457 of the
7,498 complaints filed about the RAM 2500
are about the transmission —
100% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2018.
457
Complaints
100%
Share of all complaints
27
Crashes
9
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
I am writing to formally follow up regarding complaint/case number 97989810 through Dodge and to request that this matter be elevated for a complete technical review concerning my 2021 Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins, VIN [XXX]. Time - Line PRIOR FACTORY-WARRANTY REPAIR The XXX factory-warranty repair is an important part of this vehicle's mechanical history. That repair involved the timing-cover/timing-gear-case area and front crankshaft seal. As part of that repair, the harmonic balancer/vibration damper was removed and reinstalled. Approximately 26,000 miles later, the vehicle experienced a failure involving the vibration damper and its associated mounting bolts. +++ Vehicle receipt will be attached XXX took vehicle Naples Dodge after large thump and vehicle would not move Per dealership - Finding - Advise it was an after market tune that caused harmonic balancer got loose and sheered the bolts Ongoing the dealership provided video and several reports that it was an after market tune no coralation between the 2024 service and findings today Findings: Cummins Service Technician XXX technician report In XXX Cummins filed a safety recall with the NHTSA (Campaign ID 24V-192) concerning certain engines equipped with vibration dampers are the critical details of the recall:The Issue: The front vibration damper capscrews (mounting bolts) were not torqued to specification during assembly. If left unaddressed, the capscrews could fracture or loosen, potentially causing the vibration damper to separate from the engine. This creates a high risk of personal injury, mechanical failure, or property damage.(Note: If you are looking for Dodge Ram trucks, Cummins also issued a Technical Service Bulletin—TSB210097—addressing fluid degradation and capscrew fractures on viscous vibration dampers for B6.7 engines, though it was handled as a service bulletin rather than a sweeping automotive safety recall). Direct coralation of what occure INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11763494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2018 Ram 2500 has a safety recall (C4B/NHTSA 24V - 896) for BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL and the remedy for this condition is "NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE" ??? I have contacted FCA recall assistance center and 2 different dealers and they all are "SORRY" but say there is nothing they can or will do. One dealer offered to replace the defective part with another defective part if I was willing to pay for it and said that it would probably fail again. How can the US Dept. of Transportation allow a "US auto manufacturer" to sell a defective heavy duty vehicle used to transport loved ones and haul heavy loads with DEFECTIVE BRAKES? To add insult to injury Rams new promotional add states "Nothing Stops Ram" (True statement - Not even the BRAKES)... I'm happy to report there has not been a serious accident to date but the driver and passengers do not feel safe when the bells go off and warning messages appear on the dashboard... Thanks.
NHTSA complaint #11763029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
There is a known issue with the Ram Power Wagon locking differential system where the electronic locking differential wiring harness will fault one of three ways. The first being that the wiring harness is two short so when the rear axle articulates there isn't enough slack therefore causing the plug in the diff housing to fail. The second is that sensor inside the housing faults due to gear oil build up on the sensor. Finally the third if the locker wiring inside the housing wears out causes the locker to fault. Any of these three issues causes a "Service Axle Locker System" and prevents the front and rear lockers to be used indefinitely. This can cause the truck to become stuck during off pavement driving.
NHTSA complaint #11762597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am reporting a transmission safety problem with my 2016 Ram 2500 Cummins that began shortly after FCA campaign U29 was performed. Before the recall work, the transmission and original solenoid were functioning normally. I had no transmission symptoms, warning lights, or transmission codes. The dealership performed U29 and replaced the transmission solenoid May 4-6, 2026. I picked the truck up May 6 at 149,091 miles. About 79 miles later, the check-engine light came on and transmission problems began. While driving, including on the interstate, the truck would suddenly jerk, the RPMs would rise quickly, and the truck would lose speed. On several occasions, traffic behind me had to react quickly to avoid hitting me. The dealership told me the solenoid installed during the U29 repair was defective and replaced it with another solenoid. The same problems continued. The truck later developed code P0871, became undriveable, and was towed back June 1. The original transmission ultimately failed. The dealership then installed a Mopar remanufactured transmission. I picked it up June 13. Within roughly 600 miles, it developed substantially identical symptoms and failure patterns, including P0870 and P0871, limp mode, and another major transmission failure. It was towed back June 24. The dealership later found the overdrive clutch had disintegrated and metal was present in the transmission fluid. The failed remanufactured transmission is now being handled under its Mopar warranty, and the dealership is looking to install a third transmission without identifying a clear reason for the repeated failures. I am concerned the same problem could happen again and believe the U29 repair, replacement parts, or another related transmission problem should be investigated.
NHTSA complaint #11760982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While attempting to pass traffic the truck did not want to shift above or down from 4th gear. This has happened twice now and both times I had to pull over and restart the truck. My safety was put at risk due to lack of propulsion, high rpm of the truck to maintain speed before pulling over. Check engine light came on both times. Although there appears to be a lack of NHTSA reports, I have been sharing this story with others and looking at Facebook groups and it seems the 68RFE transmission is rife with issues and commonly fails while driving, regardless of towing or not.
NHTSA complaint #11760709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On August 25, 2026, my 2016 Ram 2500 was parked on private property. The driver states that she placed the automatic transmission in PARK before exiting the vehicle. After she exited, the unoccupied vehicle unexpectedly began rolling and struck a tree, causing vehicle damage. No one was injured. There were no known warning lights or messages indicating a problem before the incident. The cause has not yet been determined and the vehicle has not yet been inspected for this incident. The vehicle is available for inspection. This vehicle is equipped with a steering-column-mounted automatic transmission shifter. I am concerned that the incident may involve the transmission/shift interlock/Park system. I am aware of NHTSA Recall 17V-821 (FCA T79), involving unintended rollaway in certain Ram trucks, as well as NHTSA Recall Query RQ25003 concerning reported BTSI failures in vehicles including Ram 2500 models. The NHTSA VIN lookup currently shows zero unrepaired recalls for this vehicle; however, I do not yet know whether the prior T79 recall repair was performed on this specific vehicle or when it was performed. I did call the dealership and they said possibly 0ctober 3, 2018. I am submitting this complaint because the vehicle rolled after the driver reports placing the transmission in PARK and exiting the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11759520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Motor completely over heated causing the hose to rupture underneath the intake manifold. Engine is unrepairable. Had to order new engine and a new intake manifold because it melted the current one. Also approximately 2 years ago, I also had to replace the transmission. This truck only has 155,000 miles in it and has had 2 major break downs. WHY? This truck is unsafe.
NHTSA complaint #11759457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Transmission can be put into gear without pressing the brake pedal. A child was placed in truck with no key in ignition. The child pulled shift lever and truck started rolling. Driver quickly pressed brake and stopped truck. This truck had the T79/NHTSA 17V-821 recall fix in 2017. The fix did not correct the problem. Filing this report to inform NHTSA that the recall fix did not work. Dealer won't repair as recall had been performed. I bought this truck used and It had this problem when purchased.
NHTSA complaint #11759480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My family and I tow a 45 foot RV Toy Howler Fifth Wheel with the truck and the ABS and Traction control lights keep coming on. The RAM Dealer (Aventura) has been telling me for over a year that the parts are on back-order. I've tried to trade it in but the trade in offers have been very low since they know there's no repair parts. I'm very concerned about our safety since we take long trips into the mountains and this is constantly going on.
NHTSA complaint #11758292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Premature lifter and cam failures on the 6.7 engines. Yes it can be inspected. Yes it was heard and confirmed by multiple dealers and sources. It can be an issue if the engine locks up when driving
NHTSA complaint #11756887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift into 4WD Low. The traction control and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The contact was concerned about the safety while driving the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the part for the recall repair was on back order. The dealer added the contact to a waiting list. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
NHTSA complaint #11756650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Our 2025 Ram Rebel stalled on a 55-mph curve on a busy freeway. Fearful, I deliberately drifted the vehicle to the right side of the road looking for an emergency lane. The truck regained momentum and I drove it another 10 miles. Coming to a stop, I heard mechanical griding and felt the truck shudder. I drove it home. My husband took the truck, and the same griding and shuddering happened to him twice over a 15-minute period while driving on surface streets less than 20 mph. The truck did not stall on him. -We have been told by the dealership that the transfer case failed. The dealership is working to fix it. -My safety and those riding in my vehicle were put at significant risk due to the stall on the freeway and a transfer case failure. -The problem was confirmed by an official Ram dealer where we purchased the vehicle. -The transfer case failure has been inspected but the reason for the stalling has not been identified. -A warning light "Service 4WD" turned on each time we heard the grinding sound but then turned off. We bought the vehicle new, have owned it 11 months and it has $15,000 miles. All services have been conducted according to the maintenance schedule.
NHTSA complaint #11755809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ABS, Traction controle and 4 wheel drive system shut down. the truck is sending code- C0031-1D directly related to C4B recall. The dealerships have no fix and offered no support or guidance but did agree that the truck is unsafe to drive as is.
NHTSA complaint #11754147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2022 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle intermittently went into LIMP Mode and failed to accelerate as needed. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle. The failure failed to be self-corrected after the vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was taken to a transmission specialist, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact was informed that the failure was electrical, and an unknown sensor was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who discovered a leak in the transmission pump. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and directed the contact to the dealer to have the transmission replaced. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
NHTSA complaint #11750317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle has experienced repeated failures of the variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) electronic actuator. The actuator intermittently fails to move the turbo vanes to their commanded position, resulting in fault codes related to turbocharger performance and actuator position. The failed actuator is currently installed on the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. This failure creates a significant safety concern because the engine can suddenly lose turbocharger performance and enter a reduced-power or "limp mode" condition without warning. During these events, the vehicle experiences a substantial loss of acceleration and power, making it difficult to safely merge onto highways, pass slower traffic, or maintain speed while towing or traveling on grades. This unexpected reduction in power increases the risk of a rear-end collision or other traffic incident, particularly when operating in normal highway traffic. The condition has been reproduced multiple times and confirmed through diagnostic trouble codes. The issue is consistent with a malfunctioning VGT electronic actuator. Numerous other owners of 2013-2018 Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks equipped with the 6.7L Cummins engine have reported similar failures involving the electronic actuator, suggesting this is not an isolated incident. Prior to complete failure, the vehicle displayed intermittent warning symptoms including a Check Engine Light, reduced exhaust brake performance, and occasional turbocharger-related diagnostic trouble codes. The symptoms became progressively more frequent before the actuator ultimately failed to operate reliably. In some cases, cycling the exhaust brake temporarily restored operation, but the problem continued to return and worsened over time. The vehicle has been diagnosed using standard diagnostic equipment, and the fault has been confirmed through the presence of turbocharger actuator-related diagnostic codes.
NHTSA complaint #11749516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle has not has cruise control, abs, traction/stability control for over 2 years. No traction control or stability in the winter is horrible. Not being able to control speed when traveling is inconvenient. The warning lamps illuminated and went away for weeks. Then randomly just stayed illuminated. Abs hydraulic pump has failed. The recall has been open for over a year and a half and no parts or remedy to fix it.
NHTSA complaint #11749276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The ABS/HCU module failed. There is recall but no fix. There are no aftermarket parts available. This has been 2 years . I cannot use 4 wheel drive or cruise control. I cannot trade the truck in. Help I am stuck with no recourse. This is a safety Issue!
NHTSA complaint #11746762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT) actuator stuck and failed causing also the turbo fan to heat degradation that needed also to be replace. Cost of damage was $4680.00.
NHTSA complaint #11744926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This complaint notes two separate safety problems for the 2023 Ram 2500 Tradesman. 1) Transmission leak. "Heavy transmission leak" noted by dealer during normal service. Apparently so common that the seals are on back order. Was caught at 35453 miles so covered by warranty, but any issues related to the leak I am told will not be covered once they fix the leak. I have read this common leak has been known to cause pressure issues and fires. 2) Electrical issue related to key fob. Since the truck was brand new, an error message would light up the dash indicating "Key Fob not detected" This would happen when trying to start the truck and while driving. This has left me stranded several times from not starting the truck and having to wait an hour to get truck to recognize key fob. While driving, truck will go into limp mode until you park, turn off the truck, and restart with the same key fob. Have brought to the dealer many times. they state low battery. I pay for them to put in new battery. before I leave the dealership the problem still shows up. They have replaced the key fob twice now. The last time at 35453 miles. Dealer says Problem out of their control after 500 more miles at 36000 when warranty is up. If the truck stops working while driving because of key fob I am out of a truck? Both issues are safety concerns.
NHTSA complaint #11738397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.