2020 Ram 2500: problems, recalls and reliability
10 recalls and 162 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is fuel system, diesel (19% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · 1 new complaint in the last 90 days · latest recall Jan 2025
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 162 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“RAM COMPLIANCE RECALL PORTAL DROPPED (MOPAR Y78) VIN:[XXX] / Miles:110,862 Static 1.Driveway photo [XXX] proves 50PSI idle oil pressure, 0 warning lights on June 30. 2.Video [XXX] captures raw CP4 pump shards in filter housing. 3.Dealer faked portal closure July 7 without flush. Forced engine start thrashed valvetrain, gear indexes & rocker arms post-intake. Full 12-pg matrix brief sent under corporate Case #[XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”Owner report · Power Train · Jun 2026
“2500 Truck randomly activates emergency braking for no reason. Occurs a couple times a month. Every occurrence has zero obstructions in front. I took it to the Tate Ram dealer (frederick MD) and they refused to update their software unless I pay them +$285.00. The Ram dealer is even aware of the software issue. I told them this is a life safety issue and not my fault. I requested the fix immediately but refused. I also have an active full MOPAR warranty, and they still said it's not covered. This is insane”Owner report · Forward Collision Avoidance · Oct 2025
“As I was operating my vehicle on I95 northbound smoke began to pour out of my vents. I was able to pull over and was able to determine there was a fire behind the radio in my truck. I immediately grabbed the personal affects that I could grab and called 911. However within 5 minutes the cab of the truck.was engulfed im flames.”Owner report · Electrical System · Sep 2025
Show 7 more owner reports
“I pushed my breaks and the hydro booster started spraying fluid inside the cab I lost my breaks I was backing up down my sister's drive way hit a telephone pole with the back of the truck it made a little dent”Owner report · Service Brakes · Aug 2025
“Ram and it's parent company know there is an issue with the brake systems on their 3/4 ton pickup trucks. The 2500's. There is excessive travel in the brake petal and not enough pressure builds up in the system to activate the brakes correctly and adequately. It's all over the ram 2500 online forums. Many people are experiencing this issue with new trucks. Ram and its parent company Stellantis are unwilling to do anything about it.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jul 2025
“Too much travel in brake pedal. Feels spongy. Weak brakes, hard to stop vehicle. Have to put pedal to the floor. Was told this was OK and normal at the dealership. Has been like this since I bought the vehicle new.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jul 2025
“The parking brake will not operate. Upon inspection the teeth on the gear are broken causing it to lock at top position. Dealership would not warranty safety part at 30,059 miles on vehicle so now I am left with no parking brake to protect vehicle from rolling on hill. Keep in mind vehicle is always used for towing 12,000 pounds or more.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jun 2025
“Vehicle randomly shuts off during normal operation. Same as if the Start / Stop button were activated. Vehicle coasts until it self applies the emergency brake at about 3mph causing a sudden, jerky complete stop. Switches itself to Park. Dash indicates "sterp on brake to restart". Vehicle restarts normally but may randomly shut down again. Safety risk is loss of steering, loss of power brake control, and total loss of power in traffic. Taking it to dealer today. Vehicle has not been inspected by anyone yet. No messages or warning lights display. This is a recent problem but recurring with increasing frequency.”Owner report · Electrical System · May 2025
“Traction control kicks on while driving on dry pavement and the truck bogs down like there isn't any power. The truck slows down abruptly and will not speed back up without pulling to the side of the road and I have to shut it off and reset. The drive selector knob lights starts flashing and now they don't come on at all. This has happened on 4 occasions”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Mar 2025
“Issue is that the on the Diesel intake heater core has a bolt that comes loose from inside the manifold and can fall down into the cylinder and can cause catastrophic failure.”Owner report · Electrical System · Feb 2025
When filing, owners marked a crash in 5 of these complaints and injuries in 4 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 10 campaigns
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Cherokee, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, and Jeep Renegade and 2019 Dodge Challenger vehicles equipped with 8.4" or 12" radio displays. A software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update available as of May 1, 2020. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W30-W37.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Ram 2500 and 1500 vehicles. The driver side mirror glass can detach from the backing plate and no longer provide a reflective surface. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side mirror glass, free of charge. The recall began November 5, 2020. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W70.
FCA US, LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Ram 2500 and 2020-2022 Ram 3500 vehicles. A build-up of pressure and heat inside the transmission may result in a transmission fluid leak from the dipstick tube.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the transmission dipstick and transmission vent assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 29, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is ZA3.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500 pickup trucks, and Ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 cab chassis vehicles equipped with Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engines. The High Pressure Fuel Pump (HPFP) may fail, resulting in a sudden engine stall without warning.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the HPFP, update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software, and inspect and replace additional fuel system components as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters to inform owners of the safety recall were mailed on January 4, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 17, 2022. Phase 2 owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on March 2, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y78.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ram 2500 and 2021-2022 Dodge Durango vehicles, and 2019-2022 3500 cab chassis with GVWR less than 10,000 lbs. The ABS control module software may prevent the electronic stability control (ESC) malfunction indicator light from illuminating during certain conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Remedy: Dealers will update the ABS control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z20.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Ram 3500, Ram 1500, 2016-2020 Ram 2500, and 2016 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis vehicles. The right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect.
Remedy: Dealers will replace one or both side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's numbers for this recall are 05C, 09C, and 10C.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 vehicles, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, 5500 Cab Chassis and 3500 Cab Chassis with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs. The windshield wiper arms may loosen, possibly causing the wipers to function improperly and reduce the driver's visibility in certain weather conditions.
Remedy: Dealers will tighten the wiper nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2022. This recall is an expansion of recall number 20V-208. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z08.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 2500 and 3500 Pickup vehicles equipped with six-speed automatic (68RFE) transmissions. A build up of pressure and heat inside the transmission may result in a transmission fluid leak from the dipstick tube.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission valve body separator plate and reprogram the powertrain control module. The recall began March 2, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W03.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 pickup trucks. The tailgate may not latch properly due to misaligned tailgate strikers, which could result in the tailgate opening while driving.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the tailgate striker alignment to the box latch and adjust, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 22, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is ZB8.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 Pick-up trucks equipped with an accessory bed step. In certain side loading conditions, the bed step may unexpectedly fail while in use.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the bed step support brace, free of charge. The recall began on July 9, 2020 (RAM 2500) and began on October 6, 2020 (Ram 3500). Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's numbers for this recall are W24 and W44.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2020 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact 2500 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2020 Ram 2500 reliable?
NHTSA has 162 owner complaints and 10 recall campaigns on record for the 2020 Ram 2500. The most complained-about area is fuel system, diesel (19% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2020 Ram 2500 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 17,500 miles or less.
Does the 2020 Ram 2500 have open recalls?
10 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning back over prevention: sensing system: camera. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.