The contact owns a 2015 Ram 3500. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the driver's front and driver's side rear wheels detached from the vehicle. The contact became aware of nine broken wheel studs. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact referenced the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V398000 (Wheels) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The…
2015 RAM 3500 wheels problems
moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $400 · see wheels across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$400
When does it fail?
Of the 10 wheels complaints filed for the 2015 RAM 3500, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 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
No new NHTSA wheels complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: A 2015 Ram 3500 can suffer wheel stud fractures and tire tread separation, potentially causing wheels to detach or tires to fail at highway speeds—serious safety risks. Check for signs of wheel looseness or vibration, review any recall history carefully (some VINs were excluded), and budget for tire replacement if original Nexon rubber is still on the truck.
Owners report two distinct wheel and tire problems on 2015 Ram 3500s. The first involves wheel stud fractures that cause wheels to wobble, loosen, or separate entirely from the vehicle—including dually dual-wheel setups where inner and outer wheels detach and lock up the axle. Failures occur from 110,000 to 183,000 miles, but the real issue is a botched recall. Dodge issued Campaign 21V398000 in response, yet many VINs fell outside recall scope, and dealers refused repairs after claiming studs "didn't need" replacement despite visible fractures. One owner got the recall done, then lug nuts came loose 6,600 miles later, vibrating the brake pedal and entire truck.
The second problem is the original Nexon Roadian HTX tires, which delaminate and separate tread from carcass as early as 7,500 miles. One dually owner replaced five tires for this defect alone; another replaced three of six before 28,000 miles. These failures cause extreme vibration and make the truck uncontrollable at highway speeds. Retailers confirm this is a known problem on Ram trucks. Chrysler also acknowledges excessive outer-edge wear on front tires early in ownership but claims towing is to blame despite minimal trailer use and offers no fix. Dealers won't warranty either problem.
Same RAM 3500 wheels reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Wheel stud fracture and wheel detachment
Wheel studs fracture under normal driving, causing wheels to wobble, loosen, or separate from the vehicle. Two or more studs can fail on the same wheel. In severe cases, wheels detach completely, sometimes with inner and outer wheels on dually axles separating and locking up the axle.
When: 110,000 to 183,901 miles; some failures occur after dealer recalls attempted but VIN not included or repair deemed unnecessary
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel shuddering and vibration; Abnormal popping sounds; Front or rear wheel wobbling; Wheels separating or detaching from vehicle at 30–40 MPH; Vehicle wiggling and wobbling abnormally
Repairs/costs cited: Wheel studs and lug nuts require replacement. Dually rear wheel separation required professional towing to independent mechanic for diagnosis and repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 21V398000 (Wheels) issued; however, many VINs not included in recall scope or recall deemed completed without repair. Dealer inspection found studs did not 'need' replacement despite fractures. Wheel replacement not covered under recall repair.
Lug nut loosening after recall repair
Lug nuts become loose or improperly tightened following dealer recall repair work, causing wheel vibration to resume shortly after service completion.
When: Approximately 6,600 miles after recall repair was performed; failure mileage around 131,000
Symptoms owners cite: Vibration while driving at various speeds; Brake pedal vibration when depressed; No warning lights illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: All lug nuts on each wheel were not properly tightened after recall service. Work was not completed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 21V398000 (Wheels) recall performed, but repair procedure failed to tighten lug nuts properly. Dealer and manufacturer notified; vehicle not repaired.
Excessive front tire wear (outer edge)
Front tires wear excessively on outer edges, independent of normal driving patterns. Shop has seen this repeatedly on this model. Chrysler engineering unable to identify root cause but attributes it to towing load, despite minimal towing use.
When: Early in ownership; issue recurring across multiple tire replacements
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive wear on outer edges of front tires
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced front tires and performed alignment. Chrysler established STAR account and investigated but found no solution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler acknowledged problem exists but claims no solution available; attributed to towing heavy loads despite owner's minimal trailer use (4 trips/year, 340 miles; 3 trips/year, 40 miles).
Nexon tire tread separation and delamination
Original equipment Nexon Roadian HTX tires experience premature separation and delamination of tread from carcass, causing severe vibration, instability, and uncontrollable vehicle behavior. Retailers report this defect is common on Ram trucks with these tires.
When: As early as 7,500 miles; multiple failures within first 28,000 miles on same vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Tire tread separation while driving; Complete separation of tire build material; Extreme bounce and vibration; Tire became undrivable at highway speeds (65 MPH)
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement required. Defective tire determined by shop inspection. One owner replaced 5 tires total due to this defect; another replaced 3 of 6 dually tires.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer attributed early failure (at 17,596 miles) to normal wear and refused warranty coverage. No manufacturer response or recall noted for tire defect itself, though owners report this is well-known issue with these tires on this model.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The front tires wear excessively on the outer edges. I have taken it to fletcher Dodge 3 times to correct the issue. The service department acknowledged that this is a problem they have seen before with this model vehicle. Fletcher Dodge did replace the 2 front tires and performed an allignment. Chrysler set up a star account and worked on it. Chrysler acknowledged there is a problem but do not…
Had wheels trouble with your 2015 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 wheels problem on the 2015 RAM 3500?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $400 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the wheels typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most wheels failures cluster between 17,596 and 166,000 miles, with the median around 110,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 17,596; a quarter make it past 166,000. 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 $400 for wheels 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 wheels?
No active recalls currently cover wheels 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/2015/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.