Stellantis Faces Lawsuit For Alleged Costly Steering Flaw In Ram 1500

Stellantis Faces Lawsuit For Alleged Costly Steering Flaw In Ram 1500​

• The lawsuit alleges the automaker denies a widespread issue to evade costly repairs.
• EPS unit failures force owners to often spend over $4,000 for repairs and replacements.
• The NHTSA has been probing power steering loss issues since August of last year.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US is staring down a proposed class action lawsuit alleging that 2013-2024 Ram 1500 pickups are equipped with defective electric power steering (EPS) units prone to sudden failure.

Filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, the lawsuit demands a jury trial. It claims the EPS units can fail unexpectedly while driving, leaving owners to wrestle with an unexpected loss of steering.

Stellantis is accused of ignoring thousands of complaints about power steering issues, steadfastly insisting that their vehicles are defect-free—except for a few 2016 and 2019 Ram 1500 models, which apparently suffered from isolated “manufacturing problems.”

In August of last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation began probing power steering loss issues in 2013-2016 Ram 1500s. They highlighted a significant gap between FCA’s recalls for power steering loss and the rising number of consumer complaints.

As this investigation continues, the lawsuit argues that millions of owners and lessees remain oblivious to the defect, putting them at risk of “serious injury by their continued use of their vehicles without adequate inspection or repairs.”

It’s claimed that if the EPS unit fails, the steering will immediately become stiff and difficult to turn. This “creates an unreasonable safety risk as it increases the chances or likelihood of crash events from drivers losing control” of subject vehicles, the complaint adds.

Ram 1500 owners who have experienced an EPS unit failure are typically left with repair bills of between $3,000 and $4,000. Subject Ram models have the EPS motor and control module affixed to the steering rack and pinion, meaning the entire rack and pinion need to be replaced if the system fails.

The lawsuit names plaintiffs Nancy Ludwig and Joseph Spillane. Ludwig purchased a 2016 Ram 1500 in 2020 from an FCA dealer who failed to disclose the EPS issue to her. On January 1 this year, the power steering failed while her husband was exiting a McDonald’s drive-through. The couple were left with a $4,484 repair bill. Spillane bought his 2013 Ram 1500 on January 1, 2024, and its EPS unit failed in late July or early August. Repairing it cost him roughly $2,800.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/com...-costly-steering-flaw-in-ram-1500/ar-AA1qxrnF

 

[jd77480]

Don't buy the first year of a new line of vehicle. Wait about 3 years. And hopefully the car/manufacturing has most of the little bugs & rat ***** out of the vehicle by then. And you are driving your new vehicle. And it's not in the shop with the mechanics scratching their heads trying to figure out what is wrong with your vehicle...

 

[mikeru]

While I agree with your sentiment, in this case we're not talking about first, second, or even third model year issues. This lawsuit spans two generations of Ram 1500's, 2013 thru 2024 model years.

 

[Zoe Saldana]

Math isn't your strong suit; is it?

Don't buy the first year of a new line of vehicle. Wait about 3 years. And hopefully the car/manufacturing has most of the little bugs & rat ***** out of the vehicle by then. And you are driving your new vehicle. And it's not in the shop with the mechanics scratching their heads trying to figure out what is wrong with your vehicle...

 

[Dean2]

The part I find REALLY disturbing is the departments charged with enforcing safety scare the makers not at all. Without class action suits nothing would happen in so many cases. The days of Ram, Ford and Chev taking pride in their product and taking care of customers is long since past.

 

[dchapma1957]

They should be sued for the known design flaw that is destroying camshafts right and left! If I could afford a new truck it would NOT be a RAM. I think they are pure junk!

 

[Dodge 1500 4X4]

Well GM and Ford have their problems, Ford W/ cam phasers and oil consumption and GM W/ AFM on the 5.3 and 6.2 the lifters are weak and can break inside the lifter bore.

 

[Yardbird]

If your competitors make junk, you only have to make something similar to compete.

Used to be companies bragged about build quality and reliability.

Now it's gismos and tech that have glitches.

I don't want or need the gismos. Give me something that gives good service.

 

[Harry Canyon]

I had a intermittent problem with my power steering when the truck (2020 Rebel) had 8K on it. Always seemed to happen on back roads. Dealer replaced the entire rack. Got it back and it still had a problem.
Loose ground wire. Of course the dealer neglected to align the new front end even after I asked if he had. Lesson learned.

 

[Ramregret]

If your competitors make junk, you only have to make something similar to compete.

Used to be companies bragged about build quality and reliability.

Now it's gismos and tech that have glitches.

I don't want or need the gismos. Give me something that gives good service.

Blame the governments of the world and their emissions and fuel mileage requirements as well, making engines run extremely lean requiring electronics fraught with potential issues.

 

[inuyasha-rules]

About time something gets done with the power steering racks. Our company truck sat for 9 months with a bad eps because they were on backorder. Granted it's got 280k miles, but the older hydraulic systems were much more reliable overall.

 

[victoria073100]

Stellantis Faces Lawsuit For Alleged Costly Steering Flaw In Ram 1500​

• The lawsuit alleges the automaker denies a widespread issue to evade costly repairs.
• EPS unit failures force owners to often spend over $4,000 for repairs and replacements.
• The NHTSA has been probing power steering loss issues since August of last year.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US is staring down a proposed class action lawsuit alleging that 2013-2024 Ram 1500 pickups are equipped with defective electric power steering (EPS) units prone to sudden failure.

Filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, the lawsuit demands a jury trial. It claims the EPS units can fail unexpectedly while driving, leaving owners to wrestle with an unexpected loss of steering.

Stellantis is accused of ignoring thousands of complaints about power steering issues, steadfastly insisting that their vehicles are defect-free—except for a few 2016 and 2019 Ram 1500 models, which apparently suffered from isolated “manufacturing problems.”

In August of last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation began probing power steering loss issues in 2013-2016 Ram 1500s. They highlighted a significant gap between FCA’s recalls for power steering loss and the rising number of consumer complaints.

As this investigation continues, the lawsuit argues that millions of owners and lessees remain oblivious to the defect, putting them at risk of “serious injury by their continued use of their vehicles without adequate inspection or repairs.”

It’s claimed that if the EPS unit fails, the steering will immediately become stiff and difficult to turn. This “creates an unreasonable safety risk as it increases the chances or likelihood of crash events from drivers losing control” of subject vehicles, the complaint adds.

Ram 1500 owners who have experienced an EPS unit failure are typically left with repair bills of between $3,000 and $4,000. Subject Ram models have the EPS motor and control module affixed to the steering rack and pinion, meaning the entire rack and pinion need to be replaced if the system fails.

The lawsuit names plaintiffs Nancy Ludwig and Joseph Spillane. Ludwig purchased a 2016 Ram 1500 in 2020 from an FCA dealer who failed to disclose the EPS issue to her. On January 1 this year, the power steering failed while her husband was exiting a McDonald’s drive-through. The couple were left with a $4,484 repair bill. Spillane bought his 2013 Ram 1500 on January 1, 2024, and its EPS unit failed in late July or early August. Repairing it cost him roughly $2,800.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/com...-costly-steering-flaw-in-ram-1500/ar-AA1qxrnF

View attachment 550939

Has this issue been resolved as of yet? I just started with mine & dealer did not disclose PS issue(s) in the future with this model.

 

[GTyankee]

Just like the Air Bag fiasco
both Japanese & American car companies were affected
& that company is still selling them & even some of the new version are faulty

 

[Hardracer]

I have questions(and I know nothing about this unit).
Why is there such a price difference to fix the 2 plantiffs vehicles...from readin the suit above..it says all the parts are in/connected together?
So both units are a full replacement correct?
Is there other problems on one vehicle that their not disclosing in this reading here?
Just curious here.

 

[clay282]

THIS IS SHOCKING... I mean, they stepped right up when all those trucks 3rd brake light started leaking. And then again when the back glass cracked and leaked. They jumped right on a viable permanent fix for the exhaust manifold bolts popping and didn't let it turn into a term like "Hemi Tick". And an even faster fix for the lifter failure. This issue must have flown right under the radar for them! There is NO WAY they would have intentionally ignored a known, documented, repeated issue that extended for years! LOL

 

[PVilefort]

So the 3.6L V6 Pentadtar cam and cam follower problem continues for 2021 and beyond? I guess I should sell it while it has less than 10,000 miles on it.

 

[Jdavismp]

My 2016 Ram 1500 just started having these issues. Was driving in town turning a corner when my power steering went out in the middle of the turn. Definitely not looking forward to having to pay a huge repair bill if they have to replace the whole rack and pinion.

 

[Hagar1]

Don't buy the first year of a new line of vehicle. Wait about 3 years. And hopefully the car/manufacturing has most of the little bugs & rat ***** out of the vehicle by then. And you are driving your new vehicle. And it's not in the shop with the mechanics scratching their heads trying to figure out what is wrong with your vehicle...

3rd year is generally OK. First year they find the problems, second year, they generally fix the problems. So by the 3rd year, a lot of the headaches will be fixed.
That has been my observations

 

[DILLIGAF]

Imagine thinking dodge fixes problems after the 3rd year

In the last 10y , They havent fixed the EPS , havent fixed the POS air ride , Havent fix the POS front diff, havent fixed the cam issues, Havent fixed the Manifold issues. ect ect ect...

Instead they added the E-Junk to the lineup

The only thing they did right is the ZF 8 speed, But even then you need to tune it for it to run properly, as well as deleting that POS cooler. ...lol...

Dont get me started on the plastic fantastic hurricane that need the cab pulled for the simplest jobs... And the even bigger POS 3.6L penstar ...lol...

 

[Magfan2]

If it turns into class action - search this What happens in a class action suit against a car maker if the plaintiffs win?