2020 RAM 1500 problems

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Twice in the past two years, the eTorque system had failed will driving on the highest. When the unit fails, you lose all power asks if you're battery is low, you can pose the ability to even steer. The first time, I was on the i87 going north, and barely made it off the road. I was nearly hit by several semi trucks because this was on a blind turn with very little shoulder and I basically had to hide in the woods for safety. Just this past week, less than two years after the replacement, the same issue happened again. This incident was on route 11, which is very busy and I was unable to get my vehicle of the road. An officer came to shield me until the tow truck came, but it was very sketchy. This total cost is over 3000$, and no support from Ram as to why this is happening. This past time the bearings went and there was a lot of smoke coming from the engine area. The smell of burning electronics was choking in the cab; at that point I had to get out of the truck due to the toxic fumes. I did file a complaint with them. With this being such a safety concern, why is there no recall? I can't be the only person having had to deal with this. From what the dealership says, this is happening a lot and there is currently an 8 month wait for the part. Just thought you should be aware of this very serious issue.

NHTSA complaint #11757290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

Twice in the past two years, the eTorque system had failed will driving on the highest. When the unit fails, you lose all power asks if you're battery is low, you can pose the ability to even steer. The first time, I was on the i87 going north, and barely made it off the road. I was nearly hit by several semi trucks because this was on a blind turn with very little shoulder and I basically had to hide in the woods for safety. Just this past week, less than two years after the replacement, the same issue happened again. This incident was on route 11, which is very busy and I was unable to get my vehicle of the road. An officer came to shield me until the tow truck came, but it was very sketchy. This total cost is over 3000$, and no support from Ram as to why this is happening. This past time the bearings went and there was a lot of smoke coming from the engine area. The smell of burning electronics was choking in the cab; at that point I had to get out of the truck due to the toxic fumes. I did file a complaint with them. With this being such a safety concern, why is there no recall? I can't be the only person having had to deal with this. From what the dealership says, this is happening a lot and there is currently an 8 month wait for the part. Just thought you should be aware of this very serious issue.

NHTSA complaint #11757290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

The power steering goes out at random times after the steering warning light comes on. This usually happens after the secondary cooling system kicks in. I have had it looked at by one mechanic who thinks it's the rack and pinion portion of the steering, he was unable to find a replacement part. It is a danger when it happens especially on a curve, it will cause the steering to try and go straight which leads to the truck crossing lanes of traffic which could result in an accident. This all began in May of 2026 when the weather started warming up. Did not have this problem the first 6 months of ownership during the cooler weather of winter and spring. This problem happens almost daily especially during the heat of the day.

NHTSA complaint #11756546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2020 Ram Promaster 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V552000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Three dealers, including Cross Jeep Chrysler (1501 Gardiner Ln, Louisville, KY 40218), were contacted. The dealers informed the contact that parts were not yet available and there was no date for the availability for the parts for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA complaint #11755961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

MGU Failed, 48v code P0DAF had early signs of premature failure. when on the highway, vehicle shut off completely, no power what so ever. Couldn't steer correctly and vehicle was going highway speeds (approximately 70mph) dealer has confirmed the issue being there MGU gone bad, but I have records of water intrusion multiple times on the rear seats, headliner & back glass (XL1) and water intrusion can cause BPCM to go bad along with the MGU to go bad. they first appeared on or around December 2025, most likely way before that but just never noticed it. check engine light came on and showed a code for the BPCM going bad and then I had the CHMSL replaced 3 times under warranty & then the 4th visit they did they urethane warranty superseded the XL1 and even after that fix, there water leak still occurred and dealership wouldn't fix it they stated Stellantis denied the back glass replacement and further repairs because im out of warranty but the warranty expires 8 Years/150,000 miles and my vehicle is only 6 years old and sitting at 118,350 miles. but the entire problem with water intrusion most likely started anywhere from 60-70,000 miles ago. even when I purchased the vehicle at 39,801 miles I noticed the water stains on the headliner but was advised the CHMSL caused that so it was fixed so technically the CHMSL was replaced roughly 4 times along with the original making it a total of 5 CHSML. so my issue is that its highly possible that the water intrusion that was never fixed for thousands of miles and many months leaked into the rear seats near the 48V Battery pack and eventually started shorting and lead to the MGU going bad. so this all could've been avoided if dealership fixed the water leak many many visits ago. along with the MGU could've been replaced under the major emissions comp warranty way. before that ever expired when it showed signs of premature wear like DTC codes popping up at 100,000 miles and even many more visits prior to December.

NHTSA complaint #11755103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MGU Failed, 48v code P0DAF had early signs of premature failure. when on the highway, vehicle shut off completely, no power what so ever. Couldn't steer correctly and vehicle was going highway speeds (approximately 70mph) dealer has confirmed the issue being there MGU gone bad, but I have records of water intrusion multiple times on the rear seats, headliner & back glass (XL1) and water intrusion can cause BPCM to go bad along with the MGU to go bad. they first appeared on or around December 2025, most likely way before that but just never noticed it. check engine light came on and showed a code for the BPCM going bad and then I had the CHMSL replaced 3 times under warranty & then the 4th visit they did they urethane warranty superseded the XL1 and even after that fix, there water leak still occurred and dealership wouldn't fix it they stated Stellantis denied the back glass replacement and further repairs because im out of warranty but the warranty expires 8 Years/150,000 miles and my vehicle is only 6 years old and sitting at 118,350 miles. but the entire problem with water intrusion most likely started anywhere from 60-70,000 miles ago. even when I purchased the vehicle at 39,801 miles I noticed the water stains on the headliner but was advised the CHMSL caused that so it was fixed so technically the CHMSL was replaced roughly 4 times along with the original making it a total of 5 CHSML. so my issue is that its highly possible that the water intrusion that was never fixed for thousands of miles and many months leaked into the rear seats near the 48V Battery pack and eventually started shorting and lead to the MGU going bad. so this all could've been avoided if dealership fixed the water leak many many visits ago. along with the MGU could've been replaced under the major emissions comp warranty way. before that ever expired when it showed signs of premature wear like DTC codes popping up at 100,000 miles and even many more visits prior to December.

NHTSA complaint #11755103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Loud whining sound coming from engine. The dealership confirmed a MGU Alternator failure.

NHTSA complaint #11755142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Fuel pump failure and fortunately it failed when I had stopped to get fuel.

NHTSA complaint #11754842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the engine seized. While attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that upon inspecting the vehicle, there were metal shavings inside the engine oil. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was later towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a high-pressure fuel pump failure. The contact was informed that metal shavings were found throughout the fuel system. The contact was informed that the fuel system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V767000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) in January 2025. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was awarded a goodwill discount of sixty percent off the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 99,051.

NHTSA complaint #11753821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact stated that there was water leaking from the rear window of the vehicle. The contact referenced Technical Service Bulletin: 23-098-23, detailing a crack in the rear window near the third brake light that could allow water to enter the vehicle on the left and right sides. The contact confirmed that the vehicle had experienced leaks on both sides. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be repaired under the TSB; however, the dealer declined to repair the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle met the mileage requirements, but the dealer stated that the vehicle was not included in the TSB. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.

NHTSA complaint #11752735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced an unknown part, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, and it was determined that the intake manifold needed to be replaced; however, the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.

NHTSA complaint #11751506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The tail lights keep going out on both sides. The tail light harness does not fit the female adapter properly. You have to hold it pushed in to get the light to come on but when you let go it turns back off. I have already replaced the sockets with Mopar OEM parts and am still having the problem. After researching I found that this is a common issue with this vehicle. It is a safety concern because without tail lights keep other drivers may not be able to see my vehicle at night or when I am braking.

NHTSA complaint #11751007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The tail lights keep going out on both sides. The tail light harness does not fit the female adapter properly. You have to hold it pushed in to get the light to come on but when you let go it turns back off. I have already replaced the sockets with Mopar OEM parts and am still having the problem. After researching I found that this is a common issue with this vehicle. It is a safety concern because without tail lights keep other drivers may not be able to see my vehicle at night or when I am braking.

NHTSA complaint #11751007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

I was attempting to turn around in my driveway when the steering locked up and I could not control the steering. If I had been driving on the road instead of in my driveway I could have crashed into something or someone, potentially causing severe injury or death to myself or others. This was a horrifying experience in my driveway, let alone on the road! I had my truck towed to the repair shop, where they determined that the power steering rack failed. It cracked completely in half. Attached please find the photos that the repair shop provided, along with my repair invoice. There should be a recall for this before people get killed!

NHTSA complaint #11750875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

I was attempting to turn around in my driveway to go someplace when the steering locked up and I could not control the steering. It stopped working. If I had been driving on the road, instead of driving in my driveway, I could have crashed into something or someone, potentially causing severe injury or death to myself or others. This was a horrifying experience in the driveway, let alone on the road! I had my truck towed to the repair shop where they determined that the Electronic Power Steering Rack failed. It cracked completely in half! I will attach the photos the shop provided. There should be a recall on this before someone gets killed. I have several friends and neighbors who own the same make and model truck and I informed them of our situation and recommended that they have their trucks checked out before tragedy strikes them or their families.

NHTSA complaint #11750624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

When filling the truck full, fuel will occasionally spill out onto myself and the ground. The fuel also leaks into the cap canister, purge valve and dumps fuel into the manifold as well as leaking on the ground. When driving the entire cab reeks of fuel. This is a known issue by Dodge and they have a TSB out on it. My vehicle could become a fireball at any time. Dealer replaced my evap canister but didn’t even give me the TSB which wound up costing me more money once my mechanic found the problem. This is a 3,000.00 + repair for something that can cause a severe fire.

NHTSA complaint #11750707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I am having DEF related issues with my 2020 Ram 1500 ecodiesel that will ultimately cause the vehicle to no longer operate. Ram has an extended warranty for my exact problem but I am being told that my vehicle doesn’t meet the requirements. My vehicle is under the required year and mileage but I’m being told that it doesn’t apply.

NHTSA complaint #11749914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

While driving down the highway the vehicle radiator fan kicked on high (could hear it from the cab) then my electronic power steering went out seconds after receiving the “Service Electronic Power Steering” dash light. Since then it is intermittent, EPS returns and then goes out again, each time accompanied by the high fan noise.

NHTSA complaint #11748558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

While driving down the highway the vehicle radiator fan kicked on high (could hear it from the cab) then my electronic power steering went out seconds after receiving the “Service Electronic Power Steering” dash light. Since then it is intermittent, EPS returns and then goes out again, each time accompanied by the high fan noise.

NHTSA complaint #11748558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

While driving down the highway the vehicle radiator fan kicked on high (could hear it from the cab) then my electronic power steering went out seconds after receiving the “Service Electronic Power Steering” dash light. Since then it is intermittent, EPS returns and then goes out again, each time accompanied by the high fan noise.

NHTSA complaint #11748558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The electronic gear selector on my 2020 Ram 1500 intermittently displays a "Shift to Park" warning while the vehicle is in motion, specifically during downshifting or braking. Each occurrence is accompanied by a physical jerk or lurch, consistent with the vehicle momentarily engaging an unintended gear. The warning clears without driver input. These events occur during active deceleration and represent a loss of predictable vehicle behavior, creating a serious risk of rear-end collision or loss of control. The problem has not been resolved. A dealership inspected the vehicle and recommended a Transmission Control Module (TCM) software update referencing TSB 21-019-24, to be performed at the owner's expense. No root-cause diagnosis was provided. The underlying hardware cause, most likely the gear selector position sensor or transmission range sensor, was not confirmed or ruled out. The dealer is insisting the owner pay for the software update without establishing whether the bulletin covers the reported symptom or whether the vehicle VIN falls within its scope. No warning lamps preceded the first occurrence. The symptom appeared without prior indication and has recurred across multiple drive cycles.

NHTSA complaint #11747945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The electronic gear selector on my 2020 Ram 1500 intermittently displays a "Shift to Park" warning while the vehicle is in motion, specifically during downshifting or braking. Each occurrence is accompanied by a physical jerk or lurch, consistent with the vehicle momentarily engaging an unintended gear. The warning clears without driver input. These events occur during active deceleration and represent a loss of predictable vehicle behavior, creating a serious risk of rear-end collision or loss of control. The problem has not been resolved. A dealership inspected the vehicle and recommended a Transmission Control Module (TCM) software update referencing TSB 21-019-24, to be performed at the owner's expense. No root-cause diagnosis was provided. The underlying hardware cause, most likely the gear selector position sensor or transmission range sensor, was not confirmed or ruled out. The dealer is insisting the owner pay for the software update without establishing whether the bulletin covers the reported symptom or whether the vehicle VIN falls within its scope. No warning lamps preceded the first occurrence. The symptom appeared without prior indication and has recurred across multiple drive cycles.

NHTSA complaint #11747945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

The electronic gear selector on my 2020 Ram 1500 intermittently displays a "Shift to Park" warning while the vehicle is in motion, specifically during downshifting or braking. Each occurrence is accompanied by a physical jerk or lurch, consistent with the vehicle momentarily engaging an unintended gear. The warning clears without driver input. These events occur during active deceleration and represent a loss of predictable vehicle behavior, creating a serious risk of rear-end collision or loss of control. The problem has not been resolved. A dealership inspected the vehicle and recommended a Transmission Control Module (TCM) software update referencing TSB 21-019-24, to be performed at the owner's expense. No root-cause diagnosis was provided. The underlying hardware cause, most likely the gear selector position sensor or transmission range sensor, was not confirmed or ruled out. The dealer is insisting the owner pay for the software update without establishing whether the bulletin covers the reported symptom or whether the vehicle VIN falls within its scope. No warning lamps preceded the first occurrence. The symptom appeared without prior indication and has recurred across multiple drive cycles.

NHTSA complaint #11747945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

On June 26, 2026 my 2020 Ram 1500 Big Horn truck lost its steering, with no prior warning. This could have resulted in a catastrophic, tragic accident had I been out on the road but it happened as I was attempting to pull out of my driveway. I could have been killed. Other people potentially could have been injured or killed if this happened while driving on the road. I had the truck towed to a local repair shop, who looked at the truck and indicated that due to the type of problem it had to be serviced by a Ram certified repair shop. We then had to truck towed to Quirk, a certified repair service center. Upon their inspection they discovered that the POWER STEERING RACK broke in half! They said that this is unusual for a vehicle with such low mileage of 29,779 miles and that this is very dangerous. The cost to repair my truck is $4,500 and there is a long wait time for the part because of a back order. Why, I wonder is there a back order? Is this a very serious safety issue that other Ram truck owners are dealing with as well?

NHTSA complaint #11747603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:INTERIOR PANELS:SUN VISOR

Both Driver and Passenger Visor arms have dis-engaged and no longer work to provide shielding from blinding sun. They just hang from thier broken arms and it happened shortly after having purchased this vehicle from a used car dealer, (Kearny Mesa) and they were unable to address since it was not a recall. Obviously they would repair it for $$$$ Did some research and apparently this is a common issue with this vehicle.

NHTSA complaint #11747707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.