2020 Ram 1500 · symptom sheet
Power steering cuts out or goes heavy
- 43owner reports
- 51,000median miles
- $4,500median quote
- 2involved a crash
Newest report Sep 22, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
61 of the 631 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 43 of those describe power steering loss.
Tick what matches of 43 reports
Power steering loss on other 1500 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Power steering loss is the steering wheel suddenly going heavy, usually with a warning on the dash. Nearly six in ten complaints in this group mention a warning light or message, and almost two thirds mention driving or highway speed rather than parking.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the steering rack (14 reports) and the EPS motor or module (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the steering system covers the 2020 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the steering system on the 1500
Intermittent/comp loss of power steering. Open.
None of these investigations covers the 2020 model year.
What owners paid
6 of the 43 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $3,800 to $5,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 48,877 and 93,000 miles, from the 12 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2020 Ram 1500 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Flash: Electric Power Steering (EPS) Module Updates This bulletin involves updating the EPS module with the latest available software. Customers may experience the following:Vibration felt or noise heard when turning right at low speeds.
What owners wrote
“Just picked up vehicle Thursday, 26 Sept 2024 about Noon from Dealership after replacement of Rack and Pinion Gear, driving on straight road and "power steering Unavailable - Service required" information came on briefly for about 2 to 5 secs every 5-10 minutes during drive home.”
Filed Sep 29, 2024
“Just driving on the highway doing about 45 miles per hour and the message "power steering unavailable - service required" came on several times for about 2-5 seconds at least 3 times during the short drive. The power steering was definitely inoperative during the times the message was displayed.”
Filed Sep 29, 2024
“Driving on local road in Abilene Tx and got the message âPower Steering Unavailable Service Requiredâ and the electric steering was inop for about 3-5 seconds. The message came on several times during their minute drive.”
Filed Sep 15, 2024
“Just got on the local road and âpower steering unavailable service requiredâ message displayed twice for about 5 - 10 secs with the corresponding difficulty in turning steering wheel. Snapped a photo of message”
Filed Sep 14, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 2 of 43 reports involved a crash and 3 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 89 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 52 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 42 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 41 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 32 reports