2020 Ram 3500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
115 owner complaints analyzed
11 distinct recall campaigns
26,350 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 44 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 115 complaints (27.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 24 | 20.9% |
| Braking behavior | 21 | 18.3% |
| Engine operation | 13 | 11.3% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 10.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 6.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 5.2% |
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 | 32 |
| Engine | 27 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 21 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Steering | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 32; Engine: 27; Fuel System, Diesel: 21; Power Train: 11; Electrical System: 7; Service Brakes: 7; Steering: 7; Unknown Or Other: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 4
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 71 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 | 8 |
| 2021 | 37 |
| 2022 | 27 |
| 2023 | 21 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2020: 8; 2021: 37; 2022: 27; 2023: 21; 2024: 9; 2025: 6; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 24 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 13 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 11361596 · 2020-09-28 (September 28, 2020)
I PURCHASED A KNEW 20 RAM 3500 AND ALL THOUGH I HAVEN'T HAD THE ISSUE HAPPEN TO ME YET, I'M A NERVOUS WRECK THAT IT WILL AND MY FAMILY AND I WILL BE STRANDED. THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVING EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FAIRLY NEW CP4 FUEL PUMP. WHEN THIS GOES, IT TAKES OUT THE WHOLE FUEL SYSTEM RESULTING IN $17,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE. WHAT'S WORSE IS THAT YOUR STRANDED ,WITH OUT A VEHICLE. DEALERSHIPS ARE ONLY DOING A LIMITED AMOUNT OF LOANERS BUT NOT A VEHICLE EQUAL TO WHAT YOU HAD. SOME HAVE WAITED FOR MO…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11361596 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11366401 · 2020-10-26 (October 26, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND TOWING A GENERATOR UP A HILL, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE DIESEL EXHAUST AND ENGINE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE TOWED TO PLATINUM CHRYSLER DODGE RAM JEEP LOCATED AT 65 TX-557 SPUR, TERRELL, TX 75160, [phone removed], WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE FUEL PUMP TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 16,68…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,684 miles reported. Look up ODI 11366401 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11372337 · 2020-10-30 (October 30, 2020)
I WAS TOWING MY 5TH WHEEL TRAILER FROM RANCHO CUCAMONGA TO SAN DIEGO. WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON I-15, ALMOST NEARBY EXIT 15. SUDDENLY THERE IS A ERROR ON THE SCREEN , SAID 'EXHAUST BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED , ASK ME GO TO DEALER'. THEN I FOUND THERE IS NO POWER ANYMORE . I TRIED TO PRESS THE PEDAL AGAIN , STILL NO POWER. THEN I ROLLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. WHEN THE SPEED CAME DOWN TO ABOUT 15MPH, THE ENGINE STOPPED. THEN I POOLED OVER , AND TRIED TO RESTART IT . NOTHING HAPPENED. I CAN HEAR IT TRYING TO START, BUT NO START ANYMORE. THEN I CAL…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11372337 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11386132 · 2021-01-02 (January 2, 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 11386132 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11351441 · 2020-08-26 (August 26, 2020)
NEW RAM SHUT DOWN & WONT RUN. DIAGNOSIS DONE BY DEALER TO CONCLUSION OF FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE. DEALER SAID NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX TRUCK. 3RD TRUCK SINCE LATE JUNE. 2019 RAM 2500 WITH DIESEL ENGINE FAIL 30000MI 2020 RAM 3500 WITH SAME ENGINE 9600MI 2020 RAM 3500 4400MI WHICH TURN OUT TO HAVE CONSECUTIVE VIN# FIRST RAM FAILED PARKED SECOND RAM FAILED IN MOTION 3RD RAM FAILED PARKED
Owner-reported narrative. 4,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11351441 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11375428 · 2020-11-19 (November 19, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH HAULING A HORSE TRAILER, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STEERED THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT FOR SIX MILES SINCE THERE WAS A TRUCK IN FRONT AND BEHIND HER. THE CONTACT WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PULL OFF A STRAIGHT AWAY EXIT RAMP AND PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER - LARRY GREEN AUTO GROUP (350 S. BROADWAY, BLYTHE, CA 92225 [phone removed]) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11375428 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11387137 · 2021-01-08 (January 8, 2021)
WHILE DESCENDING A MOUNTAIN PASS, TRAVELLING AT 75 MPH, PULLING A 20' ENCLOSED CAR TRAILER, MESSAGE IN CLUSTER SAID "POWER STEERING UNAVAILABLE" AND THE POWER STEERING WAS GONE. PULLED OVER, CHECKED FOR LEAKS, BLOWN FUSE, AND BELT CONDITION AND FOUND NO ISSUES. RESTARTED VEHICLE AND IT FUNCTIONED FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS AND QUIT AND DISPLAYED THE MESSAGE AGAIN. VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 3,200 MILES ON IT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP ON 12/18/2020, HAVE MADE NUMEROUS CALLS TO RAM CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND THE BEST INFORMATION THEY CAN GIVE ME IS THAT THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11387137 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11473036 · 2022-07-09 (July 9, 2022)
Last week this took place: 2020 Ram 3500 Dual rear wheels AISON transmission is outfitted with factory trailer brake module. Was hauling a horse trailer near 30,000 lbs to a horse show, caravaning with crew pulling another horse trailer about the same weight with a 2020 Ram 3500 (Vin #[VIN removed] (see separate complaint)). All connections checked before departure. Unlike the other Ram in the caravan, No ABS warning light activated prior to the failure. When braking, no trailer brakes engaged. Then checked hand paddles on the factory trail…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11473036 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11497871 · 2022-12-17 (December 17, 2022)
While leaving the veterinary office parking lot there is a short steep hill. As I started up the hill slowly as there are pedestrians around. About halfway up my truck starts rolling backwards as if the transmission has shifted into neutral I hit the brakes to stop and then start out again. This has happened about 5 times in the same place since I have owned the truck and one other place that also was a short steep driveway. I did take the truck to the dealership and they could not recreate the problem but they did do an update to the TCM. So f…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11497871 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11447086 · 2022-01-11 (January 11, 2022)
The contact owns a 2020 RAM 3500. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the oil warning light was illuminated, and the vehicle made abnormal sounds. Additionally, there was smoke coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact pulled over and refilled the oil reservoir; however, the failure recurred with oil leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed with engine damage and connecting rod failure, which punctured the engine block. The engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired an…
Owner-reported narrative. 213,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11447086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11487812 · 2022-10-04 (October 4, 2022)
The contact owns a 2020 Ram 3500. The contact stated that after his son started the vehicle, there was a metal-on-metal sound coming from the engine. The contact stated that his son was not aware of any warning lights being illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V511000 (En…
Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11487812 at NHTSA ↗