V06 drag link recall status as of now

[catscape]

My truck unfortunately already has the ugly and troublesome weld on the drag link nuts when I bought it. After looking at all available information online, it looks like FCA used to cover the expenses for getting the updated proper fix if you contact RamCares via PM. But Ram does not seem to care anymore since late 2023.

I am in contact with @RamCares and it is not going anywhere. Ram insists that the alignment can still be done with the weld in place, but it is only half true. Their procedure says nothing more than adjusting the toe, which is on the tie rod and has nothing to do with the drag link anyways. There simply is no way around cutting the weld if you want a centered steering wheel. No mechanic I talked to is willing to undo the safety recall, so I pretty much have to consent to an incomplete job that leaves the steering wheel off-centered if I want alignment done to my truck.

After several rounds of conversation, Ram responded with this:

Your concerns are certainly understandable. However, we are limited to the information you are seeking at the moment. In the meantime, your concerns will be documented to let the rest of our team know about your feedback.

I have seen quite a few folks getting a vastly different outcome and this entire drama just feels ridiculously unfair. Apparently it is not anywhere near acceptable to have a steering wheel that's not centered, and welding an adjuster sleeve simply sounds off by itself. Owners need to get their steering wheels straight. Owners need the ability to get alignment at any shop of their choice. Period.

From what I see, Ram used to be very helpful and offered to replace the drag link for anyone who reached out before late 2023, but since then most if not all requests for the new drag link seem to have been turned down. Ram is now taking a very discourteous stance, constantly citing the weld as a "proper" fix and repeating unhelpful robotic responses. All of the following was taken from my PM with RamCares:

we assure you that an alignment is still able to be done with the weld.

Have you had the chance to bring the TSB we provided above to the attention of your dealer yet?

Regarding your steering wheel, we would recommend bringing that to your dealer's attention as they would be in the best position to look into that for you.

I'd like to know your experience with this unprofessional fiasco and RamCares. Did anyone get Ram to cover the new updated drag link this or last year? How did you approach this if so?

 

[Daw14]

Just go buy a new aftermarket and move on with your life.
Ram does not care.
If they did they would have people who speak English answering phones.
Maybe even a little training so they could separate things from holes in the ground.

 

[clifford15]

Look up Dorman Premium AS810002PR. It is a replacement sleeve. I have one from a different company, not yet installed.

 

[mtnrider]

I had a good experience with ram cares and had mine replaced (years ago), but we are now ~7 years down the road from the recall so I'm guessing they are no longer going to replace them if you have waited this long?

A new one (the new design) is less then $300, I think I would just bite the bullet and replace it at this point.

.

 

[DILLIGAF]

Just buy aftermarket, Never understood why people waste time with stealersh!ts

 

[Mark M D]

I just experienced all the above on my 2018 2500 Power Wagon with my mechanic, he would not cut welded nuts to straighten steering wheel, said go to dealer.
Turns out the recall was done 6 months before I bought it new off the lot.

Dealer charged $160 to align & straighten steering wheel and they REMOVED welded black painted nuts, they the left center black barrel nut & installed 2 new silver/galvanized nuts, no welds.

Go figure. Is that a problem?

 

[Grams]

It really shouldn’t be an on-going concern once alignment is properly performed…..
HOwever, I do understand the frustration of having purchased a product design with the understanding the steering should be continuously and repeatedly adjustable…and that a recall turns it into a limited-adjustment product… NOT what you paid-for.
If it were me…THAT would be the position from which I’d address this issue with Ram…. A Welded arm is NOT what I bought and NOT what I find acceptable. Period.
Replace it!

(They are going to attempt to convince you that NTSB has accepted the “weld” fix…and therefore that is all they are obligated to do for you. YOU should “counter” that NTSB is only concerned with “Safety”….not “Serviceablity” …which is what YOU PAID FOR when you bought their product design..which THEY have cheaped-out and ALTERED their product without your acceptance with that “weld”.)

That would be My personal argument with them. I’d also VISIBLY copy-in my Congressman, my state atty-gen Consumer Fraud ofc, and my lawyer in the letter to Ram.

 

[BLUEDERANGO]

If you still have the old original one and the "nuts" have been welded I strongly suggest you just replace it and be done with it the whole fiasco. RAM CARES just doesn't care anymore about much of anything. I replaced mine with the factory replacement and submitted my invoice and they paid me for it but that was several years ago when RAM CARES did care. Check around on line, google it.. The part number is P68338342AB , (That part number is 5 years old, it may have been superseded).. It only takes about 30 min. to replace and doesn't affect the alignment, just the steering wheel position.
Bottom line just fix the issue and get on with life, screwing around with the "New" RAM CARES is just an invitation to frustration with nothing positive as an outcome.

 

[DustinMash]

This V06 recall could turn into a class action real quickly. My dealer today told me they would have to grind the welds and re-weld it to get the steering wheel straight. I told them, an alignment isn’t complete unless the wheel is straight.

Not a welder here, but doesn’t grinding the welds off cause a ton of heat? Then re-welding causing more heat? Wouldn’t that cause an increased chance of failure?
Also what is crappy, this recall forces me to spend way too much on an alignment at the dealer, and takes way too freaking long at this point to do the job correctly.
@RamCares

 

[rzr6-4]

Not a welder here, but doesn’t grinding the welds off cause a ton of heat? Then re-welding causing more heat? Wouldn’t that cause an increased chance of failure?

Steels that are really hard are more heat sensitive, mild steel really couldn't care less which I would image is what the drag links are made of. Even so, I've seen some pics of a big ole weld all the way around and pics of a pretty small weld. All the weld needs to do is keep the nuts from rotating so hopefully they put a small weld on yours, which wouldn't put much heat into the metal anyway.

 

[crazy jerry]

every car on the road has steering tie rods held together with a jam nut in the same way. the dont loosen .
i think the v06 stemmed from one person noticing a loose jam nut that probly got over looked at assembly then a bunch of karens turned it into a nothing burger