Ram 4500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
47 owner complaints analyzed
41 distinct recall campaigns
56,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 28 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 47 complaints (21.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 27.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 12.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 10.6% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 8.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 10 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Suspension | 4 |
| Wheels | 4 |
Engine: 10; Power Train: 8; Service Brakes: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 7; Steering: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Suspension: 4; Wheels: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 19 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 |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 6 |
2015: 3; 2016: 5; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 7; 2020: 3; 2021: 5; 2022: 3; 2023: 4; 2024: 3; 2025: 5; 2026: 6
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 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 10782833 · 2015-10-16 (October 16, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE RAM 4500.THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE REAR BRAKE CALIBERS WERE STUCK TO THE SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10782833 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10714805 · 2015-05-06 (May 6, 2015)
IN NOVEMBER 2014 I PURCHASED A SECOND RAM 4500 AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOT AS GOOD AS MY PREVIOUS 4500 THAT I STILL HAVE. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SELLING DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. I DROVE THE TRUCK AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS GETTING LOWER AND SPONGY AND THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE TRUCK LIKE THEY SHOULD. I TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO ANOTHER DEALER ON 3/11/15 WITH SAME COMPLAINT THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. WHEN I PICKED THE TRUCK UP I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE WORKING CORRECTLY. I ASKED WHAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,032 miles reported. Look up ODI 10714805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11181586 · 2019-02-21 (February 21, 2019)
2014 RAM 4500 G56 TRANSMISSION DON'T DO ANY HARD SHIFTING OR ANYTHING ELSE SHIFT LEVER BROKE CLEAN OFF TODAY SHIFTING INTO SIX DOING 45 MPH, NOT A HARD SHIFT NO GRINDING GEARS JUST DROPPED INTO GEAR AND THEN SNAPPED OFF. THE TECHS TELL ME THAT IS IS AN "ISOLATOR" WHICH KEEPS THE VIBRATION DOWN, BUT THE SHIFTER IS ONLY HELD TOGETHER BY RUBBER. THIS IS ON A HEAVY DUTY WORK TRUCK AND THE PIECE IS HELD TOGETHER BY RUBBER. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE I WAS TOWING A TRAILER WHEN IT BROKE LEAVING ME STUCK IN 6TH GEAR UNABLE TO M…
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11181586 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10927414 · 2016-11-22 (November 22, 2016)
I AM WITH A STATE DOT AND WE HAVE EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION WATER INTRUSION INTO A TRANSMISSION BULKHEAD CONNECTOR ON TWO TRUCKS WITH A THIRD UNCONFIRMED. THE MODELS AFFECTED ARE FROM THE 2014 AND 2015 MODEL YEARS FOR THE RAM 4500 AND 5500. THIS BULKHEAD CONNECTOR IS LOCATED NEAR FRONT WHEEL SPLASH AND IT IS NOT PROPERLY PROTECTED. WHEN WATER ENTER THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR, THE TCM CAN SHORT CIRCUIT AND AN INPUT SPEED SENSOR CAN SHORT CIRCUIT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING TO THE DRIVER WHICH RENDERS THE TRUCK TO LOSE THE TRANSMISSION FUNCTIONALITY WH…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10927414 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11376793 · 2020-11-28 (November 28, 2020)
IST TIME, APPROX. 29,000 MILES, WITH NO WARNING, VEHICLE RAN POORLY, ROUGH AND DIED. STRANDED ON SIDE OF ROAD FOR 4 HOURS UNTIL A TOW TRUCK CAME. DIAGNOSED AS HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. SECOND TIME, APPROX 39,000 MILES, SAME ISSUE OF STALLING, EXCEPT THIS TIME I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT WITH 114 DEGREE TEMP FOR 8 HRS. BEFORE A TOW. SAME DIAGNOSIS, HIGH PRESSURE PUMP FAILURE. ALL DOCUMENTATION AVAILABLE THROUGH FCA CUSTOMER CARE CASE 76826889 AND ALSO [XXX] | CASE 76201975 REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFO…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11376793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11397290 · 2021-02-22 (February 22, 2021)
AT ONLY 4 MONTHS SINCE VEHICLE IS PURCHASED, FUEL PUMP IS LEAKING. (POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD) ALSO HAD EXPERIENCED DEATH WOBBLE SEVERAL TIMES WHEN GOING MORE THAN 60 MPH. STEERING ISSUE, POTENTIAL HAZARD
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11397290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10917729 · 2016-10-21 (October 21, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 RAM 4500. WHILE MAKING TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10917729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11113352 · 2018-07-24 (July 24, 2018)
THE AMBULANCE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THEY FELT A VIBRATION THEN HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE CAB FILLED WITH SMOKE AND THEY LOST STEERING, BRAKES AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. ENGINE THEN CAUGHT ON FIRE. AFTER THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, FOUND THAT THE TRANSFER CASE WAS IN PIECES. FOUND ENGINE HARNESS DAMAGE, BOTH DRIVESHAFTS, BRAKE AND FUEL LINES DAMAGED. AMBULANCE BOX AND TRUCK FLOOR BOARD DAMAGED.
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11113352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11691170 · 2025-10-03 (October 3, 2025)
The contact owns a 2020 Ram 4500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH during a rainstorm, the windshield wipers were activated; however, the windshield wipers failed to engage as needed. The contact attempted to activate the windshield wipers several times, but the windshield wipers stopped operating. The contact pulled over and waited out the rainstorm. The rain had not stopped, and the contact drove to a filling station, checked the electrical fuse for the windshield wipers, and then replaced the fuse. The contact state…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11691170 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2013: 9; 2014: 9; 2015: 8; 2016: 7; 2017: 7; 2018: 7; 2019: 9; 2020: 9; 2021: 5; 2022: 4; 2023: 4; 2024: 2; 2025: 4; 2026: 4