2019 Ram 2500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2019 Ram 2500 most often report the tailgate opening on its own while driving, often while towing, and diesel fuel-system trouble that can cause a sudden loss of power. Many of these complaints come in at low mileage, and a recurring theme is that recall parts were not available when owners tried to schedule the repair.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Diesel high-pressure fuel pump failure and stall

   • 56 complaints (29%)
   • median 19,129 mi at 3.0 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners of diesel trucks describe sudden loss of motive power at highway speed, rough idling, abnormal noises and hesitation to accelerate, and in some cases metal debris found in the fuel filter. Complaints mention the high-pressure fuel pump as the diagnosed cause, sometimes with engine damage requiring engine replacement, and several say the recall part was unavailable for months. A few describe smoke or flames from the fuel pump area. Spread from a few thousand to about 130,000 miles, with many reports between 10,000 and 65,000 miles.

   Recall 21V880000Recall 19V4980002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether recall 21V880000 was completed and when, and have a shop check for metal debris in the fuel filter and any stored codes on a diesel example. Note that some owners report the warning light returning after the recall repair.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I started my pickup and pulled out of garage put in park to close my garage door and with 2-3 minutes at idle, smoke was coming into the cab, got out of vehicle and opened hood and found flames coming from fuel injection pump area, was able to get fire out before it burnt the truck completely.”

   NHTSA complaint #11402550, filed 2021-03, 21,000 miles

   “Fuel pump has failed twice in less than 6,000 miles. This truck was purchased new. Truck was moving down the street at normal town speeds ( less than 40 MPH) started slowing and engine quit. Had to have the truck towed both times to home then towed to dealer for repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #11365300, filed 2020-10, 5,200 miles
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Tailgate opens by itself while driving

   • 15 complaints (8%)
   • median 11,000 mi at 1.8 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe the tailgate unlatching and dropping open on its own while driving, often while towing a camper or trailer, with damage to the gate or trailer tongue jack as a result. Several say the gate only latches when slammed hard, and a few report a dash warning that the gate is open when it is actually shut. Complaints describe dealers saying the gate was out of alignment or that they could not reproduce the problem, and one owner had the electronic actuator identified as faulty. Mostly reported between roughly 1,000 and 40,000 miles, frequently during towing or slow turning.

   Recall 22V904000

   What to check: Close the gate several times and see whether it needs a hard slam, and ask whether recall 22V904000 or actuator work has been done. If you tow, watch the gate on the first few trips.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This is my second submitted complaint about the tailgate coming open while driving and towing. Have made two complaints to chrysler and taken to dealer. However, nothing is being done because they drive it 10 miles and can not replicate . Even though they acknowledge extensive recall history on earlier models for same problem. I have now damaged my truck with 5k miles on it and my camper when it came open in tow.”

   NHTSA complaint #11341297, filed 2020-07, 5,300 miles

   “Our tailgate has opened on its own 4 times while we were driving since we have owned the vehicle. It also has shown a notification on the dash that the tailgate is open, but when checked it is closed. I have a video of this, but I don't know if I can upload it. We bought the vehicle in late 2019 and the first event was in march 2020, and it caused scratches on the plastic top part of the tailgate, as it hit the tongue jack of our camper. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11341295, filed 2020-07, 5,400 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission drops out of gear or slips into neutral

   • 14 complaints (7%)
   • median 4,048 mi at 1.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe the transmission intermittently dropping out of gear or acting as if it shifted into neutral, most often in reverse and while turning, sometimes with a flashing indicator at the selector. A few report it happening while pulling into traffic or on a slope such as a boat ramp. Complaints mention dealers checking or clearing codes, and one owner had a documented transmission replacement after which the problem returned. Typically reported between roughly 1,000 and 10,000 miles.

   Recall 20V043000

   What to check: Test reverse and slow turns on an incline during the test drive, and ask whether the 68RFE dipstick-tube recall 20V043000 has been performed and whether any transmission codes were found.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased a 2019 Ram 2500 truck, and began having issue with the truck dropping into neutral at just over 1000 miles. I went to the dealer and they checked codes, but I didn't make sure they documented it. It seemed to only happen when going in reverse and turning, so I continued to drive it. Then at 6670 miles it happened while driving and in an intersection. I had come to a stop at a light, then when the light turned green I proceeded to turn right. I got about 10 feet into the turn and the truck acted like it went into neutral. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11349164, filed 2020-08, 6,620 miles

   “Transmission intermittently drops out of gear. Most of the time this is when in reverse and moving backwards. All of a sudden you realize you are no longer moving backwards and in some cases rolling forward. On one occasion is has popped out of gear and stopped moving forward leaving me half out of a parallel parked space with oncoming traffic. These incidents occur approximately once a month. In every case on failure when you look at the gear selector it has a flashing light.”

   NHTSA complaint #11322026, filed 2020-04, 6,700 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Infotainment screen freezes and reboots

   • 13 complaints (7%)
   • median 9,500 mi at 1.5 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe the center touchscreen freezing, restarting on its own, or going blank while driving, which blocks stereo volume, climate, navigation, seat heating and camera displays. Some report the system needing a full reset, and a few link electrical glitches to the radio or body modules. Complaints describe dealer visits that cleared codes or reset software without a lasting fix. Mostly reported under about 12,000 miles.

   Recall 20V1910003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Spend time with the screen on during the test drive, trying climate, camera and audio controls, and check for any stored software updates or the rearview camera recall 20V191000.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While in motion on highways and city streets, the uconnect 4c nav system will freeze, reboot or malfunction preventing control of the stereo volume (cannot turn down or off), prevent management of towing settings, disables controls for seat and steering wheel heating (cannot turn off or change preferences), obstructs bluetooth call management, disrupts vehicle navigation systems and blocks climate control management. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11315605, filed 2020-03, 9,500 miles

   “Complete reset and coding of all functions governed by the computer system and then a complete shutdown while driving at over 70mph. All systems were indicated to need service. This happened twice on the 17th and has happened once previously.”

   NHTSA complaint #11300758, filed 2020-01, 9,500 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Body mounts and suspension clunks

   • 16 complaints (8%)
   • median 3,500 mi at 1.4 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners report clunking and banging noises from the body or rear of the cab over bumps, with some told the body mounts had failed and were replaced early on, only for the noise to return. Others describe clunking in the suspension during turns and vibration or sticking felt through the brake pedal and steering. Complaints describe dealers having difficulty identifying the source. Reported from under 1,000 miles up to about 12,000 miles.

   What to check: Drive over uneven pavement and listen for clunks from the cab and rear, and ask whether body mounts or suspension components have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Exited freeway on offramp, came to an intersection waiting to turn right. When I started right turn, I noticed that the steering radius appeared to be blocked or significantly diminished as I couldn't adequately turn right, and was leaning hard on the wheel, so the turn was too wide given the loss of steering to the right. The steering returned to normal operation after the vehicle continued straight.”

   NHTSA complaint #11309551, filed 2020-02, 415 miles

   “Power steering continues to go out, vibration and sticking as I press the brake, and clunking in the suspension. Dealership cannot figure it out!!!!! Vibration occurs constantly, more so on start up. Clunking occurs when going around a turn at any MPH. I have videos to show both issues!”

   NHTSA complaint #11364087, filed 2020-10, 1,600 miles

Buying note. Check that the diesel fuel-pump, transmission and tailgate recalls were completed, since owners often report parts were unavailable, and drive the truck over bumps and in reverse before deciding. A pre-purchase inspection that scans for stored codes is worthwhile on a diesel example.

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.