NHTSA Complaint #11486893 — 2013 RAM 1500

THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING GEAR FAILED. THAT IS THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME FIVE TIMES WHILE I WAS ON MY WAY HOME. IT PUT ME INTO THE DITCH AND THE SIDE OF HILL THREE OF THOSE FIVE. HAD THERE BEEN ANY ON COMING TRAFFIC THIS COULD HAVE VERY EASILY TURNED INTO A HEADON COLLISION AS THESE EVENTS CAUSED TOTAL AND COMPLETE LOSS OF ABILITY TO STEER OR CONTROL THE TRUCK. LITHIA DODGE IN BILLINGS MONTANA HAS CONFIRMED THE FAILURE OF THE EPS SYSTEM. THE ONLY PEOPLE TO INSPECT THIS ISSUE HAS BEE THE LITHIA DODGES LINE TECHS.THERE WERE NO WARNING LAMPS OR ANY OTHER INDICATIONS OF EMMINENT FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE COULD HAVE KILLED US. LITHIA DODGE HAS TOLD US THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE.. KEEP TRYING TO TELL US THIS IS GOING TO COST 4700.00 THE FIRST TIME THEN 2400. I THINK IT IS. BUT THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, IF THERE IS A FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT. WHY DOES IT NOT ALLOW A MANUEL OVERIDE TO OCCUR WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE DRIVER TO AT LEAST STEER THIS THING. AND IM BEING TOLD THAT THEY, WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL....... I DO NOT BELIEVE THEY REMOVED THE SKID PLATE AND REFERENCED THE NUMBER ON THE STEERING GEAR UNIT TO THE NUMBERS LISTED ON THE VB8 RECALL INSTRUCTIONS.