NHTSA Complaint #11403125 — 2019 RAM 1500

JUST OVER 23,600MI OF GENERALLY ON-ROAD USE, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING (EPS) FAILED ON A TRAIL IN THE SNOW, NEARLY SENDING THE TRUCK TRUCK UNCONTROLLED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE EPS HAD FIRST LOCKED UP DURING A 3-POINT TURN - THE STEERING FEEL WAS AS IF THE STEERING LOCK SNAPPED 'ON', NOT ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO RETURN TO CENTER AFTER BEING TURNED (TO THE RIGHT). NO ERROR LIGHTS WERE SEEN, SO I CHALKED IT UP TO A FLUKE. THIS THEN HAPPENED A FEW MORE TIMES ON THE SAME DAY, AT UNEVEN INTERVALS UNTIL THE EPS FAILURE WITHOUT NOTICE. WHEN THE EPS FAILED, A LOUD WHINING / GRINDING SOUND WAS EMITTED FROM THE STEERING AREA AT THE SLIGHTEST ROTATION OF THE STEERING WHEEL. WITH THE TRUCK OFF, THE STEERING RACK MADE A DEEPER 'THUNK WHEN THE WHEEL WAS ROTATED MANUALLY AND AT THAT POINT, THE EPS STAYED OFF, ALLOWING NON-EPS STEERING TO RECOVER THE TRUCK. THERE'S PLENTY OF DASHCAM VIDEO WHICH TELLS THE STORY, STATIC IMAGES DON'T SHOW ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=LQ3MF6VAYYU