2019 RAM 5500 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 5500, 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 system646.2%
- Brakes215.4%
- Engine215.4%
- Body & structure17.7%
- Powertrain (other)17.7%
- Tires & wheels17.7%
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 5500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic associated the failure with the diesel pump. The mechanic informed the contact that the diesel pump was previously replaced with a generic part. The contact stated that a recall associated with the failure was previously performed by the dealer. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the repair was not covered under warranty or a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
The DEF system failed on this truck at the end of 2025. The truck has entered limp mode, and if we continue to drive it, it will shut down completely. The vehicle has been at Darling's RAM in Ellsworth, ME since March 2026, and they say that they are still waiting for the parts. Why aren't parts available?? They have no idea when parts will be shipped from the manufacturer. Why is this at all acceptable?? I am running a business, and I am having to cancel orders from my customers because Stellantis is not sending the parts. This makes the vehicle unsafe to drive, and I feel that this is unacceptable.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2019 Ram 5500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V759000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and 21V880000 (Fuel System, Diesel) however, parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The dealer was made aware of the issue and the contact was informed there was a limited quantity of available parts. The contact was placed on a waiting list. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 RAM 5500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WHILE DRIVING ON WET SURFACES, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS MORE CONTROLLABLE WHILE DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, AN APPOINTMENT TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I would like to report a major safety concern with the push button start system and programming on the 2019 and up 5500 cab and chassis with the 6.7 Cummins. On November 29th we had a 2019 Ram 5500 that went in the ditch and ended up on its side because of soft ground. It was laid fully on the passenger side. It was still running. Operator tried to turn off engine and it would not. After he climbed out drivers side window he tried to clamp off fuel line. Truck continued to idle until it stuck a few of the main bearings to the crank shaft . truck was towed in and all fluids were checked and filled as needed. Turning the engine over with a barring tool was I was able to free it up. I charged batteries and turned on key it wouldn’t crank. (shifter was in park when unit was unloaded off wrecker into shop) PCM has numerous codes including lost communication with TCM. Didn’t display gear selecting in cluster. After clearing codes truck would start and run. These chassis’ will not turn off if the transmission dash display does not display park or neutral and will not turn off if PCM loses communication with TCM even if transmission is in park or neutral.. Luckily this was not an accident were anything started on fire but chassis should either have a impact or tilt sensor or programmed so if you hold start button for a certain amount of time or press it a certain number of times it overrides ignition system. A mechanic with a 2019 2500 with the Cummins says that his manual states that it button is pushed and held it will turn ignition off after holding for 5 seconds. I test a couple of other 2019 5500”s that are located here and with transmission in drive, vehicle stopped motor running have held button for up to 3 minutes and pushed it up to 30 times and ignition will not turn off unless dash display shows park on neutral. If there had been damage to fuel lines it could have been pumping diesel fuel onto the accident scene
The contact's husband owns a 2019 Ram 5500. While her husband was driving 45 mph, he heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine as the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle stalled while depressing the accelerator pedal. Her husband pulled over to the side of the road and upon inspection, he discovered that smoke and a fire had started in the engine compartment. Her husband grabbed the fire extinguisher and extinguished the fire. The contact owns a towing company and was able to tow the vehicle to a dealer. The dealer informed the contact and her husband that a rod had gone through the engine block. The contact and her husband were provided an estimate for the repair which they declined. The contact had the engine replaced by an independent mechanic. Upon investigation, the contact discovered the vehicle had been placed under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V439000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) which she linked to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was initially provided a case number. The contact then received a call from the manufacturer that her claim was denied. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 164,716
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
While unloading cargo, I was standing on the flatbed of the truck, leaning over the standing side-gates, without realizing they weren’t locked in place. The gates fell down onto a co-worker and I fell out of the truck. Similar incidents have occurred before and after this accident. These gate latches don’t have any warning systems in place to indicate when they are unlocked. It is unknown if this component has been inspected by others.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
The transfer case shifted itself into neutral while driving on the highway. It wouldn't go into any other gears and it lost all functionality. I wasn't under load and had been maintaining a set 65 mph. There was no warning the RPMs just redlined. I set the vehicle into what registered as park and when I got out it continued to roll towards me. I had 3 small children in the vehicle at the time and had we not made it off the highway in time I hate to think what could have happened. I am a mechanic by trade and it is the only reason we were able to get it to a safe area.
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 5500. The contact stated that while one of his drivers was driving at an undisclosed speed, the tire tread detached and began to roll down the highway. The driver pulled over to the side of the road. There was no warning light illuminated. There was no injury sustained; however, the driver missed a week of work due to the traumatic experience from the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the diagnostic test was undisclosed; however, the wheel studs were replaced. The contact was concerned about the safety hazard presented with the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
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 .