What 858 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Ram 1500 Crew Cab Trx

The Electric Power Steering (EPS) system went out while turning. Making the turn hazardous as the wheels were impossible to rotate. This has happened multiple times and without warning. Happens both turning left and turning right and will occur when tires are straight as well. My safety and the safety of others were put as risk and continue to be at risk with this vehicle and others like it on the roads. The problem has been stored in the trucks CPM and pulled by the dealer to verify the accident occurred. I was informed nothing can be done since no recalls pull up with my particular VIN number. It has not yet been inspected by police or insurance. The "EPS!" message occurred as the steering was out.

NHTSA ODI 11469329

The electric power steering failed. I was not able to safely turn my vehicle. It is a safety issue because I could have easily injure or killed myself or anyone that I crashed into. The issue is known to happen in this vehicle. There was a warning light that came on saying to service the power steering. The manufacture is not making the part to fix this issue.

NHTSA ODI 11469392

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated while attempting to drive the vehicle, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the electronic power steering (EPS) module needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.

NHTSA ODI 11463072

On Sunday March 27, 2022 my daughter and I were in my 2017 Ram 1500 Bighorn 5.7 liter Hemi, driving east bound on a major road leading from my neighborhood. We were going about 50 mph when the entire dash board lit up like a Christmas tree, windshield wipers, radio volume going up and down, all sensors going off, and the entire speedometer went black, all of this happened going full speed, oh, and the gear shift knob turned off!!!! I couldn’t control my vehicle at all. All of this happened and then it just went black, no speedometer, no gear shifter, and no steering control!! I want to remind you that I was driving with my child in the truck!! It is now at my local mechanic with the truck completely bricked. No power whatsoever, gear is stuck, and the key fob is stuck in ACC and they cannot get it out. This needs to be investigated asap. If I was in the highway we would have killed ourselves and possibly someone else. I lost all control over my vehicle due to some freak electrical issue Chrysler refuses to fix. Maybe a fat lawsuit will help. If you research the complaints on this vehicle, you will see this is not the first time this has happened. Does someone, or a family, have to die first before you will respond?!! This is on you Chrysler to do the right thing. Recall these trucks ASAP. I swear to you someone is going to die if you do not act now!! I’m a combat veteran who has been in actual combat, and this was one of the most terrifying incidents of my life, mainly because my babygirl was in there with me. For the price I paid for this truck, it should be darn near bulletproof. Sad day when American manufacturers put profit over people.

NHTSA ODI 11458627

Electronic power steering stopped working while traveling at highway speeds. No warnings, no issues with steering previously. Manual steering when eps fails is still possibly, but extremely difficult. Vehicle will operate normally after turning off and back on.

NHTSA ODI 11455217

While making a left turn at low speed, I suddenly lost power steering, there was no warning message or notice and steering was very hard, I pulled over, shut the vehicle off and restarted, the power steering returned and I resumed my trip. The second incident, the vehicle was parked in my driveway, I started it up and immediately got a message on the dash that said, Service Power Steering, the power steering was not available, maneuvering was next to impossible. I have just purchased this vehicle on 2/28/22, used as is, with no warranty and I feel I have purchased a dangerous vehicle with no options available. This vehicle is a 2017 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn Limited with 128,00 miles on it. I understand there are some issues with the EPS system on several of the Ram 1500 Model years, and there has even been a recall on some models. I feel it necessary to report this incident as I am afraid to drive the vehicle, which makes this purchase useless, even after researching this vehicles history before buying, I had no way of knowing of the current EPS problems as there are no current recalls for my particular truck. If there is a problem with the EPS system, at the time of manufacturing, then why haven't the 2017 models been recalled as well. Also my local dealer cannot effectively make any repairs unless he has a code or the power steering is not available at the time he inspects it, and ironically it works fine intermittently.

NHTSA ODI 11455283

My electronic power steering failed. Makes it next to impossible to steer. Thankfully low speed, so no crash. No warning prior to failure.

NHTSA ODI 11452455

Power steering becomes inoperable

NHTSA ODI 11451598

loss of electric power steering (EPS) when taking left turns and trying to straightening the wheel back there no power steering and this happens at all speeds called Ram dealer two week wait to get it in to look at it. no warning lamps or messages. looks like there a recall on 2013-2016 Ram 1500 and 2018 -2020 Ram 1500 for this problem but not for 2017 ?

NHTSA ODI 11442384

Parked the truck and woke up the next morning to the power steering being out.

NHTSA ODI 11434817

the electric power steering assist has been slowly getting worst causing hard tuning and am worried the steering will fail with family in vehicel and crash.

NHTSA ODI 11434143

I have had 2 incidences with my 2017 Ram. The 1st time it happened, I was driving with my wife and handicapped 33 year old son in the vehicle, and had made a left hand turn on to a fairly busy street near my home. In the midst of my turn, the "Service Power Steering" warning message came on the instrument cluster AND at that point the power steering locked up and basically I had to drive without it! It is extremely dangerous trying to maneuver, but I was able to make WIDE turns and get a few blocks to my home. When arriving home, I immediately called the dealer we bought the truck from and arranged for it to be towed and serviced. I had gone outside to start the truck several times to see if the warning and steering had rectified itself. By the time the tow truck driver arrived (2 hours later) he had me start the truck and it was completely fine! Within the next few days I began to notice an icon on the instrument cluster every time I started the truck of a red steering wheel with an exclamation mark. Even though the truck was driving fine at that point I decided to call the dealer and bring it in for service. They had it for several days and no "code" could be retrieved and it did not happen while they drove it. Fast forward a month or so(9-5-2021), and I was parked in a friends driveway. When I started the truck it happened again. Knowing I had a ways to travel, I started to turn the engine on and off several times. It went away and was fine and has been once again ever since, but the steering wheel icon upon starting the engine is still there. This defect is very concerning to me because of having to transport a handicapped adult! It is terribly dangerous because of the electronic steering going out. It is very, very hard to maneuver my truck.

NHTSA ODI 11433256

The contact owns a 2017 Dodge Ram 1500. The contact stated that while moving out of a parking space, the steering fault warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer who stated that the vehicle was not included in an unknown recall. The contact was informed that the rack and pinion steering column needed to be replaced. The contact had a certified mechanic repair the vehicle. The contact stated that water leaked into the circuit and caused the failure to reoccur. The contact took the vehicle to a car wash several months later and water leaked into the circuit causing the failure to recur. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000.

NHTSA ODI 11430587

The Electronic Power Steering (EPS) system threw a code for a short circuit and the EPS system failed. I lost my power steering while on the road and was unable to safely operate my RAM. The power steering light indicator was on. This problem was serviced at Apple Chrysler Dodge in Hanover PA on July 21 2021, invoice attached, costing me $2653.43. This is the SAME ISSUE that was addressed for both the 2015 and 2016 RAM 1500s in a recall for “loss of power steering assist”, issued March 23, 2016 (NHTSA No 16V167000).

NHTSA ODI 11430626

The contact owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 40 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact pulled over and towed the vehicle to his residence. The contact stated that the power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

NHTSA ODI 11428594

The contact's husband owns a 2017 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering assist and excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle. The contact's husband had taken the vehicle to the dealer however, the mechanic was unable to service the vehicle. The contact then made an appointment with the dealer for the vehicle to be serviced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000

NHTSA ODI 11426992

Electronic power steering appears to be intermittently inoperative. I was driving this past weekend and multiple times when turning in parking lot or going under 20 mph or at least that is what I noticed, it became difficult to steer and then forcing steering all the sudden power steering kicks in almost causing accident. I will be taking my truck into dealership but I see there are no recalls yet on this problem and I see complaints going back many years. This is truly a safety concern.....

NHTSA ODI 11425561

On two occasions within the last three days, while driving and about to make a turn, my power steering was completely disabled. The first time I was turning onto another street and nearly ran into the ditch. Luckily the second time, I was leaving a parking lot. On both occasions, it was very very difficult to turn the truck with no power steering. Once I turned the truck off for a while to research the problem and restarted it, the problem went away. I am now afraid to drive my truck on a upcoming trip to the mountains.

NHTSA ODI 11421815

Electronic power steering failure while driving at high speeds, rendering the vehicle not able to drive. Unable to steer vehicle causing imminent danger to myself, my passenger, and other drivers on the road. The vehicle is not able to be driven to be serviced or inspected. There were no warning signs of power steering failure until the event as described happened.

NHTSA ODI 11420046

WHILE DRIVING MY EPS WILL HAVE AN INTERMITTENT LOSS IF POWER.

NHTSA ODI 11415710

THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. WENT TO PUT THE KEY IN IGNITION AND TURN ON. TRUCK WOULD NOT START, NOT EVEN TURN. TRIED JUMPING IT AND NOTHING WORKED. HAVING TO GET A WHOLE NEW KEY IGNITION ASSEMBLY DONE ON IT. HAVE READ UP ON IT AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY PEOPLE. THE TRUCK WON'T LOCK OR RUN. THERE ARE 83,000 MILES ON IT AND NOTHING PRIOR TO THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE WHEEL WILL NOT TURN OR GO INTO NEUTRAL. THE LIGHTS INSIDE DO WORK SO IT IS NOT THE BATTERY. HAVING TO SEND TO A MECHANIC AND ALL PARTS HAVE BEEN ORDERED AS THEY IDENTIFIED IT WAS THE IGNITION MODULE THAT WENT OUT. HE SAID IT HAPPENS A LOT TO DODGES.

NHTSA ODI 11415205

VEHICLE BEGINS SHAKING BETWEEN 68-73 MPH ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT HIGHWAYS. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS NOT ROAD CONDITIONS. THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T SHAKE BUT THE VEHICLE VIBRATES. MAY BE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WITH BRAND NEW AND HAD THEM BALANCED, HAD THE VEHICLE ALIGNED. SAME PROBLEM OCCURS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE. VEHICLE HAS 34,212 MILES. HAD TIRES REBALANCED AFTER 150 MILES OF USE. ISSUE DID NOT GO AWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11384413

WHILE DRIVING MY 2017 DODGE RAM 1500 TRUCK THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHICH CAUSED ME TO NEARLY RUN OFF THE ROAD DURING AN ATTEMPTED TURN. THE POWER STEERING HAS SINCE BEEN INTERMITTENTLY CUTTING IN AND OUT WHICH MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER, ESPECIALLY AT SLOWER SPEEDS. I WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI 11366668

WHILE DRIVING ON PAVED SURFACE APPROACHING A RIGHT TURN AT 20 MPH I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING.THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. .THE DASH INFORMATION CENTER WAS TELLING ME NOT TO SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE.AFTER PLACING THE TRUCK IN PARK THE ADVISORY LIGHTS WENT OUT THE RED POWER STEERING LIGHT REMAINED ON

NHTSA ODI 11361744

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT SPEEDS OF 15-65 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND IT SEEMS AS IF THE TRUCK DOESN'T WANT TO STOP. I WAS TOLD THIS IS DUE TO THE ROTORS WARPING. IF THIS HAPPENS TO A DODGE / RAM PICKUPS THEY SHOULD PROBABLY UPGRADE THE DISCS AND PADS FOR BETTER STOPPING AND STABILIZING.

NHTSA ODI 11352857