2020 Ram 2500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
162 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
10,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 54 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 40 of 162 complaints (24.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 24 | 14.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 20 | 12.3% |
| Steering behavior | 15 | 9.3% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 7.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 4.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 4.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 40 |
| Engine | 33 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 28 |
| Power Train | 20 |
| Unknown Or Other | 20 |
| Electrical System | 19 |
| Service Brakes | 11 |
| Steering | 10 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 40; Engine: 33; Fuel System, Diesel: 28; Power Train: 20; Unknown Or Other: 20; Electrical System: 19; Service Brakes: 11; Steering: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 35 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 35; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (35). 108 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 18 |
| 2021 | 28 |
| 2022 | 47 |
| 2023 | 37 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 14 |
| 2026 | 10 |
2020: 18; 2021: 28; 2022: 47; 2023: 37; 2024: 8; 2025: 14; 2026: 10
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 20 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11327290 · 2020-06-04 (June 4, 2020)
VEHICLE ENGAGES THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING AND ACTIVE BRAKING AT REDUCED SPEEDS WHEN TURNING INSIDE OF A PARKING GARAGE. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE CONFIRM SIMILAR INSTANCES. I HAD TO MANUALLY TURN OFF THE FORWARD COLLISION ACTIVE BREAKING JUST BECAUSE IT WAS SO SENSITIVE I WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE AT ANY SPEED INSIDE OF A PARKING GARAGE (PARTICULARLY WHEN APPROACHING A CORNER TO MOVE UP IN LEVELS) WITHOUT THE ACTIVE BRAKING OCCURRING. ANY VEHICLE FOLLOWING WOULD BE AT INCREASED RISK OF COLLIDING WITH MY VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 750 miles reported. Look up ODI 11327290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11328098 · 2020-06-10 (June 10, 2020)
THE SERVICE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MESSAGE COMES ON FOLLOWED BY THE SERVICE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL. SOMETIMES THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING ALSO FLASHES UNAVAILABLE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, IF I TRY TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL I GET ANOTHER MESSAGE THAT SAYS CRUISE CONTROL UNAVAILABLE. THIS BEGAN HAPPENING THE WEEK I PICKED UP THE TRUCK IN MARCH AND WAS INTERMITTENT, HAPPENING EVERY 2ND OR 3RD DAY. NOW IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I START THE TRUCK. I DID NOT TAKE THE TRUCK BACK TO THE DEALER UNTIL 3 JUNE 2020 BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 62 miles reported. Look up ODI 11328098 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11365426 · 2020-10-20 (October 20, 2020)
TRUCK LOST POWER AND DIED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. TRUCK WOULD NOT CRANK AGAIN AFTER IT LOST POWER. FUEL INJECTOR PUMP EXPLODED SENDING METAL THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11365426 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11384318 · 2020-12-20 (December 20, 2020)
THIS IS THE WORST TRUCK I'VE EVER PURCHASED, A SIMPLE FIX NEEDED TO THE PULLEY TENSIONER AND THE CLUTCH FAN IS NEEDED..BEEN TO DEALER TWICE GOING A 3RD TIME . THE FUEL PUMP CP4 IS A DANGER TO DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS AS THESE TRUCKS ARE MEANT FOR PULLING HEAVY LOADS AND MOSTLY ON INTERSTATES WHICH MAKES IT A DANGER. THE CP3 IS NEEDED BACK IN THE TRUCKS AS THERE IS A HORRIBLE FUEL PUMP CHATTER AT THIS POINT AND AN IMINANT FAILURE IS COMING SOON. ALSO THE TRUCK ROLLS IN PARK LIKE 5 FEET FOR NO REASON WHILE OFF IN PARK
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11384318 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11337107 · 2020-07-02 (July 2, 2020)
THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY NAVIGATES LEFT OR RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING, ALSO THE STEERING WHEEL HAS ALMOST NOT AFFECT TO THE VEHICLE GOING STRAIGHT. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, ROAD CONDITION DOES NOT MATTER IT IS AFFECTED ON BOTH CITY ROADS AND HIGHWAY ROADS. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY PULLING A TRAILER.
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11337107 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11343809 · 2020-08-07 (August 7, 2020)
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING FOLLOWED ALONG WITH A LIGHT ON ON THE DASHBOARD CLAIMING THAT POWER STEERING FAILED. IT BECAME EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN EVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,330 miles reported. Look up ODI 11343809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11386007 · 2021-01-01 (January 1, 2021)
THE 2019 TO 2020 MODEL YEAR RAM 2500 HEAVY DUTY EQUIPPED WITH A 6.7L CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINE HAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE A STALL AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE BOSCH CP4.2 FUEL INJECTION PUMP HAS A VERY HIGH RATE OF SUDDEN FAILURE LEADING TO IMMEDIATE STOPPAGE ON THE ENGINE AND ENGINE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE PUMP DESTROYS ITSELF AND TAKES OUT THE REST OF THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM LEADING TO REPAIRS IN THE $20,000 USD RANGE. FCA & RAM HAVE ATTEMPTED TO REVISE THE PUMP IN LATE (JULY) 2020 TO SOLVE THE ISSUE BUT THE FAILURES KEEP OCCUR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11386007 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11386765 · 2021-01-06 (January 6, 2021)
THE 2019 TO 2020 MODEL YEAR RAM 2500 HEAVY DUTY EQUIPPED WITH A 6.7L CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINE HAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE A STALL AND INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE BOSCH CP4.2 FUEL INJECTION PUMP HAS A VERY HIGH RATE OF SUDDEN FAILURE LEADING TO IMMEDIATE STOPPAGE ON THE ENGINE AND ENGINE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE PUMP DESTROYS ITSELF AND TAKES OUT THE REST OF THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM LEADING TO REPAIRS IN THE $20,000 USD RANGE. FCA & RAM HAVE ATTEMPTED TO REVISE THE PUMP IN LATE (JULY) 2020 TO SOLVE THE ISSUE BUT THE FAILURES KEEP OCCUR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11386765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11388423 · 2021-01-16 (January 16, 2021)
'POWER STEERING UNAVAILABLE SERVICE REQUIRED' MESSAGE APPEARED ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AT 4,596 MILES. POWER STEERING FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN LIGHT CITY TRAFFIC AND STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WITHOUT POWER STEERING ASSIST. POWERING CAR OFF AND ON DID NOT CLEAR THE ERROR. NOR DID DISCONNECTING/RECONNECTING BATTERY TERMINALS. VEHICLE SAT OVERNIGHT IN GARAGE AND POWER STEERING FUNCTION SEEMED TO RETURN THE FOLLOWING DAY, ONLY TO FAIL AGAIN AFTER 15-20 MINS OF LIGHT STREET DRIVING.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,596 miles reported. Look up ODI 11388423 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11438554 · 2021-10-28 (October 28, 2021)
My driver was driving 25mph when the whole dash and interior lights started flashing and the dash said electric steering was unavailable and 4wd disabled and braking disabled , the truck could not be steered or braked , my driver had to use the emergency brake to stop the truck and gooseneck trailer attached . The electrical disabled all electrical braking including trailer brakes and steering and 4wd . The transmission is also randomly doing a hard downshift into 4th gear and slamming him into the dash and will be stuck in that gear .
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11438554 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11375110 · 2020-11-17 (November 17, 2020)
ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2020, PURCHASED A VEHICLE AND TRADED IN A 2013 CHEV. ON 09/27 WE WERE DRIVING HOME ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 900 MILES.. ON 09/28 VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP( NOT PURCHASED FROM) IN WHICH NO ONE WOULD PAY TO HAVE TOWED. IT TOOK A WEEK TO BE TOLD A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. WAS GIVEN A RUN AROUND ON THE TIMEFRAME FOR REPAIR. CHRYSLER AND DEALERSHIP DECIDED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED. PROMISED TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION ON 10/14. CHRYSLER CALLED SEVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11375110 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11399726 · 2021-03-08 (March 8, 2021)
WINDSHIELD BROKE . NOTHING HIT IT. I TURNED THE DEFROST ON AND IT JUST STARTED CRACKING. TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING DEF PUMP WENT OUT HUB CAPS KEEP FLYING OFF
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11399726 at NHTSA ↗