2013 Ram 1500 complaints

The electronic power steering unit completely failed. The power steering system failure dash indicator appeared on the dash information screen. I parked the truck, turned it off, and after I restarted the truck, I no longer had power steering and the truck was nearly impossible to steer. The truck has approximately 171000 miles on the odometer. There are currently no recals. There does not appear to be any physical damage to the power steering unit. The truck is currently being diagnosed by the second mechanic at a Dodge dealership. The initial information from the first mechanic was that his scan tool, a Snap-On Zeus, could not find any specific error codes other than, "Could not communicate with electronic power steering system."

While I was driving my 2013 Dodge Ram 1500 at a low speed through a parking lot the power steering just went out. I have 90k miles on my vehicle and this should not be happening. I was in a parking lot full of parents and children walking to their cars and was turning when this happened. There was no warning and not light on my dashboard until after a few seconds of my power steering being out. After looking online I saw this was a common problem for Dodge. Dodge said they would put another dodge part in it to replace the EPS and I didnt want that so I took it to a private mechanic who fixed it....$3k to fix. This is ridiculous and should be covered by Dodge.

The electronic power steering abruptly failed while driving, because of this failure my safety as well as others safety was put in grave danger. I completely lost the ability to turn the steering wheel which led me to forcefully pull as far over on the freeway that I could to avoid having an accident. Truck was then towed to my home. I had no prior messages or alarms or check engine lights on and the truck had been running in top condition. Suddenly I heard a chime then the steering wheel got stiff and the the “service power steering” message showed on my cluster. The vehicle is available for any inspections needed and has not been repaired due to the cost. The power steering went out on April 9, 2025.

Forward: While pulling out of a mall parking lot my steering failed causing me to momentarily block traffic. There were no warning lights, messages or audible alarms at this time. I was able to safely pull back into the parking spot, turned the vehicle off and turned it back on. Power Steering was restored and no messages/alerts were present. I assumed at that time that maybe the steering wheel lock got hung up. When we got home and went to use the vehicle again the same thing happened except this time it didn’t correct itself and the flashing “Service Power Steering” light came on. The vehicle has not been driven since. After researching this situation I learned that this is a known issue that has not been resolved and I believe this to be a safety impacting defect. (1) Electronic Power Steering (EPS) failure. Vehicle is available for inspection. (2) Loss of vehicle control had the failure occurred on the open road could have led to a crash (3) We have not towed the vehicle to the dealership yet as we will be out of town for a couple of weeks (4) Vehicle has not been inspected by any party at this time (5) There were no warning lamps prior to this failure. After the second failure there is now a blinking “Service Power Steering” message but no fault codes Supplemental: we are the original owners of this vehicle and all maintenance to include known recalls have been kept up-to-date and the vehicle has been well maintained.

Electronic power steering intermittently fails while driving. This truck has had this issue for months, happens regularly once or twice a week or every 100 so miles. Two repair shops could not replicate the issues. And there is no codes on the scanner. After researching this seems to be a common concern and safety issue on this model/year of ram 1500.

The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that upon turning off and restarting the vehicle several times, the power steering became operable. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring intermittently. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a related recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the contact became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring an increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. The service steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V167000 (Steering), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 52,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated while reversing into the driveway at 10 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering inadvertently, and the steering became significantly difficult to turn. The contact's husband assisted the contact in reversing the vehicle into the driveway. The message "Power Steering Service" was displayed. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19E077000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

Power steering went out while driving and power steering light came on dash.

The front gas tank strap pulled out of its slot in the frame. The tank hung appx 4” off the ground, hitting the ground on the frost heaves. I was alerted by the driver behind me. Had I not been alerted, I may have punctured or wore a hole in the tank risking a fire from leaking fuel. I used ratchet straps to secure the tank. I had appx 10 miles on the vehicle since fill up. I contacted the local Dodge dealer in Berlin Vt on 3-7-2025 and am waiting for reply.

My 2013 ram 1500 has an electronic power steering system. That unit has completely failed and the steering is locked up. It can't be turned. I was backing out of my driveway when it happened. If I had been going down the road at 60mph someone would have been killed. The truck is unsafe and can't be driven. There is a warning lamp for a power steering issue. Dealer says I have to buy a new steering rack. And that part has been discontinued.

Faulty abs control modules. Widespread problem after doing some research. Abs control module fails and sets off abs and traction control lights on the dash. Hasn't caused any incidents yet. But losing anti lock brakes could potentially cause a lock up and cause an incident in the future. Could be very problematic during winter conditions.

While driving the power steering made a loud clanking noise and the service power steering light came on. Rack and pinion failed. We were driving and no way to turn our vehicle.

While driving, steering locked up and forced me into oncoming traffic during a turn. Both parties had to emergency stop to avoid collision. Vehicle now has no assisted steering, and is near impossible to steer. Ram dealership states a $2600 eps rack, with unkown ETA as they are unable to source one at this time, before $500 in labor.

The electronic power steering locking up and can’t turn the steering wheel

Upon starting the RAM 1500 on or about May 1, 2024, the electric power steering rack and pinion failed to operate. There was no steering assistance at all and it was extremely difficult to turn the steering wheel. The truck was not safely drivable. I observed a check engine light illuminated so I drove it carefully to a shop very close to my residence. The code indicated a failed power steering system but I do not recall the specific code. I contacted my local dealer for assistance. They indicated that since the vehicle was older than 10 yrs old, they did not offer any replacement steering racks or offer any service to the rack. They offered no alternative solution. I did some research, shopped around, and purchased a reconditioned rack and pinion for nearly $2,000. I installed the reconditioned electric rack and pinion assembly myself and power steering control returned as before. Since May 2024, the reconditioned power steering system has been functioning normally. The original rack and pinion is not covered under the limited previous recall. It's barcode reads - P68079506AG and TIC1393C5057 if this is helpful. I have carefully inspected the boots and seals of the unit and all appear very good ruling out any likelihood of water intrusion. Given my electrical engineering background and curiosity, I removed the cover from the circuit board and it does not show any visual damage. It's clean and dry inside. I purchased the truck brand new and it has been garage kept since purch

The truck is experiencing intermittent complete loss of power steering

I was parked in the Costco, and when I went to leave, I started the truck, and it said Service Power Steering. The steering wheel was hard to turn.

The Electronic Power Steering Module is intermittently cutting in and put, resulting in loss of power steering. This is highly dangerous and should be recalled.

While making low speed turns steering wheel rips out of hand and is momentarily uncontrollable, and very hard to handle. This issue has caused me to almost crash numerous times.

I was driving on my way to my house when suddenly I lose the power steering on my truck and the wheel started to get hard to turn luckily I was the only person in the street

Lost complete steering with no warning or lights on the dash At risk none was parked and steered perfectly prior to parking There is a recall open for other vin numbers associated with the same issue

Driving 60 mph and my power steering went out on me and I almost missed the curve and into oncoming traffic. Could have cost some lives! Took it to dodge dealer and the guy told me it was a huge problem with trucks like mine and there are no new parts to fix it. My truck has 60,000 miles on it and I cannot drive it and Dodge will not repair it! Not happy at all!

Electronic power steering fail. The steering wheel completely locks up. Scared it will lock up while driving. Spoke with dealerships and this is a very common problem in this truck model.

The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the power steering assist failed to operate as needed, with the "Service Power Steering" warning light illuminated. The contact made various attempts to repair the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact of an undisclosed recall; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided the contact with the same information as the dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 208,000.

I have a dodge ram and the EPS (Electric power steering) had went out making it impossible to steer the while while I was driving I looked up to see if there is a recall for it and Google said there is a recall for the EPS on my make and model truck but when i look at my recalls it says there is no recalls for my truck

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The Electric Power Steering (EPS) system has completely failed, resulting in loss of power steering assistance. The system is still installed in the vehicle and can be made available for inspection upon request by the manufacturer, dealer, or regulatory body. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The failure of the power steering system makes the vehicle extremely difficult to control, especially at low speeds or in emergency situations. This increases the risk of crashes, particularly in tight turns, intersections, and highway merging scenarios. I have experienced a near-misses and difficulty maneuvering the vehicle after power steering failure. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Many Ram 1500 owners have reported the issue to dealerships and independent repair shops, some of whom have confirmed that the EPS system fails intermittently or completely stops functioning. Some dealers have replaced the EPS unit, while others have indicated that no official recall has been issued and repairs are at the owner’s expense. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others?

Electric steering assist Is available for inspection No accident Steering failure while driving, stopped vehicle, turned off vehicle and resumed working. This happened 3 or 4 times within an hour. Then quit working completely. Drove a local shop and had it looked at. There was a warning light for the steering on the dash. He reset the light and the steering came back immediately, then went out again. This happened several times. He unable to get the steering back without actually working on the truck. he said issue is with the electric steering.

While driving the power steering suddenly completely went out without warning.

My 2013 Ram 1500 has had issues with the horn not working when the middle of the steering wheel is pushed but sounds when the key fob is used to lock doors. The EVIC control on the steering wheel would also not work. This started in 2018 where the problem was intermittent. This was part of recall R36 where the rubbing of the steering wheel harness on the retainer springs could cause an electrical short and or inadvertent air bag deployment. I took my vehicle to Bill Volz WestchesterDodge, Cortland Manor, NY for the recall on 10-19-15 with 18,205 miles. I feel the work wasn’t done properly because the problem reoccurred in less than 3 years and about 6,000 miles later. The horn and EVIC has not worked in over 7 months. My concern is that I could be driving on a major interstate when my vehicle airbag deploys causing a crash. I contacted Chrysler customer service on 1-13-2025 and spoke to a representative. That person called me back on 1-14-2025 and stated that he referred my case #[XXX] , to a specialist who would contact me in 2-3 business days. As of 2-2-2025 I have not received any response from Chrysler customer service. I need assistance in correcting this safety issue. See attachments. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The electric power steering stopped working. The service power steering message appeared on the dash. Unable to turn the steering wheel without great difficulty.

There has been a significant amount of complaints in regards to 2013 dodge ram 1500. Mechanics are aware that the manufacturer has been dodging these issues with allowing unsafe vehicles to be on the road. My power steering all of sudden went out while driving. This should be on recall and not at the consumers expense. Why should I pay for something not caused by myself? Big companies like Dodge/Ram could care less

The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the steering wheel failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the steering wheel with an exclamation and power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact attempted to pull over to the of the road however, the steering wheel failed to function. The contact had the vehicle towed to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with rack pinion and electrical power steering assist failure. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was pending repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 50 MPH, the service power steering warning light illuminated. The contact stated that his wife pulled over to the side of the road, stopped, and restarted the vehicle. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized twice after restarting the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted again, and the warning light was still illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OVERPASS MY STEERING WHEEL "LOCKED UP" ON ME AND I COULD NOT SAFELY STEER MY VEHICLE. i SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN I MOVED OFF AGAIN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS WAS VERY FRIGHTENING AS I COULD HAVE EASILY DRIVEN OFF THE OVERPASS AS THE ROAD TURNED AND I HAD NO OTHER OPTION BUT TO PUT ON MY FLASHERS AND STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY PUTTING MYSELF AND MY OCCUPANTS AND ANY OTHER DRIVERS IN THE AREA AT SERIOUS RISK. ITS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS PROBLEM IS UNDER INVESTIGATION PRESENTLY AND THAT SOME RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED HOWEVER THE WEBSITE RECALL LOOKUP IS NOT SHOWING UP FOR MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENLTY AT THE DODGE DEALERSHIP FOR OVER 1 MONTH WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS CONFIRMED TO BE A FAULTY POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY/RACK AND PINION. NO WARNING SIGNS EXISTED UNTIL AFTER THE STEERING WHEEL "LOCKED UP". AFTER WHICH THE STEERING DASH LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE IS IMMOBILE AND STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP.

While driving my truck the power steering completely went out and caused me to run off the road. Luckily no injuries and no damage to the truck. But if traffic would have been coming towards me it would have resulted in a crash most likely. Took the truck to a repair shop and told it need a complete steering system including rack and pinion and steering gears. I got online and seen where your dept is investigating this problem with other trucks.

Power steering failure with no warning. Vehicle is currently with dealer. Dealer said the the electrical power steering unit failed. It is not a serviceable issue, it must be replaced.

The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering rack failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available The approximate failure mileage was 90,080.

I bought this truck for my father and her was drinking it and fortunately he got home and then with no warning the electric power steering went out when he tried to go back out. No serious harm but he could have easily been in traffic seeing that he uses this truck to drive to his caner appointments.

EPS light came on 12-31-24 and has happen before I just don’t remember the date the EPS comes and goes making it hard to drive

My 2013 Ram pick-up truck has the same problem as everyone else's the electric rack and pinion which it went out last year. I think I might have a blown head gasket. My truck is broke down infront of my home. I'm disabled I can't afford to get it fixed at the moment

The air suspension in my Ram 1500 fails suddenly without notice. When the air suspension fails, the truck becomes very unsafe to drive. It is difficult to keep the truck on the road and it happens without warning. Sometimes it corrects on its own when I restart, other times I can make it work for a while by disconnecting the battery. Right now the driver side isat least 3 inches lower than the passenger side.

Electronic power steering intermittent failure. Vehicles power steering ‘service now’ light comes on and abruptly shuts off power steering and will abruptly turn back on several miles/ days later. This causes a severe safety risk as the module will autocorrect steering mid turn or shutdown completely causing the vehicle to lose control. The problem has been reproduced by a third party mechanic stating that the EPS needs to be replaced at a cost of $3700 and the part is on back order/ unsure when they can get the unit.

Brought this vehicle and drove it for 1 month before power steering went out. I was driving on the interstate at a high speed when the power steering light came on. I was unable to steer the vehicle off the road so I had to stop on the interstate and call a tow truck.

Truck became undrivable when power steering failed without warning. I was lucky to not have been on the road, otherwise it would've likely been a serious accident.

Electric steering assist failure, no previous warnings. Alert on dash to have steering system checked when putting truck in drive. Restart of engine did not correct. Extreme difficulty steering the vehicle. Will take to dealer for initial diagnosis.

Was driving and steering just locked up. Power steering stopped working and it’s so hard to turn or parallel park. Drove right into this big hill. The dealership wants $4,500 for parts and labor to repair it.

Lost my eps while I'm driving on school zone and can't turn the wheels snd i end on crash it

The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. No further information was available. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the power steering control module (PSCM) and the electric power steering unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.

I took my truck in for inspection to sell it. My auto technician said that my frame by the passenger side, rear was completely rusted and cracked and unsafe to drive. I called Dodge on 11/14/24 and they opened a case # [XXX]. They told me to take it to the dealership. I took it to 5 Corners in Cedarburg, WI and had them do an inspection where they also took photos and said that the truck was unsafe. They bounced back to Dodge and now Dodge bounced it back to the dealership. No one will respond and it has been 1 months with an unsafe vehicle. There were no indications of problems and had I not taken it in, what might’ve happened? I have an unsafe vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)