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Steering

2021 Ram 1500 Steering problems

Owners have filed 50 complaints about the 2021 Ram 1500's steering with NHTSA - 7% of all its complaints, most recently on September 11, 2026. They describe 7 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury. Loss of power steering, stiff or loose steering, wandering, column and rack problems.

Complaints
50
Recalls
0
Crashes
7
Fires
0
Injuries
1
Deaths
0

Steering complaints

SteeringCrash

Purchase vehicle new and report issue with steering vibration and wandering feel after purchasing on multiple occasions when having the vehicle serviced by dealership. No issues found was the response each time, but condition continued. Front tire wear indicated something wasn't right. Replaced tires with OEM Goodyear tires even though symptoms persisted. While traveling this past winter in inclement weather vehicle lost traction while crossing a bridge as safe speed. Manage to correct but ended up in the...

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guardrail. Report issue to Stellantis/RAM who investigate and reported no issues. Vehicle was repaired by dealer body and repair shop. Upon pickup vehicle was not drivable due to "Wobble of Death". Shop determined it was a bad wheel. Vehicle drove okay but front-end vibration returned. Spoke with shop manager and stated tires has flat spots. Truck was parked for service a long time. Purchase a new set of tires, Michelins thinking it may be the brand that was issue. Condition persists with vibration wear showing tires already,

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11763700
SteeringDriver assistance

I initiated a turn and the steering wheel suddenly and forcefully moved in the opposite direction of my steering input. The steering wheel was pulled out of my hand. I was unable to maintain the intended steering direction and the vehicle was involved in a collision. This was not an intentional steering maneuver or ordinary loss of traction.

Filed Incident Steering · Unknown or other · Lane departureNHTSA 11758255
Steering

The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to turn, and excessive force was needed to turn the steering wheel to the left or the right. The Electronic Power Steering (EPS) warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH attempting to make a left turn, the steering wheel seized in place and failed to return to center. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11753976
SteeringElectrical systemVisibility & wipers

RTSCM FAILED TO BE REPAIRED resulting in life long issue. Recall Y80 from December 2021 was performed and then erased from my vin history. 14a associated with same failing part was completed and issue never went away.

Filed Incident Steering · Electrical system · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11753665
SteeringSuspension

I own a 2021 Ram 1500, which I purchased on March 29, 2024, as a certified pre-owned truck, and the primary issue involves a serious failure of the front wheel assembly. On three separate occasions, the front wheels have detached from the truck while it was in motion - on June 14, 2024, February 26, 2026, and most recently on April 17, 2026, when the left front wheel came off. I was driving the vehicle all three times during the incidents. Although the dealership has stated that repairs were completed after each...

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incident, the problem continues to occur, indicating that the defect has not been properly resolved. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request, along with all supporting documentation. This defect creates a severe safety hazard, as losing the front wheels while driving greatly increases the risk of a crash and poses a danger to both me and others on the road. I have reported the issue to the dealership multiple times, and they have evaluated the vehicle, confirming a recurring and unresolved problem, along with additional major mechanical concerns that have not been adequately addressed under warranty. Despite having warranty coverage, I have paid high out-of-pocket costs for repairs, yet the problem has not been fixed. Despite these efforts, no effective or lasting repair has been made. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, law enforcement, or insurance representatives, but I am willing to make it available for further review. Given the repeated and dangerous nature of this failure, I no longer feel safe operating the vehicle and I am requesting immediate assistance and a proper resolution.

Filed Incident Steering · SuspensionNHTSA 11732867
SteeringElectrical system

July 2021 bought ram 1500 limited. $75k September 2021 3k miles took to dealer with REVERSE TRAILER STEERING UNAVAILABLE MESSAGES AND BACK UP CAMERA issues. Not fixed. Issues still happening. DEC 2021 ram 1500 recall y80 issued. RTSCM NEEDS updated. April 2022 dealer visit 11k miles recall y80 addressed and repaired. Issues continued. Several undocumented stop by dealer visits by request to look at while happening. Software updated each time. April 2023 purchasing dealer visit agin 26k miles. Up to this date...

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vehicle was a lease. I bought the lease out with hopes to repair the issue. That dealer updated and also removed my dash to inspect the module. At this point as well 2 cases had been opened with ram themselves and I was wrote off as it will be fixed eventually. After that the issues never went away to this day but I was at a loss. A lemon law attorney told me that I didn't have enough proof of the issue and i will share all my proof here with you guys. 2 month ago it froze the screen and accelerated on its own almost hitting a women and child pedestrian. I have had enough. I have worked hard for that money spent in the truck and cannot get the safety recall resolved. Now that the dash has been removed there are lights that shine in my eyes at night through the crease in the dash. All evidence cannot attach to this form because they are videos but I have over 65 showing proof and repair attempts

Filed Incident Steering · Electrical systemNHTSA 11731259
SteeringBrakesCrash

While driving, a deer entered the roadway. I applied the brakes to avoid hitting the deer and lost traction due to icy road conditions. The vehicle spun out and struck a utility pole. I later became aware of an open recall involving the ABS and/or electronic stability control (ESC) system for this vehicle. There were no warning lights, messages, or alerts before or after the incident. The vehicle did not maintain stability as expected during braking on ice. I am unsure whether the ABS/ESC system functioned...

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properly at the time of the incident. The crash resulted in vehicle damage and property damage. To my knowledge, the vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. After crash, airbags did not deploy no fluids leaked no warning lights ever came on dash before or after crash

Filed Incident Steering · Unknown or other · Service brakesNHTSA 11730807
Steering

Losing power steering intermittently.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11729271
Steering

No issues with steering on vehicle in about 81,000 miles since new. Yesterday, started vehicle, no power steering at all, alert light on dash stating power steering problem with electric steering. I stopped and restarted vehicle 3 or 4 times, did not resolve issue. I disconnected battery and reconnected it, did not resolve issue. Vehicle is not driveable, steering is next to impossible.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11713088
SteeringElectrical systemLights

Alt/Gen failure stopped the truck in the middle of an intersection No transmission power steering lights. Had to walk back home to charge the battery in a driving rain storm leaving the truck in the intersection.

Filed Incident Steering · Electrical system · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11711461
Steering

The issue started with power steering failure warning light flashed and then went of a couple times. I could also hear the fan kick on high, then the power steering warning light came on and stay on. When it stayed on, I lost power steering and barely could make a u turn on a 2 lane divided high way. This problem went on randomly for approximately 2+ weeks. The fact that all power steering is lost with little to no notice is a very dangerous situation depending on what and where the vehicle is traveling at the...

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time. I took it to Peters in Longview the dealership, and they said that the Electronic Power Steering needed to be replaced. This situation, symptoms, and diagnosis all are just like the current numerous issues with EPS on Dodge rams including the open investigation. I am very concerned about the failures of these EPS's on Rams,

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11710845
SteeringDriver assistance

In early October 2025, my 2021 RAM 1500 experienced a steering malfunction in which the vehicle attempted to steer on its own without driver input. This created a loss-of-control scenario and posed a serious safety risk to me and surrounding traffic. The vehicle was removed from service immediately and taken to an authorized RAM dealer. Stellantis Customer Care and Fleet Case Management have acknowledged the defect and identified a required replacement part; however, the part has been on national backorder since...

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October 2025. As of December 31, 2025, the vehicle has been out of service for over three months. Stellantis has provided at least ten different estimated repair dates, all of which have passed without resolution. Despite the steering-related nature of the failure, Stellantis has stated there is no active safety recall. The vehicle remains unrepaired due to the unavailability of the required steering-related component. I am concerned that this defect may affect other vehicles and that the prolonged inability to repair a known steering failure presents an ongoing public safety risk. I am submitting this complaint to request formal review of this issue and to document the safety implications of this unresolved steering defect.

Filed Incident Steering · Lane departure · Forward collision avoidanceNHTSA 11708022
Steering

On 10\09\2025 I was backing into a parking spot and when I was trying to adjust the position of the vehicle the power steering failed as I was backing up. After the power steering failed to work, the Power Steering Light appeared on the Dashboard. This is the first time this has happened. The safety issue is if I was going around a corner on the steering failed, my kids and I would probably be dead right now. Yes we live off a windy road. I left the truck parked at the shopping center overnight & it was towed to an Auto repair center locally. They told me to take it to the Dodge Dealership. The vehicle was towed to Pedder Dodge Chrysler on 10\10\2025. It is available for inspection.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11692581
SteeringElectrical system

Vehicle was a 2021 Ram 1500 (60k miles) with no known problems or issues. Drove home during during rainstorm truck operated normally. Next morning truck started normally with an error message "Power Steering Unavailable". Truck then began to run through a series of "error messages" and windshield wipers turned on and truck would not shutdown, unless you disconnected the battery. Towed to dealership and after several weeks of diagnostics with the manufacturer's assistance (due to the number of errors) it was...

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determined the failure was the Power Steering Module. Once the Power Steering Module was removed, all other modules came back online and functioned normally. Even though the dealership has seen multiple failures of this type, it was not on the recall for this truck. Had this failure happened with my family in the vehicle while driving, it could have had devastating effects...

Filed Incident Steering · Electrical systemNHTSA 11682401
SteeringCrash

The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at 5 to 10 MPH, the power steering became inoperable and crashed into a pole. The vehicle was restarted, and he continued to drive. While driving the next day, the failure recurred. There were no warning lights illuminated. There were no reported injuries, fire, airbag deployment or police reports filed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed as a steering gear internal failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who opened a case and referred him to the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 37,800.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11663944
Steering

On April 16, 2025 I was driving home from work. I went to steer to the right around a turn and my steering wheel felt like it locked up making it very hard to navigate through the curve. My steering was very tight and it caused a very uneasy feeling like I was going to crash. I called my local Ram dealer and they weren't able to get me in till April 28th. In the meantime I had another car to drive and it sat parked till they were able to take it in. They diagnosed it as the Rack and pinion being bad and told me it...

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needed to be replaced and would cost over $4,000 out of my pocket!! My truck is still under the powertrain warranty and it would not be covered. They also told me they were charging me $163 dollars for a diagnosis fee since it's not covered by my warranty.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11657707
Steering

The steering rack on my 2021 Dodge Ram 1500 is defective. The steering system becomes disabled and shuts down with no prior warning causing the vehicle to become very dangerous to drive. The warning lamp indicates the word steering with an exclamation point. I had my vehicle taken to the auto repair shop and was told the steering rack was inoperative and needed a whole new rack costing just for the part alone $2415.00 plus an alignment and labor for a total cost of $3275.00. I have done research and found that...

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Chrysler Corp is well aware of this situation for years but is ignoring the safety of customers that have put their faith in Chrysler by having a vehicles that is safe and reliable as stated by the dealerships and not putting lives at risk. I feel I have avoided a situation that could have change my life for years or even worse the lives of my loved ones .

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11656677
SteeringSuspensionWheels & tires

While making a turn in a parking garage at low speed, I heard a loud popping sound. When I got out to inspect, I discovered that the front wheel had collapsed inward. There was no collision, curb hit, or external damage - just a spontaneous failure of the suspension system. This is the second time this same failure has occurred within the past year on this vehicle. The incident caused a complete loss of steering control, putting my safety at risk. Fortunately, I was not driving at high speed or on a public road when...

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this occurred. There were no warning lights, noises, or other symptoms leading up to the event. The failed parts appear to include critical suspension and steering components (likely control arm, tie rod, or ball joint), and photos are available. The failure has not yet been inspected by the dealer or manufacturer, but the vehicle is available for inspection if requested. Given that this is a 2021 RAM with relatively low mileage, and it has experienced two nearly identical failures, this raises serious concerns about a potential manufacturing or design defect that could affect other vehicles. Attached are pictures from both incidents.

Filed Incident Steering · Suspension · WheelsNHTSA 11655122
SteeringElectrical systemEngine & cooling

My vehicle has had 2 starter replacements, 2 batteries replaced , 1 radiator replacement. 3 times at the dealership for clock spring repair. Exhaust system replaced because of bolt rusted parts. This vehicle is a built to serve edition and it hasn't led up to its name. Without me paying for an extended warranty i dont know what would i would've done.Does this vehicle require for a buy back from the corporate headquarters

Filed Incident Steering · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11649413
Steering

I recently purchased this vehicle and have experienced intermittent power steering failure, posing a severe safety hazard. While I retain some control, steering is significantly more difficult than even older non-power-steering vehicles. On sharp or semi-sharp turns, this failure greatly increases the risk of an accident or fatality. The power steering warning light has appeared, and a diagnostic scan returned code C2-120-17 with an alternator status of Bad (14.99V). Despite replacing both the battery and...

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alternator, the issue persists. Researching the problem, I found numerous complaints with no meaningful response from the manufacturer. It is concerning that similar issues were addressed in previous recalls, yet this defect continues. This ongoing failure not only puts my safety at risk but also creates a hardship for my family, as we cannot rely on the vehicle for daily use. Each time I drive, I face the possibility of an accident. Note: The error codes from the pictures I included I have fixed but the light indicating EPS failure persists. Given that I recently purchased the vehicle and have already invested additional money in attempted repairs, I cannot afford the costly fix that appears necessary. Based on widespread reports, this seems to be a manufacturer defect that should be covered, rather than leaving owners to bear the financial and safety burdens. I urge immediate action to resolve this issue.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11648702
SteeringBrakes

The contact owns a 2021 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the steering wheel vibrated, and the vehicle stalled. The parking brake warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the failure recurred a short distance later. Neither the dealer nor independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 51,409.

Filed Incident Steering · Parking brakeNHTSA 11644920
SteeringLights

Left hand turn single will not cancel/turn off. I see that there was a recall on this but my truck was/in not part of it

Filed Incident Steering · Exterior lightingNHTSA 11643087
Steering

While driving the power steering cuts out and flashes on the dash power steering unavailable, service required. It happens intermittently, but when it happens the steering wheel locks up while driving. I have had it to the Ashland Chrysler dealership, they charged me to say that it happened because it was cold outside. It keeps happening even though it's not cold

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11639496
Steering

Steering wheel/power steering sticks at a certain point when steering to the left on road curves at a lower speed. Power steering also makes grinding noise on cold start and very stiff prior to vehicle warming up. This has been brought up at the dealership during oil change service who stated that power steering service is not covered by warranty and wanted $300 to try and diagnose the issue. I mentioned that my wife drives the truck with 4 kids and power steering issues should not be something they should...

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ignore but they didn't seem to care much. It seems like the noise is getting worse and I don't feel I should have to pay for a power steering issues on vehicle that's less than 4 years old and under 40,000 miles.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 11634079
SteeringTransmission & drivetrainBrakesCrash

The contact owns a 2021 RAM 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the traction contract warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering and the service brakes did not function as intended. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed, however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. In addition, the steering was inoperable and very hard to steer. The contact stated that snow was on the ground and due to the failure, the contact's vehicle crashed into a concrete...

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curve. The contact stated that when the vehicle crashed into the concrete curve, the service brakes and the steering were independently reset. The vehicle was damaged on the front driver's side rim, however, the vehicle was undrivable. The vehicle was being towed to the local tow yard. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. No injuries were sustained. A Police report was filed. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V653000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 75,327. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Incident Steering · Power train · Service brakesNHTSA 11627930

Ram 1500 steering complaints by year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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