NHTSA Complaint #11667310 — 2013 RAM 1500

While operating my 2013 Ram 1500 at approximately 10 MPH, I experienced a sudden and complete loss of power steering without warning. The incident occurred while traveling on a public roadway. There were no dashboard warning lights, alerts, or noises leading up to the failure. The steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn, requiring significant physical effort to maintain control of the vehicle. The failure appears to have occurred in the Electric Power Steering (EPS) system. This sudden loss of power steering posed a serious safety hazard to both myself and other road users. The unexpected loss of steering assist greatly increased the difficulty of maneuvering the vehicle, especially during turns or emergency avoidance. The vehicle was nearly impossible to steer with one hand and could have led to a crash if more evasive action had been needed. Had this occurred at higher speeds or in heavy traffic, the outcome could have been much more severe. The failure was diagnosed as an EPS (Electric Power Steering) internal failure, confirmed by a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) pulled during inspection at a certified repair facility. The code specifically indicated a malfunction within the EPS module itself. The problem was confirmed by an independent service center, where technicians scanned the vehicle and identified a diagnostic code confirming an internal EPS failure. At this time, the EPS system has not been repaired pending further action.