NHTSA Complaint #11279336 — 2013 RAM 1500

OUR 2013 RAM 1500 SUDDENLY LOST IT'S POWER STEERING. VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVING FINE BUT HAD A "RUBBING" NOISE WHEN TURNING. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND SAID "THIS IS TYPICAL OF RAM'S". WONDERING IF THAT WAS PRECURSOR TO ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING (EPS) UNIT TO FAIL. SON HAD DRIVEN TRUCK TO SCHOOL WITHOUT ISSUE. WHEN STARTED TO COME HOME SERVICE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON DASH AND HE WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. LUCKILY THIS FAILED WHILE PARKED, BECAUSE LOSS IF POWER STEERING ON SUCH A LARGE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. AFTER INVESTIGATION, THIS IS A NOTED PROBLEM WITH RAM 1500 AND HAS EVEN RESULTED IN RECALLS FOR OTHER MODEL YEARS BUT NOT 2013. 2013 WAS THE FIRST MODEL YEAR FOR EPS AND IT IS CLEARLY FAULTY. WITH A REPLACEMENT PART COSTING ~$2100 WITH LABOR AN ADDITIONAL $600, THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR FOR AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT FOR SAFE DRIVING. THIS REALLY SHOULD BE UP TO FIAT-CHRYSLER AMERICA (FCA) TO OWN UP TO THIS DEFECT AND ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT CAUSING INJURY/DEATH OCCURS.