NHTSA Complaint #11553089 — 2014 RAM 1500

While driving on a busy winding surface street, as I was accelerating from a stop at a traffic light, I received an audible notification chime, accompanied by a red power steering warning light, and a message in the message center to "Service Power Steering." My steering wheel immediately became exceptionally difficult/heavy to turn. I was able to overpower the resistance and maintain vehicle control, but needed to drive much slower than posted speed limits and the flow of traffic to maintain directional control. I was able to drive to a safe location and stop. This is the first instance of this occurring in my vehicle. After stopping, I was able to inspect all fuses and electrical connections and verified that they were all in working order. I am grateful that this occurred while I was driving, and not my wife or daughter, and that it did not occur at a high rate of speed. Otherwise, the situation could have turned disastrous. After one day of leaving the vehicle alone, I started it, and the steering worked normally. However, within a few moments, the same indications repeated, including the chime, warning lights, and high resistance to turning the wheel. I am taking the vehicle into a service center within days.