2020 RAM 2500 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

My 2020 Ram 2500 Mega Cab truck Dash Leather Covering is coming loose from it base and may interfere with the passenger Air Bag deployment that is under the loose material. My truck has only 36,000 miles on it and has been garaged kept since I purchased it new. *I found this information online. Ram 2500 trucks (2019–2023) frequently experience dashboard leather bubbling or delamination, particularly over the passenger airbag area. This bulging can compromise airbag deployment and is caused by adhesive failure, often requiring a full dashboard replacement. I contacted my local Ram service center. They advised my to contact Ram corporate regarding this Safety Issue. Key Details Regarding the Issue: •Cause: The glue holding the leather/vinyl to the dash substrate fails, leading to bubbling and peeling, which can create a ridge over the passenger airbag deployment zone. •Safety Risk: A warped or bulging dashboard can interfere with the proper deployment of the passenger-side airbag.

Massive oil leak that everyone has issues with also has a grid heater bolt that fails and causes engine damage. The oil leaks are terrible for the environment and causing leaks all over every road

The reverse went out while driving

Hood liner repeatedly drops down out of its mounting points on the edge near the engine firewall. This is a manufacturing engineering deficiency that relies on shaped material to hold the liner in place. The dealer has replaced it three times, and the same thing continues to happen. Chrysler refuses to address the issue. My concern is what happens if the liner completely drops down on the engine while in operation.

While towing, my trailer brakes and lights come off and on randomly. I've had the wiring repaired on my trailer and it did not fix the issue. I've almost been in several accidents while towing, It is very unsafe.

Def pump failed twice with this vehicle and with that it does not allow the vehicle to run any faster than 5 mph after the countdown ends. Unknown how the exhaust being plugged and service was done to clean the exhaust ended up having the fuel pump and turbo charger needing replaced. Not sure if they went hand in hand and one causing the other. So far the vehicle only has almost 78,000 miles on it. Change oil and fuel filters at the vehicles scheduled computer system reports on the vehicle. I was having issues from service center having trouble resetting the exhaust system, which they said the system was not sealing properly. Took them a couple of days to get part from dealership to get it to seal and reprocessed the test which they said passed exhaust reset. That would explain the poor fuel rating of only getting 9 miles per gallon. If there was a complete fuel pump failure, not sure if that would compare to this being a safety issue. Not sure how engine would react, due to it completely failing or if the turbo would cause the vehicle to be unsafe. The vehicle is currently at dealership and only 1 out of the 3 are even available to fix this problem. Def pump is available, but unknown when the others will arrive. Service shop said it could be 3 weeks or 8 months for parts to come in. Due to being a back ordered item. Spent $70k for this vehicle, just to have it spend over 2 months in the shop. I do my own oil and fuel filter changes, due to it being faster and cheaper than any dealer or shop.

The contact owns a 2020 Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, traffic started to slow down, and the vehicle failed to stop as intended while depressing the brake pedal. The contact depressed the brake pedal again, and the vehicle abruptly stopped and veered to the left. The contact was able regain control of the vehicle and pulled over to the shoulder. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the ABS, 4x4, and brakes warning lights were illuminated, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, a metallic burning odor was coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the residence. When the tow truck driver lowered the vehicle, the contact noticed that the front driver’s side wheel seemed bent. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.

2500 Truck randomly activates emergency braking for no reason. Occurs a couple times a month. Every occurrence has zero obstructions in front. I took it to the Tate Ram dealer (frederick MD) and they refused to update their software unless I pay them +$285.00. The Ram dealer is even aware of the software issue. I told them this is a life safety issue and not my fault. I requested the fix immediately but refused. I also have an active full MOPAR warranty, and they still said it's not covered. This is insane

As I was operating my vehicle on I95 northbound smoke began to pour out of my vents. I was able to pull over and was able to determine there was a fire behind the radio in my truck. I immediately grabbed the personal affects that I could grab and called 911. However within 5 minutes the cab of the truck.was engulfed im flames.

Fire

I pushed my breaks and the hydro booster started spraying fluid inside the cab I lost my breaks I was backing up down my sister's drive way hit a telephone pole with the back of the truck it made a little dent

Subject: Fuel System Failure Resulting in Engine Damage – 2020 RAM 2500 Pickup VIN: [XXX] Complaint Summary: I am submitting this complaint to formally report a dangerous and costly fuel system defect in my 2020 Dodge Ram 2500 Pickup (VIN: [XXX] ) that has resulted in catastrophic engine damage. Although Chrysler has issued a recall for the high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) in many 2020 Ram trucks equipped with the 6.7L Cummins engine, I was told that my vehicle was not included in the recall—even though it exhibits all the classic symptoms of HPFP failure. This is a safety hazard and a potential emissions violation. Details of the Incident: In June 2025, I brought my truck to Tracy Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM after experiencing engine misfires, loss of power, and a knocking noise. The dealership diagnosed a P0303 cylinder misfire and noted a fuel smell in the engine oil, as documented in repair order #[XXX]. Despite extensive diagnostic work—including compression tests, leak-down, and injector swaps—the misfire remained unresolved, and a tapping noise persisted. The technician explicitly noted fuel contamination in the oil and suspected internal engine damage due to a fuel system issue. To further investigate, I submitted an oil sample to Blackstone Laboratories. The lab confirmed the engine oil was heavily diluted with diesel fuel—over 10% fuel contamination, which reduced the viscosity from 5W40 to the equivalent of 5W20. This is consistent with HPFP failure leaking fuel into the crankcase. The oil report also noted excessive steel wear and recommended immediate oil change and fuel system inspection. At no time was a check engine light present, nor was there a clear diagnostic code for HPFP failure. Chrysler continues to deny responsibility even though the evidence clearly points to a failed HPFP—a well-documented issue for this engine model and year. The cost of diagnosis and parts alone has exceeded $4,000, and the engine is likely destroy INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA

The parking brake will not operate. Upon inspection the teeth on the gear are broken causing it to lock at top position. Dealership would not warranty safety part at 30,059 miles on vehicle so now I am left with no parking brake to protect vehicle from rolling on hill. Keep in mind vehicle is always used for towing 12,000 pounds or more.

Ram and it's parent company know there is an issue with the brake systems on their 3/4 ton pickup trucks. The 2500's. There is excessive travel in the brake petal and not enough pressure builds up in the system to activate the brakes correctly and adequately. It's all over the ram 2500 online forums. Many people are experiencing this issue with new trucks. Ram and its parent company Stellantis are unwilling to do anything about it.

Too much travel in brake pedal. Feels spongy. Weak brakes, hard to stop vehicle. Have to put pedal to the floor. Was told this was OK and normal at the dealership. Has been like this since I bought the vehicle new.

Vehicle randomly shuts off during normal operation. Same as if the Start / Stop button were activated. Vehicle coasts until it self applies the emergency brake at about 3mph causing a sudden, jerky complete stop. Switches itself to Park. Dash indicates “sterp on brake to restart”. Vehicle restarts normally but may randomly shut down again. Safety risk is loss of steering, loss of power brake control, and total loss of power in traffic. Taking it to dealer today. Vehicle has not been inspected by anyone yet. No messages or warning lights display. This is a recent problem but recurring with increasing frequency.

Traction control kicks on while driving on dry pavement and the truck bogs down like there isn’t any power. The truck slows down abruptly and will not speed back up without pulling to the side of the road and I have to shut it off and reset. The drive selector knob lights starts flashing and now they don’t come on at all. This has happened on 4 occasions

Issue is that the on the Diesel intake heater core has a bolt that comes loose from inside the manifold and can fall down into the cylinder and can cause catastrophic failure.

The contact's husband owns a 2020 Ram 2500. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the diesel particulate filter had failed due to the high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure, which caused metal shavings to enter the fuel system. The dealer determined that the HPFP and the entire fuel system needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the manufacturer had offered to partially cover the repair cost through goodwill assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V880000 (Fuel System, Diesel); however, the recall repair failed to fix the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed; however, the manufacturer had failed to respond to the contact's follow-up emails and calls. The failure mileage was approximately 126,513.

I have a check engine light that came on. I took it to the dealer and they said it is a P0542 code for heating element relay. There is a technical service bulletin out for this known issue. I still have power train warranty left on my truck but they’re claiming it isn’t covered. I went as far as to add a bank ram air intake for over $1000 to help eliminate a complete engine failure. Any help would be appreciated

Throws code p2609 which is grid heater, this needs to be fixed at 38000 miles, I'm sure it'll cause a fire like the other model years that is being recalled for the same issue

The contact owns a 2020 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, there was a knocking noise coming from the engine compartment, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that engine grid heater had overheated, causing damages to the engine. The engine was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 300,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Ram 2500. The contact stated that after starting the engine, moments later the contact came back to discover fire coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact and co-workers used fire extinguishers to extinguish the flames. The vehicle was later towed away. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 67,000.

Fire

The contact owns a 2020 Ram 2500. The contact stated that after starting the engine, moments later the contact came back to discover fire coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact and co-workers used fire extinguishers to extinguish the flames. The vehicle was later towed away. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 67,000.

Fire

The contact owns a 2022 Ram 2500. The contact stated that the vehicle was not properly aligned, and the tires were worn. The dashboard leather had detached. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the windshield wipers became inoperable. Additionally, after it had rained, the contact noticed there was water moving around in the engine bay. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact completed an alignment. The vehicle was taken to the local, who broke an unknown part on the dashboard. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

Dealer unable to get recall parts since the inception of the recall. Dealer says they only receive a couple of DIPSTICKS a month. Long waiting list. I called Chrysler to no avail. Ridiculous wait for a dipstick!

I was driving doing 55mph on the highway and the hood came lose and flopped back covering my windshield. Luckily there was nobody too close to me I and was able to avoid a collision.

The contact owns a 2020 Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the contact swerved to the left to avoid crashing into a deer. The contact stated that when he attempted to return the vehicle to the right lane the vehicle's front end continued to turn to the left as the rear end of the vehicle spun out to the right. The contact stated that the vehicle hit the shoulder of the road on the right side, rolled once, and stopped. The vehicle had rolled onto the passenger side of the vehicle. The contact stated that no air bags inflated. The contact stated that the right side of the vehicle was dented and heavily scratched, and the right front and rear passenger doors were crushed, and the glass of the rear cab window was broken. The contact had not noticed any warning lights. The contact stated that he had bruises on the left side of his forehead and an abrasion on his right ear. The contact was driven to a local ER by a friend and had a CT scan performed and was released. The contact stated that a state trooper had written a report and issued a citation. The contact had the vehicle towed to his residence. The vehicle had not been diagnosed and was not repaired. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V140000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control). The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

Crash 1 injured

The contact owns a 2020 Ram 2500. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the contact swerved to the left to avoid crashing into a deer. The contact stated that when he attempted to return the vehicle to the right lane the vehicle's front end continued to turn to the left as the rear end of the vehicle spun out to the right. The contact stated that the vehicle hit the shoulder of the road on the right side, rolled once, and stopped. The vehicle had rolled onto the passenger side of the vehicle. The contact stated that no air bags inflated. The contact stated that the right side of the vehicle was dented and heavily scratched, and the right front and rear passenger doors were crushed, and the glass of the rear cab window was broken. The contact had not noticed any warning lights. The contact stated that he had bruises on the left side of his forehead and an abrasion on his right ear. The contact was driven to a local ER by a friend and had a CT scan performed and was released. The contact stated that a state trooper had written a report and issued a citation. The contact had the vehicle towed to his residence. The vehicle had not been diagnosed and was not repaired. The contact had researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V140000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control). The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

Crash 1 injured

My 2500 RAM longbed crewcab is a "Tradesman", i am a contractor, so i put a lumber rack on my truck because i also am a TRADESMAN! Problem is this bed rail is 80% hollow and covered with cheap Chinese plastic. I have stress fractures on the outside sheetmetal body panels. And this is with an empty rack 99% of the time. If a work truck cannot be used for work then what the hell is it good for? What the hell do i do about a steadily growing fracture in the structural steel bed? Seatbelt springs are pathetic and barely retract, half the time they remain loose. Drivers side has been replaced and still does not properly retract

While driving around 40mph the vehicle shifted from D to P by itself and the 4 way flashers turned on. I immediately turned the knob back to D and it corrected itself and went back to normal operation.

My 2500 RAM longbed crewcab is a "Tradesman", i am a contractor, so i put a lumber rack on my truck because i also am a TRADESMAN! Problem is this bed rail is 80% hollow and covered with cheap Chinese plastic. I have stress fractures on the outside sheetmetal body panels. And this is with an empty rack 99% of the time. If a work truck cannot be used for work then what the hell is it good for? What the hell do i do about a steadily growing fracture in the structural steel bed? Seatbelt springs are pathetic and barely retract, half the time they remain loose. Drivers side has been replaced and still does not properly retract

Transmission dipstick threw out of the truck while moving and causes transmission fluid to spray out and now the truck will not move. It’s throwing 2 codes for the 3rd and 5th gears malfunctioning. There is a recall on the transmission we were not notified about until we called the dealership to explain what happened.

The contact owns a 2020 Ram 2500. The contact stated that on two separate occasions, while driving at highway speeds, the power steering assist failed to operate as designed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was initially taken to a dealer where the power steering assist was repaired under warranty. Despite the repair, the contact stated that the failure occurred a second time without warning. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

Reverse camera too bright cannot see side mirrors while driving at night. Cannot dim or turn off camera to see mirrors. even worse when towing trailer and or when raining.

There is a known issue with the vehicle surging during normal driving situations. Doge has an article about this but will not address or fix the issue. Their article states that it’s possible that this will not create a code. I have 42000 miles on this engine.

On the night of 30 Oct 2023, I was travelling through St George, Utah on my way back to Las Vegas. I was in the middle lane of traffic doing roughly 75 mph when my passenger side front tire lost all pressure and shredded apart which nearly caused me to slam into the side of a tractor/trailer. After looking over the tire/wheel to determine what caused the failure I noticed the side of the valve stem had blown out. This is the second valve stem where the side of the stem blew out. After researching online it appears this is a recurring problem although something I have never experienced in 30+ years of driving. I have not brought the wheel/valve stem to anyone to inspect the item since the failure is obvious (see pics). There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms.

The contact owns a 2020 Ram 2500. The contact stated that after refueling, the vehicle experienced reduced power and sputtering before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer and was diagnosed with a faulty fuel injector. The fuel injector was replaced but the failure eventually recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who discovered metal shavings in the fuel pump and advised that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V880000 (Fuel System, Diesel). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced that failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 35,000.