10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
16,114 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.

2018 Ram 1500 steering problems

steering problem

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2018 Ram 1500 Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #20

Oct 012023

1500

  • miles

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

On Sunday, Oct 1, 2023, I proceeded out of my driveway, when the warning lights came on and the steering failed, stranding me on the busy roadway. I was able to back onto my property again and fortunately the incident didn't result in a collision. The truck is at the dealership as I write this and I informed them that I want them to save all of the defective parts for me. The dealership's diagnosis is that the rack and pinion steering has failed at approx. 61,200 miles. The components have not been inspected, but will be available after the repair, as stated above.

- Malverne, NY, USA

problem #19

Sep 282023

1500

  • miles
Three times since January 2023, the steering has locked down while driving. The driver has had no control over steering momentarily. The latest incident caused the vehicle to strike a concrete pillar surrounding a stop sign in a parking lot.

- San Angelo, TX, USA

problem #18

Sep 202023

1500

  • miles
The power steering stops intermittently with no warning lights. It becomes very hard to steer while driving.

- Unadilla, NY, USA

problem #17

Aug 242023

1500

  • miles

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

Truck has a loss of power steering. No whining noise associated. This problem Comes and goes, however is now present at most times.

- Montville , OH, USA

problem #16

Aug 242023

1500

  • miles
While driving down the road and needing to turn onto side roads or just following curves in the road, power steering has been becoming increasingly difficult requiring full strength to turn the vehicle. This is happening intermittently and happens while in mid turn. Have also noticed that when I-??m 4WD, steering is altogether difficult requiring full body strength.

- Campbell Hall, NY, USA

problem #15

Aug 022023

1500

  • miles
steering is very tight and sometimes you cann't turn the vehicle..

- Edison, NJ, USA

problem #14

May 152023

1500

  • miles

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

Electric Power Steering failure with no cause. Power steering failed while driving on the highway.

- Johnstown, NY, USA

problem #13

Jan 012022

1500

  • miles
While driving the steering will lock up and not move at all at random times. I decided not to drive it anymore because I have a young daughter and was stuck at a left turning light for almost 20 minutes unable to move because my wheel wouldnt turn. Luckily it was at night and there was little traffic. I was told it is the rack and pinion that needs replaced. Its been a Recall for many RAM pickups from 2002-2020 but my vin # doesnt show any Recall but thats a Big coincidence to me.

- Garnet Valley , PA, USA

problem #12

Dec 162022

1500

  • miles
Electric Power Steering (EPS) failure. If this had happened while driving there would have been no way to control truck. The dash read "Power Steering Unavailable Service Required". Dealer tested truck and said EPS unit would need replaced at a cost of $2,345 for just the part and would be at least 45 before they could get the part. This truck only has 55k miles on it.

- Morganton, NC, USA

problem #11

Jun 042022

1500

  • miles
2018 RAM 1500 eco diesel with LESS THAN 26,000 miles on it. My husband and I had a harrowing drive a couple weeks ago bc the power steering unit started to intermittingly cut out/fail (think hair pin turn on country roads at 55, you are CRANKING on the wheel bc power steering cut out, then halfway through the turn it decides to come back and now you are OVER steering). Again, we have less than 26k on this truck ((and it is BABIED)) so clearly this is a faulty part. We got it fixed (I have receipts), but per RAM the truck is "too old" thus "out of warranty" with no current recalls and thus my request I submitted to RAM to reimburse us for the faulty part was denied.

- Elma, NY, USA

problem #10

Feb 242022

1500

  • miles

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

Intermittent loss of power steering. Steering fights driver input when turning in either direction, when straightening out from a turn & gradual road curves. Inspected by competent mechanic. EPS rack & pinion failing at 22,300 miles on vehicle. EPS serial # not affected by FCA recall

- Fowler, OH, USA

problem #9

Nov 112021

1500

  • 45,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the power steering light suddenly illuminated and the message "Service Power Steering" was displayed. The contact was unable to turn the steering wheel in either direction. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer for service. No further information was available. The manufacturer was not yet notified. The failure mileage was 45,000.

- Mebane, NC, USA

problem #8

Oct 282021

1500

  • miles
Went to turn at a gas station and steering wouldn-??t work steering faulty light came on and said to have power steering looked

- Sorrento, FL, USA

problem #7

Jul 252021

1500

  • miles
1. Electric Power Steering (EPS) failure causes sporadic or no power steering. 2. I was driving when the steering was sporadic causing oversteering and then when it totally went out the vehicle the vehicle was very hard to steer. 3. Dealer has the truck now for diagnosis. This is a known component manufactures defect. 4. About 3 weeks before steering went out there was a clicking noise when turning. I contacted the dealer and scheduled an appointment. I spoke to a technician, at that time, and was told the noise was normal and no appointment was necessary. Appointment was subsequently canceled, 3 weeks later the failure occurred. Many of the blogs online show this issue to be a safety problem. Manufactures defect. Please address this issue it is a safety issue to everyone who has EPS.

- Portsmouth, VA, USA

problem #6

Jun 032021

1500

  • miles
Vehicle engine shuts off while driving. Once, sitting at a stop light. Once traveling at 45mph on a country road and once accelerating up a hill at 20mph. Dash says "place vehicle in park and turn key to start" (paraphrased). The vehicle goes from running to not running with no warning, causing loss of power steering, brakes, etc. Took vehicle to certified RAM service center who said 'there are no codes and we cannot reproduce the issue, so no diagnosis possible' (paraphrased). No error codes, no warning lamps. If this happens in highway traffic with my 16 year old son driving, it could cause a fatal crash.

- Canonsburg, PA, USA

problem #5

Dec 142020

1500

  • 72,000 miles
Started off by having a tough spot once in a while turning my steering wheel. Now its total failure on and off. Not consistent, I can be going 20, ph and it works good, then my steering just fails. At 60 mph it works great then all of a sudden it fails. Extremely dangerous. I have almost lost control 3 times. Called the dealership and they have no idea where to even start to look for the problem. Made traveling over the holidays very dangerous. Ihave read where there are numerous complaints of this same issue with other 2018 Ram rebel trucks as well as over 1500 2019 Ram trucks as well.

- Tyler, MN, USA

problem #4

Jul 032020

1500 6-cyl

  • 38,000 miles
Started having trouble in the steering. Tightening up and hard to steer. Some thing was wrong with the steering shaft. And with this bad it caused the rack and pinion to go bad. Couldn't get it programmed after the shaft was fixed because of the rack and pinion. So its in the shop now and will be in there for over 2 weeks waiting on the rack and pinion.I have had this truck just over a year and I'm having to put over $3000 in it. It was hard to steer going around a corner. The wheel would stick and I would have to turn it back. Trying to back up the wheel was hard to turn.

- Roseville, OH, USA

problem #3

Feb 292020

1500

  • 11,300 miles
Diesel ecodiesel engine catastrophic failure while driving in mountainous area. Lost all power immediately and resulted in interference with steering, brakes, and need to move off of the roadway to avoid other traffic. Vehicle only has 11,300 miles, failure occurred without warning.

- Willard, NC, USA

problem #2

Jun 072019

1500

  • 12,550 miles
Power steering failure. Power steering locks up intermittently, more so when making a left turn. Service power steering message comes up in dash and then disappears after a couple seconds. This incident happened both when vehicle was in motion making a left turn in an intersection almost causing a collision and also when parked and attempting to steer left attempting to duplicate the problem.

- Milton, NY, USA

problem #1

Aug 152018

1500

  • 1,005 miles
I was driving about 35-45 mph was attempting to move into the right lane and I felt my steering wheel lock up. It wouldn't let me turn my wheel. So then as I attempted to slam on my brakes so I did T hit a tree the brakes went to the floor and I smashed into the tree and the. I to the woods. I was taken to the hospital 911. The hole front of the truck is destroyed.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

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