Ram 1500 electric power steering class action overview:ย
- 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 aย 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.ย
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 driversโ 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.ย
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.ย
FCAโs refusal to acknowledge the widespread defect has left many owners with costly repair bills โ typically ranging from $3,000 to $4,000 โ to replace failed electric power steering units, they say.
Millions of drivers still donโt know about defect, lawsuit saysย
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.ย
The investigation was prompted by nearly 400 consumer reports detailing intermittent or complete power steering failures.ย
โWhile NHTSAโs 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,โ 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 McDonaldโs drive-through, nearly hitting two pedestrians.ย
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. Theyโre 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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80 thoughts onRam 1500 trucksโ electric power steering units fail, class action claims
Nothing but air suspension issues and software on my 22 limited. My 18 2500 diesel steering will try to center itself and feel like youre on ice when on off and on ramps with sharp turns. Not noticed so much in 4ร4 during winter.
I had a 2016 Ram 1500. All of a sudden there was no to little control. Truck pulled hard to the right. Ended up hitting a tree. Totaled the truck. Make things worse, the airbags did not deploy. Have photos. I personally will never purchase a Dodge Ram again.
I have a 2013 I use for my landscaping business. Mine went out while pulling my trailer.
I have had issues withmy2015 Dodge ram 1500.power steering issues at times..Now that I read about this about the Dodge ram 1500 It makes me concerned .
Iโve had issues with both power steering and more recently my air suspension on my 2015 ram 1500. Itโs been sitting at my work until I can arrange for it to be towed to a shop. Itโs looking like at least a few thousand dollars Iโll need to spend.
I have a 2015 ram 1500 72,000 miles , my power steering has been acting up the last couple years it makes a knocking sound when I turn the wheel, and itโs been a handful of times where it almost feels like thereโs no power steering at all I canโt turn the wheel easy at all, I havenโt taken it in because I heard that it could cost three to five thousand dollars to fix it, I do know there should have been a recall on all of these ram pickups
I have a 2014 Ram going in the shop sept. 17, 2024 for this problem. It will cost me a total of $2900.
I owed a 2015 ram 1500, bought it brand new, with in the frist year I was in a major wreck that almost totaled the truck out. It ended up putting my wife and 1 year old son in the hospital.
My 2016 RAM 1500 had its powering steering unit fail in 2021, I donโt think I had 50k miles on it at the time. To make matters worse, this was during peak pandemic pricing, and availability on parts. I had to replace it with a remanufactured unit. So far so good, still driving it. I had to pay everything out of pocket, not happy, this will be my last RAM truck.
Mine went out after purchasing my truck in June 2024 with 30,000 miles on it. Scary situation, not having any control or warning. Learning this is a nation wide issue and has never been a recall. Someone is going to get seriously injured or killed. Waited for 2 months for the part and cost me 4k to fix. I didnโt even make my first payment on the truck before it went out.
I have a 2017 Ram. It has 130000 kms on it. No issues yet so Iโll anticipate the day. Ugh. The lawyers should add the air suspension the list. Brutal.