost steering and breaking ability. My husband notice the water pump had blown and the belt was shredded. Dodge said the water pump was on recall. They replaced it with another recalled water pump and refused to replace the belt and any fluids although they were a result of the pump. Concerned that this will happen again and cause wreck.
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 Ram 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v541000 (steering) however, the part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not…
Had steering trouble with your 2014 RAM 3500?
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 2014 RAM 3500?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 41 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 23 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 22,000 and 78,000 miles, with the median around 35,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 22,000; a quarter make it past 78,000. 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/2014/RAM/3500.
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.