NHTSA Complaint #11140734 — 2013 RAM 1500

DASHBOARD READS "CHECK POWER STEERING FLUID". THERE IS NO POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR ON THE 2013 DODGE RAM, IT HAS AN ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. TOOK TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHO STATES THE EPS AND RADIO USE THE SAME MODULE AND THE EPS MODULE REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE WITH THIS FIX. IT CANNOT SIMPLY BE WEAR AND TEAR ON A 5 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. THE EPS MODULE SHOULD BE MADE TO LAST A LIFETIME, AND IF NOT, THEN THE CONSUMER SHOULD BE MADE AWARE THAT IT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACE WITHIN 5 YEARS OF PURCHASE AT AN EXPENSE OF UP TO $3K. I FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURER FAILURE AND SHOULD HAVE A RECALL. I WAS LUCKY MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE OR SERIOUS INJURY COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED SINCE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ENTIRELY. IT DOES NOT TURN WHATSOEVER. IF I WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON A HIGHWAY OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN NOT ONLY SERIOUS INJURY, BUT POSSIBLE FATALITIES.