Steering locked while driving on interstate

[Bryan 1970]

I just wanted to post a warning to other Ram drivers out there about a recent experience I had. I own a 2021 Ram 1500 Laramie with a 5.7 Hemi Etorque. The truck has been good to me until a recent experience where multiple warning lights illuminated when I started the truck one morning and there was a low sound, similar to rocks in a tumbler.

I spoke with my Ram dealership and they suspected it was an electrical issue and that I should bring it in to their shop to run diagnostics. They stated that since my engine warning light wasn't blinking, I should be okay driving it in, but shouldn't turn off the engine because it may not restart.

I headed in, but I was 2.5 hours away from the dealership at the time. The first 1.5 hours were fine, but then the electronics started quickly shutting off one by one and then suddenly the engine killed and the steering wheel locked. Yes, the steering wheel locked as I was driving down the interstate north of Seattle. Incredibly scary. It was only the extremely good fortune of a slight bend to the left in the road that allowed me to coast onto the shoulder. I barely made it and was positioned just a couple of feet from the right lane of the interstate with large rigs flying by.

After having it towed to the dealership, they determined it was a "bad alternator and pulley". It's been in the shop for a month as they waited for the backordered part and it has finally arrived.

I just wanted to post here because steering locking while driving on an interstate is unacceptable. I've never heard of such a thing happening in this type of situation. 20 minutes earlier we were on a winding road next to a bay. We could have easily been forced to drive straight into oncoming traffic and/or into the bay when the steering locked. We were lucky. I hope no one else has to experience this issue.

 

[HarryS]

Sounds like you had many warnings of impending failure, and failed to heed them. Sorry for what happened.

 

[Burla]

x2, sorry this happened. I only have to offer this happened to my wife in our rav 4 because I didn't appropriately heed the alt warning light. Same exact thing happened to her on the freeway and by some wonder someone might say grace of God she was able to hit a off ramp in the middle of nowhere and was able to drive as it flickered before completely dying. Because we got a day out of it I thought we could get two when it would have been more convenient for me to fix it. First and last time anything like this ever happens to me or my friends. Sounds like you had similar grace of God moment, funny how that works.

True story one of my crew is my bro in law Mr fix it, also didn't heed this warning but made it to my house early this summer. I was like nah, I know we had plans to escort the ladies out on the town that day, but we have new plans that includes going to Napa and getting a new alt and watching a little you tube for the ins and outs, and long story short 4 hours later with some bruised ego's he was able to safely drive his wife home with a shiney new alt on a 2002 camry. Lessons learned and passed on, research those cel's and know the difference what is ok to drive on and What isn't.

Blinking or not, if you get this cel whether blinking or not you are risking your life and others by driving this even a mile.

 

[British Bulldog]

But why would the steering LOCK? I don’t doubt it’s true but just seems incredibly stupid this can happen.
I can understand it loosing power and being very very heavy but to actually lock in a certain position? That cannot be right. Luckily nobody hurt or killled.

 

[Wild one]

I just wanted to post a warning to other Ram drivers out there about a recent experience I had. I own a 2021 Ram 1500 Laramie with a 5.7 Hemi Etorque. The truck has been good to me until a recent experience where multiple warning lights illuminated when I started the truck one morning and there was a low sound, similar to rocks in a tumbler.

I spoke with my Ram dealership and they suspected it was an electrical issue and that I should bring it in to their shop to run diagnostics. They stated that since my engine warning light wasn't blinking, I should be okay driving it in, but shouldn't turn off the engine because it may not restart.

I headed in, but I was 2.5 hours away from the dealership at the time. The first 1.5 hours were fine, but then the electronics started quickly shutting off one by one and then suddenly the engine killed and the steering wheel locked. Yes, the steering wheel locked as I was driving down the interstate north of Seattle. Incredibly scary. It was only the extremely good fortune of a slight bend to the left in the road that allowed me to coast onto the shoulder. I barely made it and was positioned just a couple of feet from the right lane of the interstate with large rigs flying by.

After having it towed to the dealership, they determined it was a "bad alternator and pulley". It's been in the shop for a month as they waited for the backordered part and it has finally arrived.

I just wanted to post here because steering locking while driving on an interstate is unacceptable. I've never heard of such a thing happening in this type of situation. 20 minutes earlier we were on a winding road next to a bay. We could have easily been forced to drive straight into oncoming traffic and/or into the bay when the steering locked. We were lucky. I hope no one else has to experience this issue.

Unless something broke inside the rack,it doesn't lock up,get very heavy steering yes,but it won't physically be locked.By law you still have to be able to steer it if it loses electrical power,it'll just be like trying to steer a semi with no power steering No differant then trying to turn the wheels with the engine shut off and the tires sitting on pavement,you can still turn the tires,but you have to put some muscle into it,when you get the truck back,try it out

 

[etbrown4]

Op is saying his stering failed due to no voltage, resulting from a bad etorque MGU.

If the steering is electric, he's saying no voltage and therefore no steering. Is this how 5th gens operate?

 

[Wild one]

Op is saying his stering failed due to no voltage, resulting from a bad etorque MGU.

If the steering is electric, he's saying no voltage and therefore no steering. Is this how 5th gens operate?

No,they're still mechanically connected.

 

[RamDiver]

I drove my truck about 10 miles with no EPS. The steering was heavy and a serious PITA at low speed but most of the travel was highway and no big deal.

For these steering lockup events, I have to wonder what could happen mechanically or electronically to precipitate this event.

I would be filing a complaint with the NHTSA.

.

 

[Wild one]

I drove my truck about 10 miles with no EPS. The steering was heavy and a serious PITA at low speed but most of the travel was highway and no big deal.

For these steering lockup events, I have to wonder what could happen mechanically or electronically to precipitate this event.

I would be filing a complaint with the NHTSA.

.

They can't physically lock-up,unless something inside the rack breaks. By law you still have to be able to steer a vehicle if it loses electrical power,or the engine shuts off. No differant then turning the wheels when the trucks parked with the engine off,you can still manually turn the wheels,it just takes some grunt power

 

[Curmudgeon]

At least, back in the day, when a car did not have power steering or brakes, we didn't also have to fight through a non-functioning assist unit. And steering was
still much easier while moving.

 

[Docwagon1776]

At least, back in the day, when a car did not have power steering or brakes, we didn't also have to fight through a non-functioning assist unit. And steering was
still much easier while moving.

Armstrong steering.

I test drove a mid-60s Ford truck with power nothing. It was less of a truck and more of a gym on wheels. My 1970 Scout was the pinnacle of luxury in comparison.

 

[Wild one]

Armstrong steering.

I test drove a mid-60s Ford truck with power nothing. It was less of a truck and more of a gym on wheels. My 1970 Scout was the pinnacle of luxury in comparison.

We had an old 66 Fargo D400 with Chryslers asinine power assist ram power steering that hooked to the tierods,and the ram blew it's guts out right in the middle of harvest,so my Dad wasn't shutting things down to fix it,talk about something that was a nightmare to steer and back up to a grain auger in a soft field when it had 300 bushels of grain in the box and you're about 13 years old and maybe weighed 110lbs soaking wet.

 

[DanAR]

I haven’t paid much attention to it in recent years but is the old, key-operated, theft-deterrent locking steering column no longer a “thing” in this age of push button ignition and electronic everything? I don’t think I’ve ever tried to turn the steering wheel in one of our newer cars when the engine is shut off.

 

[JayLeonard]

That should be reported to the NHTSA as that is a critical safety failure. To telling how many other trucks are/ have been affected.
I don’t care how many warnings showed up on your cluster, the steering should not have locked.

 

[Beauregard]

OP, did the steering actually lock, or did you lose power assist that resulted in heavy effort steering? There is a big difference.

 

[DanAR]

Well . . . I went out to the garage, opened the door on my 2023 Limited, reached in with the engine off, grabbed the wheel and turned it in both directions enough to make the tires squeal on the concrete as they turned.

Apparently there seems to be no locking mechanism in the steering. It’s just very heavy.

 

[Wild one]

Op joined Wednesday,made the 1 post and hasn't been back since.Not sure about you guys,but it sure makes me wonder

 

[Curmudgeon]

Op joined Wednesday,made the 1 post and hasn't been back since.Not sure about you guys,but it sure makes me wonder

Me too. And then I realize...

 

[Pat E]

Are the steering wheel mechanisms different on a 1500 compared to a 2500? On my 2018 Power Wagon, the steering wheel does not lock (I have push-button start, so a physical key start, if they even exist on Rams anymore, may still lock).

Last year I was looking into adding a hidden switch tied to the steering wheel lock (for extra security). Found a comment that said they don't lock if you have push-button start. Jacked up the front with the truck off and could turn the steering wheel all the way both directions. Definitely no steering lock!

 

[rvance]

Armstrong steering.

I test drove a mid-60s Ford truck with power nothing. It was less of a truck and more of a gym on wheels. My 1970 Scout was the pinnacle of luxury in comparison.

My dad was a truck driver and hauled big pipeline pipe for years. In 59 he bought a new 59 Ford Galaxy with a V8 and no power anything. He died the next January and my 4'11 mom had to learn to drive it. She drove it for 10 years and let me tell you it was heavy going. We are so spoiled these days. I had to remove the power steering and replace the steering with a manual setup. Sitting still I couldn't turn the wheel at all. But just rolling a little bit it wasn't bad and with the go pedal down it took no effort at all.