2023 Ram 1500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report a wide range of problems on a relatively young truck, with the median complaint mileage under 20,000. The most common themes are sudden loss of power or stalling, electrical and 12-volt battery trouble, and infotainment/turn-signal glitches. Interior electronics and driver-assistance features come up often, and several complaints describe repeated dealer visits without a confirmed cause.

1. 1
   Engine

   Truck stalls or shuts off / loses power while driving

   Mentioned in 14 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the engine quitting without warning at various speeds, sometimes in traffic or at a stop, with the dashboard lighting up and the truck needing to be restarted. Some say it also drops into limp mode or that a parking brake engages on its own when it stops. Several complaints mention multiple dealer visits where no diagnostic code could be found, or where the problem returned after a repair. Reported from as little as a few hundred miles up to about 60,000 miles, with many early failures.

   Recall 24V413000

   What to check: Ask for service history showing any stall or no-start complaints and what was diagnosed. A scan for stored codes and a road test, including a stop-and-go drive, is worth requesting.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “9/28/2023 - As I was slowing the vehicle down at a stop sign, the vehicle suddenly switched from drive to park, and the parking brake was activated. The motor stopped operating and the light indicating the engine was not operating was on. I was able to start the truck without further problem. The truck has a 5.7 e-torque. On 9/11/20213 the truck was left at Moss Brothers Dodge for diagnostic. The truck was there for 3 days. On 9/13/2023 I picked up the truck. The diagnostic evaluation was unable to retrieve codes errors.”

   NHTSA complaint #11545704, filed 2023-09

   “I own a Ram 1500 Big Horn that has repeatedly shut off while driving and entered limp mode, causing sudden loss of power and engine shaking. This has occurred both while driving and while stopped at intersections, creating a serious safety hazard in traffic. The vehicle has been taken to the dealership more than nine times for the same issue, but they initially claimed they could not diagnose the problem because no codes were present. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11724403, filed 2026-03
2. 2
   Electrical system

   12-volt battery / low-voltage electrical faults

   Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe low-voltage warnings, battery and check-engine lights, and displays that go dark or show reduced voltage while driving. In some cases electrical features drop out in sequence and the truck shuts down; owners report battery replacement or a dealer visit that did not resolve it. Others describe cluster messages about shifting to park, service power steering, or service parking brake appearing together. Spread from very low mileage up to about 127,000 miles, with several reports under 20,000 miles.

   Recall 24V6530003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the battery and charging system tested, and ask whether any electrical software updates or recalls were completed. Check that the cluster and screens behave normally on a cold start.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On 3 separate occasions the truck has completely broken down while traveling 60-84mph. Each time, while in motion, the check engine and battery lights come on on the gauge cluster. Voltage starts rapidly draining from the battery indicator before systems start being shut down. Fiirst is entertainment, then climate, the ABS, then steering, and then all power and engine loss. I almost lost control the first time while trying to make it safely over to the soft shoulder. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11663480, filed 2025-05

   “While driving at roadway speeds, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of the instrument cluster and infotainment display, immediately followed by an engine shutdown. Steering and braking assistance were reduced during the event, requiring immediate driver intervention to safely maneuver the vehicle. The failure occurred without warning. No prior warning messages or indicators were visible before the loss of power and instrumentation. After the vehicle coasted and was restarted, all systems appeared to return to normal operation. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11711158, filed 2026-01
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Uconnect screen freezes, blanks or misbehaves

   • 23 complaints (11%)
   • median 38,000 mi at 2.3 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners report the 12-inch Uconnect screen freezing, going black, changing size or position, or failing to show the rear-view camera when reverse is selected. Because climate, camera and other functions run through the display, some say they lose access to those features while the screen is out. Complaints also mention radio and navigation behavior changes after over-the-air updates. Mostly reported on low-mileage trucks, often within the first year or two of ownership.

   Recall 23V654000Recall 23V0590004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the screen through several restarts, check reverse camera display, and ask the dealer whether the latest radio software updates have been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2023 Dodge Ram 1500 with a 12” Uconnect/ infotainment/ telematics system. The system only works for a minute possibly 2 minutes if I am lucky. The whole system shuts off which takes away my bluetooth capabilities, backup camera, all sound systems. My ability to access all safety features on my vehicle. For the not so safety problems, the heat and cooling is just a guessing game. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11656592, filed 2025-04

   “My 2023 Ram 1500 TRX has recurring safety-related failures of the infotainment system affecting the Uconnect 5 (12” screen). These issues are widespread in 2021–2024 Ram TRX and Ram 1500 models and began or worsened after forced over-the-air updates. The primary defect is black-screen failures while driving and loud screeching noises coming from the radio. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11702970, filed 2025-12
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Turn signals stick or cancel incorrectly (steering column

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe turn signals that will not cancel, stay on in one direction, or stop working, sometimes with the high beams activating when the signal is used. Owners say the dealer diagnosed the steering column control module and, in some cases, replacement parts were on backorder for months. A few report paying for repairs themselves because the vehicle did not qualify for the recall or the diagnostic did not reproduce the fault. Reported across a wide mileage range, including trucks with 50,000 miles and more.

   Recall 24V729000Recall 23V7990002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm by VIN whether recalls 24V729 and 23V799 have been performed. Test both turn signals and the high-beam stalk during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My truck had safety recall 24V-729 done to fix a turn signal that will not shut off. Since the recall I have had to have the same problem fixed an additional two times. The dealership will not classify it under the recall and have charged me for the repairs. They say that it is not the SCCM, which the recall says is the issue. My problem is that the turn signal has been fixed 3 times total.”

   NHTSA complaint #11751790, filed 2026-07

   “Steering column control module went out. Right blinker will not stop and left doesn't work at all. Even in the off position right stays on so I have to put it down to the not working left to stop that but any movement and its starts again. It is a traffic hazard and even though 165,000 Rams were recalled this past year they say its VIN specific and will not cover my $400 repair. My truck is unusable until they repair this.”

   NHTSA complaint #11672028, filed 2025-07
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Unexpected transmission downshift or shift into park

   • 9 complaints (4%)
   • median 15,500 mi at 3.2 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners report the transmission downshifting abruptly on the highway or at low speed, or the shifter dropping into park with the parking brake engaging. Some say a restart restored normal operation, and dealers often could not reproduce the problem or find related codes. Others describe harsh or delayed engagement and noises from the transmission area. Mostly between about 5,000 and 50,000 miles, with several reports at low mileage.

   Recall 24V4130002 related service bulletins

   What to check: During the test drive, note any harshness or delay on upshifts and kickdowns, and ask whether the transmission control software has been updated.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2023 Ram 1500. The contact stated that on three separate occasions, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle downshifted to the first gear inadvertently. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and restarted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however, the failure could not be replicated. Additionally, the ERS was disengaged. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 14,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11567517, filed 2024-01, 14,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2023 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle independently shifted into park(P) and the steering wheel became stiff. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The mechanic was not able to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to call the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11548387, filed 2023-10, 99,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase scan for stored codes and a check that open recalls (including the turn-signal and ABS/ESC campaigns) were completed is worthwhile, and a lengthy test drive covering stops, highway speeds and reverse is the best way to catch the stalling and screen faults owners describe.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.