10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
16,962 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2017 Ram 1500 steering problems

steering problem

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2017 Ram 1500 Owner Comments (Page 3 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #101

Mar 232024

1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving down the road at 30 mph and my steering wheel seized, I got a check steering alarm on my dash.

- Mount Vernon, OH, USA

problem #100

Mar 182024

1500

  • miles
The power steering is intermittently getting very difficult control. There seems to be "tight spots " turning right and left. This issue is getting progressively worse. I have not lost control of the vehicle yet but it is getting worse and I rely on this vehicle for transportation to and from work

- Hudson, IL, USA

problem #99

Apr 072024

1500

  • miles
I was driving on a highway on a rainy day when I felt a small vibration in the front end of my truck. Suddenly, the service electric steering system light comes on my dash and I can't hardly turn the steering wheel. I lost all power steering in my truck, occasionally it would try to turn on while trying to drive it home, then the service steering light would come on and jerk the steering wheel in my hand, which is very hard to hold on to and I'm a big guy. If this were to happen to a smaller person, I'm not sure how they would be able to keep from going in the ditch or worse, rolling the truck. This I was told by a ram dealership is due to a faulty rack and pinion steering system, which is a $2800 fix. I'm honestly glad it wasn't my wife or kids driving the truck, this could have been way worse!

- Brook Park, MN, USA

problem #98

Apr 042024

1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving to work this morning the power steering went out with no warning. I was driving on the highway and the steering wheel started jerking and then became very stiff. Had I been in a curve when this happened I could have easily gone off the road or into oncoming traffic. I was able to slow down and limp my truck to work. I am on shift for 24 hours so I have not been able to have a mechanic look at it yet but I have done a lot of research today and multiple people have had very similar problems. There was even a recall on the 2016 ram 1500 for the exact same problem. When I began investigating my own vehicle I checked all associated fuses which were good. I also checked to make sure power was getting to the electronic power steering module plug and determined that it was. While I was under the truck checking I discovered that the rack and pinion had already been replaced. This is a very serious safety issue that is apparently happening in multiple vehicles, multiple times. This component and my truck are available for inspection as long as I have them.

- Tunnel Hill , GA, USA

problem #97

Oct 152023

1500

  • miles
The electronic power steering (EPS) failed 8 months ago. It started with intermittent failure while driving. Complete failure occurred within 1 week of the problem starting making steering very difficult. I had God's Speed Automotive in Colorado City, Texas look at it and the rack and pinion require replacement. There are no recalls on this model but there are many recalls with similar models.

- Colorado City, TX, USA

problem #96

Feb 262024

1500

  • miles
Vehicle has begun having intermittent Electronic Power Assist failure. There are no warning lights indicating a failure. It happens when making either right or left hand turns and can be felt at slow speeds. You have to be ready for the intermittent failure on these type turns as you have manually force the steering to com back to a neutral position. This is the same failure recalled on other Ram trucks just not mine. 2017 Model Year 1500 Crew Cab. VB9/NHTSA 19E-077 Dealer estimated $5000 for repairs basically replacing the entire steering mechanism, how can this not be a serious failure.

- Fremont, OH, USA

problem #95

Mar 122024

1500

  • 119,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH he observed that a symbol of a steering wheel with an exclamation point appeared. The contact felt the steering wheel had become very hard to turn. The contact pulled off of the road and turned the vehicle off and on several times, however, the power steering functionality did not reengage. The contact drove the vehicle to a dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined the rack and pinon gears and electric power steering gears needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19E077000 (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.

- Loveland, CO, USA

problem #94

Mar 182024

1500

  • 82,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated that after pulling out of the driveway and making a turn, the steering wheel failed to return to the center. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while turning. The contact stated that it was increasingly more difficult to turn the steering wheel back to center manually. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

- Zionsville, IN, USA

problem #93

Mar 062024

1500

  • 121,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds up to 40 MPH and turning, the steering wheel was loose. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.

- Princeton, MA, USA

problem #92

Mar 012024

1500

  • miles
while driving the electric power steering failed. light came on an lost power to the steering wheel. could have been killed because, it impossible to steer

- Stormville, NY, USA

problem #91

Mar 022024

1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was going maybe 25mph on wet gravel. I had just put the truck into part time 4x4 because it was starting to snow. With no warming maybe 4 min after part time was activated I got a warning ding and service power steering light and the truck wouldn't turn. I nearly lost control on the snow. Again no warning, it happened all at one and I was unable to control the vehicle. I stopped for maybe 5 min and turned the truck off... when I restarted it the steering worked long enough to turn around on the one way road before the steering once again went out.. no warning just couldn't turn and the light on the dash came on simultaneously. I limped down the mountain at about 10 mph with no power steering. I once again after 30 min or so shut the truck off. Once again when it restarted the power steering works as it should. I'm scared to drive it because it gives no warning before the steering wheele becomes almost impossible to turn. It has since worked on my last two short trips but for how long. And how fast will I be moving the next time it stops working.

- Dallas, OR, USA

problem #90

Feb 122024

1500

  • miles
This recall applies to 2013-2019 Ram 1500 trucks equipped with electronic power steering (EPS).?Some EPS gear assemblies may have been built with a contaminated circuit card assembly that may short circuit. "Fiat Chrysler has issued a recall for nearly 165,000 Ram trucks due to a potential issue with the?steering column control module. According to Ram's estimates, about 142,150 trucks are likely to have this defect. The steering column control module is a critical component of the vehicle's steering system." Ram 1500 Power Steering Failure Investigation The automaker and their supplier investigated the issue, concluding that the failures were due to?contamination of the part's control circuit board, which could cause an electrical short circuit and lead to partial or complete failure of the electrical power steering.

- Brewster , NY, USA

problem #89

Feb 122024

1500

  • miles
Lost power steering while driving.. caused me to go off road.. no injuries or damage.. steering rack and pinion needed to be replaced

- Bennington, NH, USA

problem #88

Feb 192024

1500

  • miles
While turning found Electronic Power Steering became very hard to turn right or left. Driving on highway fine no warning lights but steering became extremely hard on hard turns. Took to garage they analyzed saying battery and IBS sensor should be rep, aced along*with rack steering at a cost over $ $5000. So I climb under my truck to check out what they were saying. There wasn-??t the corrosion described connections all look good. I went back to garage an had battery changed, greatly improved steering still a little stick no and then when turning. Next I-??ll reset IBS sensor and hope this resolves completely. The no warning of failure will definitely cause accidents, lucky it was me driving and not my wife.

- Fremont, OH, USA

problem #87

Jan 292024

1500

  • miles
Electric power steering malfunction or failer. When turning can feel like steering is sticking, doesnt recover and seems to require alot more to turn wheel and bring it back to straighten out. It was checked at a local service station. No inspection has been done to E.S.P by anyone else yet. Had a check engine light on prior to issue but it was for ambient temp sensor. Which was fixed. Unknown on when issue first appeared but approx. 2 to 3 weeks ago.

- Canton, PA, USA

problem #86

Jan 082024

1500

  • miles
To whom it may concern, on 1/8/24. I was driving on the highway. I lost totaled power of the steering. steering wouldn't turn over. luckily I was able to move to the side. no one got injured but the panic and scariness in making a fatal accident and injuring my family.I had to get the truck towed to my house. I barely had a chance to take it to get inspected 2/12/24. On there inspection they found the power steering rack electric has failed, and needs to be replace. done by victory dodge Kansas City. My truck didn't give any warning / messages until after issue happen. The dealership quote is $3,700 to get it repaired, the issue is I don't have that amount of money at this moment.Ive tried looking for this part at different auto parts and they don't have none available at this moment. What em I supposed to do next ?

- Kansas City, KS, USA

problem #85

Jan 052024

1500

  • miles
Rack and pinion unit locked up and the tires immediately locked all the way to the right Along with the steering wheel locking up, Part not available for inspection. Has already been replaced. I could have injured or killed myself or another person because I could not steer, only able to apply brakes. The component was inspected and replaced by an independent service. No other inspections were done. No warning of any kind.

- Dallas, OR, USA

problem #84

Jan 272024

1500 8-cyl

  • 88,700 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving 15-?"35 MPH and going around a corner, the steering wheel became inoperable intermittently, then resumed normal functionality. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The contact stated that the failure was related to TSB: 13289 (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately 88,700. The contact specified the serial number of my steering rack that needs to be looked into for safety reasons. SN# TIC0377C4076.

- Aberdeen, SD, USA

problem #83

Jan 292024

1500

  • miles
Drove home from work and stopped the vehicle, put it in park to check the mail. When I returned the vehicle to drive the steering locked up and "service power steering" light came on the dash. I drove into the yard a bit because the steering wheel was incredibly difficult to turn. I thought I was going to break something with how much force I had to use to get the vehicle to steer into the garage. This is a recalled issue on other Ram gen 4 trucks and should be one for this one as well. I can only imagine if it had locked up with my 6 year old son in the vehicle on the highway or something.

- New Franklin, OH, USA

problem #82

Jan 082024

1500

  • miles
while driving on the highway my Power Steering Service light came on the dashboard and I loss my power steering. Vehicle was extremely had to steer, almost got into an accident with the vehicle on the right lane which also had to steer away from my truck. almost caused a chain accident on the highway. I took it to a dodge dealership for service and they diagnosed that the Electronic Power Steering module was not working and replaced the rack and pinion; it cost me closed to $4,000. After 4 days in the shop, I drove my truck away from the dealer and parked it for the weekend. On Sunday I decided to go to the supermarket, no issues driving to the market. As I am getting ready to leave the parking lot of the market back to my house, the Power Steering Service light came back on. Nothing in the dashboard warned me in advance that the power steering was not working properly or it was about to go out.

- Harker Heights, TX, USA

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