NHTSA Complaint #11556807 — 2022 RAM 1500

While driving on the freeway at speeds of approximately 65-70 mph, the vehicle unexpectedly locked the steering wheel, depriving the driver of the ability to maneuver or control the vehicle safely. It required significant effort for the driver to manually turn the wheel enough to guide the truck to the side of the freeway. This was an extremely dangerous situation, as we no longer had full control of the truck while at highway speeds. Had this occurred during a turn, the truck would have continued in a straight line, crossing into oncoming traffic. Concurrently, all lights on the dashboard began flashing while random error messages sequenced through the display, all without an apparent cause. After maneuvering the truck to the side of the road, we turned off the engine. However, all the lights on the dashboard continued flashing. I called to arrange for a tow truck just as a police officer arrived who provided us with assistance. We were able to restart the truck only after the battery was fully discharged, and we jump-started the truck with the officer's vehicle. Once operational again, the dashboard and screen displayed normally. After taking my truck to the local dealership for analysis, I was told that no cause for this potentially deadly malfunction could be found. I feel that the company has no interest in resolving the issue. In addition to this experience on the freeway, another issue which may be related is associated with the auto start-stop feature of the vehicle. Over the past year, the reliability of this function has deteriorated. Frequently, when the vehicle comes to a stop at a traffic light, it autonomously engages the park, activates the emergency brake, and proceeds to switch off the engine. To resume normal operation, the driver must manually disengage the emergency brake, restart the engine, and shift back into drive. The dashboard displays the message "Stop/Start Restart Required." I have videos of the dash after we pulled over if needed.