Within the last 60-90 days, I've started to experience what I now believe to be the dreaded "death wobble". Hitting a bump at freeway speeds causes a violent shaking in the front end that continues until the vehicle is slowed significantly (<50mph). Scared the life out of me the first time it happened. Now looking at upgrading my steering linkage and replacing the upper/lower ball joints, pitman arm, and sway bar end links. Will likely get my parts online and do the work myself which should cut the cost of repairs in half but I can still think of better ways to spend $1000. I love my Cummins motor but have come to dislike Dodge, it's service, and it's employees. It is they who will be solely responsible for my enthusiastic conversion to Ford.

I have not even made my first payment on my truck yet and I am already getting it ready to sell. This truck is a death trap waiting to happen. Every bump, every turn has the potential to send the front end into a shaking, spin out that can only be fixed by stopping the vehicle. Unfortunately, while the front end is shaking, the brakes hardly work, so good luck slamming on the brakes. Seven times in this month alone I have had the truck slip into the ditch after the "death wobble" kicked in. Dodge has hid from this problem long enough. How much blood do you want on your hands Dodge? How many deaths will it take? Weird how you changed the setup in 2008, then again in 2013.

For those that have this problem, get the checkbook ready. Its going to hurt. Upgrade your steering linkage(you can no longer buy the tie rod ends for the old style [way to hide Dodge]), to a 2009+ version of the steering linkage. This changes from a weak "Y" style to a "T" style linkage, the a new pittman arm, new steering box (six bolt), new high end ball joints, add a dual stabilizer, and add a high end sway bar. Yes it is a lot, but it not only fixes the problem, but prevents it from coming back. So far, I have spent almost $4000 on the front end of this truck.

This problem is not only dangerous, and expensive to fix, but it also destroys tires, and your alignment. So chock up another $1500 for tires, and the $150 for alignment....

F*ck you Dodge. This is my fourth pickup from Dodge, and the first one I have had this kind of problem with. This will be my last Dodge...

HIT A SMALL POTHOLE IN THE THE ROAD GOING ABOUT 70MPH AND FELT SEVERE SHAKING THAT MIMICS A BLOWOUT. HARD TO CONTROL STEERING BUT WAS THANKFULLY IN LITTLE TRAFFIC WITH A STRAIGHT ROAD. DIDN'T STOP UNTIL I HAD SLOWED CONSIDERABLY.

DODGE SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO RECALL THIS AS HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND CAN CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT IF IT OCCURS AT THE WRONG TIME AND PLACE. WE USE THIS TRUCK TO HAUL A HEAVY TRAILER AND HORSES WITH SMALL CHILDREN RIDING IN THE CAB FAIRLY OFTEN. THAT WOULD BE A REALLY NASTY WRECK.

DODGE APPARENTLY HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME AND IS SITTING ON THEIR ASS/ WALLET INSTEAD OF CORRECTING IT. GUESS WE'LL HAFTA SQUEEZE THE MONEY OUTTA OF OWN ASS TO FIX IT.

Encountered the problem on the way to Wyoming from Calif. Upon return at 60 mph most of the way, I went to dealership explained problem and stated that after research found that I have what is commonly known as "Death Wobble." I mentioned this to the dealer... he states that he had never heard of the problem. But toward the end of the conversation/complaint he handed me a Tie Rod and stated that this will fix the problem. This "fix" would not have fixed the problem.

After $1062 the problem is repaired. The entire steering system was replaced. A Dodge bulletin Re: pitman arm was at the wrong angle and a replacement was recommended. (this may have been causing the entire prob) Tie rod replaced Drag link replaced All Bushings Support bracket for the stabilizing system to prevent frame flex. But before all that ....front and rear shocks were replaced and bearings checked. $350

Realizing this is just a recap. I can provide more detail Go ahead and email.

Update from Aug 22, 2015: Upon reading previous complaints other than submitted by me the so called Death Wobble is caused by a multitude of problems. My mechanic is a front end and steering specialist. He has seen this problem on many occasions. The primary cause is the angle of the pitman arm. The stress applied to the steering system because of this is excessive and destroys the bushings on the tie rod and the drag link. My mechanic found a bulletin re: the pitman arm problem and that a different angle is recommended. The findings re: causes of the Death Wobble is bad bushings on both the tie rod and the drag link due to the angle of the pitman arm. My problem with the steering has been resolved at a cost of $900.00. There were other associated costs.... Replacing front shocks and through a vendor named Custom Diesel installed an anti sway system to reduce frame flex.

I just purchased this truck 5 days ago. It was formally a California Highway Patrol Truck. I went 250 miles from my house to pick it up and drive it back. I was told it would have a "rough ride" for a while because it sat for 8 months and the almost new tires had a flat spot from sitting. after 10 mins. I started looking for a tire shop to balance the tires but did see any on the side of the freeway and eventually made it home. I took it to a local tire shop today and they balanced all 4 wheels and adjusted the tire pressure from 40 LBS to 80 LBS. As I drove away I noticed a great improvement. I dropped my wife off at home(2 blocks form the tire shop) and went to work. when I got on the freeway I was so happy the vibration had stopped. AND THEN IT HAPPENED!!!! i HIT A BUMP AND COULD BARELY CONTROL THE TRUCK. As I slowed down to avoid dying it stopped shaking. I continued to drive to work. I looked up shaking front ends and discovered I purchased a daemon possessed Dodge. does anyone have a fix for this? (other than selling it and buying a Ford)

I bought this vehicle used with 48,500 miles in 2011 and it always seems to be really shaky. I've spent almost $7000 including tires to try to remedy the problem of what I call excessive shaking in the front end. Finally on December 18th, 2014 I got the actual death wobble and I've had it 3 other times since then. Once on the 18th, 2nd time although not as bad on the 19th, again on the 21st and again this morning on the 22nd.

I've replaced tie rod ends, ball joints, shocks, springs/coils, etc and nothing has made a difference. One thing that helped with the truck "wandering" on the road was a product at www.dodgeramsteeringstabilizer.com but that didn't help the shaking. Initially I was doing about 70 MPH the first time it happened, about 65 the 2nd and 3rd time, today I was only doing about 55 MPH when it happened. Not sure what else to do, taking it in to the dealer this Friday, Merry Christmas to me!

While researching the problem that I have been experiencing I came across what is being described as "DEALS WOBBLE" and everything that others have explained is spot on with what I have been experiencing.

I first noticed it at around 75,000 miles, I replaced the upper and lower ball joints, u - joints and wheel hub assembly on both side. These parts were around $700 I did the work myself. After installing everything I made it about 80,000 miles again and had to replace the u - joints and wheel hub assembly again but the upper and lower ball joints are still in good condition. I now have 180,000 miles on my truck and during the second rebuild of my front end I couldn't believe that the parts were only lasting for 80,000 miles so I started researching for the fix. Here is what I found and have corrected my "DEALS WOBBLE" with. Apparently the T style stabilizer system that came on it stock in 2007 needed to be swapped out for a Y-style 2009 stabilizer system and new pitman arm. These parts were $420.00 they are Mopar parts that can be purchased from A-1 auto.com.

Long story short, this fix does work and made my truck drive like a dream. Here's the list of everything that I purchased at 176,000 miles.

2009 steering stabilizer system $420.00 Bilstein stabilizer shock $94.00 U - joints for both sides $102.00 Wheel hub assembly for both sides $465.00 Steering box $140.00 Power steering Fluid $5.00. I was able to do all the work with some help from a friend, total time to do the work with a couple of breaks was about 6 to 7 hours.

I would like to add that Dodge never did any of the repairs and never seemed to have any answers to the questions that I was asking. But I'm pleased to say my truck drives like a dream and I'm a Mopar man until I die but it won't be because of "DEALS WOBBLE ".

Replaced front end stabilizer bars and damper because of death wobble

Additional problems Left tie rod snapped while driving, I lived because I was driving slow at the time but had to get towed. After it happened and I paid for the repair, I received a recall from Chrysler. Replaced all axle seals.... Twice now Replaced transmission Replaced Transfer case Replaced water pump Replaced AC compressor Replaced turbo charger Replaced all u-joints Replaced all ball joints Heater motor quit Wiring for both back door power windows broke Gave up trying to clear the check engine light after the 15th visit to the dealer.

There's a pile more issues I can't even keep track of. I'm very close to $30,000 in repairs and towing costs. I imported the truck to Canada from the U.S in 2007. It had 1900 miles on it when I bought it. Because it was imported Chrysler didn't honor any warranty at all. I can't believe that a manufacturer could build such a pile of crap in modern times. I will never buy another Chrysler product and I let everyone I meet know exactly what I went through so they don't either.

THE STEERING LINKAGES AND BALL JOINTS ARE THE WEAK LINK IN THIS VEHICLE. THEY ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT AND TURN THE FRONT END OF THIS TRUCK. WARRANTY WAS UP IN SEPTEMBER, PROBLEM IN NOVEMBER. DEALER WOULD DO NOTHING. WARRANTY UP AT 3 YEARS / 36000 MILES. TRUCK WAS 3 YEARS 2 MONTHS / 37400 MILES.

Update from Jan 16, 2011: I changed the outer tie rod end and the situation with death wobble when you hit a crack in the road has improved greatly. Truck still feels weird when you hit a junction for a bridge and also wanders at highway speeds. I ordered new ball joints and will let you know how these do to improve the situation. I am from the USA not Afghanistan!!!