This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
While I was driving at 50 mph my power steering locked up and a Service Power steering message appeared. I had to manually steer the truck as best I could before I could find a safe place to pull over. While it wasn't a catastrophic failure it could have been had this happened while driving at highway speeds. It seems that this type of failure is common in RAM 1500 trucks (2015 and 2016 models were recalled for the same reason, contaminated electronic power steering circuit board or module). This type of failure is a definite safety hazard especially if the power steering failure prevents the driver from having control of the vehicle during this episode.
While driving power steering warning lights up and steering fails. Have to pull over and stop put in park and turn off and back on for power steering to start working again.
Started my truck this morning and warning light came on the dash showing a steering wheel with an exclamation point beside it with a message saying "Service Power Steering". Also, the steering wheel is VERY hard to turn. It seems that the power steering has failed.
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated that after placing the vehicle into reverse(R) and straightening the steering wheel, the power steering assist failed to operate as needed. The "Service Power Steering" message was displayed on the instrument panel. Due to the failure, the contact used excessive force to steer the vehicle to the residence. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were no recalls on the VIN. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
I was driving at approximately 45 mph when suddenly my steering wheel locked causing me to run off the road. The "service power steering light" illuminated. It was taken to the dealership where I found out this is a COMMON problem that apparently hasn't killed enough people for Ram to recall it yet. There will be deaths associated with this. The dealer does not have the parts, can't get the parts, and states it will be $3,000 to repair IF they ever get the parts. Why hasn't the NHTSA issued a recall yet? This is exceedingly dangerous!
- Beaufort, SC, USA
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On 07/17/2024 I got into the vehicle and after starting it I put it into reverse and started backing up and noticed that the steering was not working properly and than saw the warning lamp of a steering wheel with an exclamation mark next to it. So I have a Launch AUTO Smart Diagnostic Tool that I did use to find out that there was an active code for Electronic Power Steering Module. Yes it is available for inspection, no it has not been confirmed or inspected by anybody. The safety risks to myself & others is injury or death due to the uncontrollable steering.
electronic power steering suddenly stopped working after driving several hundred miles to go on vacation. Thankfully it happened after I parked at a rest stop.
Driving home from work on a winding road. Almost went into a ditch because my steering wheel, without warning, seized and wouldn-??t allow me to turn. I had to pray I didn-??t go into the ditch or hit the person in front of me. There was no warning signs. Once it happened, the only light that popped up was the exclamation point. Now it-??s not drivable and I don-??t have $3000 to get it fixed!
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "Service Steering" was displayed, and the power steering assist was inoperable, making the steering wheel difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the power steering module was faulty, and the steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 80,900.
I was pulling up to my house when the power steering failed, there was no warning light prior and I immediately could not turn my wheel. Had I been making a turn on the thruway I would have seriously injured myself and/ or others. I have not taken it to a dealer yet as it just happened today and it is 6 pm. The power steering has not worked yet since the incident.
Power steering stops working at random times and I have very limited control of the vehicle. Service power steering light appears on the dash. This has happen approximately 15 times without any warning. My truck has been at Ram Dealer in Panama City since July 8, 2024. They say I need Rack and Pinion gear part #R8573449AA but they have not been able to find the part.
Driving on interstate, service power steering light came on and instantly lost all power steering. Luckily I was going straight, if I was on a curve it could have been very bad. There was no previous notices or C.E.L. the eps system is one whole contained unit. Dealer says it is not serviceable. If one thing fails you lose steering completely. Currently looking at a $4000 dollar repair bill for a faulty steering module. Seems extremely dangerous
Electrical power steering went bad out of the sudden, and almost lost control of the vehicle. It was so hard to steer. I had to replace that whole EPS racking and pinion. New part was on back order, so my only option was to get a used part.
Intermittent steering issues. Some times the electric steering kicks off and back on. Sometimes It doesn-??t work at all. Sometimes it works fine. Brought it to dealer they want 3k to replace the whole rack and pinion even though they have recalls for this same problem just not mine. I have a vehicle I-??m paying every month for that-??s too unsafe to drive, and to expensive to fix
Intermittent Power steering failure first occurred ~March 2024. Truck is not safe to operate and is currently at the dealership awaiting parts for repair and is available for inspection. Power steering failure occurred multiple times without warning and required enormous physical effort to maintain control through the turn. No warning signals or symptoms occurred before, during, or after any of the power steering failures.
Tried to start my truck in the morning a nd the power steering system light came on. Steering wheel was hard to turn. Took my truck to the mechanic and he said there was no parts to be found the the computer said it was an internal problem in the EPS rack and pinion unit. Went to the Dealership and they sated that they could not help me cause the part was discontinued. No parts on back order or were even available anymore. There also were no aftermarket parts made for this either leading me to hunt down old parts off of junked Ram trucks. This truck is only 10 years old and I don't know how it slipped through the recall when every other truck of that age is recalled.
The vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power steering assist while driving back to the house after work doing normal speed for the road leading there which is usually 35-60 mph. The steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn, requiring significant effort to maintain control of the vehicle. This occurred without warning and created a hazardous situation as the vehicle became difficult to maneuver. The power steering system is available for inspection upon request. The problem has been consistently reproduced under varying driving conditions, -e.g. City streets, turning, etc. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure. I could have been seriously injured or injured another as well. I did contact the manufacturer and they stated that they do not make this part any longer laughed at me and said good luck. I felt silly and that was the last thing I needed that day after almost wrecking the vehicle due to this issue.
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the service power steering warning illuminated, and the power steering function became inoperable. The contact pulled over and stopped the vehicle. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the power steering functionality had returned. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred the same day and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the mechanic determined that the rack and pinion gears needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V167000 (Steering). The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Orlando, FL, USA