2019 RAM 2500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2019 RAM 2500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Fuel system6225.9%
- Engine3313.8%
- Powertrain (other)2610.9%
- Electrical2610.9%
- Body & structure2510.5%
- Brakes177.1%
- Driver assistance135.4%
- Steering114.6%
- Airbags62.5%
- Visibility62.5%
- Seat belts41.7%
- Suspension31.3%
- Exterior lighting20.8%
- Interior & seats20.8%
- Tires & wheels20.8%
- Other / unspecified10.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2019 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, there was blue and white smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken back to the residence. The contact saw a cloud of smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact waited to see where the smoke was coming from and attempted to start however, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the high-pressure fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and filed a complaint. The failure mileage was 110,000.
Dealer has not responded to written requests to perform federally mandated Recall Y78 on my 2019 Ram 2500 (VIN: [XXX] ). I have been told recall work may be declined due to an insurance claim or vehicle history references. No manufacturer directive has been provided. I am requesting NHTSA review of recall nonperformance. Dealership is Hendrick Ram of Cary NC INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The truck acts like it running out of fuel when entering the hiway. One time it just died and restarted. Then several days later when pulling out onto the hiway the same thing happens. Last time was May 6. Acts like it’s running out of fuel. Keep pumping the petal and it takes off.
The contact owns a 2019 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal burning odor inside the vehicle. The contact assumed that the odor was coming from the AC and turned off the AC. No warning light was illuminated. The contact parked and turned off the vehicle at the residence. Later that night, the contact heard a loud bang coming from the vehicle. The next morning, the contact and her friend looked under the hood and discovered that the fuse box, harness, and cables were all melted. The contact used electrical tape to separate the cables. Upon investigation, the contact discovered on the NHTSA.GOV website that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V720000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The manufacturer had the vehicle towed to the dealer, where a third-party engineer inspected the vehicle. The engineer informed the contact that the fuse box and harness wiring had melted, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The manufacturer closed the case and refused to allow the dealer to perform the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
The transmission failed. Prior to the failure, the vehicle had an undiagnosed fluid leak believed to be coming from transmission-related hoses/lines. These hoses were replaced; however, the issue persisted and ultimately resulted in transmission failure. The failure occurred while the vehicle was in operation, which caused a sudden loss of power/drive capability. This created a hazardous situation, especially in traffic, as the vehicle was unable to accelerate or maintain speed, increasing the risk of a collision. The fluid leak and subsequent transmission failure were inspected by a service center. The leaking hoses were identified and replaced; however, this repair did not resolve the underlying issue, and the transmission ultimately failed. No indication of symptoms of failure prior.
Two snap rings in transmission came loose and caused a catastrophic fail while I was driving . No warning or sounds before it happened. Almost caused a multi vehicle pileup on the interstate. This is an issue that has been happening to all these trucks.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
My 2019 Ram 2500 with push‑button start became completely immobilized due to failure of the RF Hub Module. The truck has full electrical power but will not crank, will not click, and will not shift out of Park. The Check Engine Light blinks several times and stays on, and the security system does not activate. This is a known failure on 2018–2020 Ram HD trucks. The RF Hub controls the start authorization and immobilizer system, and when it fails the vehicle cannot be moved, even into Neutral. This is a safety hazard because the vehicle can become stranded in traffic or in unsafe locations. The part is on national backorder with almost no availability in the [XXX] , leaving owners without transportation for weeks or months. Chrysler/Stellantis has not issued a recall or provided alternative solutions. This is a critical safety defect that immobilizes the vehicle without warning.” INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I was driving at night when my wipers activated at full speed on there own causing my trucks horn and blinkers to stop working. I was with my wife and 2 children when this occurred causing my wife and I to feel very uncomfortable. Driving with this issue for an extended period. This is not the first time it has occurred Anna my truck only has 38,000 miles but this is the first time of it activating at night which is what made it that much worse and what ultimately got me to go to the dealer to have it looked at. I took it in and they determined it was the clockwork-steering column control mod. I have already gone ahead and paid for the parts which are back ordered and waiting on repairs.When this incident occurred I did not see or notice any prior warnings. Once I received the information of the issue I did research and found that trucks of the same year And model have been been recalled for this issue, however I did not see mine listed when I ran the vin. My truck has had 6 other safety recalls and I believe this is another recall that should be addressed.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?: The right-side tailgate hinge assembly on my 2019 Ram 2500 failed and became increasingly difficult to operate. The tailgate now requires excessive force to open and close throughout its entire range of motion. An independent body shop inspected the vehicle and determined that the hinge assembly requires replacement. The vehicle and failed component are available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The failure significantly affects the normal operation of the tailgate and requires excessive force to open and close. This creates a risk of injury while operating the tailgate and raises concerns regarding the continued safe operation of the tailgate assembly. The failure of a primary tailgate support component could also affect the tailgate's ability to function as intended. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The problem was inspected and confirmed by an independent body shop. The shop determined that the tailgate hinge assembly has failed and requires replacement. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle has been inspected by an independent body shop. At this time, the vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning lamps, messages, or diagnostic indicators were present. The only symptom was a progressive increase in the force required to open and close the tailgate. I started to notice the issue about a year ago. Since then, the condition gradually worsened over time to the point where when I open it and the tailgate pops out of position.
My rear back window is leaking into the cab. Water comes in around the rear headliner and down onto the seats. This is a known issue on 2019+ Ram trucks with the same backlite design — cracked upper frame and failed seal causing water intrusion.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
dash board displays trailer not connected when it is then lights and brakes goes out and will not come back on. this happens every time I haul. I have to pull over on the side and disconnect and reconnect tailer and shut off the engine and restart to reset. sometimes this works most times not. Last time it happened at 12am doing 70mph on I 95 and almost caused a severe accident. I have called dealer and the manufacturer and nhtsa and reported to no avail. This same control brake module on newer vehicles has been recalled but not on mine?
The contact owns a 2019 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and hauling a trailer, the trailer brake light was continuously flickering and shut off, and the warning message trailer not connected was erroneously displayed. The vehicle was turned off and restarted several times to correct the failure. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 38,000.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
We took a trip from Daleville, Alabama to Las Vegas, Nevada. Before we left, We took my 2019 RAM 2500 Bighorn diesel pickup to our local Ram dealership, Mitchel Chrysler Dodge in Enterprise, Alabama to have it inspected, to make sure there wouldn't be any problems along the way. They cleared it, and said there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. On my way, the steering wheel position started slipping to the left. after that, I received a waning on my dash that said " electronic stability control". So I took it to the closest RAM dealership, in Lawton Oklahoma, and they stated "needs a steering Gearbox replacement" and it would take two weeks to get the part, and then fix it. They told me it would be safe to drive. When I got to Las Vegas, at that point it was at the seven O'clock position. We took it to Chapman RAM dealership and they told me it was a loose jam nut and it had stripped the drag link. During the diagnosis they broke they clockspring on the air bag. They quoted that to fix the vehicle it would cost over three thousand dollars! They said it would not be covered on my mopar extended warranty. So I began researching it and found the recall- V06/NHTSA 19V-021 drag link for 2017-2018 (DJ) RAM 2500 pickup. My RAM was built in June of 2019. How can this still be a problem 6 months later after the recall ended? My safety and the safety of others could have been compromised if the drag link would have completely pulled out. I could have lost control of the vehicle and it could have caused a serious crash ending in injury or death to myself, and others.
The contact owns a 2019 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, the brake pedal was inadvertently applied with the Forward Collision Avoidance message displayed. The contact depressed the brake pedal, and then the accelerator to start the vehicle. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
We took a trip from Daleville, Alabama to Las Vegas, Nevada. Before we left, We took my 2019 RAM 2500 Bighorn diesel pickup to our local Ram dealership, Mitchel Chrysler Dodge in Enterprise, Alabama to have it inspected, to make sure there wouldn't be any problems along the way. They cleared it, and said there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. On my way, the steering wheel position started slipping to the left. after that, I received a waning on my dash that said " electronic stability control". So I took it to the closest RAM dealership, in Lawton Oklahoma, and they stated "needs a steering Gearbox replacement" and it would take two weeks to get the part, and then fix it. They told me it would be safe to drive. When I got to Las Vegas, at that point it was at the seven O'clock position. We took it to Chapman RAM dealership and they told me it was a loose jam nut and it had stripped the drag link. During the diagnosis they broke they clockspring on the air bag. They quoted that to fix the vehicle it would cost over three thousand dollars! They said it would not be covered on my mopar extended warranty. So I began researching it and found the recall- V06/NHTSA 19V-021 drag link for 2017-2018 (DJ) RAM 2500 pickup. My RAM was built in June of 2019. How can this still be a problem 6 months later after the recall ended? My safety and the safety of others could have been compromised if the drag link would have completely pulled out. I could have lost control of the vehicle and it could have caused a serious crash ending in injury or death to myself, and others.
The contact owns a 2019 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while her husband was reversing, there was an abnormal pop coming from the vehicle. In addition, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel independently turned to the left. Upon further inspection, the contact's husband noticed that there was a bolt that was loosened on the driver’s side of the steering gearbox. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a hairline fracture on the subframe due to rust. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. The VIN was not available.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
I was in an accident and my airbags did not deploy. I have a head injury. No Not yet No
Parked vehicle for a week in driveway. Sometime during that week side curtain airbag inflator unit exploded causing significant damage to the roof and interior of the truck. Vehicle was powered off and was not involved in a collision when this incident occurred. Vehicle was not included in the recall for this problem and I was never notified this could be an issue. If there had been a passenger in the rear seat they would have likely been severely injured by the explosion of the inflator.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
I was driving at night when my wipers activated at full speed on there own causing my trucks horn and blinkers to stop working. I was with my wife and 2 children when this occurred causing my wife and I to feel very uncomfortable. Driving with this issue for an extended period. This is not the first time it has occurred Anna my truck only has 38,000 miles but this is the first time of it activating at night which is what made it that much worse and what ultimately got me to go to the dealer to have it looked at. I took it in and they determined it was the clockwork-steering column control mod. I have already gone ahead and paid for the parts which are back ordered and waiting on repairs.When this incident occurred I did not see or notice any prior warnings. Once I received the information of the issue I did research and found that trucks of the same year And model have been been recalled for this issue, however I did not see mine listed when I ran the vin. My truck has had 6 other safety recalls and I believe this is another recall that should be addressed.
Wiper fluid supply lines disconnect, halting fluid from reaching windshield. Reconnecting manually does not maintain the connection. Mine have separated at different connectors multiple times.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
Air bag is showing not working and seat belt shows not secure along with warning light on dash. Not feeling secure in driving vehicle with kids or myself, dealer was advised and would not replace it unless i paid for it $1000.00 and they charged $200.00 to diagnose the issue that is considered a safety problem. Warning lights all over the dash, not safe driving. They are telling me its the occupant restraint module thats faulty
Front driver side seat belt does not retract/lock as it should. I'm worried for our safety if an accident occurs and the seatbelt does not hold driver in place. Has not been seen by dealer due to dealership wanting me to pay out of pocket. First started a few months back and has not resolved its self.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
vehicle is 2019 year, 2500 series, crew cab, 4wd, cummins 6.7 turbo diesel. Steering systems wanders and will not steer straight at all speeds. vehicle was bought used with 127,000 miles and was to be used just to pull a 9,000lb travel trailer. as of 03/27/2025 vehicle has been in repair shop over 4 weeks now. upper and lower ball joints replaced, steering gear box replaced, entire suspension system has been triple checked for worn or damaged parts but no problems found. front end alignment done 4 times but settings will not stay as adjusted to factory specs. rear suspension triple checked and no problems found. web searches display numerous postings of same complaints of dangerous steering problems.
POWER STEERING CONTINUES TO GO OUT, VIBRATION AND "STICKING" AS I PRESS THE BRAKE, AND CLUNKING IN THE SUSPENSION. DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIGURE IT OUT!!!!! VIBRATION OCCURS CONSTANTLY, MORE SO ON START UP. CLUNKING OCCURS WHEN GOING AROUND A TURN AT ANY MPH. I HAVE VIDEOS TO SHOW BOTH ISSUES!
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
dash board displays trailer not connected when it is then lights and brakes goes out and will not come back on. this happens every time I haul. I have to pull over on the side and disconnect and reconnect tailer and shut off the engine and restart to reset. sometimes this works most times not. Last time it happened at 12am doing 70mph on I 95 and almost caused a severe accident. I have called dealer and the manufacturer and nhtsa and reported to no avail. This same control brake module on newer vehicles has been recalled but not on mine?
THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH LED HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS. UNDER WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS (SNOW OR FREEZING RAIN) ICE WILL ACCUMULATE ON THE LENSES OF THESE LIGHTS AND VISIBILITY IS GREATLY REDUCED TO VERY UNSAFE LEVELS. THIS IS SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE ON ANY VEHICLE I OPERATED IN SIMILAR CONDITIONS, USUALLY THE HEADLIGHTS PRODUCE ENOUGH HEAT TO KEEP THE LENSES MELTED AND VISIBILITY IS NOT EFFECTED. I NOTIFIED RAM MUTABLE ABOUT THIS BUT THEY HAVE REFUSED TO OFFERED ANY SORT OF FIX. I FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THESE CONDITIONS WHICH ARE NOT UNCOMMON IN THE CLIMATES THESE VEHICLES ARE SOLD. I FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND A FIX NEEDS BE MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL VEHICLES WITH THESE SAME LIGHTS. I AM NO EXPERT BUT KNOW THIS COULD BE EASILY ADDRESSED BY ADDING A HEATING ELEMENT TO THE LENSES. THIS VEHICLE, AS WELL AS ALL OTHERS WITH THESE SAME HEADLIGHTS ARE EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN THE WINTER WITH THIS FLAW. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2019 Ram 2500. The contact stated while attempting to enter the vehicle, the driver’s side front interior door handle failed and the contact nearly fell to the ground. The contact indicated that a plastic post piece used to bolt and secure the handle had failed. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 5,300.
WHILE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAYS AND CITY STREETS, THE UCONNECT 4C NAV SYSTEM WILL FREEZE, REBOOT OR MALFUNCTION PREVENTING CONTROL OF THE STEREO VOLUME (CANNOT TURN DOWN OR OFF), PREVENT MANAGEMENT OF TOWING SETTINGS, DISABLES CONTROLS FOR SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL HEATING (CANNOT TURN OFF OR CHANGE PREFERENCES), OBSTRUCTS BLUETOOTH CALL MANAGEMENT, DISRUPTS VEHICLE NAVIGATION SYSTEMS AND BLOCKS CLIMATE CONTROL MANAGEMENT. IT ALSO VISUALLY DISTRACTS THE DRIVER BY REPEATED FLASHING A LARGE SCREEN ON AND OFF WITH NO ABILITY TO TURN OFF OR DISABLE IT AND CREATES AN INHOSPITABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR SAFE DRIVING. HERE IS A VIDEO THAT SHOWS THIS BEHAVIOR: HTTPS://WWW.DROPBOX.COM/S/MQLIWEXMQQMCSVF/IMG_4208.MOV?DL=0
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2019 RAM 2500 equipped with Fortune Tires, Tire Line: Fortune Tormenta R/T FSR309, Tire size: 35x12.50R20, and DOT Number: 04NL1RTPC. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle at 75 MPH, the vehicle started to vibrate, followed by a noticeable wobble at low speed. The contact pulled over to inspect the vehicle and discovered a very large bulge on the outer side of the front driver's side tire. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the tire with a busted belt. The tire was later inspected by an authorized Fortune tire shop, and the failure was deemed to be a manufacturer's defect. The contact stated that the failure had recurred while driving on a separate occasion. The contact puller pulled over sooner and discovered that the front passenger's side tire had also developed a matching large bulge. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. No further information was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle failure mileage was 143,497. The tire failure mileage was 11,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Ram 2500 equipped with Lexani Tires, Tire Line: Terrain Beast AT, Tire Size: LT285/60/R20, DOT Number: 1TBF2FA5C1624. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed with the contact's girlfriend driving behind the contact, the contact’s girlfriend became aware of an abnormality with the front passenger’s side tire. The contact's girlfriend called the contact and notified him of the failure. The contact had felt a wobbly sensation while steering the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and requested a wheel balance. While attempting to balance the wheel, the mechanic saw that the tire had immediately fallen over while standing. Upon further inspection, the mechanic discovered a bubble along the sidewall of the tire. The mechanic placed the spare tire on the vehicle until the contact was able to purchase a new tire. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but the contact had not yet received a response. The tire was a replacement tire. The tire failure mileage was approximately 20,000. The vehicle failure mileage was approximately 179,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TPMS system has stopped working and is not related to the sensors in the tires. All 4 sensors read with a handheld scanner but the system does not operate as it should. Dealership has checked the system and said the system is working as it should, yet the system is inoperable. This is a serious safety issue as anyone driving the vehicle will be unaware if there is a low tire and can lead to a blowout.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .