Electric Power Steering (EPS) Failure

[BossHogg]

I was unpleasantly greeted with a total loss of electric-assisted steering on a recent trip. My wife and I were in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for a family wedding. Across from our hotel was a carwash and I needed a cleaning so I took the 2022 RAM 1500 to the car wash. Shortly after exiting the car wash, I got a DIC warning indicating the power steering system needed to be serviced along with the fault indicator. The steering went completely manual and steering was next to impossible.

I was able to keep the truck in my lane and able to navigate moderate turns but hard left/right turns were impossible. This happened on a Saturday afternoon so I was stuck. We were able to extend our accommodations and I found a RAM dealer 7 miles away (Billion CDJR) but they didn't open till the following Monday. On Sunday I decided to take a look at the truck, I started with the fuse, it checked good. Then I thought disconnecting the battery might reset the issue but before I did that, I started the truck, and the service steering indicator was gone and the electric-assisted steering was functional, I took a short successful drive.

On Monday morning, I called the RAM dealer and they had no appointments available and said that since the issue was not currently present there was nothing they could do. My being 2,000 miles from home with an unexplained loss of EPS didn't phase them. My wife and I completed our trip and returned home safely. We were fortunate to have dry weather for the rest of our trip.

I've made an appointment with my dealer for next week (soonest available). I hope they will seriously look into why the steering assist loss and avoid the "can not duplicate customer concern" service departments are famous for. The loss of assisted steering has the strong smell of water intrusion and is a major safety concern. A sudden loss of assisted steering is not OK and the issue is amplified by the next-to-impossible steering of the truck when you lose EPS.

I've seen little on this issue so I think it isn't a common problem. I've used our local car washes with under-body cleaning since I bought the truck without any issues. I guess I will wait to see what the dealer says.

 

[Skiplado]

I’m experiencing the same issue with my 2021 Ram 1500. The power steering intermittently goes out, creating a serious safety concern. I brought the truck to my local dealer, where they had it for five days but repeatedly told me they "could not duplicate the customer concern."

On the sixth day, the issue finally occurred, while backing the truck out of the service stall. At that point, the dealer confirmed that the Electric Power Steering (EPS) system had failed and diagnosed that the entire rack would need to be replaced. They quoted me $4,000+ for the repair.

Turning the engine off and back on usually resolves the power steering issue temporarily, but it continues to return intermittently. This problem has been occurring for a couple of months now.

I haven’t noticed any clear correlation between the issue and external factors such as rain or washing the vehicle. The randomness of the failure makes it particularly frustrating and concerning.

 

[oe542bob]

Just throwing this out, did you check the wiring and connections for water intrusion or corrosion? Plus I’m seem to recall where someone had “opened” up the control section to work on the power steering. Don’t recall if it was this forum. Maybe dig around and do an internet search with this issue. Good Luck

 

[NETim]

I'd be tempted to pull off the cover on the EPS electronics box, tuck a small bag of dessicant in there and put the lid on overnight.

 

[Skiplado]

BossHogg,

Have you had any updates regarding your EPS issues? I’ve got my truck back and have driven about 100 miles without any problems so far. That said, I’m still on high alert for the wheel to suddenly lock up again.

Let me know how things are going on your end!

 

[Woggly]

My 1500 EPS just recently stopped when the temperature outside dips below 30 degrees. Local shop also quoted $4k to replace column and 8 days to fix. Still looking for a better solution.

 

[BossHogg]

BossHogg,

Have you had any updates regarding your EPS issues? I’ve got my truck back and have driven about 100 miles without any problems so far. That said, I’m still on high alert for the wheel to suddenly lock up again.

Let me know how things are going on your end!

The dealer had my truck for 6 days; the typical "can't duplicate customer's concern" is what I was told, but I doubt they did anything more than pull the DTCs (all lost com with EPS). They claimed it was my battery because they measured it at 11.2 volts. I don't know how they measured it, but I've never seen the battery that low. Over the past few weeks, we have had temperatures well below zero, and the engine has turned over without hesitation.

Since it is a random issue, I don't know how to get it fixed. For now, all I can do is hit the gym, working on building up my arms to Superman level so I can steer when it drops out.

Common sense tells me the EPS logic is dropping out. Since the other modules are reporting a lost communications with EPS and no other conditions, that has to be it.

 

[ibike]

Did you put a new battery in? Low batteries on our rolling computers does some weird stuff. Was on my way to get a battery for the wife’s car when ten miles down the road it told the passenger to put their seatbelt on. There was no passenger!

 

[BossHogg]

Did you put a new battery in? Low batteries on our rolling computers does some weird stuff. Was on my way to get a battery for the wife’s car when ten miles down the road it told the passenger to put their seatbelt on. There was no passenger!

There is no need to do that since there is zero indication the battery has an issue. If the battery were causing the EPS drop-out, I would expect more modules reporting lost communications with other modules and at least one module complaining of low voltage and that isn't happening. When EPS drops out, I'm driving, and the DIC voltage meter shows 13.9 volts. I've placed a voltage monitor on my truck and let it sit for almost 2 weeks in Michigan's winter, and the monitor logs show a steady voltage with a couple of tenths loss. The battery load tests correctly and has the correct internal resistance for an AGM battery.

The issue is with the EPS logic going out to lunch, which I have to figure out. As I told my dealer, I think it is water intrusion because EPS drops shortly after a car wash with an undercarriage wash. The dealer told me they tested for water intrusion and told me that wasn't the problem.

Here is the list of DTCs after a EPS dropout;

 

[ibike]

There is no need to do that since there is zero indication the battery has an issue. If the battery were causing the EPS drop-out, I would expect more modules reporting lost communications with other modules and at least one module complaining of low voltage and that isn't happening. When EPS drops out, I'm driving, and the DIC voltage meter shows 13.9 volts. I've placed a voltage monitor on my truck and let it sit for almost 2 weeks in Michigan's winter, and the monitor logs show a steady voltage with a couple of tenths loss. The battery load tests correctly and has the correct internal resistance for an AGM battery.

The issue is with the EPS logic going out to lunch, which I have to figure out. As I told my dealer, I think it is water intrusion because EPS drops shortly after a car wash with an undercarriage wash. The dealer told me they tested for water intrusion and told me that wasn't the problem.

Here is the list of DTCs after a EPS dropout;

View attachment 559747

Interesting.

 

[Dodge 1500 4X4]

Did you pull the inspection cover off of the circuit board, I'll bet you got some water on the printed circuit board, I would take it apart and dry it out and reseal the cover @Jeepwalker has a write up on how this could be your problem.

 

[BossHogg]

Did you pull the inspection cover off of the circuit board, I'll bet you got some water on the printed circuit board, I would take it apart and dry it out and reseal the cover @Jeepwalker has a write up on how this could be your problem.

Nope. Two reasons: one, I'm too old to be crawling around on a gravel driveway in winter, and 2, I don't want to do anything that could provide the dealer with ammunition to deny warranty. It is a frustrating problem, how do you motivate the dealer to figure out the problem and repair it? I can't let my wife drive the truck, and I can barely steer it when EPS drops out.

I've seen other posts of people having issues trying to get a problem fixed. It is all the same: delay, deny, and put on the work order they can't duplicate the customer's concern.

Not long ago, the service writer would capture the customer's concern on the work order, and then the customer would get to review the work order and sign off on it. This time, I didn't get that luxury. I didn't see the work order until I got my truck back, and nothing about a car wash was on the work order. I even met with the service manager, who was skilled at getting rid of me. What good is a warranty if the dealer delays and denies service?

Here I sit, typing this post, frustrated and trying to figure out how to get the EPS fixed. Has anyone had luck sending a letter to RAM management?

 

[huntergreen]

Nope. Two reasons: one, I'm too old to be crawling around on a gravel driveway in winter, and 2, I don't want to do anything that could provide the dealer with ammunition to deny warranty. It is a frustrating problem, how do you motivate the dealer to figure out the problem and repair it? I can't let my wife drive the truck, and I can barely steer it when EPS drops out.

I've seen other posts of people having issues trying to get a problem fixed. It is all the same: delay, deny, and put on the work order they can't duplicate the customer's concern.

Not long ago, the service writer would capture the customer's concern on the work order, and then the customer would get to review the work order and sign off on it. This time, I didn't get that luxury. I didn't see the work order until I got my truck back, and nothing about a car wash was on the work order. I even met with the service manager, who was skilled at getting rid of me. What good is a warranty if the dealer delays and denies service?

Here I sit, typing this post, frustrated and trying to figure out how to get the EPS fixed. Has anyone had luck sending a letter to RAM management?

I’ve had the same issue. Like others, I found turning the truck off and restarting clears the issue. Dealer has yet to find the cause. Pretty sure mine is not water intrusion or it wouldn’t clear right away in my case.

 

[BossHogg]

I’ve had the same issue. Like others, I found turning the truck off and restarting clears the issue. Dealer has yet to find the cause. Pretty sure mine is not water intrusion or it wouldn’t clear right away in my case.

Unfortunately, ignition cycling or a battery disconnect does not resolve the EPS being inop. It takes a day or two before it is operational again. This behavior seems to suggest water intrusion. It seems it takes an hour or so after a wash for EPS to go out and a day or two two before it works again (water evaporated).

 

[hclowerhunt]

I’m experiencing the same issue with my 2021 Ram 1500. The power steering intermittently goes out, creating a serious safety concern. I brought the truck to my local dealer, where they had it for five days but repeatedly told me they "could not duplicate the customer concern."

On the sixth day, the issue finally occurred, while backing the truck out of the service stall. At that point, the dealer confirmed that the Electric Power Steering (EPS) system had failed and diagnosed that the entire rack would need to be replaced. They quoted me $4,000+ for the repair.

Turning the engine off and back on usually resolves the power steering issue temporarily, but it continues to return intermittently. This problem has been occurring for a couple of months now.

I haven’t noticed any clear correlation between the issue and external factors such as rain or washing the vehicle. The randomness of the failure makes it particularly frustrating and concerning.

Did you ever figure out or resolve the problem?

 

[RamDiver]

Did you ever figure out or resolve the problem?

The member you have quoted hasn't been seen in nearly 2 months.




.

 

[Musky Mike]

Anyone that has EPS failures should report it to NHTSA. If they get enough complaints, it will force RAM to do something.