Drag link recall performed without notice - now steering wheel misaligned!

[Aries2500]

I brought my 2018 30K mile Ram 2500 HD into local dealer today as they had a coupon for alignment. I bought my truck, used, from a different brand's dealership with 17k miles. I didn't have a relationship with any Ram dealers, so I chose the one closest to my house. I had balance and rotate done too, as there was a noticeable vibration in the steering. They completed the requested service and I picked the truck up and drove home. I noticed that the steering wheel is now needed to be held in a 10 to 11 o'clock and is not straight.

I did a quick search on how to address this and found out about the drag link adjustment to correct a misaligned wheel. It looked very simple to complete so I got under the truck and found that my drag link was welded with what looked like fresh welds!

I had previously reviewed the Ram Trucks site and nowhere did it ever mention I needed to have Safety Recall V06 performed, and I checked my invoice for today's service, it is not mentioned. However, today V06 recall is shown, with today's date, at Mopar.com as a completed recall!

I am shocked that the dealer would align the truck without centering the steering wheel before making a repair of this nature. I'm further shocked that they would initiate a repair and not even advise me that they were going to perform a recall repair. I now need to contact them to complain and have the issue addressed.

 

[Travelin Ram]

I thought the welding was supposed to be just a temporary repair until new drag links could be supplied in quantity?

I would certainly be ticked off at their handling of this.

 

[dhay13]

Agreed. Poor way of handling this. Tagging @RamCares who hopefully can help. Since this created an unacceptable outcome maybe they can help you get the drag link replaced the right way. They helped me get mine replaced a few years ago.

 

[oe542bob]

It’s crazy that this is still getting done by the dealerships. By now I would have hoped that the dealers could directly replace that drag link with the updated version.
Back in 2019 when I bought my 2018 2500, it was not included in that recall. Very soon after I bought it, the ‘18 model was indeed included. When I stopped at a different dealership to get something done, they informed me of the recall. Asked if I wanted it done, my answer was no.
From being on the C Forum, guys were buying aftermarket DLs and then “some” were getting reimbursed by FCA.
In the beginning of this recall there were only 2 ways to get a replacement.
1) The procedure to examine the DL ( as laid out by FCA ) , and if it was found to be out of spec, then a replacement was issued
2) RamCares, this is how I got mine replaced. They will approve a replacement, which is sent to the dealership for your truck. This can still be replaced even though the recall was already done.
Contact RamCares via a PM with your VIN and explain why you are contacting them. It took about, in my case, about 2 months, but I got it replaced.

 

[nlambert182]

My 2016 drag link was repaired the same way. At least with mine they did the alignment first and then welded the drag link. I didn't really like it at the time (and didn't know about this forum) or Ramcares, but it held up just fine.

You might want to raise a stink with the dealer that made the repair and have them replace the drag link.

 

[mtnrider]

Contact @RamCares and tell them the situation and request they replace the draglink with the new updated model, they will do it free of charge. Do Not bother beating up the dealer over this, there is nothing they can do. Ramcares will arrange everything with the dealer and get you taken care of.

.

 

[2003F350]

That's a shabby alignment tech - they should know better than to be welding these before making sure the wheel is straight.

And as mentioned, I had heard that parts were now available to perform the replacement instead of welding. They should have notified you that your truck fell under the recall, and given you the option to wait for the replacement part or weld it.

 

[RamCares]

My 2016 drag link was repaired the same way. At least with mine they did the alignment first and then welded the drag link. I didn't really like it at the time (and didn't know about this forum) or Ramcares, but it held up just fine.

You might want to raise a stink with the dealer that made the repair and have them replace the drag link.

Hello,

Please send our team a PM with your information, we will be happy to get a Specialist to assist you further on the drag link situation.

William
Ram Cares

 

[RamCares]

I brought my 2018 30K mile Ram 2500 HD into local dealer today as they had a coupon for alignment. I bought my truck, used, from a different brand's dealership with 17k miles. I didn't have a relationship with any Ram dealers, so I chose the one closest to my house. I had balance and rotate done too, as there was a noticeable vibration in the steering. They completed the requested service and I picked the truck up and drove home. I noticed that the steering wheel is now needed to be held in a 10 to 11 o'clock and is not straight.

I did a quick search on how to address this and found out about the drag link adjustment to correct a misaligned wheel. It looked very simple to complete so I got under the truck and found that my drag link was welded with what looked like fresh welds!

I had previously reviewed the Ram Trucks site and nowhere did it ever mention I needed to have Safety Recall V06 performed, and I checked my invoice for today's service, it is not mentioned. However, today V06 recall is shown, with today's date, at Mopar.com as a completed recall!

I am shocked that the dealer would align the truck without centering the steering wheel before making a repair of this nature. I'm further shocked that they would initiate a repair and not even advise me that they were going to perform a recall repair. I now need to contact them to complain and have the issue addressed.

Hello,

Should you need any assistance with the new updated drag link repair, please send our team a PM, we're here to assist. Thank you

William
Ram Cares

 

[Aries2500]

Contact @RamCares and tell them the situation and request they replace the draglink with the new updated model, they will do it free of charge. Do Not bother beating up the dealer over this, there is nothing they can do. Ramcares will arrange everything with the dealer and get you taken care of.

.

Ramcares / William contacted me and we have exchanged info needed to start getting this addressed. Thanks William!

 

[Roll Tide Ram]

I bought a 18 2500 the first of August with 27k on it. I had previously had a 18 that was repaired properly, so when I checked this one, it had been welded. I contacted Ram Cares and have been waiting about 3 weeks. Maybe in a few more weeks this truck will get the new drag link.

 

[RamCares]

Ramcares / William contacted me and we have exchanged info needed to start getting this addressed. Thanks William!

You're welcome! We're glad to assist you

William
Ram Cares

 

[zrock]

Probably the reason they did not put it on the invoice, they realized they screwed up and figured if its not on the invoice you would not be smart enough to research it.. I would be sitting on their door step and tell em to fix it...

 

[olyelr]

I had sort of the same experience…took the truck in simply to have the tranny fluid changed, and the kakas did the recall without even asking me or TELLING ME! Found out a few days later on my own simply by crawling around under my truck.

I had been deliberately ignoring the recall notices because i kept an eye on it and knew they were tightened down properly and not causing an issue. That pissed me off to say the least.

 

[2003F350]

I had sort of the same experience…took the truck in simply to have the tranny fluid changed, and the kakas did the recall without even asking me or TELLING ME! Found out a few days later on my own simply by crawling around under my truck.

I had been deliberately ignoring the recall notices because i kept an eye on it and knew they were tightened down properly and not causing an issue. That pissed me off to say the least.

When I had my Wagon that fell under the recall, the Service Manager explicitly asked if I wanted it done, because he knew the original fix was not a good fix. I told him no weld. They never did it (they may have after I traded it in, I can't say). However, I was putting 5k on roughly every 2-3 months, and had them do the oil changes (figured if the dealer always serviced it and something went sideways, there shouldn't be issues with the Lifetime Maxxcare I had), so they got to inspect it 4-6 times per year. It never budged, and by the time I hit 100k it was probably so rusted it would have had to be cut apart anyway.

 

[Phylodog]

They'd be cutting those welds and correcting it or replacing the parts to make it right. I had my truck aligned at the dealership and found the same issue. I made it a block down the street before turning around and taking it back. Took all of 15 minutes to straighten out the steering wheel.

 

[Rado]

Following

 

[jejb]

Ram says that can only be welded once. So if they need to remove the weld during an alignment, etc, the drag link must be replaced. That's how I got my dealer, with RamCares help, to install the updated one in my 18 2500.

 

[Reuel]

I bought my 2020 2500 used with 44K miles from a dealer. The steering wheel has always been slightly off-center, maybe 11 o'clock. Bothers the heck out of me every time I drive it but did not know what the cause was. I will look into this further.

 

[Truckmike]

When I bought my used 17 Ram 2500 megacab from a different dealer the steering wheel was off centered as the same position as your Ram. Was told that the TSB did say to align it and weld jam nut to prevent it from loosening as a temporary repair But a new drag link was at the time 60 days out
So eventually i finally got it replaced