Quite a while back now, Ram 2500 drivers were reporting a nightmare scenario. The steering would suddenly fail without warning. The complaints came from owners of 4WD models who described losing all control. It turns out that the drag links were separating from the steering linkage, causing near unthinkable safety risks.

The culprit was traced to the adjustable connector, held in place by two opposing jam nuts. These could loosen over time, wear down the threads, and eventually fail completely.

The Ram issue first drew NHTSA’s attention in December 2018

Complaints prompted a Preliminary Evaluation focused on certain 2015 and 2016 Ram trucks.

Chrysler responded in January 2019 with a recall covering about 600,000 4WD 2500s and 3500s. They’d promised to tighten or replace the affected drag link couplers.

2WD trucks were not included, as their drag link design differed and appeared less susceptible to the problem.

However, by December 2019, NHTSA upgraded the investigation to an Engineering Analysis to take a closer look at 2WD trucks

The Vehicle Research and Test Center conducted dynamic testing on both 4WD and 2WD trucks. This all happened independently of the automaker.

The study confirmed that under-torqued jam nuts on 4WD trucks could loosen further under normal driving conditions, leading to potential separation. For 2WD trucks, the tests supported FCA’s position that their design did not present the same risk.

The agency also wanted to assess the long-term effectiveness of the recall repair, keeping the probe open as driver feedback on the fix came in.

Over the course of the investigation, some owners raised concerns about the recall repair, particularly the spot welds on the jam nuts and the difficulty of aligning the steering afterward

The OEM addressed this in September 2023 with a supplemental alignment clarification, aiming to ensure proper steering setup after repairs.

In any case, despite these concerns, no pattern of post-repair steering failures, weld problems, or other safety issues emerged.

By the time the NHTSA closed the investigation in late November 2025, only two allegations of drag link separation on 2WD trucks had surfaced. Neither could be linked to loose jam nuts.

So, then, it appears “with confidence” – seven years’ worth – that the 4WD Ram recall fixes addressed the defect, while 2WD models appear unaffected. The agency concluded the probe with no further action while keeping the door open to revisit the issue if new evidence arises.