2013 Ram 1500 Complaint Log

I was driving to work and all of a sudden I had no power steering and red light with wheel and ! Came on indicating power steering failure. Confirmed by mechanic and estimated 3-4 thousand dollars , this is a known issue with these trucks apparently as I’m finding out

Intermittent power steering failure causing dangerous driving conditions

Subject: Power Steering Failure – Recall Concern on 2013 Ram 1500 Dear [Ram Customer Care / NHTSA / Dealership Representative], I am writing to formally express my concern regarding a serious safety issue I experienced with my 2013 Ram 1500, which has only 140,000 miles. While driving, I suddenly lost total power steering functionality. Fortunately, I was able to safely bring the vehicle to Piedmont Dodge in Anderson, SC. After paying a $185 diagnostic fee, I was informed that the steering rack and pinion had failed and would require full replacement. I was also told that the necessary part is currently on back order with no estimated time of arrival, which leaves me without a working vehicle and no clear resolution. What is especially troubling is that I’ve learned Ram issued recalls for steering issues on 2013–2016 Ram 1500 models—recall campaigns that clearly acknowledge this as a known and recurring problem. However, for reasons unclear to me, my specific VIN does not fall under the existing recall despite showing the same symptoms as vehicles that do. Given the nature of the failure—complete loss of power steering while driving—and the significant cost of repairs quoted to me (over $2,700 for parts and labor), I am requesting a thorough review of my vehicle's eligibility under the known recall campaign or warranty support. I strongly believe this issue reflects a broader systemic defect, not isolated wear and tear. I respectfully ask that Ram take responsibility for this critical safety concern and assist in resolving the issue either through recall expansion, goodwill repair assistance, or another appropriate remedy. I am eager to continue being a loyal Ram owner but believe this matter requires immediate attention and action. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] ] VIN: [XXX] [Vehicle: 2013 Ram 1500 | Mileage: 140,000 mi] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while attempting to check the Carfax report, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 136,000, and at the time of reviewing the Carfax, it was discovered that the mileage was 220,000.

The Power Steering suddenly failed without warning when starting the truck while parked in a public parking lot. Could not steer the truck and noticed the red warning light was illuminated. I turned off the vehicle and waited a few minutes and then the power steering was working. I drove immediately home. The problem then occurred again when I started the truck up. The truck was not safe to drive. Checked the serial number of my steering rack and it is not included in the recall list for this known problem. I had to replace the steering rack with a new unit. This should be recalled and covered by the manufacturer. Less than 29,000 miles on the truck.

While operating my 2013 Ram 1500 at approximately 10 MPH, I experienced a sudden and complete loss of power steering without warning. The incident occurred while traveling on a public roadway. There were no dashboard warning lights, alerts, or noises leading up to the failure. The steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn, requiring significant physical effort to maintain control of the vehicle. The failure appears to have occurred in the Electric Power Steering (EPS) system. This sudden loss of power steering posed a serious safety hazard to both myself and other road users. The unexpected loss of steering assist greatly increased the difficulty of maneuvering the vehicle, especially during turns or emergency avoidance. The vehicle was nearly impossible to steer with one hand and could have led to a crash if more evasive action had been needed. Had this occurred at higher speeds or in heavy traffic, the outcome could have been much more severe. The failure was diagnosed as an EPS (Electric Power Steering) internal failure, confirmed by a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) pulled during inspection at a certified repair facility. The code specifically indicated a malfunction within the EPS module itself. The problem was confirmed by an independent service center, where technicians scanned the vehicle and identified a diagnostic code confirming an internal EPS failure. At this time, the EPS system has not been repaired pending further action.

Power steering failed while making a turn. The vehicle oversteered running into a curb. This scraped the wheel and impacted the tire braking the plastic inner wheel well. If the steering fails while turning the wheel the vehicle at slower speeds the vehicle is very hard to control and will force you out of intended trajectory. There are no warnings or messages. There are no fluid leaks. I have researched to find this is a common issue with this vehicle. I do not feel safe driving it to a mechanic. I don't want to pay for repair as this is obviously a know failure which could reoccur.

Attempted to back out of garage when the steering became very difficult to turn. Could not safely drive the vehicle as the steering was extremely hard to turn. Service steering message appeared on console. Vehicle towed to dealership for repair. Dealer advised this repair will require replacement of the steering rack at a cost of over $3,000.00. While there may not be a specific recall based on my VIN this problem is very similar to other vehicles that have been recalled for this issue. Part is back ordered which indicates they are doing a lot replacements. This should be elevated to a systemic recall. My truck has under 70,000 miles on it and has been well maintained.

Front fuel tank strap pulled out of frame. The strap T portion is still intact but the mounting location on the frame rotted out. The rear strap held so the tank didn't make contact with the ground. There was a recall on the 09-12 rams for a similar issue, I think it needs be expanded to 2013 and maybe 2014 models as well.

I was driving on [XXX] on Friday evening ([XXX]) about [XX] near Chattanooga, TN and the power steering quit suddenly (all at once). My speed at time of power steering failure was 65 MPH. No warning lights, messages or symptons at all before complete failure of power steering system. If driving conditions had warranted me to swerve suddenly to avoid a hazard, it would have been impossible and that would have put other's safety and my own safety in harm. Never had any problem before this incident and nothing that would have alerted that power steering was not functioning properly. I think this is a major safety issue and requires further investigation as to why this happened. The problem has been reported to an independent service center and I also plan to contact local Ram dealership in Ringgold, GA Monday morning, May 19, 2025. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact's son owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while her son was driving at highway speeds, the power steering assist failed. Due to the failure, the contact's son used excessive effort to steer the vehicle off to the left shoulder of the highway. The contact's son called for the vehicle to be towed to an independent mechanic. While the contact's son waited for the tow truck to arrive, the "Service Power Steering" message was displayed on the instrument panel while restarting the engine. The vehicle was towed to the mechanic, and the contact was informed that the power steering assist was electrical and that no repairs could be made to the vehicle. The contact was then informed that there was an unknown recall associated with the failure. The contact was then referred to the dealer who informed the contact that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle remained in the possession of the mechanic and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 215,000.

Power steering stopped working

Out of nowhere could not turn the steering wheel. It was really stiff. I had my mechanic come take a look and after doing a diagnostic test it was the EPS (electric power system). After looking into it we noticed a recall for the EPS for 2013-2019 Dodge rams which is what we have. We took it to a dodge dealership who also found that out but is saying we are not part of the recall just because our VIN number is not associated to the recall. We could have died with 4 kids in the car and this is what we were told that it would cost a more than 5k to fix. The issue is the same as the recall. There was no warning lamps or messages to let us know something was wrong. Again could have died cause we could not turn the wheel. Our car should be part of this recall and I have seen others complaining about the same issue in forums. We are already on low income and top it off have only one car this has put a real burden on our family. Please acknowledge that this is the same recall and our VIN should be included and repaired without cost.

Can't turn...steering wheel is very hard to turn....

The power steering keeps going out while I’m driving. Sometimes it will reset and work again after restarting my truck but now it’s staying out. This has been a problem for two months now. This almost caused me to crash twice.

My steering on my 2013 Ram 1500 completely seized while the vehicle was in motion, with no warning. I was leaving a drive through luckily at low speed, I am reporting this because if this had happened 2 minutes later, I would have been on a 55mph 2 lane highway, and possibly caused an accident harming me or other drivers. I had a few mechanics look at it and state they thought it was the steering rack, and how unsafe it was that it seized completely. The vehicle is open to inspection. I hope this at least gets looked into, I don’t want anybody to get hurt.

Traveling back from Tennessee I stopped for fuel when I started my truck to leave the warning light was on the dash for service power steering and I had no power steering I have checked the fuse but it does not appear to be bad I will take my truck to the shop tomorrow morning Monday 4/28/2025

Was turning out of parking lot steering locked up and service power steering message came on. After investigation it was determined that the electric power steering quit working.

Steering locked up. Very difficult to steer. Condition remains 4/28/2025 09:00. Dealer approx 30 miles away. Can't afford towing. Low speed (35 MPH) No crash, No injuries. Flashing steering wheel with (!). No other indications. No Codes. NOTE: BASED ON INFORMATION FROM MY TIME IN THE MILITARY AS A HELICOPTER PILOT AND ISSUES WE HAD WITH AIRCRAFT GROUNDS, I REMOVED AND CLEANED ALL TERMINALS ON THE BATTERY AND APPLIED DI-ELECTRIC GREASE. I THEN REMOVED AND CLEANED THE CONNECTORS ON THE ELECTRICAL STEERING UNIT AND APPLIED DIELECTRIC GREASE BEFORE REINSTALLING THE CONNECTORS. I STARTED THE ENGINE WITH NO RESULTS ON THE STEERING ISSUE. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND WAITED 30 MINUTES. UPON RESTARTING, THE ISSUE RESOLVED.

2013 ram 1500 Express, steering will randomly lose all power steering without any warning, and become almost impossible to steer the vehicle. I believe the issue to be related to the faulty rack and pinions installed on the ram 1500 trucks.

Steering wheel jerks to center position when making turns and power steering has totally stopped working now

The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the power steering assist failed to operate as designed. There was no warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle off to the shoulder of the highway. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle to regain power steering assist; however, the failure persisted. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to the residence. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not under recall. The contact was provided an estimate for a diagnostic test. The dealer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 131,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Ram 1500. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the ABS warning light and the traction control warning light were illuminated. The “Service Now” message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who confirmed that the ABS control module, Part Number: 68210719AB; needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the part being on back order. The manufacturer was contacted and informed that the contact to get on a waiting list for the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

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 performing a left-hand U-turn across three lanes and into the far right-hand 4th turning lane, at less than 15mph my 2013 Ram 1500's power steering failed and jerked the wheel out of my hands back towards the neutral position. This action forced me across all the lanes and into the curb on the right edge of the 4th lane which was the turning lane that I was trying to reach. When I finally got the vehicle off the curb and was able to get the vehicle into the parking lot I was originally going to, the power steering seamed to operate breifly as long as the wheel was turned slowly and under speeds less than 10mph, so I limped it home. This however was short lived by the end of the next day I had totally lost all power steering assist and had to fight the wheel to turn at all. This led to having the electronic power steering rack assembly replaced at a local shop adding up to a total of $4943.55 US dollars. After receiving my 2013 Ram 1500 from the shop I began to experience heavy vibrations felt through the steering wheel and pedals. The vibration was caused by the damaged front passenger wheel hub which cost a further $400 plus dollars in parts and labor. The electronic power steering rack assembly had to be turned in for a core charge and is unavailable for inspection but had signs of water intrusion according to the shop. The associated bushings, tie rod ends and wheel hubs were either discarded or turned in for additional charges and are unavailable for inspection. My safety was threatened when the steering gave out mid turn while I was crossing oncoming traffic in the three through traffic lanes. The "service power steering" warning light did illuminate when the power steering failed and the initial impact with the curb occurred then went away after stopping. However, the "service power steering" light returned the next day. The electronic power steering rack was verified to be the cause of the failure at the local service center that performed the repairs.

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.

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.

Power steering failure

The electrical power steering went out while driving. When searching for a replacement, we were told they weren't even taking orders for the part because of how many failed. Clearly there is a MAJOR issue with the power steering part. It should be recalled so more people can get them fixed without potentially causing an accident at time of FAILURE

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

On a cold morning in February of 2025, i was going to get my wife and me a biscuit and sausage for breakfast. I went to the garage, cranked my truck and noticed the steering wheel would not move. I also noticed a steering wheel light with an exclamation running through it on my instrument panel. I shut it down and went inside to tell my wife. She did a search on the internet and found that others were having this same problem and that dodge had a recall for vehicles with this problem. I called dodge's home office where they checked my vin number and said that my vehicle did not have any recalls. I told her that maybe she should add my truck to the recall list as I was having the same steering problem as many others. I got NO satisfaction from her and after reading information that other dodge owners had posted i realized that these people weren't going to do anything about this. At one point i called the dodge home office again only this time i got a recording that said; "You are calling about your 2013 dodge truck. (I wondered how she had this information.) Please press a number to be connected to someone." I was connected to a lady in Taiwan. She spoke very broken English and I asked her to put someone else on the phone. She argued that she spoke English and I got irritated with her and hung up. I believe this is by design as dodge wants to do just that, dodge their responsibilities to their customers. No one has inspected my truck as I can't remove it from the garage. I was told that the tool that was plugged into my computer system would not reveal my problem if the steering system was working. The only way that I can get it to a mechanic is if the steering is working. I have puchased and installed a 10 amp fuse in the fuse panel and a 120 amp battery cable fuse on the battery. Neither solved my problem. so now I have a 2013 dodge ram truck (Like new) with 32,000 miles that I can't drive because I can't steer it. Please do something about this!!!!!

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.

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?

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

According to Ferman Dodge of New Port Richey, Florida an electronic brake sensor is apparently an issue and my local dealer says they do not have a fix. Therefore, my cruise control, sway stability and my ABS brake lights are lit up all the time. Limiting the safety features of the vehicle.

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.