Ram 3500 Complaints
2,367 consumer complaints on file.
- #11449249January 28, 2022SERVICE BRAKES
The abs system started malfunctioning after driving through heavy rain. Seems to be worse after the truck has warmed up. I have searched this problem and believe this should be a recall. How long before someone gets hurt or dies because of this problem?
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11448948January 26, 2022STEERING
Dodge RAM put out a Recall V06 to inspect / weld the drag link adjuster sleeve for the steering. I was lead to believe that a new replacement adjuster sleeve would be coming that would not require being welded, once those parts were available, we could have the adjuster sleeve replaced that was welded. Here is the issue, EVERY TRUCK that has had the adjuster sleeve welded has to have those welds ground off when an alignment is done and then REWELDED at the cost to the customer. That doesn't seem right or fair, I'm told there is a new part available for the proper repair but the customer has to purchase this at around $400.00. Why should the customer have to pay $159 to have the adjuster sleeve that was welded per a safety issued recall UNWELDED to have an alignment done and then rewelded. Alignments are a maintenance issue and this cost should not be stuck to the owner of the vehicle, I feel Dodge Ram should be replacing these welded sleeves with the new part available at NO cost to the customer so future alignments can be performed as normal. [XXX] AEP / PSO American Electric Power - Public Service Co. of Oklahoma We have a fleet of these vehicles that had this recall done. 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
- #11448729January 24, 2022ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
8.4" Uconnect display is now bad. It changes every mode of truck as a "ghost touch" and is a severe distraction while driving-climate, music volume, stations, cameras, sensors. It is a widely known problem involving the screen digitizer and nearly every FCA vehicle having the 8.4" screen fails-Ram, Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11448007January 19, 2022SUSPENSION
The contact owns a 2017 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle experienced the death wobble. The failure occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and an independent mechanic for an alignment check; however, the dealer and the independent mechanic could not duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11447741January 17, 2022UNKNOWN OR OTHER, WHEELS
I made appointment with Ram dealership. The letter said 2 or so hours. The advisor stated, it will take all day because I was a recall and they will not have the diesel mechanic stop working on other vehicles for a recall. Which makes no sense since it's not my fault The truck not safe to drive. In addition, I depend on my truck because I use it for my work - hot shot (delivery). I been waiting at dealership for over 3 hours and they still have not even looked at it. The dealership is not prioritizing my vehicle, although it should since I am a customer after all and this is a recall from the manufacturer. Dealerships should be made aware that a vehicle should be fixed as they come in, not based on whether you are paying or not. This dealership always does this when warranty or recalls and it's frustrating. It's not fair for us to lose this much time because we are not paying. How is it my fault the vehicle is defective? After all it was not caused because of my driving but because it was not manufactured correctly. I like Ram but the dealership need to better understand the customer whether paying or not. This is not fair and is annoying.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11447679January 16, 2022VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
DEF reservoir got low and light came on indicating about 300 miles until truck goes into limp mode 5 MPH. Added 1 gallon of DEF and the guage showed to be in the safe zone. The computer system never registered that fluid was added and truck went into limp mode on the way home. When in limp mode you are unable to move vehicle off the roadway in a safe manner or even drive on any roadway without major risk of getting hit. Truck has to be towed to a dealership to have the computer reset. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. Ironic that first responder and government vehicles with this same engine ect are omitted from the limp mode function due to safety concerns but not the general public.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11447329January 13, 2022ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UConnect 8.4 Screen Delamination - The integrated radio/communication/vehicle functions module screen is delaminating on a vast number of vehicles. The repair according to RAM dealerships is a complete replacement of the screen and the controller at a cost of nearly $2000 per vehicle. While initially most believe this to be a radio issue the systems are integrated to multiple functions of the vehicle including: front and rear cameras, front and rear parking sensors, ride height controls, HVAC controls, seating controls, and a number of other systems. It also includes access to a number of phone systems including emergency calling. Due to the integrated nature of this equipment a major recall should be conducted on affected systems and also a forced reimbursement to owners of vehicles that have had to pay out of pocket for repairs or diagnostics. In addition, the delamination seems to be causing a leaking substance to drip down into other controls such as the Exhaust Brake, Trailer Brake Controls, and other physical buttons. It is my belief this is becoming a safety issue as the delamination is causing phantom key presses on various systems including setting volume of audio at 100% randomly.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11447151January 12, 2022ENGINE
The contact owns a 2019 RAM 3500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH and making a left turn, suddenly there was a loud knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine rod bearing had failed, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 189,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11447086January 11, 2022ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2020 RAM 3500. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the oil warning light was illuminated, and the vehicle made abnormal sounds. Additionally, there was smoke coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact pulled over and refilled the oil reservoir; however, the failure recurred with oil leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed with engine damage and connecting rod failure, which punctured the engine block. The engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V511000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Electrical System) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 213,000. The oil light did not come on until after the engine had started knocking rapidly. The engine oil also ran out quickly as well. Consumer immediately refilled the oil and drove for 5 minutes and the engine stopped knocking for a few seconds before there was louder knocking, smoke and spewing oil. Consumer had previously reported to the customer care FCA group 2 times last August about metal shavings on the fuel filter. The fuel pump continued to produce metal shavings in the filter every time the filter was change.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11446869January 10, 2022WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS, WHEELS:HUB
While driving, the passenger-side rear wheel separated from the vehicle. All of the wheel studs were fractured off at the wheel mounting surface of the hub.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11446334January 5, 2022STEERING
The contact owns a 2014 RAM 3500. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the front end of the vehicle started shaking uncontrollably. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that as he released the accelerator pedal, the brake exhaust turbo engaged, then he depressed the brake pedal. The contact veered to the side of the road, inspected the vehicle, and noticed that the front support track bar bracket was fractured at the A-frame. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V541000 (Steering) before he owned the vehicle; however, the recall repair was not completed at that time because the vehicle had been lifted. The contact stated that the recall repair had been marked as complete though it was not. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that the recall history showed that a reinforcement bracket was not installed over the front track bar bracket; therefore, the recall was not completed. The contact stated that he used a strap and tied the front end of the vehicle and then drove to the dealer that was 1.2 miles away. The dealer diagnosed that the front support track bar bracket was fractured. The dealer informed the contact that the recall repair could not be complete because the previous owner had lifted the vehicle. The dealer submitted a report to the manufacturer stating the recall repair for NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V541000 (Steering) was incomplete because the vehicle had been lifted. The manufacturer updated the recall repair from "Completed" to "Inspected" in the vehicle recall history. The contact drove the vehicle to his hotel. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence in Florida. The contact stated that the recall repair was not completed on Power Wagon vehicles or vehicles that were lifted by the owners. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11446340January 5, 2022WHEELS
The contact owns a 2018 RAM 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V398000 (Wheels) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer and the manufacturer were made aware of the issue. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to torque the lug nuts however, the dealer did not have the new specs. The recall repair was not performed. Parts distribution disconnect.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11445973January 3, 2022ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
I experienced a lack of power and I noticed that the engine temperature jumped by 40F immediately. The EVIC coolant temperature jump rapidly, but I never received a low coolant warning. I pulled the truck off of I-25 Northbound just south of the WY border. I waited for the vehicle to cool and added all of the coolant I had on hand, about 1.5 gallons. I carefully limped into Cheyenne, WY, towing my 40' 5th wheel to a spot where we could stay. I contacted Cowboy Dodge to identify the problem and repair it. The technician looked at my vehicle and he indicated the EGR valve was bad and needed replaced. The repair invoice is attached for reference. We departed Cheyenne after the fix, and we only got 44 miles out of town on I-80 when the engine coolant light illuminated, and the temp started to spike again. I coasted down the pass into Laramie, WY, in an attempt to get into cell service range and to get the truck off of the road if possible. We ended up stranded on I-80 just east of the exit for 4-hours waiting on a tow vehicle that could take us back to Cheyenne, WY, with our RV in tow. The same technician at Cowboy looked at the truck again and he indicated that the EGR cooler had failed. The failure allowed coolant to leak, undetected, into the combustion chamber. This caused carbon deposits, coal-like remnants, to be deposited throughout the motor and it was especially noticeable on the heat exchanger (see attached). This issue cased $7,000+ damage to my truck and I'm still finding issues related to the failure. I've had injectors fail, the heater core needed replaced again (3d), and the truck is smoking on startup with diminished power and sputtering at speed. I've included all Ram 2021 servicing invoices. This situation could have resulted in a catastrophic runaway on the motor resulting in fire. I lucked out by watching the gages. Stellantis (FCA) should be held accountable for their modifications to the Cummins motor causing these issues.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11445988January 3, 2022WHEELS
Informed on recall for a wheel stud possibly breaking sending wheel flying off vehicle. 7 months later and no fix!! This could be a deadly occurence if wheel comes off vehicle and hits another vehicle as well as loss of control of my vehicle. I also tow 16000lb trailers!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11446045January 3, 2022SERVICE BRAKES
Intermittent Antilock Brake Sysyem and Service Electronic Braking System warnings. Vehicle has 49,500 miles. There is a STAR service bulletin issued,
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11445820January 1, 2022UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On 1 Jan 2022 after driving from Washougal WA to Vancouver WA, I noticed after stopping for food that my front driver-side tire was near completely flat. Upon checking the dash information screen and cycling to the tire pressure screen, it reflected that my front drivers side tire was at 15 PSI, while the other 5 tires (dually) were at the proper pressures. The problem is that the TPMS did not, nor continues to not display a low pressure warning AT ALL, despite the vehicle being aware of the low measured pressure. This vehicle is brand new, with less than 7000 miles on the odometer. I tow heavy loads, and without a doubt the tire was well below proper pressure for at least 20 miles of driving; the only way I discovered was by noticing the tire after stopping. The tire pressure screen confirmed what I saw, but zero warnings were displayed (low tire pressure, TPMS light, service message, etc) as all TPMS cars/trucks I have driven over 25 years have done. This is a huge safety issue, and deserves significant attention as this situation could have resulted in a major accident. The vehicle is 100% stock with zero modifications. I have included pictures to support the facts above. The vehicle is also in the “failed state” should your agency wish to examine and confirm. This could very well result in a large scale safety recall.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11445680December 30, 2021STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Laramie trim level truck has an electronic drop tailgate with a button to drop the tailgate on the overhead console and one on the key fob. The tailgate on my truck was closed during my pre-trip and entering the vehicle. I had a trailer hooked to the receiver hitch and drove ten miles before realizing the tailgate was now in the down position and caused significant damage to the tailgate because the tailgate made contact with the trailer. With the electronic release tailgate on this particular year truck there is not a warning message alerting the driver that the tailgate is ajar. There is such an alert on newer models (2021-2022) I went to a local dealership to check. I’m sure the tailgate drop button somehow was pressed on the key fob while in my pocket entering the truck. But I did not receive any alert on the instrument cluster or even hear the tailgate open because the tailgate has a soft open feature. I see this being a serious safety concern to possibly lose cargo and cause a more serious accident.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11445071December 27, 2021ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
The contact owns a 2020 RAM 3500. The contact stated while her husband was making a right turn, the vehicle began to stall. The contact stated do not turn off the vehicle until arriving at destination warning message was illuminated. The driver was able to continue driving under 15 MPH until arriving at a local dealer. The local dealer was unable to duplicate or diagnose the cause of the failure. The contact was informed that a specialist was needed to diagnose the vehicle. The contact stated that the dealer called back 2 days later and stated that some unknown cables needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the same failure. The contact stated that the failure had been experienced a third time. The VIN was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V880000 (Fuel System, Diesel) and 21V398000 (Wheels). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11444869December 23, 2021UNKNOWN OR OTHER, AIR BAGS
9830-2021-10627 police report 12-14-2021 Head on collision with a 18 wheeler trailer. The air bags failed to deploy. My cousin survived. None of the air bags deployed. 2018 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel dually.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11444590December 21, 2021SUSPENSION
The rear driver's side upper shock mount was found broken during an inspection. The part showed signs of possible metal fatigue, and not a corrosion induced failure, resulting in the metal stem (retaining the upper shock) to "snap" off the welded shock mount bracket.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0