2018 RAM 1500 steering problems

STEERING

My 2018 Ram 1500 suddenly lost power steering assistance while I was driving, making the steering extremely difficult to turn and creating a significant safety hazard. The power steering stopped working without adequate warning, and I am concerned about the known issues involving the electric power steering system on these vehicles. I am reporting this failure to NHTSA because a sudden loss of steering assistance could increase the risk of a crash.

NHTSA complaint #11757204 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while stopped and attempting to turn left, the steering wheel became firm, making it difficult to turn the steering wheel. The vehicle was turned off and restarted; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and stopped. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that a chip needed to be reset. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the rack and pinion was damaged and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to the residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint #11755515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

Greetings, I’m writing regarding a recent power steering issue in my 2018 Ram 1500. While driving the other day, I started noticing some stiffness in the steering wheel when going around turns. It wasn’t long after where I made a turn at a traffic light and the steering completely locked up and nearly caused a head-on collision with another vehicle. My wife was in the car and she was genuinely terrified. I am grateful that no accident occurred, but it could’ve been very bad. At this point in the drive the power steering light came on the dash. Issues with the steering continued to persist until the steering completely locked up where you could not turn the wheel whatsoever. Luckily I was in a parking lot when that happened. The vehicle now has no power steering and I am unable to turn the wheels. Not only is this a major inconvenience but most importantly it is very dangerous and could’ve easily caused a fatal accident. After researching this issue online, I’m surprised how the electric power steering system has not been recalled by Ram, given all of the testimonies to this issue including a class action lawsuit. I hope that something will be done about this in the near future to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers of vehicles with this model power steering system. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11745602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

The electronic power steering went out in the middle of driving. My safety, the safety of my passenger and other drivers were at risk due to my inability to turn the steering wheel. The issue has been confirmed by a Dodge Ram dealership. No. There were no lights indicating an EPS issue until the steering failed.

NHTSA complaint #11744227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

I experienced sudden and intermittent loss of power steering. I nearly crashed going around a corner as the steering suddenly required a hard active return to center. I brought the vehicle to my local independent service center where they test drove it and confirmed/experienced similar sudden loss of power steering. No one else has inspected the vehicle. There were no warning lights. The onboard diagnostic computer shows no error codes. The vehicle is unsafe to drive as is. It is currently in the shop for repair.

NHTSA complaint #11740549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

The electronic power steering failed. And its $1300-3600 for the new rack and pinion cause the whole rack needs to be replaced when it fails. First my alternator went out then all of sudden my electronic assisted power steering went out

NHTSA complaint #11735037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. While driving through a parking lot and hauling a boat, the steering wheel seized, and there was a screeching sound coming from the steering column. The contact attempted to turn the steering wheel and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was towed to the residence. An independent mechanic arrived at the residence and diagnosed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA complaint #11734236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

Since 2021, I've replaced both CV Boot Axles twice and I do not go off-roading. Urban and highway mileage.

NHTSA complaint #11734176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

Electric power steering stops working then will work for several days then out of nowhere it will stop working again. This causes unsafe driving as when I was crossing a 4 lane highway the steering pulled out of my hands had cars been coming this could have been very serious. Dealer could not get truck to reproduce the issue and could not find any stored codes. When the steering goes out a service power steering message appears. They just wanted me to replace the electric power steering. It was stated this is a BIG issue with this truck.

NHTSA complaint #11733298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

Steering is intermittently difficult, requires greater effort, steering wheel sometimes makes noise when turning tight at low speeds. Unexpected periods of difficulty in steering make it harder to control the vehicle, affecting safety (personal and others). Independent service center could not find evidence of a problem; they focused on other components. No other agencies have been contacted or have inspected the vehicle. The Service Power Steering message appeared and also the related warning icon while driving on a winding local road. These disappeared the next morning upon starting the vehicle and the message was not saved in Stored Messages by the vehicle. This is why the service center rep said there was no evidence of a problem. The message and warning icon reappeared a week later under similar conditions and this time they were photographed on the dashboard while the vehicle was parked and still running. After arriving at destination, shutting off vehicle, and restarting an hour later, the message and warning icon were again gone. Underlying problem may still be there. Upon researching, there are numerous documented problems with the Ram 1500 electric power steering rack over model years 2013-2024.

NHTSA complaint #11731292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

Power steering stops working causing to the wheel to jerk and almost lock up while driving.

NHTSA complaint #11730192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the steering wheel became very stiff, and the vehicle became difficult to steer. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with power steering failure. The contact was informed that the EPS and the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The contact was then referred to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.

NHTSA complaint #11726651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

The vehicle is experiencing intermittent and severe steering stiffness, making it difficult to control and creating a safety hazard while driving. The issue occurs without warning and significantly impacts safe operation. This does not appear to be an isolated issue. Based on NHTSA data, there are hundreds of complaints and manufacturer communications related to steering system failures in this vehicle model, including similar reports of stiff or failing steering. Despite this, the dealership has advised there are no recalls or bulletins associated with my VIN and has declined assistance with repair costs. A case has been opened with Stellantis (Case #95969046), however the issue remains unresolved. Due to the safety risk and documented pattern of similar failures, I am requesting further investigation into this defect.

NHTSA complaint #11726369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the steering wheel was turned to the left and became difficult to turn back to the center. The vehicle was stopped, and the steering wheel symbol in red was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was turned off and restarted, but failed to reset the power steering assist. The failure was intermittent but gradually became a recurring failure. The failure became permanent. The contact replaced the battery; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic. The mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was no longer driven. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA complaint #11725616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

Electronic power steering has started working intermittently. Very hard to steer truck at times. Very dangerous.

NHTSA complaint #11723161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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Steering completely locks up.

NHTSA complaint #11712326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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Steering rack and pinion locked up while driving, delayed inputs, unsafe at high speed. Service power steering light came on, disappeared shortly after with steering inputs still jumpy and hard to control.

NHTSA complaint #11706753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

I was driving down the road and lost all control in the steering wheel. No power steering at all. A steering wheel with exclamation point light flashing on dash. Dealership quoting $4100 for this repair. I checked to see if there is any recalls and none for mine but many for models 2019 and above. It states "some" 2018 models. I would like to see if my repair qualifys for this recall. A costly repair like this on a 6 year old vehicle is financially straining and based on my research this is a common problem and seems to be a manufacturer defect. Safety concern- complete loss of steering while operating on roadway.

NHTSA complaint #11706358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

I was driving my 2018 ram at approx 35 mph going into a turn my power steering went out and I almost went off the road the service power steering light came on.

NHTSA complaint #11705008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

Was driving vehicle, power steering abruptly stopped working, pulled over vehicle to side of road, Turned off vehicle for two minutes, turned vehicle back on, power steering warning notification was now activated.... Unknown if it is still able to be inspected, calling shop tomorrow to verify.... Issue was confirmed by Independent Service Center.... Piece was inspected by Warranty Representative.... There were no warning, messages, or symptoms prior to failure. Issue happened abruptly....

NHTSA complaint #11699483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

Power steering turn off for 2 seconds if I hit a bump or in the middle of a turn. It will then sometimes turn right back on or just not turn back on. Recalls are on many rams for this issue but not on my truck specifically even though its the same issue other rams are having in the recall list

NHTSA complaint #11698185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

Yes, the vehicle is inspection. If you're going around a curve at 55 miles an hour all of a sudden the electric power steering will come back on and jerk. Probably not explaining it well but extremely dangerous in my opinion and others. It is intermittent. The dealers say there is no recall, but the Internet says there is so I don't know who to believe. It has not been inspected. No there were no warnings just work sometimes and doesn't work sometimes and it's worse than the old days with no power steering. You can hardly turn the wheel when it's not working.

NHTSA complaint #11695404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

While traveling the EPS shut off while at a high rate of speed and jerked the steering wheel out of my hands

NHTSA complaint #11687145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

Electronic power steering is out car can not be driven safely. There was a recall of 2013-2019 dodge ram 1500 for the same peoblem

NHTSA complaint #11686457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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Request for investigation and recall of 2018 Dodge Ram Tradesman vehicles due to exhaust manifold defects, Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning causing driver impairment, indirect impact on steering system functionality, and documented cases of accidents. I became disoriented, severe headache, drowsy, confused, steering wheel vibrated, pulled over got out of vehicle set on side of road until feeling better. The manifold bolt broke leaking co2 into canon. I had no ideal and could have passed out causing death and potentially death to others. Was on highway doing 65mph. This is a common documented issue and must be addressed with Dodge ram trucks. Makes no since with all the evidence it has not been corrected already.

NHTSA complaint #11681654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

While driving and turning the steering wheel totally locks up momentarily. At this point there is no control of steering. The first time it happened I just missed a parked car when turning a corner. When I took it to the dealer the mechanic almost ran into a building driving it into the shop.

NHTSA complaint #11678249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

on or about 7/29/2025 while driving at approx 45 mph (2018 Dodge Ram Rebel) - multiple dash warning lights came on. Parked at safe location. Vehicle would not start and again multiple dash lights came on, steering wheel tight. Had vehicle towed to Reedman Dodge Langhorne, Pennsylvania. Service Rep said vehicles needs replaced drive train and other electrical work costing $5,000.00. Vehicle has less than 100,000 miles (original owner) serviced regularly. Reedman Dodge said no recalls for this but is aware of multiple complaints and "class action" lawsuit on this.

NHTSA complaint #11678269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

Subject: Ongoing Power Steering Malfunction – Safety Concern I am writing to report a recurring and now potentially permanent issue with the power steering system in my vehicle. The problem began approximately 2 to 2.5 years ago. Initially, it was intermittent — the power steering would occasionally fail at low speeds, then resume normal operation. During these incidents, the dashboard would display a warning message: “Service Power Steering.” Over time, the issue has become more frequent, and in some cases, the failure occurs immediately upon startup, before the vehicle has even been driven. I first brought the vehicle to a local repair shop, where I was advised that the power steering unit might need to be replaced. They also mentioned that the problem could be related to a known defect involving contaminated components. However, after checking the serial number, I confirmed that my vehicle is not included in the current recall for this make and model. Next, I took the vehicle to a Ram Chrysler dealership. They were unable to replicate the issue during their inspection and advised me to bring the vehicle back on a tow truck if the problem occurred again. Since then, the issue has returned multiple times. I was previously able to temporarily clear the fault by disconnecting and reconnecting the battery terminals, but that method is no longer effective. The failure now appears to be persistent and ongoing. This is a serious safety concern. A sudden loss of power steering — whether at startup, low speeds, or while driving — poses a significant risk to both myself and others on the road. I plan to return to the dealership for further diagnostics, but I believe this issue deserves broader investigation and may warrant an expansion of the current recall. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

NHTSA complaint #11675484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the power steering module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

NHTSA complaint #11672506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

Steering Gear Rack - Steering control rapidly diminished over a short amount of time. Initially was okay but steering began to intermittently stick and wouldn’t self-center. Issue became nearly full-time within a month. Got to the point that it required a ‘tug’ to re-center. Took to a shop to additionally find that the boot clamps had broke themselves loose, causing the boots to separate and freely slide around. Driver seat airbag - service airbag system (?) warning on dash. Loose/bad connector in center console according to a mechanic leading to potential airbag deployment failure. Both of these issues are reportedly exceedingly common among RAMs, with steering gear racks extending as far back as 2013, and the airbag situation commonly effecting at least the ‘18 models. Additionally, Rear axle (passenger-side) - Shop discovered at the same time a seal had failed causing axle lubricant to spray onto hub causing extreme risk to breaking system due to the spray. Potentially lead to corrosion of caliper and caused advanced rusting resulting in wheel not spinning freely/easily. Driver side works as should. Warranty refused coverage of steering gear rack due to ‘improper installation’, as they claim, due to boots having separated from their respective mount points and loose clamps. Dates and mileage are rough estimates at time of on-set.

NHTSA complaint #11669917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.