2013 RAM - power steering alarm activated and lost power steering

[matchek]

Hello. I need your help. Up until June 2025, my 2013 Dodge Ram ran great. In June 2025, I got the "Power Steering Sensor" Alarm and the Power Steering no longer worked. I took it to the Dodge Dealership because I did not want to mess around because the steering also has connectivity to a computer.

Dodge Dealership replaced the "Rack and Pinion" or "EPS Module" a brand new Dorman part. Part cost around $2,000. (They also replaced the control arms and did an alignment). The alarm went away but the steering did not feel right and was stiffer than normal, especially going over 40 mph.

We drove it for around a month and Dodge recommended to replace the part as it was under warranty. Labor would cost $900 though.

Dodge replaced the second Rack and Pinion and it drove better. We got the truck back yesterday. Today as my wife was driving, the Power Steering Alarm went back on and lost Power Steering again. We are now getting it towed back to the shop. As she was waiting in the parking lot for a tow truck, she started the truck to charge her phone and the power steering alarm went away and it is not steering fine. Still towing to the shop

Would someone please help with any thoughts as to what the issue is? Seems unlikely that 3 Rack and Pinions would be bad. Could it be a wiring or a computer issue too?

 

[Ken226]

Hello. I need your help. Up until June 2025, my 2013 Dodge Ram ran great. In June 2025, I got the "Power Steering Sensor" Alarm and the Power Steering no longer worked. I took it to the Dodge Dealership because I did not want to mess around because the steering also has connectivity to a computer.

Dodge Dealership replaced the "Rack and Pinion" or "EPS Module" a brand new Dorman part. Part cost around $2,000. (They also replaced the control arms and did an alignment). The alarm went away but the steering did not feel right and was stiffer than normal, especially going over 40 mph.

We drove it for around a month and Dodge recommended to replace the part as it was under warranty. Labor would cost $900 though.

Dodge replaced the second Rack and Pinion and it drove better. We got the truck back yesterday. Today as my wife was driving, the Power Steering Alarm went back on and lost Power Steering again. We are now getting it towed back to the shop. As she was waiting in the parking lot for a tow truck, she started the truck to charge her phone and the power steering alarm went away and it is not steering fine. Still towing to the shop

Would someone please help with any thoughts as to what the issue is? Seems unlikely that 3 Rack and Pinions would be bad. Could it be a wiring or a computer issue too?

This is the 1st gen forum. You'll get more help posting this in the 4th gen forum, since your truck is 4th gen.


A dealership used a "Dorman" part? Make them replace it with a OEM part. I'm not sure why a dealership would be using an aftermarket part.

This is the 2nd time i've heard of a Dorman EPS having this exact same problem. There is a link in this thread to where you can buy an OEM unit: https://www.ramforum.com/threads/dreaded-eps-failure.219820/

I replaced min in early 2024 with a new, OEM mopar unit. It has been flawless.

 

[matchek]

Thanks I thought I posted in the right forum.

The dealer said that the Dodge Mopar doesn't make the part anymore or was in back order with no timeline of it coming in. They recommended the Dorman, probably because it is new and not refurbished.

I probably made a mistake after the fact but I offered to buy the Dorman part from Rock Auto after they gave me the model number. Now it's my headache too because I bought the part.

But the question is it likely to be the part issue?

 

[matchek]

Fyi the part number given by the dealer is

r8573449aa for a 2013 Dodge Ram

The website on that other thread still shows it being unavailable

 

[Ken226]

Fyi the part number given by the dealer is

r8573449aa for a 2013 Dodge Ram

The website on that other thread still shows it being unavailable

Your dealer doesn't know what they are talking about. Unfortunately, my dealer said the same thing, but I was able to figure it out on my own. Here is my post, from way back then:

I have the same year truck as you, and I can assure you, it's been working perfectly for a year and a half.

 

[Ken226]

Fyi the part number given by the dealer is

r8573449aa for a 2013 Dodge Ram

The website on that other thread still shows it being unavailable

Here it is.

As you can see in my post #81, my "dealer" was just as competent as yours.

Anyone know where to find a rack and pinion?

Update Removed rack and pinion from truck, was able to do it without removing wheels came out pretty easy. removed cover inspected belt - perfect condition no signs of wear and truck has 140k miles on it now Removed board cover plate - required special 5 point security bit not a torx -...

www.ramforum.com

Then you can fast forward to post# 84 to see what part# fit, and how it worked out in the end.

 

[matchek]

Hi Ken thank you for your input appreciate. Believe me, I would love to trash the dealer but I gotta have something more tangible. I read your post and glad it is working out for you. But you left out some key information. First off, the Mopar part number is r8573449aa per the dealer for my VIN. The Dorman part that I replaced is tied to that part number. The exact OEM replacement for the part number per Mopar is currently unavailable although someone may be lucky on any given day and see it being sold somewhere.

You referenced part number 68628858AA and said from Tasca Parts that is the newest replacement for 2013-2018. Where did you see that anywhere? I went to Tasca and that part number 68628858AA does not replace r8573449aa. Maybe it is a replacement for your 2013 but I don't see where it is for mine. Per Mopar, part 68628858AA replaces for 2014 and perhaps new models, but not 2013, at least what I can see. Doesn't mean Ken's part will work or not work for me. Believe me, I am glad that it is worked out for you but where do you see that 68628858AA replaces r8573449aa? It is quite risky to go replacing steering parts if there is no clear literature that supports that it an acceptable replacement. I am assuming Ken saw somewhere that this replacement rack was tied to his original rack number.

And let's say Ken is has a link that shows that his new part number is the latest and greatest. I still posed the questoion, why I am still having issues when I replaced the Rack and Pinion with 2 difference brand new Dorman Racks, that are directly associated with my exact part number Moar r8573449aa. I bought Dorman 601-903 which is an aftermarket replacement for r8573449aa.

I could go ahead and buy Ken's part 68628858AA for $3k (and $900 in labor) and have the same problem if not thoroughly diagnosed. Maybe Ken's part is the solution? Maybe I have a wiring, relay, or torque converter problem? In the last 3 months I had 3 different Rack and Pinion parts and 3 different issues.

1. June 2025 - Original Rack - Power Steering Alarm and No power steering when driving
2. July 2025 - Dorman 1 replacement - no alarms but somewhat tight steering and slow speeds and more tight and speeds over 40 mph. (Drove for around a month. No alarms but it was tight to and a little uncomfortable to drive).
3. Sept 2025 - Dorman 2 replacement. After instlling Dorman Rack #2, steering at all speeds felt pretty good when the dealship at all speeds - good enough to be happy. This lasted a 1/2 day. (Next day, after driving a couple miles, first got alarm and no power steering. In parking lot, restarted second time and alarm went away and steering worked fine. Restarted again and Steering Alarm back back on, but steeering felt fine. Towed to the dealer. Very frustrated.

Thank you for your help - appreciate it! Love to trash the dealer but hoping someone knows the mechanics of this stuff and also provides feedback whether they still think it is the Dorman rack or something else. And if there is a newer Moper part number that replaces r8573449aa, where does it say that? The dealership did admit that as far as they know they know of only one ther customer ever have a rack and pinion problem close to mine so they are not privy to all the changes and parts other than the OEM Mopar direct replacement in the books is unavailable. And I didn't press it the first time because Dorman makes and aftermarket for my exact Mopar number and it is very available - shipping in 3 days. And the dealer offered me the idea for me to purchase to get the process going. In retrospect I should have been more patient and forced the dealer to buy their own part because they are now charing me labor each time they look at it because I bought the Rack online and shipped it to them.

 

[mlmim3591]

I have the exact same problem. I lost EPS the end of July and Dorman 601-903 was the only part I could find. I have the second one installed now due to heavy steering. I still have heavy steering at highway speeds. Does anyone know if a dealer can program the Dorman part or possibly ALFAOBD? I am not showing any DTCs.

 

[matchek]

The first Dorman replacement was slightly heavy at slow speeds but sticky after 35 mph. The Dorman replacement was great at slow speeds under 20 mph when most important and acceptable at higher speeds although not at easy as I would like. But I it is intermittanlty failing on me and getting alarms intermittantly.

Mlm, your Ram is 2014. What part number where you trying to repace from Mopar? Mine was r8573449aa and Dorman 601-903 replaces that according to Rock Auto for a 2013. But you have 2014 - isnt that a different part number?

And if you are driving the vehicle and not getting the Power Steering Alarm, didn't the dealer have to program your Dorman to get it to work?

I am not sure if I know have a Rack problem or a wiring problem.

 

[Ken226]

r8573449aa is the part number for a remanufactured Mopar steering gear. It isn't the original.

See the info i posted in the other thread.

 

[mlmim3591]

I had an independant shop replace mine and it has not had any programming done. I will have to check my old EPS for the part number but it was listed by Dorman for the 601-903. Dorman shows this part for several years including the later models that have "power steering assist". I believe this is the way they are sent from the factory.

 

[Ken226]

These units aren't "programmed" per se. They are initialized, where they record the new vehicles vin. For anti theft purposes.

 

[mlmim3591]

I received OBDLinkMX+ in the mail yesterday and have not tried it yet. I plan on doing that tomorrow.

 

[Ken226]

Dorman shows this part for several years including the later models that have "power steering assist".

Same with the Mopar units that actually work right.

I posted more info, as well as a link to this site in the other thread.

 

[Ken226]

Post in thread 'Anyone know where to find a rack and pinion?' https://www.ramforum.com/threads/anyone-know-where-to-find-a-rack-and-pinion.203728/post-3036815

 

[mlmim3591]

I'm not sure the Dorman in my truck has been "initialized". It works great until past 30 or 40 mph and then the steering is very heavy. I'm also thinking of buying ALFAOBD. Perhaps I can check initialization there. Once I do the scan, I'll post results on the other thread.

 

[Ken226]

I'm not sure the Dorman in my truck has been "initialized". It works great until past 30 or 40 mph and then the steering is very heavy. I'm also thinking of buying ALFAOBD. Perhaps I can check initialization there. Once I do the scan, I'll post results on the other thread.

The initialization won't fix any behavior issues.

It resolves the "vin mismatch" error that occurs when you install a used rack that has a different trucks vin# in memory. It's an anti theft thing.

i could be wrong, and if so, definitely post the results. But, don't get your hopes up. This is not the kind of part that I'd buy from Dorman.

 

[matchek]

Trying to definitively see if Ken's part number will work for me. I don't know my original Rack part number. All the deal gave me was r8573449aa. I cannot find any website that where you put in 2013 Dodge Ram you get Ken's "6" number but it is my ignorance. Working hard to get to the bottom of it.

 

[matchek]

I just put my VIN within the Mopar Direct Website the dealer part number with the R comes up. I so much want Ken's solution to be my solution.

https://www.mopar-direct.com/oem-parts/mopar-rack-and-pinion-gear-remanufactured-r8573449aa?c=Zz1zdGVlcmluZyZzPXN0ZWVyaW5nLWdlYXImbD0xJm49U2VhcmNoIFJlc3VsdHMmYT1yYW0mbz0xNTAwJnk9MjAxMyZ0PWxhcmFtaWUmZT01LTdsLXY4LWdhcw%3D%3D

Ken, what is the VIN of your 2013 please? Or am I asking the wrong question?

 

[matchek]

I still get the R part number when going to Authentic Mopar site with my VIN

https://store.mopar.com/oem-parts/mopar-rack-and-pinion-gear-remanufactured-r8573449aa?c=Zz1zdGVlcmluZyZzPXN0ZWVyaW5nLWdlYXImbD0xJm49U2VhcmNoIFJlc3VsdHMmYT1yYW0mbz0xNTAwJnk9MjAxMyZ0PWxhcmFtaWUmZT01LTdsLXY4LWdhcw%3D%3D