Ram 3500 Complaints

2,367 consumer complaints on file.

#11623025October 31, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
1. The specified vehicle has intermittent ABS/ Brake Hydraulic Control module error. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. 2. Error causes ABS and Cruise Control to be disabled while in motion as per warning messages displayed on instrument cluser and audio annunciation. 3. Driver and passenger were endangered due to ABS malfunctioning intermittently **while in motion**. I have reproduced the problem by causing a wheel slippage on wet pavement. This will cause the otherwise intermittent problem to be asserted with corresponding error messages/notifications to be displayed on instrument cluster. 4. The specified vehicle has NOT been inspected at a Ram dealer; however, the problem seems to be well-known on 2017-18 Ram 2500's and 3500's given the amount of Youtube videos on the topic as well as the amount of discussion on online forums such as [XXX] . 5. This 2018 vehicle has approx 43000 miles on it. The described problem was not detected until about 3 months ago (approx 8/2024). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11622849October 30, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Warning lights for the ABS and the Electronic Brake System illuminated while driving, stating the systems must be serviced. The Cruise Control would either turn off or become nonfunctional. The tone would sound and the warning lights would illuminate. I took the truck in to the dealership after it happened but the lights would not come on while I was there. The dealership told me they could do nothing about it. After that, the tone began to sound and the lights came on again. We finally made it to the dealership when they could see the warnings. The service technician inspected the ABS and found that the ABS HCU had shorted internally. Further inspection found the ABS Module also shorted internally. Two trips were made to the dealership because the dealership did not have the parts in stock. This occurred at the same time as the cyberattacks which affected parts delivery and we were not notified the parts were in for over a month. The cost of the these two visits were over $1,400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11622074October 26, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
[XXX] I got a check engine light and associated ABS and traction control light. Roads were dry and braking seemed fine. Lights eventually went out. Service department at dealership said sometimes moisture will cause this. No codes. Between May and October this problem has become repetitive and has been in the dealership service department multiple times. Codes show only when lights are on. Wheel speed sensor has been replaced (twice), but did not solve problem. Other features affected when these lights are on: 4WD will not engage, cruise control inop, rear collision sensor inoperative. My truck has been in the shop (dealership at Lithia in Anchorage, AK) since 10 Oct. Technician has said it needs ABS module and hydraulic pump, but FCA (or Stellantis who issued service contract) will not release parts (or they are out of parts and won’t admit). Apparently Ram engineers don’t believe service tech and are having him chase an electrical problem and now hub replacement. A quick internet search and it appears thousands of Ram owners (17-18) have dealt with this problem. The mileage is just shy of 110,000 and service contract expires at 125k or Jun 25. As a consumer I’m stuck between Ram engineers, and service department at dealership (currently without vehicle). A heavy duty pickup in Alaska is useless w/o 4WD on the rapidly approaching winter. This is obviously a known problem and needs resolution.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11621770October 24, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Despite having taken my 2023 Ram 3500 HD truck to the Ram dealer 3 times for the same recall, the issue still persists. The recall in question is B2A/NHTSA 23V-799 related to a malfunctioning SCCM that results in high beams activating with left turn signal activation. Also, left turn signal activates with high beam pass activation. Per Ram's protocol, they performed a software reboot upon the first attempt. The problem quickly returned. I returned to the same service department who did not perform any service on the vehicle despite the ongoing problem for more than one week. I took the truck back as it was my main mode of transportation. Because this safety issue has not resolved, I attempted to take it back to a different Ram service center who wanted to perform some incredibly involved electronic disconnection of all systems. I told them this was unacceptable because this was a known recall item that is still active. I have tried calling Ram Cares Customer service, but they have been entirely unhelpful. I am not filing this safety issue because Ram refuses to provide the needed replacement of the SCCM unit, which was the correct fix for this recall because they insist that the recall has been serviced appropriately. I have a recent video that shows the problem still happening, but they have not cared to look at it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11621660October 24, 2024
SUSPENSION
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Vehicle was manufactured from the factory with defective frame/left upper coil spring mount causing the coil spring to move off it's locking perch making the coil spring unsecured to the vehicle frame. Yes, the vehicle available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The defective coil spring mount allows the unsecured coil spring to move during travel with the potential of becoming dislodged from the vehicle which would cause complete suspension failure and the potential of loss of control of vehicle. This is especially true when towing. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? - Yes, the issue has been confirmed by the dealership and area engineer of Ram/Stellantis. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? - Yes, this have been inspected and confirmed by the dealership, area rep and area engineer of Ram/Stellantis. (See attached work orders) Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? - There were no warning lamps or messages, the very first symptom was just a squeaky spring type noise when driven off the lot after purchasing. That squeak intermittently continued until the squeak became a clunk and a metal on metal type noise and the vehicle didn't feel like it had equal suspension from left to right side of the vehicle. The dealership and area engineer for Ram/Stellantis stated the vehicle has a defective frame/coil mount, vehicle should not be driven on the highway, the vehicle should be repurchased by automaker and parted out/destroyed. This case has been going on for seven months, Ram/Stellantis has been stalling and unwilling thus far to repurchase the vehicle and take ownership of the defective manufactured vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11621257October 22, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The abs and traction control lights flash on and off. They also have remained off and the back on for while. Happens a lot during summer and when driving for a while. While on cruise control and the lights comes sudden loss of power and agrressive engine slow down causing the vehicle to shake. Has happen multiple times.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11621416October 22, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Component Failure: ABS ECU and HCU modules presented a trouble code C0020-01 after dashboard warning of ABS System problem. Safety Risk: Pulling my 12,000 trailer down the I-5 Grapevine without ABS, Traction Control or Cruise Control is very dangerous to myself and others. Failure Reproduced and confirmed by independent service center. Manufacturer (Stellantis) RAM insisted they change the HCU module before changing the ECU module (P/N 68347098AC). The HCU replacement did not clear the code, The manufactuer has a hold on shipping any ECU units to their dealer network. Truck has been out of service for three weeks! Dated 10/22/2024
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11620971October 21, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SERVICE BRAKES
I was towing a 18000 lb fifth wheel rv about 45 mph when traffic made a panic stop in front of me. I couldn’t stop and had an accident. I later determined the brake controller on truck didn’t provide the 12 volts needed to get maximum braking from the fifth wheel brakes. I took it to the dealer and they confirmed that at slower speeds it doesn’t give maximum voltage. They contacted Ram engineer to find a fix but was informed that that it was operating as designed. This controller design was definitely the cause of this accident. I was only getting 8 volts for the trailer brakes. I contacted Cargo Brake ( manufacturer of trailer brake system) and they told me they have had many complaints from Ram owners about this problem. They recommended that I purchase an aftermarket controller which I did. It gives me maximum voltage for full braking from the fifth wheel at any speed. I should also state that my truck was new with only 2500 miles on it. I was not informed by the dealer or able to gain knowledge of this controller design anywhere in the Ram information provided in the owners manual. This is an extremely hazardous design not permitting maximum braking at slower speeds.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11620521October 18, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500 and towing a 17,500 lbs RV 5th Wheel. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the ABS and ESC warnings were illuminated. The contact stated the cruise control was engaged but when the ABS warning light illuminated, the cruise control disengaged. The failure was intermittent but was also occurring when not towing. A dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed and was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11620587October 18, 2024
POWER TRAIN
While pulling my trailer on the interstate with cruise control set, I was going up a hill when all of a sudden my engine RPMs skyrocketed and my truck simultaneously lost propulsion. The cruise control system then disabled itself. My truck had slowed down enough that I turned my hazard lights on, and then selected a lower gear due to the decreased speed. While attempting to accelerate back to a normal speed, my trucks RPMs again skyrocketed and my truck simultaneously lost propulsion. I was now fairly certain that my clutch was slipping. I was able to limp the truck back to my shop. I then contacted my dealership asking if this would be covered by the manufacture powertrain warranty, they informed that it was not. I then asked for them to order me a new flywheel, clutch kit, and all other incidental parts. It was at this time the dealer advised that I instead purchase an after-market performance clutch because they had seen very high failure rates from the OEM clutches. Not wanting the risk of using parts not designed by the OEM, I elected to use all OEM replacement parts. Upon installation of the new clutch parts, I discovered the clutch friction material was not even warn down on the slipping clutch. After the repairs, my truck was back to normal until, out of the blue again, the same thing happened with approximately 12,000 miles on the replacement OEM clutch components. Remembering what the dealer said about the high failure rates, I decided to hang onto the original clutch, pressure plate and flywheel incase the want or need to examine it would arise later. My trailer complies with all of the manufactures rated weight capacities. The now slipping replacement OEM clutch has not yet been removed from the truck. I do not want to use after-market replacement parts, however I am now concerned about using the replacement OEM parts due to the unexpected loss of propulsion. Said issues occurred at approximate ODO of 46,800 miles and again at 58,800 miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11620680October 18, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS AND ELECTRIC BRAKE LIGHTS AND ALARMS AT DEALERSHIP NOW, COST OF OVER 1500.00 WITH ALL THE LAW SUITS AND THOUSANDS OF ABS FAILURES WHY HASNT A RECALL BEEN ISSUED TRUCK HAS 40,000 MILES NEVER BY A RAM AGAIN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11620042October 16, 2024
BACK OVER PREVENTION
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera image was black. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 179,000. The VIN was not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11619996October 15, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS failure warning lights on and off constantly. Dealer replaced failed HVU and ABS module for 1181$. This is an open investigation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11619967October 15, 2024
ENGINE
The contact owned a 2024 RAM 3500. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle and idling on the driveway, it caught on fire in the engine compartment. The vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. The origin of the fire was unknown. The entire engine compartment was burnt and the vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle remained at the scene where it caught on fire. No injuries were sustained. A fire department report was filed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 2,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11619521October 13, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES
2018 Ram 3500 Diesel truck with 70,000 miles. While driving the "service electronic braking system" alarm goes off and ABS lights come on and cruise control is disabled, along with electronic stability control. This happened while towing a 20,000 lb fifth wheel trailer and continues to happen with or without a trailer behind the vehicle. This is a known safety problem and there are several class action lawsuits but Ram has yet to authorize a recall on 2018 models. They knew there were defective parts and even put out technical service bulletins to their dealer's service departments. This is a VERY DANGEROUS condition associates with almost all these model trucks. It seems Ram does not care about loss of life but only their profit margins.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11619310October 11, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE ABS BRAKES YES IT IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION BY NOT HAVING ABS BRAKEING WHEELS HAVE LOCKED UP HAVE NOT HAD DEALER CHECKIT HAD A MECHANIC PUT ON COMPUTER FOR CODES NO TRUCK HASN'T BEEN INSPECTED BY ANYONE ELSE BUT THE MECHANIC WARNING LIGHTS HAVE COME ON AND OFF A NUMBER OF TIME AND LATELY MORE OFTEN IT STARED ABOUT A YEAR AGO TOOK IT TO DEALER THEN BUT WASN'T REPAIRED PROPERTY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11619223October 10, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES
The Hydraulic Control Unit is malfunctioning, as determined by a RAM truck dealer. The ABS brakes don't work as they should and the cruise control intermittently shuts off.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11618577October 7, 2024
SUSPENSION
Air suspension repair on the compressor, issue impacting the stability while towing
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11618582October 7, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Intermittent loss of anti-lock braking system and cruise control. code C0020-01 ABS pump failure. First occurred at approx. 47,900 miles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11618598October 7, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Service abs/ service electronic brake system/ traction control alarm flashing on/off intermittently with no specific times or conditions. This first happened in may 2024 on a 6 hour road trip. Occasionally I can take it on a short trip and it may not flash the message during that trip and at other times it is constantly going on and off. I have not had this looked at by the dealer. I have read the codes using my personal scanner and it shows C0020-01 (Active) ABS Pump Motor Control- General Electrical Failure. I do not drive this vehicle daily and I can not relate it to wear and tear because the vehicle only has 23,900 miles on it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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