POWER STEERING FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. STEERING WAS TOO HEAVY TO CONTINUE TO TURN. ALMOST CRASHED INTO CAR COMING OPPOSITE DIRECTION, CAR ALONGSIDE, AND REAR ENDED BY TRUCK BEHIND. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE RAM DOES NOT MAKE THE PART ANYMORE AND IT IS SOLD OUT NATIONWIDE AS SO MANY HAVE FAILED. PART # R8573449aa WHY HASN"T THERE BEEN A RECALL IF SO MANY HAVE FAILED? THE TRUCK IS UNMANEUVARABLE WHEN IT FAILS. THANK YOU.
2013 Ram 1500 complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2013 record →
Started up my truck and found I could not steer it. Had truck towed to a garage and found that the electric power steering failed. They had to replace the steering which cost over 4 thousand dollars. I have found on your site there have been other people that have had the same issue. Had this failure occurred while I was driving it could have resulted in a serious accident.
The steering wheel locked up while driving without warning thankfully was going straight and not in a turn or driving at a high speed. Steering warning light came on after it happened, got the vehicle off the road and shut it off waited roughly 20 minutes started it back up and it was working fine.
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the ABS and Traction Control warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that while driving 20 minutes later, and steering left, the brake and power steering warning lights illuminated, and the steering wheel became extremely stiff and jerked into a straight position. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and inspected. The vehicle was taken to the residence where a hand-held diagnostic machine retrieved DTC code: C-2200. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 245,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the fuel appeared to be emptying quickly. The contact stated that while walking to the vehicle, the contact observed that the gas tank was hanging out of the truck and extremely close to the ground. The gas tank was tied in place with a tie-down strap and taken back to the contact's residence. The contact stated that the vehicle was stopped frequently to confirm that the gas tank was secured. The contact was concerned that the tank would detach again and cause a fire. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact discovered an unknown extended warranty however, the vehicle was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
Fuel tank strap broke, causing tank to drop. Happened at gas station after filling up.
Gas tank bracket rotted. Strap is unattached.
While driving I experienced full power steering loss out of nowhere, causing me to drive into a ditch. There was no indication of a failure prior to the incident, only a steering indication light afterwards on my dash.
After about an hour drive, I turned the truck off for about 3 hours. Upon restarting the truck, service power steering warning appeared. I disconnected the battery to reset and the power steering came back for a short time. I lost power steering while driving. I was able to muscle thru to get the truck home but if my wife had been driving, she would have wrecked in our Houston traffic. Thinking it may be a minor electrical issue, I cleaned both battery posts and all connections. Still no power steering. This is a serious issue being that it happens while operating the vehicle. Is there a recall on the power steering?
DEFECTIVE headlamps. Excessive moisture builds up in housing effecting performance of lights in evening. Was stopped by DPS for having bad headlamps. Dealership says it normal, no its not. It's very unsafe to drive at night with moisture in lamps. Had it looked at or inspected by independent shop and DPS. My safety is at risk for you can't see at night with all the moisture in lamps. This is a common problem with Ram 1500 all over the internet.
The vehicle failed PA state inspection for corroded frame where the front fuel tank strap broke free from a slot into the frame. Who knows when it popped free. There is now only one rear strap holding the gas tank in up under the vehicle. This could have resulted in a full gas tank just dropping right out of the vehicle. Contacted ram dealer where i got the truck from. First they said ok, we will fix it and ordered the parts. Will call when these are in and ready to be installed. Called back 2 weeks or so later and they denied any recall notice, issue or ordering any parts. Huge safety flaw that could result in fatal accident either by having the fuel tank fall out of the vehicle or being in an accident and it falling out bursting into flames.
Sudden unexplainable loss of powersteering
The electric steering gearbox failed while driving down the road, leaving me completely without any steering.
Power steering stopped working
I had to replace my Rack and Pinion and tie rods because my steering wouldn't work and my truck only has 51,744k miles on it. This makes no sense to me. This should be a recall issue.
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Power steering failed on mine. Recall was done on other 2013 rams for similar issue but they say mine does not fall under the recall. I am experiencing the same issue that led to this recall, yet mine wasn't recalled? And the rack and pinion to fix part of issue is no longer made new (or after market), only refurbished and back ordered majorly (due to recall I would assume)
Power steering failed/stopped working while operating my 2013 Dodge Ram 1500. Loss of power steering while driving causes a significant risk to myself as well as others on the roadway however I was driving locally and able to make it to a safe location.
Engine started to tick. Took it to Dodge after the check engine light came on, it started running rough, and truck started to throw random codes. Dodge tells me its the cam and lifters, which is a known problem for the 5.7 Hemi V8 motors of this era. Chrysler knows of the issue, and there's even a service bulletin regarding it, however Chrysler refuses to repair any of them that are out of warranty. This truck was purchased new by me in 2013, and has a little over 114,000 miles on it, with oil changes done regularly. There is no reason a $44,000, truck should be sold with manufacturer defects, let alone allow the manufacturer to reduse to repair their flawed design.
While driving to an appointment I heard 2 audible dings while turning. I looked at my dash and had no visible warning lights. Then I suddenly had no power steering whatsoever! Luckily I was in the parking lot pulling into a parking spot and had enough strength to turn the wheel. Had I been on a busy street or in one of our busy roundabouts, the power steering loss could have easily lead to a crash. After doing some research to diagnose the problem, I learned this seems to be a pretty common issue with the electronic steering rack used in my vehicle.
Power steering unexpectedly went out when I started the vehicle. I brought it in for diagnosis [XXX] to Winimac Indiana Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, RAM and they cannot source a replacement rack and pinion (New or manufactured). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Intermittent loss of power steering
The power steering component failed- unable to turn steering wheel. It was sudden, not gradual loss. Not being able to steer a vehicle is clearly a safety issue. The problem persists and vehicle was towed to dealership. Vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturer, police, or insurance. It has been confirmed by local Dodge Ram dealership in Fruitland Park, FL. There were no warning lights prior to this problem. Many Ram trucks have been recalled for this same issue. The recall NEEDS to be extended to cover all of these trucks that are affected.
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact’s son stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The contact stated that the electronic power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that her son restarted the vehicle several times to be able to drive the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 176,000.
Vehicle lost all power steering. Mechanic stated that the whole Gear-Rack And Pinion would need to be replace which is a cost at around 5000.00
I was driving the truck last Friday 3/15 and the power steering complete failed. I lost all power steering and almost had an accident. I was able to get the vehicle to my destination, but only because I am a big guys and can somewhat turn the vehicle without the power steering. The check power steering indicator came on and stayed on. The power steering never came back and the check power steering indicator is still on. I have taken the truck to independent shop.They evaluate the vehicle and say it needs a completely new electronic rack and pinion system. This repair will cost me approximately $5000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated that after the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V821000 (Power Train) was performed on the vehicle, the vehicle started experiencing transmission failure. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, there was an abnormal loud clunking sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact then noticed that the gear shifter had moved from drive(D) to manual(M), and the gear reader indicated that the transmission was in 4th gear. The contact stated that he pulled to the side of the road, turned off and restarted the vehicle. The contact stated that he was able to shift into drive(D) and drove to the residence. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where it was diagnosed that the transmission solenoid had failed. The dealer was notified of the failure and charged a fee for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 252,486.
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized, and the vehicle was difficult to steer. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the vehicle was driven to the destination. The following day when the vehicle was started, the power steering failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.
Wife and I were driving and we heard a grinding or loud rubbing sound. Pulled over to see the fuel tank hanging close to the ground. Thank goodness no fuel lines broken. Front strap looks ok, but where the strap goes looks damaged or rotted.
Driving fine with no problems then all of a sudden a bell starts chiming about 6 to 8 times then the steering light comes on and the ABS light comes on in the dash and starts blinking , then I lost power to the steering wheel ,was very hard to steer. I pulled to the side of the road and turned the engine off and waited a few minutes to crank it , every thing went normal and I drove home, but before I got home it did it again but this time it went haywire and the wipers came on and the dash lite up like a Christmas tree. I finally made it home and parked it . I sent off the TIPM unit to get repaired ,fixed but steering is still not wanting to work , will call my mechanic to put it in the shop. I have a truck that I have spent a lot of money fixing one thing after another , have already replaced the motor in 2020 . It seems like this truck is a lemon. Thank you01
Electronic power steering rack and pinion stopped working while driving. Error message on dash. No power assist, difficult to impossible to steer vehicle.
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the message "Service Power Steering" was displayed, and the steering wheel had become extremely difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was towed to the local service center who diagnosed that the steering circuit was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 110,000.
Power steering went out
I was driving on [XXX] back to Willcox Arizona and my steering locked up. I was able to drive it to the nearest exit but had really hard steering. Went back for my truck brought it home in my trailer and had a mechanic look at it and advised it was my rack and pinon. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Power steering suddenly stoped while driving and began flashing service power steering, avoided an accident. Failed EPS module. No repair units are available anywhere and can't be driven.
The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment, prompting him to pull to the shoulder of the roadway. After a visual inspection, the contact observed that the fuel tank strap had become detached, resulting in gasoline leaking from the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 107,000.
Power steering intermittently lost while driving. Has not gone completely out but happens often while driving.
Pulling out of my driveway the power steering failed which cause lost of control of my truck. I nearly avoided an oncoming car. The power steering no longer works and now my truck is no longer safe to drive.
I was driving down a highway and without warning, my power steering went out. This was then followed by a message saying "service power steering"(after it went out). Thankfully I was able to keep the vehicle in my lane of travel, but if I had been rounding a corner, I believe I would have crashed with potential life changing consequences. The safety of myself was put at risk for the sudden loss of power steering. I contacted a dealer and they immediately quoted me a several thousand dollar repair. I feel this is not fare and understand that the NHTSA opened an investigation into the issue for older RAMS last summer. Please help me with this issue and getting it covered without paying out of pockets expenses
Power steering stopped working.
Steering completely went out while making a right turn onto highway. Had vehicle towed and repairs totaled over a thousand dollars.
In May/June 2023 my Ram lost power steering while exiting the freeway. It startled me as I was merging into traffic. I pulled over to a parking lot and turned the vehicle off. Restarted the truck and the power steering was back. Drive the truck a few days with no problem but then it happened again. I contacted Ram Customer Service because I found an article online about bad EPS modules, they were very unhelpful. Pretty much saying I was on my own. I brought the truck in, drove to dealership with intermittent loss of power steering. Diagnostic found electronic power steering module failure and replaced steering gear assembly. $3300 later which i feel was way too much. Also as a side note, before taking the truck in, I purchased a bottle of power steering fluid to try, after looking in my manual. Nowhere in my manual does it say that this vehicle has an electric power steering module. Shows a pic of the reservoir of where the fluid would normally go.
Defective ABS moudule. been on waiting list for parts approx 2 years.
Parked vehicle for one hour went to drive vehicle I moved vehicle about 2 foot and then power steering just went out. checked fuses and connections and the power steering went back to working but dont know how long it would work. we live in a mountainous area and this could be very dangerous. NO EXPLANATION OF WHY.
No power steering, very hard to steer. Flashing steering wheel light on the dash.
Hello, I'm filing a complaint against the Dothan, AL Ram dealership due to recalls that were never performed. I bought the truck on 7/12/2021 from a third party. I noticed this particular Ram had 12 recalls so I took it in to the Dothan, AL Dodge dealership to have them repaired. They had the truck for 2 weeks and nothing was repaired. Nothing at all. I lost 2 back pack blowers because of the faulty tailgate latch. I had to take the tailgate from my 02 Ram off and put it on the 2013. That's just one incident, there are quite a few and I've spent countless amount of money and time fixing this truck because of the recalls that were never performed. I need an Inspector to see this, it's ridiculous. When I took the truck in for the recalls it had 101,000 miles, a cold air intake, and different features. When I got the truck back it had 114000 miles, the cold air intake was gone, the Vin plate was replaced with a sticker and it had different features. The GM convinced me I was hallucinating. I'm a disabled adult and was taken for a fool and discriminated against. I am going to have to find a lawyer.
I was driving on the toll road during afternoon rush hour. Suddenly the “Service Power Steering” message came up on the dash. It was the first time that message came up, no prior symptoms. The steering wheel locked, thankfully I was able to exit the tollway without any accidents. Taking it to an independent mechanic. Fear it’s the rack and pinion. 2013 Ram 1500, 5.7, approx 185k miles
Steering failed intermittently while driving before going out completely while driving. When it went out it was almost impossible to steer. The truck is presently undrivable because of the steering and it is very dangerous because of the failure while driving.
Electrical power steering failed. I reported this last year to this agency, but somehow it is not available. Cranked up vehicle and the power steering failed on and off. At times it would clear out until the light stayed on and the power steering stopped working.
ABS system has failed and damaged the traction control module. Speedometer does not work and brake lights stay on constantly. Power steering assist does not work. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealer and cannot get the parts to fix these issues.
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2013 Ram 1500 → · Every 1500 year → · How the figures are calculated →