2019 RAM 1500 Engine Problems

On XXX I purchased the truck from Brandon Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler dealership in [XXX]. I put 2k down and financed 33k. Just over a year when by and on XXX (Sunday night) I heard a loud ticking noise so on XXX I drove it to [XXX] in [XXX] which is where I am stationed. On XXX they called me and said the engine was blown and that I needed a new engine. So on XXXI had the truck towed to Patriot Diesel Services in [XXX] for a second opinion. They confirmed that the engine was blown. I then contacted [XXX] from the Brandon dealership to see what options I had. They told me that I had to get it to one of there locations to confirm if the engine was blown. They also told me that there was nothing they could offer me if the diagnosis was correct. I told them when I Purchased the vehicle it had 105k mileage on it. It now has 138k and the engine is blown. They literally are taking no responsibility or offering any kind of help. I now have estimates for over 24k to fix it. I have now found out that there are class action lawsuits on Ram for these issues on this model. I want to know how are they legally allowed to sell this model when there is a suit against them. Case# 1:[XXX] District [XXX] State of [XXX]. And more suits in different states. I need help please!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11775894

Incident

Nov 1, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle had a slight loss of automotive power, and the vehicle decelerated to 20 MPH. The vehicle was restarted, and the failure ceased. The contact continued driving and the vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was retrieved from the dealer and while driving the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the contact was advised that additional diagnostic tests were required to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 65,000.

NHTSA ID

11773994

Incident

Aug 15, 2026

Mileage

65,000 mi

Blown Engine- No prior indicators that were obviously present. Driving on highway and about 40 miles in, loud ticking noises. Truck previously had manifold bolt breaking issues so assumed it was an exhaust leak. Within another 20 miles, the engine light came on and engine noises noticeably increased. Immediately took it to Ram Service and was diagnosed with a failed camshaft and camshaft bearing wear/scoring. Issue was reported to Ram dealership and ultimately fixed at owner cost.

NHTSA ID

11772884

Incident

Jan 6, 2026

Engine seized resulting in loss of propulsion while driving on the freeway Vehicle: 2019 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Mileage at failure: ~50,000 miles Purchase: Bought brand‑new in April 2020 Maintenance: 8 documented oil changes, all performed on schedule While driving with my family on 7/12, the engine suddenly seized without warning at highway speed. The truck lost power instantly. This is a serious safety concern because the failure happened during normal driving conditions with no prior symptoms. The vehicle has now been at the dealership for nearly 90 days with no teardown, no diagnosis, and no repair plan. Ram/Stellantis has not resolved the issue or approved an engine replacement despite complete maintenance history and the low mileage. A modern diesel engine should not catastrophically fail at 50k miles, especially with proper maintenance. This appears to be a premature and dangerous engine failure that may indicate a defect affecting other EcoDiesel vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11770808

Incident

Jul 12, 2026

The manufacturer defect involving stress cracks in the rear window structure (TSB 23-042-24) caused water to flood the rear cab wall along with the leaking rear cab air pressure vents. This water has short-circuited the CAN-bus network/RF Hub, causing active dashboard failures including 'Service Shifter' and 'ParkSense Temporarily Unavailable.' The vehicle is at immediate risk of locking in Park, stalling, or failing to shift while driving, creating an immediate crash hazard. Additionally, the exhaust manifolds are leaking, risking exhaust gas intrusion into the cabin. The dealership, Earnhardt Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram at 1521 E Drivers Way, Gilbert, AZ 85297, has failed to resolve the water leaks over 4 separate visits this month." I was told a software update fixed the issue. Then at the last visit something electrical was replaced, the issue is still happening. The leaking rear cab air pressure vents have not been addressed in the previous 2 service appointments. This also allows water to leak onto the RF Hub

NHTSA ID

11770589

Incident

Oct 10, 2026

I am filing this complaint regarding a known, widespread, and concealed defect in the 5.7L HEMI engine with Multi-Displacement System (MDS) installed in my 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4. I have maintained this vehicle with oil changes every 3,000 miles. Despite this, at every consecutive oil change I have discovered significant metal debris in the drained oil, including chunks and shards, some curved in a distinctive pigtail or coil shape consistent with lifter roller bearing cage material and cam lobe debris as documented in the known HEMI cam and lifter failure pattern confirmed by dealer technicians nationwide. Symptoms include intermittent cold start tick occurring multiple times over the past year, loss of power in tow haul mode at high RPM, and a power loss event following extended towing while idling afterward. My consistent 3,000 mile oil change schedule directly contradicts FCA's standard defense that this failure results from owner neglect. A class action covering all 2014 and newer Gen III 5.7L and 6.4L HEMI engines received preliminary court approval June 29, 2026, with filings alleging FCA knew of this defect since 2012 and actively concealed it. No recall has been issued despite thousands of complaints. The camshaft sits above the oil splash zone receiving inadequate lubrication at idle. When MDS lifters fail, metal debris circulates through the entire oiling system causing catastrophic damage costing $3,500 to over $8,000. This poses a serious public safety risk. I am requesting NHTSA open a formal investigation and consider mandating a safety recall across all affected vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11770163

Incident

Oct 9, 2026

On XXX, approx. 1615 hours, I was traveling EB on I70 in [XXX]. The cruise control was set at approximately 72MPH. I was in the left lane of travel and both my wife and I heard a revving noise and as I looked at the dashboard, I noticed the RPM gauge was high, I hit the brakes and started to go to the right lane and the entire vehicle shut down. All within a matter of 5-10 seconds. The dash indicated to put the truck in park to start it. I was able to make it to the shoulder and get the vehicle stopped and in park. I popped the hood and looked around the engine compartment. I saw no fluids leaking and no steam or smoke coming from the engine. I then attempted to restart the vehicle and it did absolutely nothing. Vehicle was towed to a RAM dealership, [XXX] CRJD in [XXX]. The did a cursory inspection ad determined that the engine was seized up but gave no indication as to the cause. Recommendation was to replace engine at a cost of nearly 18K dollars. Upon conducting further investigation on my own, I discovered that the Z46 recall of the HPFP, described with total accuracy what I experienced on the highway that day. The recall was performed on my vehicle on XXX. It is fully my belief that the fuel pump that was replace through the recall has now failed in the same manner as described in the recall and was the cause of the complete engine failure. I have notified the dealership of my findings and opinions, and they are unwilling to investigate further without direction from the manufacturer. Notified Service Manager, [XXX]. (XXX) 1302 hours On XXX (1310 hours) I notified the RAM Recall Team, [XXX], of the situation. He advised that it was to be escalated to case/claim and that I would be contacted by a case file agent. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11768572

Incident

Sep 28, 2026

MY LOCAL DODGE DEALER INFROMED ME THAT MY OIL PAN NEEDS REPLACED WHEN I TOOK TRUCK IN FOR NORMAL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. A $1700.00 REPAIR AND MY 2019 DODGE RAM BIGHORN TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFTEY HAZZARD THAT DODGE SHOULD BE RESPONISBLE FOR ON A 6 YEAR OLD TRUCK WITH ONLY 90,000 MILES ON IT. A RUSTED OIL PAN CAN CAUSE SUDDEN OIL LOSS AND ENGINE FAILURE, WHICH MAKES IT A SAFETY CONCERN.

NHTSA ID

11765870

Incident

Aug 6, 2026

The vehicle loses power unexpectedly without triggering a MIF indicator or logging a OBDII diagnostic code. The problem is the crankshaft position sensor temporarily fails causing the vehicle to stall, in my case, in stop and go traffic, which caused an accident. Once the 'Heat Soak' effect passes, the vehicle start and drives normally again. The fix, to preventing it from happening again and solving the heat soak problem, is to replace the crankshaft position sensor with an OEM part which is less susceptible to the ambient heat (heat soak) due the proximity to the exhaust manifold. And, to have the software in the PCM 'Flashed' or upgraded to allow for a greater signal tolerance from the crankshaft position sensor. The problem and fix where confirmed by Auto-Nation Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM, [XXX], where I purchased the OEM part and had their service department 'Flash' the PCM for the software upgrade. The service department and the parts clerk agreed that TSB 18-020-26 applied, dated XXX. Upon further research I discovered a recall report: 18v-049 Part 573 Safety recall report. It is proof FCA US LLC (Manufacturer of my 2019 Dodge RAM 1500 Classic) knew about the problem with the Pentastar 3.6L engine. The same 3.6L engine in the recall. Or, they should have know about the potential problem. Although my vehicle was not part of the 18v-049 recall, it has the same 3.6L engine and exhibited the same engineering shortcomings as the recalled engine? As a concerned citizen I felt compelled to bring the public safety problem to your attention, even though I feel I am not the only one who has complained about the problem. And, because I feel strongly about this, I am planning to file suite in small claim court against the manufacture: FCA US LLC. I would like to update your office with a copy of the filing as soon as I am issued a court date. Thank you for your time and consideration. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11765672

Incident

Sep 4, 2026

My 2019 ram 1500 had the hemi tick sound. Took it in to the dealership to check and verified it was a failed lifter and had metal shavings inside the motor. Dealership said I needed a whole new engine costing around 18,000 dollars. They also refused to warranty it even though there was a bulletin on this specific issue. It had 113k when I brought it in. My certified pre owned warranty lasted until 100k but still didn’t want to warranty it. I went ahead and rebuilt the engine myself costing around 10k. Now I’m hearing clunking noise when I’m in a low gear taking off again around 20mph possibly my transmission now. Has 130k miles now.

NHTSA ID

11763724

Incident

Nov 22, 2024

The 48-Volt Belt-Driven Hybrid Starter Generator / Motor Generator Unit (MGU / eTorque Alternator) suffered a catastrophic failure on my vehicle at approximately [Insert Mileage, e.g., 140,000] miles. The failure occurred while traveling out of state away from home, causing a sudden loss of vehicle charging, dashboard electrical errors ("Battery Saver Mode"), and creating an imminent threat of an engine stall in live traffic. Due to widespread manufacturer part backorders exceeding tens of thousands of units, my vehicle was forced to sit at a dealership until I could pay thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for a component that Ram has actively removed from newer production vehicles due to its high failure rate. This is a severe, systemic durability and safety issue affecting thousands of trucks. I am requesting that NHTSA force FCA/Stellantis to issue a safety recall and establish a retroactive reimbursement program for all owners who paid out-of-pocket for MGU replacements. I possess the official out-of-state dealership invoice and proof of payment.

NHTSA ID

11761964

Incident

Aug 14, 2026

The contact owns a 2019 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally strong exhaust odor inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the exhaust manifold needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was concerned that the failure posed a safety risk due to the potential inhalation of carbon monoxide. Additionally, the contact stated that a previous model year vehicle that the contact owned was previously repaired due to the same failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ID

11757894

Incident

May 19, 2026

Mileage

63,000 mi

This has now happened 3 separate times. Once 1 month ago, my husband and I were on the connecting road from [XXX] toward [XXX] by the water plants stopped in traffic and the truck completely powered off at a red light. It took 30 seconds for the truck to power back on, and be restarted. It showed a check engine light the rest of the drive. The next time it turned on from being off there was no check engine light. Last week we were driving on a the main road toward our house going 30 miles per hour and coming up to a right turn then the truck stopped abruptly and died. It completely powered off and took 2 minutes to power back on. We were blocking a one lane road. It then showed a check engine light that went away after a few days. Today after getting ready to enter [XXX] going 55 miles per hour the truck showed a check engine light and the truck started to power down mid highway entrance and I had to try and pull off before it powered down completely. It took 5 minutes this time for the truck regain power enough to be restart fully. The check engine light is still on. It endangered both me and everyone behind me because I abruptly slowed down and risked not having anywhere to pull over on a highway. Every time it has failed I have been in the middle of a road, lane, highway/freeway. With no way to signal my truck has died and no way to move it. Police have not investigated this issue, no dealerships or shops have looked at this issue currently. The engine, powertrain, brakes, and electrical appear to be not functioning properly in these incidents but it is unknown of the root cause. There has been no other indication that this truck has had these issues or previous recalls for these incidents. This truck was bought from a dealership earlier this year without issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11756629

Incident

Aug 12, 2026

When driving, I get a prompt on my dash to switch to park and then desired gear. I get no response from my accelerator until I do so. This particularly happens when I’m slowing down and accelerating after a stop signs or traffic lights. Happens while in the middle of intersections. This happened about 7 times in the past month. Dealership said they couldn’t find a problem when I took it in. They did a transmission re-learn which I paid for and the issue happened twice since that appointment.

NHTSA ID

11755331

Incident

Aug 4, 2026

019 Ram 1500 5.7L eTorque MGU (Motor Generator Unit) failed on 08/29/2025 at 62,105 miles. Vehicle died on road and would not restart, creating a safety hazard. Dealer confirmed battery was severely discharged due to MGU failure — alternator was not putting out voltage necessary to charge battery, resulting in failed MGU. Vehicle was inoperable for 109 consecutive days (08/29/2025 through 12/16/2025) due to Stellantis parts backorder with no ETA provided. MGU is covered under Federal Emission Warranty (8 years/80,000 miles) per FCA US LLC 2019 Ram 1500 Warranty Booklet Section 5.1B. Stellantis denied all warranty obligations and failed to respond to a formal $40,125.00 certified mail demand for consequential damages. This defect is subject of active class action litigation: Fisher v. FCA US LLC, Case #2:23-cv-10426, E.D. Michigan

NHTSA ID

11749978

Incident

Aug 29, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while reversing and driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle experienced rough idling and failed to exceed 30 MPH while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 73,165.

NHTSA ID

11749290

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

Mileage

73,165 mi

My 2019 Ram 1500 equipped with the eTorque system experienced a sudden failure involving the eTorque/hybrid system at approximately 88,000 miles. The failure caused the vehicle to become disabled and left my [XXX] daughter and me stranded on a busy roadway, creating a serious safety hazard. The vehicle required towing and diagnosis by an authorized Ram dealership. I was informed that the failure involved the eTorque system/components and was required to pay approximately $3,298 for repairs. After researching the issue, I discovered numerous similar complaints involving Ram 1500 eTorque system failures, including reports of sudden shutdowns, loss of power, and expensive repairs. There are also pending lawsuits and NHTSA investigations involving these systems. I believe this represents a widespread safety-related defect involving the Ram eTorque system and request that NHTSA investigate these failures further. Please see attached document for further information. That letter was submitted to Ram for reimbursement purposes. Thank you! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11737150

Incident

May 6, 2026

On March, while I was leaving to take my children to school, I discovered a loud, heavy metallic knocking sound coming from the engine of my 2019 Ram 1500 Classic. As I depressed the gas pedal, the knocking frequency increased immediately with the engine RPMs. Prior to this total failure, I had noticed the truck feeling hesitant and "stuttering" when I was trying to accelerate from red lights in the days leading up to the incident. ​Because I was concerned the engine would stall or fail completely while my children were in the vehicle, I immediately stopped driving it. A subsequent inspection at Don White’s CDJR confirmed DTC P051B-00 (Crankcase Pressure Sensor Performance). This fault is a recognized indicator of excessive crankcase pressure, which NHTSA has identified as a precursor to sudden engine stalling and fire risks in 3.0L EcoDiesel engines (Ref: Recall 19V-757).

NHTSA ID

11732554

Incident

Mar 27, 2026

Camshaft and lifter failure As well as exhaust manifold leak

NHTSA ID

11730168

Incident

Feb 7, 2026

RF Module lost connection to CAN Bus and caused the vehicle to shutoff while driving. Symptoms include messages about key fob not within range and TPMS not able to communicate with sensors. RF Module was replaced however the issue returned. Other symptoms include parasitic draw caused by RF Module that in turn causes the system to report low voltage while driving. Vehicle has left me stranded on more than one occasion due to RF Module failures. These situations where preceded by no starts and shifter errors. Most of these issues can temporarily be resolved by disconnecting the main battery for extended periods. Dealer or service center has not reproduced the issue. Dealership inspected the RF module during installion of a new RF module after a water leak. The issue first appeared after the dealership repaired the "backlite" window, which was leaking on to the RF module. I suspect this might be related to system updates installed during the window installation service call. All of this started in early 2024.

NHTSA ID

11728128

Incident

Jun 21, 2024

UKNOWN ENGINE SIEZED WHILE DRIVING LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON BRIEFLY BEFORE STALL. NO EVIDENCE OF AN OUL LEAK BEFOREHAND. TRUCK WILL NOT START.

NHTSA ID

11724360

Incident

Nov 5, 2025

CUSTOMER STATES HIS VEHICLE IS TICKING MORE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS WARMED UP. CUSTOMER IS AWARE OF 250.00 ON DIAG. CUSTOMER IS AWARE OF 3-5 DAYS OUT ON DIAG. Cause: HEARD THE TICKING NOISE IS COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE. NEED TO REMOVE RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD TO INSPECT LIFTERS. FOUND CYLINDER 6 HAS A SLIGHT MISFIRE WHICH IS CORRESPONDING TO THE TICKING NOISE. LINE #B Cause: PULLED VVT FROM MOTOR AND FOUND A LOT OF METAL SHAVINGS ON IT. AS SHOWN IN VIDEO AND PICTURE. FOUND TSB S1709000010 - REV B. Customer complaints may include abnormal engine noise, rough idle, lack of power, misfire. AS PER TSB, NEED TO REPLACE MOTOR DUE TO METAL SHAVINGS INSIDE OILING SYSTEM. THE DEBRIS MAY CLOG OIL PORTS INSIDE MOTOR AND CREATE ISSUES IN THE FUTURE. Correction: NEED TO REPLACE LONG BLOCK All notes from dodge dealership service

NHTSA ID

11723522

Incident

Feb 1, 2025

Vehicle has sweet smell of coolant/antifreeze in the cab regularly. Appears to be a heater core leak. This is a safety issue due to potential engine failure and inhaling toxic chemical odors in the cab.

NHTSA ID

11723273

Incident

Mar 1, 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and hauling a 500 lb. trailer, the vehicle hesitated and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, a bearing made an abnormal grinding sound. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, opened the hood, and noticed dust on top of the eTorque Motor Generator Unit (MGU). The contact was able to restart the engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the Motor Generator Unit (MGU) had failed. The dealer informed the contact that continuous driving of the vehicle had caused the tensioner to overextend due to the loss of power by the MGU and bearing. The contact was informed that parts to repair the vehicle were on backorder. The vehicle remained with the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and filed a claim. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

NHTSA ID

11720658

Incident

Feb 1, 2026

Mileage

82,000 mi

The exhaust manifolds crack both of them which is a flaw that has not been recalled The leak started within a few months of owning the truck new it was under bumper to bumper warranty but the leak was not loud so I did not worry about it and it always passed emissions after the manufactures warranty was up i bought an extended warranty and it ran up still passing emissions, the truck got to about 110,000 miles I have never had to fix anything but battery, tires, and oil still passing emissions. The leak started getting louder especially with a cold motor and startup fuel milage has decreased and most importantly exhaust would come into the cabin during ideal so, if I'm in heavy traffic or stopped at a light it gets hard to breath I had to replace the exhaust manifolds because I take my grandson sometimes and I don't want him getting carbon monoxide poisoning.

NHTSA ID

11718895

Incident

Feb 1, 2026