Ram 1500 power steering problems: what 856 owners reported
Owners of the Ram 1500 filed 856 NHTSA complaints that describe power steering failing, locking up or turning heavy. That is 6.8% of all 12,516 complaints on the model. Most of the reports say the assist disappears suddenly, often with a warning light, and some describe it happening at highway speed.
The complaints reach across model years 2012 to 2025, with 2013 far ahead of the rest. NHTSA lists recalls for electric power steering on 2015 to 2016 and 2019 trucks, but none that matches this problem for the other model years as of 27 October 2026. If this is not your case, read the full Ram 1500 problem report.
TL;DR
- 856 of 12,516 Ram 1500 complaints (6.8%) describe power steering trouble.
- 2013 has the most reports (231 of 1,281 complaints for that year, 18.0%), then 2014 (147), 2019 (103), 2016 (97) and 2015 (95).
- 27 reports mention a crash, none mention a fire, and the reports list 7 injuries in total.
- The component named most often is Steering (810 reports), then Electrical System (99) and Service Brakes (29).
- Steering recalls exist for 2015 and 2016 trucks built January 22 to September 13, 2015 (16V167000) and for 2019 trucks (19V020000, 19V201000, 19V812000).
- Check your VIN on NHTSA before you assume your truck is or is not covered.
Which Ram 1500 years have the most power steering complaints?
| Model year | Reports | All complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 103 | 0.0% |
| 2025 | 10 | 365 | 2.7% |
| 2024 | 1 | 77 | 1.3% |
| 2023 | 3 | 203 | 1.5% |
| 2022 | 22 | 631 | 3.5% |
| 2021 | 14 | 683 | 2.0% |
| 2020 | 23 | 640 | 3.6% |
| 2019 | 103 | 1,494 | 6.9% |
| 2018 | 28 | 667 | 4.2% |
| 2017 | 74 | 884 | 8.4% |
| 2016 | 97 | 1,554 | 6.2% |
| 2015 | 95 | 1,459 | 6.5% |
| 2014 | 147 | 1,777 | 8.3% |
| 2013 | 231 | 1,281 | 18.0% |
| 2012 | 8 | 698 | 1.1% |
The 2013 model year stands out: nearly one complaint in five for that year is about steering. The 2014 and 2017 years also run above the 6.8% model average, at 8.3% and 8.4%. The 2015, 2016 and 2019 years sit close to the average, and these are the years that carry the steering recalls covered below.
From 2020 onward the counts drop sharply. Newer trucks have had less time on the road, so fewer owners have had the chance to file, and the low numbers for 2023 to 2026 say little about how those trucks will age.
What do Ram 1500 owners describe?
Sudden loss of assist at speed. Several owners describe the steering going away while driving. A 2013 owner wrote: "While I was driving down the highway the power steering went out. All of a sudden I had no control over the steering." (NHTSA complaint 11765079). A 2017 owner reported: "I was driving down the highway 65 mph and my power steering locked up, I could no longer drive" and had to be towed (11772816). A 2023 owner wrote: "Power steering went out while driving on Interstate around 70MPH." The same report says the truck shut down and would not restart, and that the dealer said the rack "had a short" (11641371).
Warning lights and messages. A 2019 owner described a dash light "with an exclamation point next to a steering wheel" and the message "Service Power Steering", adding: "Turning the car off and back on clears it, but it comes back at random." (11764760). A 2021 owner wrote that the warning light "flashed and then went of a couple times" before it stayed on and the power steering was lost (11710845).
Intermittent faults that come and go. A 2022 owner reported "an intermittent failure" with lost power steering "multiple times on the highway", and said an independent service center reproduced it and suspected a loose connection with water getting in. The same owner said the fault returned even without rain and started after the 36,000 mile mark, when the truck was no longer under warranty (11766612). A 2018 owner wrote that the steering was "going in and out, before eventually failing completely" (11772722).
Failure with no warning, even at standstill. A 2014 owner with 21,345 miles said the failure happened at start up: "I simply started the truck and the red warning light came on the dash and I had no power steering." (11762748). A 2020 owner wrote that the steering locked while turning around in a driveway, and that the repair shop found the power steering rack had failed (11750875).
Parts waiting. Two owners mention delays. The 2014 owner says the dealer told them the EPS steering rack was on back order. The 2023 owner wrote that the parts were on back order with no ETA (11641371).
Other systems named alongside steering. The Electrical System is named in 99 reports and Service Brakes in 29. A 2016 owner described an ABS module failure that took out ABS, traction control and cruise control along with intermittent loss of power steering (11760370). That owner wrote that the truck and trailer fishtailed on a wet interstate. I would treat that as one owner's description, not as a confirmed link between the parts.
Across all reports, 27 mention a crash, none mention a fire, and the reports list 7 injuries in total.
Is there a recall for power steering on the Ram 1500?
Yes, for some model years. NHTSA lists these steering recalls on the Ram 1500:
| Campaign | Model years | Defect | Risk | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16V167000 (March 2016) | 2015 to 2016, built January 22 to September 13, 2015 | Contamination on the electric power steering (EPS) control circuit board may cause a short and loss of power steering assist | Extra steering effort, especially at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a crash | Dealers replace the EPS unit, free of charge |
| 19V020000 (January 2019) | 2019 | Battery ground fastener on the driver-side front fender may have been improperly secured, possibly causing a loss of power steering assist | Varied steering effort, possibly oversteer or understeer | Dealers properly secure the ground fastener, free of charge |
| 19V201000 (March 2019) | 2019 (also certain Jeep Wrangler) | Improperly machined steering column stub shafts may break, possibly causing the steering wheel to detach from the column | Loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash | Dealers inspect the steering column and replace it as necessary, free of charge |
| 19V812000 (November 2019) | 2019 | A contaminated EPS gear may short circuit, potentially causing an intermittent loss of power steering assist | Inconsistent steering effort, especially in lower speed maneuvers, increasing the risk of a crash | Dealers replace the EPS gear assembly, free of charge |
None of these recalls carries a "do not drive" or "park outside" instruction in NHTSA's data. The recalls apply to "certain" vehicles, so your VIN decides. One 2015 owner wrote that the truck lost power steering while turning left, and that they "referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V167000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included in the recall." The report says the dealer confirmed the failure but did not repair the truck (11763741).
NHTSA's recall data for the 2012 to 2014 and 2017 to 2018 model years has no recall matching this problem as of the brief date. Other recalls may still apply to your truck for other parts. NHTSA also lists recalls for a steering column control module (25V765000, 2021 trucks, air bag deployment), and trailer reverse steering control module software (21V438000, 21V918000, 23V059000, rearview image display). Their names contain "steering", but the defects are an air bag and a rearview camera, not power steering assist. The wider list is on the Ram 1500 problem report.
What should you do if your Ram 1500 loses power steering?
I would take these steps, none of which need tools:
- Check open recalls by VIN at NHTSA recalls. A recall can be open on your truck even if you never received a letter.
- Write down the details: the date, mileage, speed, whether it was cold or warm, and the exact warning message or light. Several owners say the fault is intermittent, so a record helps a dealer reproduce it.
- Ask the dealer to check for open recalls and manufacturer service bulletins for steering, and ask what they found and what they replaced.
- Report it at NHTSA report a safety problem if your truck is not covered by a recall. The complaint numbers above came from reports like this.
- If the assist is lost while driving, owners describe fighting the wheel to reach the roadside. If it happens to me, I would slow down, signal, pull over when it is safe and call for help rather than carry on.
I am not a mechanic, and I cannot tell you what is wrong with your truck from these reports. The owners above describe what they were told, and those diagnoses differ.
How this guide was made
The figures come from complaints filed with NHTSA and from NHTSA recall records, as of 27 October 2026. A complaint counts toward this guide when the owner's text describes power steering failing, locking up or turning heavy. Counts by model year are compared with all complaints for the same year. Read more on the methodology page, or use the problem lookup for another car.