Front end clunk while turning - FIXED - TSB # 23-047-18

[GJohn2]

The dealer should be pushing it up the chain. I have started networking with other dealers in my area about this issue. Everyone is aware of it. I have been told FCA is aware of it and was aware of it during production but things were so rushed and hyped up, they pushed on knowing good and well about it and now want the dealers to figure it out. I’ve done everything I can by opening a CARE and STAR case on this issue. I hope they are working on a fix. Back to the dealer for me Monday for this and a potential oil leak- what a time to be alive

Want the dealers to figure it out?????? This is nuts, and they knew of this issue during production... I have a case manager as well and that sucks to know that basically they are waiting on someone to figure out a fix out in the field that's a serious question of integrity. I am beginning to be less and less confident in getting this issue resolved.

 

[immersivenc]

Want the dealers to figure it out?????? This is nuts, and they knew of this issue during production... I have a case manager as well and that sucks to know that basically they are waiting on someone to figure out a fix out in the field that's a serious question of integrity. I am beginning to be less and less confident in getting this issue resolved.

Crazy, I know. I was told this from a service manager who has been in touch with the higher ups. Said this isn’t the first time FCA has blessed it’s dealers with such issues for them to figure out either. They better start figuring something out quick, because I’ve got two words for them if they don’t- Ford/Chevy.

 

[GJohn2]

Crazy, I know. I was told this from a service manager who has been in touch with the higher ups. Said this isn’t the first time FCA has blessed it’s dealers with such issues for them to figure out either. They better start figuring something out quick, because I’ve got two words for them if they don’t- Ford/Chevy.

That really is a shot in the arm to know that. And yes I agree on the two words. I traded a 16 big horn crew cab, and by far one of the best vehicles I have ever owned, I did not have one single issue. Now we cant seem to find a fix for a clunk lol. Lucky us... Keep me posted on what you get from your dealership on the issue and their thoughts on the sway bar adjustments.

 

[19RamLimited]

Its stinks. Im starting to find other things. I knew it going in though. I told myself never again but I couldn't wait. The plastic around the seatbelts in the front that cover the height adjustment. Those are basically just sitting there. Grab them and see what I mean. they just flop if you touch them. My bass from the sub causes this terrible rattle not the back wall. There is a noise in the front passenger door panel that at moderate volumes is enough to drive me crazy. The clunking in the steering is annoying. I really have tried to be patient. I whave some patience left so Ill see what happens. I believe it to be a strut mount. I had a Cadillac SRX that did this same noise when I turned. Didn't think about the fact the ram is front strut.

It REALLY sucks because I have a 13 that has been problem free from day 1. Change the oil and drive. Thats all Ive done plus the recommended maintenance. I hear you on the Ford/Chevy but to take the loss. Unless they buy it back would be a financial disaster. I will start to post videos about this truck on youtube if they do not have something coming to fix these issues. Idont mean 2020 guys get the fixes I mean the ones that trusted FCA with my HARD EARNED money. 65k is a S*** ton of money for anyone. The one guy that posted a video has 150 thousand views to this date. tThat is a lot of people to reach that could be possible customers.

FCA earned my trust from the 13 Ive owned problem free. I would had thought they would had really wanted tomato sure they went into production with these things ironed out because of what they are hoping this truck is for them. I had to deter someone yesterday that was in the market for one because I couldn't in good conscious tell him I am happy. Its a BEAUTIFUL truck. Honestly in my opinion best looking inside and out. I really am stuck in this truck for the next 3 years or so until I am not upside down out of my a$$. I put money down but didn't trade my 13 because I didn't want to be in a situation I didn't have a vehicle if the new one had some minor issues.

I have tried to defend. I have tried to be positive. I have taken accountability for the fact I couldn't wait. So ill drive the truck but if FCA dumps on us and says yeah it will be fixed in 2020, that will be the day I cant buy another FCA product.

I apologize to hijack I just was reading and had to vent. Back to the normally scheduled noise while turning.

 

[GJohn2]

Its stinks. Im starting to find other things. I knew it going in though. I told myself never again but I couldn't wait. The plastic around the seatbelts in the front that cover the height adjustment. Those are basically just sitting there. Grab them and see what I mean. they just flop if you touch them. My bass from the sub causes this terrible rattle not the back wall. There is a noise in the front passenger door panel that at moderate volumes is enough to drive me crazy. The clunking in the steering is annoying. I really have tried to be patient. I whave some patience left so Ill see what happens. I believe it to be a strut mount. I had a Cadillac SRX that did this same noise when I turned. Didn't think about the fact the ram is front strut.

It REALLY sucks because I have a 13 that has been problem free from day 1. Change the oil and drive. Thats all Ive done plus the recommended maintenance. I hear you on the Ford/Chevy but to take the loss. Unless they buy it back would be a financial disaster. I will start to post videos about this truck on youtube if they do not have something coming to fix these issues. Idont mean 2020 guys get the fixes I mean the ones that trusted FCA with my HARD EARNED money. 65k is a S*** ton of money for anyone. The one guy that posted a video has 150 thousand views to this date. tThat is a lot of people to reach that could be possible customers.

FCA earned my trust from the 13 Ive owned problem free. I would had thought they would had really wanted tomato sure they went into production with these things ironed out because of what they are hoping this truck is for them. I had to deter someone yesterday that was in the market for one because I couldn't in good conscious tell him I am happy. Its a BEAUTIFUL truck. Honestly in my opinion best looking inside and out. I really am stuck in this truck for the next 3 years or so until I am not upside down out of my a$$. I put money down but didn't trade my 13 because I didn't want to be in a situation I didn't have a vehicle if the new one had some minor issues.

I have tried to defend. I have tried to be positive. I have taken accountability for the fact I couldn't wait. So ill drive the truck but if FCA dumps on us and says yeah it will be fixed in 2020, that will be the day I cant buy another FCA product.

I apologize to hijack I just was reading and had to vent. Back to the normally scheduled noise while turning.

Very much so agree, that's how I felt about my 16! I am patient as well, I have been waiting it out and following the process since June, seeing that it is almost September I was hoping for at least some sort of progressive update. And yes that is a substantial amount of money, I believe we have all spent around the same plus or minus major Trim changes. I also agree its the most desirable truck out right now hands down no denying that. A fix would be ideal for us loyal first year risk takers lol.

 

[Mdegen93]

How many have the clunk with air suspension vs coils?

 

[RT70808]

How many have the clunk with air suspension vs coils?

Air suspension, no clunk

 

[Dkwatts1522]

Air suspension, no clunk

How many have the clunk with air suspension vs coils?

Air suspension no clunk. But my 09 Seirra developed one around 70K miles and dealer changed control arms and didn’t fix it. I kept telling them I thought it was a strut mount and they wouldn’t listen. At 162k I changed out front struts/ mounts springs and rear shocks due to milage. Like magic it was gone!!

 

[YoAdrian]

How many have the clunk with air suspension vs coils?

Brilliant question, let’s collect that info in one place; go here and fill out the poll if you are experiencing the clunk please! https://5thgenrams.com/community/threads/front-end-clunk-while-turning-poll-air-or-not.1710/

 

[YoAdrian]

How many have the clunk with air suspension vs coils?

So far with 5 responding there are some of each, so not isolated to one or the other.

UPDATE: 4 air vs 2 std. Still inconclusive.

 

[Jared B]

I'm just going to chime in here and say there is absolutely no way that anyone at Ram corporate or engineering would tell anyone at a dealer that this was an issue that they knew about and are leaving it to dealers to fix.

1) They know something like that would get out and it would create a huge backlash.
2) These trucks are too important to them to knowingly launch with an issue like that.

I think we all know that more **** comes out of a dealer service department than a sewer pipe.

If it was a design flaw it would affect every truck, it's most likely an assembly issue. Enough people seem to have it that we can at least say it is somewhat common. Preproduction test trucks aren't built in the factory where production trucks end up getting built. This of course is to prevent information leaks, figure out the best way to assemble them, have complete control over the build process and easily make changes if need be, etc. Unfortunately some stuff can and does crop up on the actual production line when customer trucks are being built which is a large root of the first year manufacturing issues that crop up with various manufacturers FCA included.

Hopefully they figure out a fix soon, but keep in mind that Ram will have to fix a truck with the problem and give it a bit of time to verify that whatever they do is the correct fix before issuing a TSB or anything on the issue.

 

[YoAdrian]

I'm just going to chime in here and say there is absolutely no way that anyone at Ram corporate or engineering would tell anyone at a dealer that this was an issue that they knew about and are leaving it to dealers to fix.

1) They know something like that would get out and it would create a huge backlash.
2) These trucks are too important to them to knowingly launch with an issue like that.

I think we all know that more **** comes out of a dealer service department than a sewer pipe.

If it was a design flaw it would affect every truck, it's most likely an assembly issue. Enough people seem to have it that we can at least say it is somewhat common. Preproduction test trucks aren't built in the factory where production trucks end up getting built. This of course is to prevent information leaks, figure out the best way to assemble them, have complete control over the build process and easily make changes if need be, etc. Unfortunately some stuff can and does crop up on the actual production line when customer trucks are being built which is a large root of the first year manufacturing issues that crop up with various manufacturers FCA included.

Hopefully they figure out a fix soon, but keep in mind that Ram will have to fix a truck with the problem and give it a bit of time to verify that whatever they do is the correct fix before issuing a TSB or anything on the issue.

Yep this... I can somewhat understand the sentiment of a service tech trying to troubleshoot, but to state this situation was intentional is just a bit silly. I would write the comment off as frustration getting the better of him. Ram needs this truck to succeed, and so do we owners... bring the problem trucks in, work with the service departments to note the noise and contact Ram as necessary, open STAR cases. It’ll get fixed if we stay on it. I say “we” because I’m one step closer to listening for my OWN clunks ... D1 today!

 

[immersivenc]

Yep this... I can somewhat understand the sentiment of a service tech trying to troubleshoot, but to state this situation was intentional is just a bit silly. I would write the comment off as frustration getting the better of him. Ram needs this truck to succeed, and so do we owners... bring the problem trucks in, work with the service departments to note the noise and contact Ram as necessary, open STAR cases. It’ll get fixed if we stay on it. I say “we” because I’m one step closer to listening for my OWN clunks ... D1 today!

I was just reiterating what I was told. I also don’t believe what I was told is silly at all. It’s completely plausible. It’s easy to say all of that when you don’t have one of these trucks yet. When you have a $65k vehicle with multiple mechanical issues that began around 700 miles and new things are popping up right and left and nobody at FCA really seems to give a ****, you might be singing a different tune. Just saying... I have a first year Jeep Wrangler JL in the driveway that has been 7000 miles problem free. This Ram has been a disaster.

 

[Jared B]

I was just reiterating what I was told. I also don’t believe what I was told is silly at all. It’s completely plausible. It’s easy to say all of that when you don’t have one of these trucks yet. When you have a $65k vehicle with multiple mechanical issues that began around 700 miles and new things are popping up right and left and nobody at FCA really seems to give a ****, you might be singing a different tune. Just saying... I have a first year Jeep Wrangler JL in the driveway that has been 7000 miles problem free. This Ram has been a disaster.

I'm not saying that you're wrong or don't have a reason to be frustrated, I would be too. It sucks seeing the initial quality issues on some these trucks and what some people are going through.

What I can say is that as someone with pretty intimate knowledge of how a vehicle launch works, what the guy at the service dept said isn't plausible at all. Like @YoAdrian said he's probably frustrated that they haven't been able to pinpoint it yet and there isn't a fix sent out from FCA at this point, which is understandable as well.

EDIT: Also, keep in mind there are members here with 0 issues and I followed the JL launch quite a bit as well, there were a lot of people with a lot of issues with those and then others that had none, luckily you got a good one. The issue with cracked frame welds was a pretty big deal. Unfortunately on first year stuff it really seems to be the luck of the draw.

 

[YoAdrian]

I was just reiterating what I was told. I also don’t believe what I was told is silly at all. It’s completely plausible. It’s easy to say all of that when you don’t have one of these trucks yet. When you have a $65k vehicle with multiple mechanical issues that began around 700 miles and new things are popping up right and left and nobody at FCA really seems to give a ****, you might be singing a different tune. Just saying... I have a first year Jeep Wrangler JL in the driveway that has been 7000 miles problem free. This Ram has been a disaster.

I think I came off wrong there @immersivenc sorry. I didn’t mean that to sound like a personal attack, and I know you were just relaying what the tech was claiming. The malfunctions you are experiencing, and the difficulties getting them fixed, is unacceptable and I think I would feel similarly in your shoes. I guess I was just surprised that the Ram service tech would blame his own company’s engineers and designers for purposefully handing these problems to him to fix... that’s what I thought was odd. If any company really operated in this manner I would be a mad customer too. I guess the takeaway might be for @RamCares and their teams of engineers trying to solve the suspension problems that these malfunctions and delays addressing them are causing their customers and even the techs to question their commitment to quality.

Man I do hope they get to the bottom of those problems for you... soon!

 

[warvet]

Had a chance to drive late Saturday evening and Sunday morning and heard the clunk once each time. It wasn't in my mind. Saturday, pulled out the garage and as I exited my driveway (while turning) and 'down' onto the road.....the truck did it's usual rocking and I heard/felt it once. It was very low though. Crazy thing is .......it didn't do it anymore. That was Saturday evening. Left for church yesterday morning and the same thing as I exited drive way......but, didn't do it anymore afterwards. I'm off today ....ran the dog to the vet and not a dang peep. Mind you, I would usually hear/feel it many more times. It's not fixed, but it's surely almost gone. I'm hoping we get a permanent fix, but with all that they tightened on mind, it's gotta be one of those things because it's nearly gone.

What's baffling is I'm going across irregularities, bumps, speed bumps that are enough to rock me silly ------and it's perfectly silent. Usually, it would be loud on those spots. Just those two instances I mentioned. Reminds me of these retired Army joints. First thing in the morning, they pop and then after they warm up, I'm good lol

 

[immersivenc]

I’m still working on it. Truck is in the shop now. Sang Kumbaya this AM with the shop foreman, service manager, sales manager, and service advisor in a meeting about all the issues with my truck. They are in communication with FCA now on fixes for the issues if they are feasible or if a buyback is necessary. Keep in mind FCA has probably sunk $3,500 plus into my truck for the steering rack that was replaced. Now I’ve got oil leaking out of the rear main seal area which has me more concerned than any of the other problems. I told them if they have to yank the transmission I don’t want it back. Have the faulty gauge cluster lighting also. We’ll see what happens but they’ve got their work cut out for them.

 

[alacombe]

I’m still working on it. Truck is in the shop now. Sang Kumbaya this AM with the shop foreman, service manager, sales manager, and service advisor in a meeting about all the issues with my truck. They are in communication with FCA now on fixes for the issues if they are feasible or if a buyback is necessary. Keep in mind FCA has probably sunk $3,500 plus into my truck for the steering rack that was replaced. Now I’ve got oil leaking out of the rear main seal area which has me more concerned than any of the other problems. I told them if they have to yank the transmission I don’t want it back. Have the faulty gauge cluster lighting also. We’ll see what happens but they’ve got their work cut out for them.

Oil leaking now too? Screw that truck

 

[warvet]

I’m still working on it. Truck is in the shop now. Sang Kumbaya this AM with the shop foreman, service manager, sales manager, and service advisor in a meeting about all the issues with my truck. They are in communication with FCA now on fixes for the issues if they are feasible or if a buyback is necessary. Keep in mind FCA has probably sunk $3,500 plus into my truck for the steering rack that was replaced. Now I’ve got oil leaking out of the rear main seal area which has me more concerned than any of the other problems. I told them if they have to yank the transmission I don’t want it back. Have the faulty gauge cluster lighting also. We’ll see what happens but they’ve got their work cut out for them.

oh wow man.....sorry to hear that.....a leak too. What else did you have though....besides the clunking?

 

[immersivenc]

oh wow man.....sorry to hear that.....a leak too. What else did you have though....besides the clunking?

It was going back in for the clunking, and during my self-exploratory troubleshooting I discovered oil beading up around the rear main which is terrible. I also have the uneven gauge cluster lighting which is said to be a problem. Also have some tech issues but I’m not that worried about those, they can be fixed with software. It’s the mechanical stuf I’m worried about.