2017 Ram 1500: Intermittent loss of power steering
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2017 1500 report: intermittent loss of power steering. CarComplaints.com lists 15 owner complaints, average mileage 63,850 miles.
NHTSA has 228 owner complaints for the 2017 1500 in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11768951 (filed 10/05/2026): “The contact owns a 2017 ram 1500. the contact stated that while driving approximately 50 mph, the steering wheel disconnected from the steering column and fell into the lap of the driver. during the failure the contact was unable to control the steering wheel …”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11767090 (filed 09/26/2026): “Steering has become hard to steer and is available for inspection on request. it suddenly went out and surprised me on making a turn. i have not taken it in yet. no components inspection yet but does have a pending lawsuit for this truck between i believe 201…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace steering rack (3 reports) garage replaced eps module ($3800) (2 reports) replaced the rack and pinion system (with ps ckt board) (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Electric power steering faults typically need module diagnosis with a scan tool and calibration. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $3,520 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
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