The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation to consider expanding a seven-year-old Ram recall to over one million pickups that could be subject to power steering failure.
NHSTA reported that their Office of Defects Investigations has received 380 complaints from Ram customers alleging intermittent or complete loss of power steering in 2013 – 2016 Ram 1500 trucks. Steering failures have been reported at various speeds and have led to three crashes. No injuries were reported.
A prior steering recall was issued by then Ram parent company Fiat Chrysler Automotive in March of 2016 for 2015 – 2016 Ram 1500 pickups. Only 440 trucks were impacted. NHTSA estimates that their investigation could lead to a recall of 1,106,211 Ram 1500 pickups from model years 2013 – 2016. Investigators will determine if the scope of the 2016 recall is correct or if another defect might be to blame for steering issues in additional trucks.
