Ram 1500 trucks’ electric power steering units fail, class action claims

Ram 1500 electric power steering class action overview: 

• Who: Two Ram 1500 owners are suing FCA US.
• Why: They claim the automaker manufactured certain Ram 1500 pickup trucks with a dangerous defect.
• Where: The Ram 1500 electric power steering class action was filed in a  New Jersey federal court.

FCA fraudulently concealed a defect in the electric power steering unit of certain Ram 1500 pickup trucks, which causes sudden power steering failure and poses a serious safety risk, a new class action lawsuit alleges.

Plaintiffs Nancy Ludwig and Joseph Spillane filed the class action complaint against FCA US LLC on Aug. 30 in a New Jersey federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws. 

The plaintiffs are looking to represent former owners and lessees of model year 2013-2024 Ram 1500 pickup trucks, and allege that the defect impacts drivers’ ability to control their vehicles, potentially leading to accidents.

The lawsuit alleges FCA has known about the power steering defect for years but has failed to address the issue for most of the affected vehicles. 

Despite thousands of complaints, the company has only issued recalls for a limited number of 2016 and 2019 Ram 1500 models, attributing the issue to isolated manufacturing errors, the plaintiffs say. 

FCA’s refusal to acknowledge the widespread defect has left many owners with costly repair bills — typically ranging from $3,000 to $4,000 — to replace failed electric power steering units, they say.

Millions of drivers still don’t know about defect, lawsuit says 

In August 2023, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) initiated an investigation into the loss of power steering in 2013-2016 Ram 1500 models, the lawsuit says. 

The investigation was prompted by nearly 400 consumer reports detailing intermittent or complete power steering failures. 

“While NHTSA’s investigation is ongoing, millions of owners and lessees of the Class Vehicles remain ignorant of the Power Steering Defect, placing them at risk of serious injury by their continued use of their vehicles without adequate inspection or repairs,” the lawsuit says.

For example, Ludwig says she experienced power steering failure firsthand in Jan. 2024, when her partner was driving while they were nearly involved in an accident after losing control of the Ram 1500 in a McDonald’s drive-through, nearly hitting two pedestrians. 

The vehicle was later towed to a mechanic, who confirmed the failure of the electrical power steering unit, requiring an expensive replacement.

As a result, the plaintiffs are suing on behalf of anyone who purchased or leased a 2013-2024 Ram 1500 vehicle in the United States from an authorized FCA dealership. They’re suing for breach of warranty laws and unjust enrichment, and are seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and an order forcing FCA to remedy the alleged problem.

Last year, Chrysler (FCA US) issued a recall on 131,700 Ram 1500 pickup trucks manufactured in 2021 due to a powertrain software issue.

Are you affected by this Ram 1500 electric power steering issues? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiffs are represented by McCune Law Group, McCune Wright Arevalo Vercoski Kusel Weck Brandt, APC.

The Ram 1500 electric power steering class action is Nancy Ludwig et al., v. FCA US LLC, Case No, 3:24-cv-08906 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

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