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Engine & cooling

Ram 3500 Engine problems by year

280 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Ram 3500's engine & cooling. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Engine complaints by model year

YearEngine complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
20263000
20253000
20246000
20234000
202225001
202113000
202030122
201926102
201819000
201732001
201625002
201531011
201433102
201329013
20120001
20110001
20100001
20071000

Engine recalls

Engine

15V59200041 vehicles affected

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ram 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis and 4500/5500 Cab Chassis trucks manufactured July 31, 2015, to August 13, 2015 and equipped with a 6.7L Cummins Diesel engine. In the affected vehicles, the Engine...

Latest 3500 engine complaints

2015 Ram 3500SteeringSuspensionEngine & cooling

I own a 2015 Ram 3500 equipped with the 6.7L Cummins diesel engine. An authorized Ram dealership diagnosed an engine oil leak originating from the timing gear housing-to-engine block/cylinder block gasket. The leak has progressed beyond minor seepage. Engine oil is traveling down onto the chassis/track bar area and is leaving drops on the ground. The dealer estimated the repair at approximately $4,000 because of the extensive labor required to access and reseal the timing gear housing. My concern is that an engine...

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oil leak from this sealed housing may worsen over time and could potentially result in significant oil loss, contamination of nearby chassis components, or oil reaching hot engine/exhaust components depending on the path and severity of the leak. FCA/Stellantis has previously issued technical communications concerning oil leakage from the timing gear housing gasket. STAR Online Case [[redacted]], titled "Oil Leak From The Front Timing Gear Housing Gasket," instructed dealership technicians to document the leak location, photograph the condition, and measure the breakaway torque of the timing gear housing retaining bolts. FCA also issued later engineering communications involving the rear gear housing/timing case gasket on later Ram 6.7L diesel trucks, including requests to document loose housing bolts and retain removed bolts for engineering analysis. I am submitting this complaint because I believe this may represent a recurring engine oil leakage condition involving the timing gear housing on Ram heavy-duty trucks equipped with the 6.7L Cummins diesel engine. I am requesting that NHTSA review owner complaints and manufacturer technical communications to determine whether this condition presents a broader safety-related defect. Vehicle: 2015 Ram 3500 Laramie 4x4 Engine: 6.7L Cummins Turbo Diesel VIN: [[redacted]] Approximate repair estimate: $4,000 Dealer diagnosis: timing gear housing-to-engine block/cylinder block gasket oil leak INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Incident Steering · Suspension · EngineNHTSA 11769446
2026 Ram 3500Transmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

Trucks ignition system does not work properly; manufacturer has no way to diagnose the problem. possible fire hazard? drive system, was not built to factory standards, dealer advised to not to drive out of fear of blowing up while driving down the road.

Filed Incident Power train · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11766831
2024 Ram 3500Engine & cooling

The truck has a CEL P2459. The unit was taken back to the dealer on June 15, 2026, and they diagnosed an aftermarket air cleaner and regeneration. The CEL continued to display P2459, and I returned the truck to the dealer on 9/23. The dealer stated I had a defective air cleaner housing and was willing to pay 80% of the cost. They also said the restriction likely caused the DPF filter to plug because it caused excessive DPF generation. I believe this defective air housing may be on multiple units since these are...

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likely purchased in batches. Ram should replace all air cleaner housings from the manufacturer batch related to my unit. They should also cover any parts caused by this defective air cleaner housing. Ram should cover the plugged Diesel Particulate Filter and the air cleaner housing.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11766631
2019 Ram 3500Engine & cooling

1. Engine failed while driving. 2.This could have caused an accident if I were at highway speeds. 3. The cause of failure was a spent bearing on piston #3 due to lack of oil. 4. Per my mechanic an engine or rebuild kit is needed. This was a reported complaint in March of this year with a complaint number of #11724554. Their was no warning or low oil lamp which was a recall for some 2019 Rams, however my VIN was not included in that recall.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11766553
2025 Ram 3500Engine & coolingDriver assistance

Upon start up of the vehicle multiple warning codes appear; ABS turned off, 4 wheel drive temporarily disabled, Stability turned off, front and rear parking sensors disabled, Cruise Control disabled (in all forms). If vehicle is put into drive, or issue happens when the vehicle is already in drive; Unable to detect selected gear (switching from Drive/Reverse into Park) which results in not being able to turn the vehicle off.

Filed Incident Unknown or other · Engine · Forward collision avoidanceNHTSA 11763095
2020 Ram 3500Transmission & drivetrainEngine & coolingFire

We were pulling camper to Nashville TN. We pulled off I24 toward I65 North. I noticed the engine was raving and it felt like I was missing gears on the transmission. I was roughly 4 miles from my destination when I noticed smoke coming from under the hood on passenger side and flames coming from under hood on passenger side of the hood. I stopped the truck/ camper. Three of us had extinguishers trying to put fire out. The entire engingine compartment burned and fire intruded into driver compartment.

Filed Incident Power train · EngineNHTSA 11762938
2020 Ram 3500Fuel systemEngine & cooling

The contact owns a 2020 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle suddenly experienced reduced speed and hesitation, and there was a rattling noise coming from the engine as the RPMs increased above 1,500. The vehicle was driven slowly to a local dealer, where the contact was informed that the high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) had likely failed. The exact cause of the failure had not yet been determined, and the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V880000 (Fuel System, Diesel) and was experiencing the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 300,000.

Filed Incident Fuel system, diesel · EngineNHTSA 11759916
2025 Ram 3500Electrical systemBrakesEngine & cooling

I have been submitting reports to you for several months with no resolution. The truck yet again experienced the same problem, twice, within 1 week. It would start but then claim that it couldn't detect what gear it was in and said "can't shut off until transmission is in park". After cutting electrical power to get it to shut off, it would not start. After getting it started, it would not go into gear. Once I got the engine running and transmission to go into gear, it no longer had ABS.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 11759018
2017 Ram 3500Engine & coolingFire

The contact owned a 2017 Ram Promaster 3500. The contact stated that an employee parked the vehicle in front of an apartment complex, went inside the building to finish working; when the employee returned outside the building, the vehicle was on fire. No warning lights illuminated prior to the fire. The employee saw smoke and flames coming from the engine compartment. The Fire Department was contacted, arrived on scene, and extinguished the fire. No injuries were sustained. A Police report was not filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was towed to an undisclosed location. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 109,000.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11750400
2018 Ram 3500Engine & coolingElectrical systemFire

The contact owns a 2018 RAM 3500. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the contact noticed an abnormal cracking sound and smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact inspected and used a fire extinguisher to slow the smoke and electrical sparks down. The contact did not notice any fire. The fire department arrived and disconnected the electrical cables to prevent further damage. The contact stated that the vehicle was inoperable. In addition, the contact stated that the failure...

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occurred while the contact was traveling on vacation. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact was informed that the failure was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The vehicle was later towed to an RV service center. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 23,000.

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Electrical systemNHTSA 11748890
2023 Ram 3500Electrical systemAirbagsEngine & cooling

The contact owns a 2023 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving or while the vehicle was parked, the air bag warning light was intermittently illuminated. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the seat belt warning light was intermittently illuminated while the seat belt was securely buckled. The messages "Service ESC" and "Service Trailer Brake System" were displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Air bags · EngineNHTSA 11746488
2021 Ram 3500Engine & coolingDriver assistance

The contact owns a 2021 Ram 3500 . The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V720000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and 25V552000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that the remedy parts were not yet available and were on backordered. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Back over preventionNHTSA 11741292
2016 Ram 3500Transmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

The contact owns a 2016 RAM 3500. The contact stated that while her husband was driving on several occasions at various speeds, the vehicle lost power and did not accelerate as intended. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that her husband hooked the vehicle up to a handheld diagnostic machine where codes: P003A, P006a, P0046 populated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,500.

Filed Incident Power train · EngineNHTSA 11736634

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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