2020 Ram 2500: loss of power steering

Filed May 5, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · WI

Vehicle randomly shuts off during normal operation. Same as if the Start / Stop button were activated. Vehicle coasts until it self applies the emergency brake at about 3mph causing a sudden, jerky complete stop. Switches itself to Park. Dash indicates “sterp on brake to restart”. Vehicle restarts normally but may randomly shut down again. Safety risk is loss of steering, loss of power brake control, and total loss of power in traffic. Taking it to dealer today. Vehicle has not been inspected by anyone yet. No messages or warning lights display. This is a recent problem but recurring with increasing frequency.

Filed Dec 19, 2023 · Steering · 35,000 miles · WI

The contact owns a 2020 Ram 2500. The contact stated that on two separate occasions, while driving at highway speeds, the power steering assist failed to operate as designed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was initially taken to a dealer where the power steering assist was repaired under warranty. Despite the repair, the contact stated that the failure occurred a second time without warning. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

Filed May 24, 2023 · Steering · WI

On 5/22/23 I started my vehicle and started to back out of the parking spot, I then received a power steering malfunction service required warning on the dash and lost power steering functionality. The increased steering effort almost resulted in a collision with another vehicle. I took the vehicle in for service and it was diagnosed with a faulty electric assist system on the vehicle and this is being replaced. The vehicle had about 45,000 miles on it at the time of the incident. The first warning light came on when the power steering failed to operate. If this had failed while on the road the results could have been much worse. This is a dangerous defect from early failure of a safety component.

Filed Apr 4, 2022 · Brakes, Engine · PA · crash

While driving up snow covered inclined driveway. Truck started to spin and stopped going forward. Starting to slide backwards the engine shut off and I lost power steering and power brakes. Managed to re-start while sliding backwards but the engine shut off again resulting in a sideways crash into a tree. Thus causing $5000.00 truck damage but no bodily injury. My insurance covers damage but I am out a $500.00 deductible. The engine shutting off happened the year before but I was able to stop the slide in time. I just received a recall ("Z20/the federal safety agency 22-140") and I'm not sure if that problem is a cause of my incident. I did not notice any warning indications during or before the incident. I have not contacted FCA or my dealer yet.

Filed Oct 19, 2021 · Fuel system · AR

We were traveling SE on I-30, in the passing lane, doing approximately 75 MPH when the vehicle started shuttering. It was subtle at first, then became more violent. The engine lost power and we had to do an emergency lane change with no engine power, no power steering, no power brakes. We then coasted to the shoulder with traffic passing us and behind us speeding by. Luckily we were near an exit and we barely had enough momentum to get away from traffic. We were lucky to change lanes and exit without getting into a collision with other traffic because we went from highway speed to slow very quickly and had to change lanes and exit. It was the high pressure CP4.2 fuel pump failure the dealer eventually informed us. They also said this is a common problem and they had several other failures just like this.

Filed Feb 23, 2021 · Steering · 4,900 miles · MD

While coming to a stop I lost complete power steering and was barely able to turn the wheel to move to the side of the road. No messages, lights or codes came up on the dash. Truck only has 4,900 miles on it and was full on power steering fluid. After checking everything I attempted to drive from the side of the road. When the RPM's rose the power steering worked normal. When I approached the next stop and let my foot off the gas and the RPM's lowered, I lost power steering again at approximately 30 MPH, leaving me unable to steer.

Filed Jan 16, 2021 · Steering · 4,596 miles · NV

'power steering unavailable service required' message appeared on instrument cluster at 4,596 miles. Power steering failure occurred while driving in light city traffic and stopped at an intersection. The vehicle is difficult to control without power steering assist. Powering car off and on did not clear the error. Nor did disconnecting/reconnecting battery terminals. Vehicle sat overnight in garage and power steering function seemed to return the following day, only to fail again after 15-20 mins of light street driving.

Filed Aug 7, 2020 · Steering · 1,330 miles · TX

While driving down the highway power steering quit working followed along with a light on on the dashboard claiming that power steering failed. It became extremely hard to turn even at highway speeds.