SHOCK ABSORBER - SUSPENSION
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 RAM 1500 suspension problems
moderate 24 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
24
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
1crash
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension 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.
SHOCK ABSORBER - SUSPENSION
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Lower Ball Joint / Lower Control Arm Servicing Updates.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Shock And Strut Diagnosis And Replacement Guidelines Leaking, noisy, or weak shocks or struts.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SHOCK ABSORBER – SUSPENSION & SHOCKS - REAR
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2019 Ram 1500s report a broad range of suspension failures starting within the first few months of ownership. Ball joints and control arm bushings develop excessive play early, sometimes discovered during state inspection or when alignment issues emerge. One owner experienced a complete ball joint failure while driving on the highway, causing dangerous skidding. Knuckle-to-spindle assemblies have fractured under ordinary parking conditions—one fractured during a simple parking maneuver just three months after purchase, causing sudden loss of steering and front-end collapse.
Air suspension systems fail repeatedly: owners describe loss of pressure, compressor failures, height sensor malfunctions, and complete system overheating. Replacement cost runs $2,500 and is typically not warranty-covered; parts have been in national shortage with two-month lead times. Some owners waited six months at dealerships with unresolved rear differential seizures paired with failed rear suspension. Sway bar bushings fail as early as 25,000 miles. Shock absorber reservoirs have separated and fallen from vehicles due to weld failures.
Front-end vibration, shimmy, clunking noises, and loose rear suspension creating speed-dependent wobble are widespread complaints. Multiple dealers have denied responsibility or misdiagnosed issues—some claimed all vehicles make suspension noise, others blamed tire alignment despite eight or more wheel alignments producing no fix. Dealerships frequently told owners components were within spec while refusing repairs, and some cases have gone unresolved for months despite warranty claims.
Same RAM 1500 suspension reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Control Arm and Ball Joint Wear
Excessive wear or play in front upper and lower control arm bushings and ball joints, often discovered during state inspection. One owner experienced a ball joint failure that caused the vehicle to skid on the highway.
When: Early ownership (within first 30 days mentioned in one case); another failure at <UNKNOWN> mileage on highway
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive play in control arm bushings; Excessive play in ball joints; Alignment issues; Vehicle skidding when joint fails
Repairs/costs cited: Requires ball joint and control arm replacement; dealerships initially denied defects or claimed parts were within spec
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Powertrain warranty through Zurich mentioned for some front axle components; most dealerships denied responsibility initially
Knuckle and Spindle Failure
Steering knuckle-to-spindle assembly fractured under light parking lot conditions, causing sudden loss of steering and front-end collapse. Owner stated new spindles are notably better made than originals.
When: Within 3 months of purchase (January 4 to April 9, 2019)
Symptoms owners cite: Loud noise while parking; Vehicle veering left uncontrollably; Front left side dropped; Complete loss of steering
Repairs/costs cited: Spindle/knuckle replacement required; cost borne by owner as warranty claim denied; two of three Chrysler reps deemed part defective, third blamed customer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler denied defect claim and responsibility; refused recall despite acknowledging improved design in new parts
Front Axle Shaft Wear and Stub Shaft Damage
Excessive wear on front differential assembly stub shafts and front axle shafts requiring full front axle replacement. Parts kit unavailable from manufacturer.
When: Within first 30 days noted in one complaint; another case at 54,000 miles with seizure
Symptoms owners cite: Stub shaft wear visible on inspection; Front axle shaft deterioration; Rear differential axle seizure (in separate case)
Repairs/costs cited: Front axle replacement required; no replacement kit available from OEM; rear differential seizure required replacement of rear suspension and differential
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty coverage mentioned for front axles under some powertrain policies; one case with rear differential seizure at 54,000 miles unresolved after 6 months at dealer
Air Suspension System Failure
Multiple air suspension failures on front and rear, including loss of air pressure, compressor failure, height sensor malfunction, and complete system overheating. Parts in national shortage with extended lead times.
When: Various; one case cold weather trigger, another hot weather, another at 25,000 miles (tire drop), another 2026 model year
Symptoms owners cite: Service air suspension warning message; Vehicle leaning to one side; Audible air leak; Height adjustment failure; System overheating message; Tire rubbing fender due to ride height drop
Codes mentioned: C1562-2A (Incorrect operation of pump), C1562 (Right rear spring broken, height sensor failure)
Repairs/costs cited: Air suspension replacement cost $2,500 not covered under warranty; 2-month wait for parts due to national shortage; ruptured rear airbag replacement required in one case (filled with nitrogen)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not covered under any warranty; dealer noted safety concern of rapid vehicle drop if motor failed; Mopar provided oddly specific diagnostic instructions; Ram refused callback attempts
Suspension Bounce and Control Issues
Uncontrolled bouncing of vehicle while driving at highway and city speeds, followed by 'service suspension system immediately' warning messages. Occurred on multiple occasions requiring repeated dealership visits.
When: Between February 25 and April 29, 2019 (three separate incidents); another case persistent since purchase with lemon law award
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle bouncing out of control while driving; Service suspension warning message; Vehicle instability at speed; Rear vibration from vehicle affecting steering wheel, seats, and gas pedal; Vibration worsens at higher speeds
Codes mentioned: C1562 (height sensor failure)
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple visits required; one ruptured right rear airbag replaced; one case still unresolved after 9 days; owner with vibration won lemon law claim but kept vehicle after dealer said nothing within spec
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers claimed findings within spec and refused further pursuit; lemon law compensation awarded in vibration case
Sway Bar Bushing Failure
Sway bar bushings failed early in vehicle life, producing clunking noise from suspension area.
When: First heard at 25,000 miles; diagnosed and repaired at 35,000 miles (February to July 2022)
Symptoms owners cite: Clunking noise from suspension area
Repairs/costs cited: Sway bar bushing replacement covered under warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty coverage applied
Loose Rear Suspension and Wobble
Rear suspension exhibits looseness and wobble that increases with vehicle speed, creating instability. Multiple dealers blamed tire alignment despite repeated alignments producing no fix.
When: Since purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Rear suspension wobble; Instability increases with speed; Vehicle seems unstable
Repairs/costs cited: Owner paid for eight wheel alignments with no resolution; problem persistent since purchase
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers incorrectly attributed to tire alignment issues
Front Strut Issues
Front struts exhibit problems preventing state inspection passage, noted in early inspections of vehicle.
When: Within first 30 days of purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Strut failure detected on inspection
Repairs/costs cited: Strut replacement needed; dealership initially claimed nothing wrong
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership denied issue and refused repairs
Shock Absorber Reservoir Failure
Left rear shock absorber reservoir tank separated from shock due to weldment failure and fell from vehicle. Owner noted potential for serious injury or death if occurred at highway speed.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Shock reservoir tank broken and fell from vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Shock absorber with reservoir replacement required
Suspension Noise and Clunking
Noise from underneath the truck in steering suspension area, felt like something loose. Notably worse when hitting holes, ditches, or uneven road surfaces as wheel turns. Dealer heard noise but claimed all vehicles make the same sound.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Noise from suspension area; Felt like something loose; Worsens on rough terrain
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated normal and refused to address
Suspension Shimmy and Vibration
Front-end shimmy developed during normal driving. Tire rotation and balancing did not resolve the issue.
When: At 18,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Shimmy from front end
Repairs/costs cited: Tire rotation and balancing attempted without success
Synthesized from 24 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had suspension trouble with your 2019 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 suspension problem on the 2019 RAM 1500?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 24 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 2,500 and 27,000 miles, with the median around 14,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 2,500; a quarter make it past 27,000. 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 $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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/2019/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.