NHTSA Complaint #10618452 — 2014 RAM 2500

DRIVING ON IDAHO HIGHWAY 21, SPEED LIMIT IS 45 WITH SLOWER SPEEDS REQUIRED AROUND CORNERS DUE TO THE WINDY ROAD. I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH AT APPROX MILE POST 26 ABOUT TO ENTER A SHARP RIGHT HAND CORNER AND SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY LOOSE AND ROTATED WITHOUT MAKING ANY CHANGES IN THE TRUCK DIRECTION. ONCE A REALIZED I COULD NOT TURN I QUICKLY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND CAME TO A STOP ON THE OPPOSITE SHOULDER. I BASICALLY CROSSED THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE AND STOPPED JUST BEFORE EXITING THE ROADWAY. I WAS VERY LUCKY THIS CORNER HAD A SMALL TURNOUT AS MOST OF THE CORNERS DO NOT. ONCE THE VEHICLE STOPPED I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS FREE SPINNING WITH AN OBVIOUS MECHANICAL FAILURE. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE TRUCK SLOWLY OUT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND AGAIN SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE FRONT TIRES WERE A SLIGHT LEFT ANGLE AND WOULD NOT TURN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED. ONCE AGAIN, THE STEERING WHEEL IS FREE SPINNING LIKE IT HAS NO MECHANICAL CONNECTION TO THE ACTUAL STEERING LINKAGE. I CONSIDER THIS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND FEEL VERY FORTUNATE NO ONE WAS IN THE ONCOMING LANES AND ALSO THERE WAS A SMALL TURNOUT SO THE TRUCK DID NOT EXIT THE ROADWAY AND DROP THE APPROX 20 FEET INTO THE CREEK BELOW. TRUCK HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER IN BOISE IDAHO.(LARRY MILLER DODGE) IT IS SUNDAY SO I WILL FIND OUT TOMORROW WHAT WENT WRONG. ..UPDATED 08/11/14 *BF UPDATED 08/25/14 *BF UPDATED 09/2/2014 *JS *TR UPDATED 05/17/2017*JS