UAV and UCV Radio Enhancements Customers may experience one or more of the following: ? **Wi-Fi hotspot connection failure. ? Speaker popping, crackle noise during Voice Recognition (VR) response and navigation guidance. ? Mobile Station Integrated Services D
View on NHTSA →2020 RAM 2500 steering problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 10 steering complaints filed for the 2020 RAM 2500, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
UAV and UCV Radio Enhancements This bulletin involves inspecting and if required, updating the radio software level to: 39.6.The repair procedure must be followed step by step. If the radio is not updated with the correct software level at the correct time th
View on NHTSA →Noise In Steering Column Tailshaft When Turning Steering Wheel This bulletin involves inspecting and replacing the steering column if necessary. The customer may notice the following:A noise coming from the tailshaft of the steering column while turning.
View on NHTSA →Noise In Steering Column Tailshaft When Turning Steering Wheel This bulletin involves inspecting and replacing the steering column if necessary. The customer may notice the following:A noise coming from the tailshaft of the steering column while turning.
View on NHTSA →Transmission Column Shifter Lever Feels Loose
View on NHTSA →Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2020 Ram 2500 shows a pattern of electric power steering assist failures starting at 4,900 miles and continuing through 45,000 miles. Most common is complete loss of assist—steering becomes heavy and difficult, sometimes with a dash warning message, sometimes with none. One owner had the electric assist system replaced under warranty but experienced the same failure again shortly after. Another owner's assist cuts out whenever engine RPMs drop below a certain threshold (at stops, deceleration), then returns when RPMs climb back up.
Less common but more serious: one owner reported the truck's electrical system shut down steering, braking, and 4WD simultaneously while driving at 25 mph with lights flashing on the dash. Another reports the steering wheel has minimal effect on the vehicle's actual direction of travel—the truck pulls or drifts on its own, especially dangerous while towing.
A separate incident involved the engine shutting off while climbing a snow-covered drive, disabling both power steering and power brakes; the engine restarted, shut off again, and the truck slid sideways into a tree. That owner received recall Z20/NHTSA 22-140 but remains uncertain if it addresses the shutdown issue.
One owner mentions recall 21V-880 issued in November 2021 but states the dealer cannot service it due to lack of available fix.
Same RAM 2500 steering reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Electric Power Steering Assist Failure—Complete Loss
Power steering assist stops working entirely, leaving the vehicle with manual steering only. Sometimes preceded by a warning message ('Power Steering Unavailable Service Required'); other times with no warning. Occurs at low mileage (4,900–45,000 miles).
When: 4,900–45,000 miles; incidents occur both during low-RPM driving (city traffic, stops, low-speed maneuvers) and highway speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of power steering assist; Heavy steering effort even at highway speeds; Warning message 'Power Steering Unavailable Service Required' on some occurrences; No warning light or message on other occurrences; Intermittent—function returns after vehicle shutdown or overnight rest, then fails again; Loss of steering capability near traffic or while towing
Codes mentioned: Electric assist system fault
Repairs/costs cited: Faulty electric assist system replaced under warranty at dealer. One owner reports second failure after initial warranty repair despite no fix being applied by manufacturer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty replacement of electric assist system. Recall 21V-880 issued Nov. 12, 2021, but no fix available as of owner complaint date; dealer unable to perform recall service.
Electrical System Cascade Failure—Multiple Safety Systems Disabled
Dashboard and interior lights flash; steering, braking, and 4WD all become electrically disabled simultaneously. Reported in context of an unspecified electrical event that knocked out steering, service brakes, and trailer brakes.
When: At 25 mph during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard and interior lights flashing; Steering becomes unavailable; Service braking disabled; 4WD disabled; Trailer brakes disabled; Vehicle cannot be steered or braked with service brakes; emergency brake only option
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided by owner.
Steering System Electrical Glitch—Loss of Assist Tied to Engine RPM
Power steering assist drops out when engine RPMs lower (at stops, deceleration); assist returns when RPMs rise. Unrelated to power steering fluid level. Very low mileage vehicle (4,900 miles).
When: 4,900 miles; occurs during deceleration and low-speed stops
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering works at higher RPMs; Power steering fails when RPMs drop (approaching stops, letting off throttle); Extreme difficulty steering at low speeds without assist; No warning messages or codes on dash
Repairs/costs cited: Owner checked power steering fluid level—was full.
Steering Input Not Affecting Vehicle Direction
Vehicle randomly navigates left or right independent of steering wheel input; steering wheel has minimal effect on maintaining straight-line travel. Occurs in all road conditions and at all speeds.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle pulls or drifts left or right without steering input; Steering wheel has little to no effect on vehicle direction; Occurs randomly in both city and highway driving; Occurs regardless of road condition; Dangerous when towing a trailer on highway
Engine Shutdown Under Load—Secondary Effect on Steering and Brakes
Engine shuts off while driving on snow-covered incline; driver loses power steering and power brakes due to loss of engine power. Engine restarts but shuts off again during backward slide.
When: Unspecified mileage; incident occurred year before current complaint and again more recently
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts off while driving uphill in snow; Loss of power steering due to engine shutdown; Loss of power brakes due to engine shutdown; Engine restarts but shuts off again; Recall Z20/NHTSA 22-140 received but owner unsure if related
Repairs/costs cited: Previous incident; current incident resulted in $5,000 truck damage after sideways collision with tree.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall Z20/NHTSA 22-140 issued; owner unsure of relevance and has not contacted dealer or manufacturer.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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…
Had steering trouble with your 2020 RAM 2500?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2020 RAM 2500?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 11,457 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/RAM/2500.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.