What 641 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Ram 1500 Classic Regular Cab

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 ODI 11675484

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 ODI 11672506

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 ODI 11669917

Steering is going in and out, mechanic thinks it's our module that should be part of this major recall.

NHTSA ODI 11665419

While driving through a hard rain and some standing water (which was totally unavoidable)one afternoon, I began having Electric power steering problems. It stared off with grinding noises for a couple days and on the day i took it to be checked is when I loss all power steering with EPS warning light engaged. After searching for the part continuously, through manufacturers and auto parts dealers, I was told countless times that it was on national back order. So, weeks passed with no luck and finally found one from a used auto parts which cost me 1k plus labor. About 2 months later, almost same scenario all over again. Loss power steering while driving. Now im back in the same situation again but this time different mechanic has one on order for me but a new steering rack which is now costing me $3000 for parts labor programing and wheel alignment which is needed after replacing rack. Now the insurance adjuster is telling me that from his research this is a huge ongoing problem with RAM trucks. Since 2018 when I got my truck i haven't had any issues until now twice within two months with this EPS rack.Ram needs this fixed immediately. It is a major safety hazard, inconvenience, and a big financial burden that insurance won't cover

NHTSA ODI 11663582

So my power steering is going in and out while I’m driving, making it very hard to steer and keep control of the vehicle. I’m reporting this issue. Because I feel like it’s a safety problem.

NHTSA ODI 11656484

The steering gear failed making steering inconsistent and very difficult as well as dangerous. The issue is not covered under the extended warranty, so FCA gave me a quote of $4100 to fix the issue.

NHTSA ODI 11655426

On Arpril 4 2025, after dropping off my kids at daycare I was turning left at a 6 lane intersection and the power steering completely failed while turning. This rendered the truck inoperable and nearly caused a collision and stopped right before ending in a ditch. I turned the truck off and then restarted and the power steering started to operate again. I took the truck to the shop and in route the power steering went out again. I was told at the shop and the dealership this is a known concern, but due to my VIN number it does not fall under the recall that has been issued over the power steering failures. I was never notified of this issue prior to 4/4/2025 .

NHTSA ODI 11653257

Power steering

NHTSA ODI 11653323

The abs keeps randomly disabling and then coming back on. When this happens, the cruise control is canceled which causes a sudden change in speed unexpectedly. Also, the 4x4 gets disabled. I believe the issue is this: hydraulic control unit can malfunction, impacting ABS, electronic stability control, and traction control performance software issue in the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) control module that can disable the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system, potentially increasing the risk of a crash. 

NHTSA ODI 11652850

Electric Power steering failure

NHTSA ODI 11648421

I was driving in a curve when the power steering went out and it took everything I had to keep from have a serious accident with my young grand daughter in the car. It happened immediately without any warning. If I was going much faster it would have been catastrophic Now the steering only works sporadically. Very dangerous and as it turns extremely expensive to repair. It sounds like this might be a very common problem but they are not offering a recall, which doesn't seem right

NHTSA ODI 11643691

Power steering intermittently stops working while driving.

NHTSA ODI 11624282

While driving the power steering stopped working causing the vehicle to become very difficult to steer. Fortunately this happened while traveling in a straight line and I was able to maintain control of the vehicle, but if it had happened in a curve, or leading into a corner, it would have been difficult to maintain lane control. After letting the vehicle sit for 8 hours, I was able to start the vehicle and drive it a short distance before the fault reoccurred. The vehicle sat for two days and after a few minutes of driving the power steering went out again. All fuses on the power connections test as properly functioning. There is a recall covering RAM 1500 trucks from 2013 - 2019 for this exact problem definition, but multiple RAM dealerships that I have contacted state my vehicle does not fall under the recall (per VIN). The NHTSA needs to investigate this complaint and hold RAM accountable to fix the known issue on all RAM trucks. It is not a matter of if, but a matter of when. Loss of power steering can lead to a serious accident. My wife or daughter would not have been able to turn the vehicle had this occurred while they were operating a vehicle in a turn.

NHTSA ODI 11620305

Electric power steering rack and pinion failed during Hurricane Helene leaving my wife, [XXX] , my mother-in-law, and myself stranded on the side of the road. Thankfully it failed while we were stopped waiting to cross a flooded bridge rather than while driving down the road. Truck was towed after sitting for 2 weeks. Rack and pinion was disassembled and inner belt that connects the electric motor to the steering gear was found to be destroyed. Research shows that electric power steering issues are not uncommon on Ram 1500 trucks manufactured since 2013. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11620143

Electronic rack and pinion failed with 128,922 miles. From what I have read online that is too low of mileage for electrical rack failure.

NHTSA ODI 11618725

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact stated when he first started the vehicle he observed that a red steering wheel with an exclamation point was flashing on the instrument cluster. The contact stated that when he had shifted the vehicle into drive (D) and was turning the steering wheel to drive onto a street onto the street the steering wheel was locked. The contact turned the vehicle off and on several times and was able to regain power steering functionality. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but was now an ongoing failure. The red steering wheel warning was no longer flashing as was constantly illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the power steering gear and a printed circuit card needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact had researched on line and related the failure to manufacturer recall number: VB9 - Electric Power Steering Gear (Steering) The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,825.

NHTSA ODI 11607898

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and turning the steering wheel to the left or the right, the power steering functionality was inoperable. The contact needed to use both hands to turn the steering wheel. The steering wheel would continuously turn in the opposite direction. The steering wheel was extremely difficult to turn. The service power steering message was displayed. The contact viewed a video regarding the lower steering shaft u joint. The contact used a tester and checked the fuses. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that a diagnostic test was needed and that the repair would be an out-of-pocket expense. Additionally, the contact was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty and there was no recall associated with the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 99,899.

NHTSA ODI 11603320

While driving down the highway I lost my power stearing. The power stearing keep going in and out from 10 mph to 50 all speeds.

NHTSA ODI 11603221

On 07/11/2024 while driving my 2018 RAM Ecodiesel at highway speeds, a warning light came on that said "Service Power Steering" and my electronic power steering (EPS) completely stopped working. This caused an extremely unsafe situation as I was traveling at roughly 65mph in moderate traffic and had to perform an evasive maneuver to keep from colliding with the vehicle next to me and pull my vehicle to the side of the road. I have an appointment with a local RAM dealer today 07/15/2024. Vehicle available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA ODI 11602154

Sudden and complete loss of the electric power steering system. As I was entering a corner the steering wheel felt like it was almost locked, Incredibly hard to steer and barely managed to stay on the road. Had I been going any faster I could have been seriously injured or crashed into other drivers. Unable to fix vehicle as well, the steering rack is unservicable and on national backorder.

NHTSA ODI 11597000

The contact owns a 2018 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), he observed a loud noise emanating from the engine compartment. Additionally, the steering wheel failed to move as needed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that that the steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 23,000.

NHTSA ODI 11595494

In June of 2023, I was driving home and the vehicle became unresponsive, but still powered on. I was able to steer it partially to the side of the road. The gas pedal was unresponsive, all electrical was unresponsive and it also would not turn off. I called my husband, when he arrived about 20 minutes later we were finally able to turn off the truck, but electrical was still unresponsive so the windows would not roll up. I had just gotten off the freeway, about a mile, and was lucky to be in a residential area or I would have been unable to drive on the freeway. This is a major safely issue and I also had my 9 year old daughter in the truck with me. No warning messages or any symptoms prior to the problem/failure. We called and had it towed to our local trusted mechanic, Gray's Tire and Auto. It took about a month for Gray's to figure out the problem. They were also in conversations with the local RAM Dealer who did not know how to fix the problem. It ended up being recall [XXX] that was the issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11583063

The rack and pinion steering system has to be replaced on this 2018 Dodge Ram 1500 truck for the second time with less than 80,000 miles on the truck. The steering is very loose and it is hard to keep the truck from weaving while traveling down the highway which makes it very unsafe to drive at high speeds. There are numerous complaints about this issue on these trucks, and there is a recall on other heavy duty Dodge trucks but not this model but there should be a recall. This part will cost over $3,000 to replace, that's over $6,000 dollars for this truck in less that 80,000 miles and 6 years old. This is totally unacceptable for a truck this costly. Dodge Must do something to resolve this issue once and for all. Thank you for your attention to this potentially deadly issue, it will be just a matter of time before numerous accidents will happen because it is unaffordable to fix this problem every 3 years. The part is warrantied for only 2 years but the failure starts happening after that time frame and continues to get worse. My family members wont even drive this truck because of it being so unstable on the road. Please seriously consider this matter as a priority as there are so many of these trucks on the road. Something has to be done very soon. Thank you.

NHTSA ODI 11578884

Truck has zero warning lights, zero visible issues, nothing is "wrong" with the truck. However, the truck runs horribly. It is terrifying to drive. Anything over 35mph is scary. It drives like the back wheels are about to come out from under it. The truck violently shakes. Sometimes it accelerates, sometimes not, randomly downshift, random upshifts, random power loss, randomly the breaks stop working. The radio has became such a problem that not only can I not use the radio, i cant use the navigation, back up camera, the apps, climate control, settings, nothing in the control unit. Cant even update it because it wont stay on one screen long enough, nothing. The unit bounces around from one tab to another. Its confusing the trucks computer system and has reset itself while on a lift getting serviced. The transmission is running hot, the cooling fans don't know if they should be on or off because the radio unit changes all the controls so quickly. The volts on the dash are always at or about 3/4 of the way up and continuously bounce because of the system always changing. I have 52 transmission codes because the system is so confused but no one will touch it because its an 8 speed and not serviceable. And all the components are working.... they just do not work together. There has been several recalls for this make and model but all for the diesel, I believe it goes further then just that.

NHTSA ODI 11574045