2022 Ram 2500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about electrical and electronic problems — trailer brake controllers that cut out, warning lights for stability control and air bags, infotainment freezes — alongside a smaller but steady stream of transmission complaints (rough downshifts, clunks, fluid overheating) and diesel emissions (DEF/DPF) messages. Many of the electrical and transmission complaints are about recall repairs that stayed unavailable at dealers for months, so parts availability, not just the fault itself, shows up repeatedly in what owners report.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission clunk, shudder, fluid overheating and leaks

   • 28 complaints (15%)
   • median 7,900 mi at 1.3 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners report a clunk or lurch felt as the transmission downshifts to a stop, shuddering under acceleration, RPM fluctuation, and in some cases a burning transmission fluid smell with an overheating message. Several complaints are about the transmission dipstick recall: dealers told owners the parts were on back order for months, and some owners note there is no dipstick to check fluid level at all. Repairs range from software relearn to transmission replacement, with some faults recurring afterward. Many reports come in under 15,000 miles, often within the first year of ownership.

   Recall 22V8350002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the transmission dipstick recall (22V835000) has been completed, check for a burnt fluid smell after a test drive, and drive at low speed to a full stop to listen for a clunk.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Recall ZA3 Heavy Duty Truck Transmission Dipstick. I received this recall one year ago in November 2022. I called my dealer to get it in for service, they told me those were on back order for 3-6 months. I kept checking back with them in May 2023, and also in August 2023 and was told both times parts were still on back order. Still NOT fixed, and it’s really worrying!!”

   NHTSA complaint #11556354, filed 2023-11

   “I have a clunk to when coming to a stop, the transmission is down shifting, and just before it comes to a complete stop, the truck has a clunk that is felt through the vehicle and heard. at times while stopped the vehicle will lurch forward as though you have been hit from behind. The truck has been back to the dealership several times for this problem, two different dealerships because the first one gave up and was suggested to take it to another dealership per Ram. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11706544, filed 2025-12
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Trailer brake controller cuts out / weak trailer braking

   • 7 complaints (4%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 3.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners towing travel trailers and campers describe the integrated trailer brake controller intermittently failing to apply the trailer brakes, or applying them too weakly to stop a heavy load. Some report low voltage at the trailer wiring pigtail, so the trailer lights and brakes get insufficient power even with the pedal pressed. Dealers commonly said the truck was operating as designed or could not reproduce the problem, and in some cases a stored code was found with no repair available. Reported from a few thousand miles up to well over 100,000 miles, typically while towing a trailer.

   What to check: If you plan to tow, hitch up a trailer and test the manual brake override and the trailer lights at several stops; ask whether any stored trailer-brake codes have been checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While towing a (new) travel trailer, the trailer brakes stop working intermittently. The local RAM dealer could not find any problems. A DTC code C10C7-19 was discovered with no way to repair according to the Ram dealer. I contacted the RV dealer about this problem. They said they have never seen this problem. Test were made on the electrical brake system, All wiring and brakes checked OK. I do not feel safe towing not knowing if my brakes will work or not.”

   NHTSA complaint #11685035, filed 2025-09

   “the integrated trailer brake controller does not perform enought to actually engage the trailer brakes on multiple trailers. this should be a recall issue for ram. we have two ram trucks with the same issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #11587271, filed 2024-05
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Warning lights: stability control, ABS, air bag, electrical

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe clusters of dashboard warnings appearing together — stability control and ABS unavailable, air bag light on with blown air bag fuses, seat belt and SOS call warnings, and a "take vehicle to authorized dealer, electrical failure" message. Some trucks lost cruise control at the same time. Dealers replaced wiring harnesses, modules or fuses, and several owners report the same warnings returning after the repair. Appears at low miles (under 10,000) as well as past 40,000 miles, and owners often link it to wet or snowy conditions.

   Recall 24V415000Recall 22V140000Recall 23V0600002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Start the truck and watch the dash through a full self-check, then drive over bumps; ask the dealer to scan all modules for stored and pending codes rather than only the current one.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The abs and traction control Lights keep coming on making the safety systems unavailable. This has happened 5 times, they clear when stopped but come on again. I am driving in snowy conditions and am in danger. This was scanned By one dealer and they said sometimes the sensor malfunctions and it reset and it was fixed - it kept happening on a cross country trip.”

   NHTSA complaint #11499120, filed 2022-12

   “The contact owns a 2022 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, there was a long crank time before the vehicle started. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the ambient temperature sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11498098, filed 2022-12, 5,000 miles
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Diesel DEF / DPF messages, regen cycles and limp mode

   • 18 complaints (10%)
   • median 18,000 mi at 1.8 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners of the Cummins diesel describe "Service DEF System" or a DEF-low countdown to limp mode appearing with few miles on the truck, sometimes traced to a failed DEF sensor or pump, a contaminated tank, or a frozen DEF line. Others report frequent regeneration, check engine lights with a DPF regen-frequency code, and repeated repairs to emissions components without the symptom going away. Some dealers updated software or replaced the urea pump; a few owners say the cause was never found. Often reported between roughly 1,500 and 18,000 miles, and several owners mention cold weather.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a diesel, ask for the service history on the DEF pump, sensor and DPF, and note whether any emissions-related check engine codes are currently stored.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle has experienced repeated failures related to the diesel emissions system despite multiple repair attempts. The primary symptom is an illuminated check engine light accompanied by diagnostic trouble code P2459 (Diesel Particulate Filter Regeneration Frequency). The vehicle frequently enters regeneration cycles and continues to exhibit the same symptoms after major emissions system repairs. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11743315, filed 2026-06

   “This is a 2022 Ram 2500 Long Horn with teh 6.7L Cummings Diesel. I have owned it for 30 days and it has 1475 miles on the odometer. The Service DEF System came on and after talking with the local dealership, the DEF sensor and or DEF pump has failed due to the DEF freezing. They have explained that this is a know issue and has affected the 2019 to present model year. After doing extensive research on neumorous blogs, it is a much larger problem than the dealer is letting on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11454623, filed 2022-03
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes to the floor / brake warning faults

   • 14 complaints (8%)
   • median 44,000 mi at 3.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2023–2026

   Complaints describe the brake pedal suddenly traveling to the floorboard with the truck running, requiring the parking brake to stop, and in one case a spongy pedal during parking that ended in a collision. Another owner had a caliper replaced after a similar loss of braking. Some trucks also showed "service electronic stability control" and trailer-brake-disabled messages. Dealers sometimes could not duplicate the failure or found no cause. Reported from around 2,300 miles up to about 44,000 miles, without a clear pattern in weather or use.

   Recall 24V415000Recall 22V140000

   What to check: Press and hold the pedal with the engine running to confirm it stays firm, inspect the calipers and brake fluid, and ask whether the ABS/ESC software recalls have been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1. Complete Brake Failure. No warning lights came on. There is no emergency warning system for Brake Failure. This could have been catastrophic. This could have turned deadly if we were driving on the highway with no warnings Dec 15, 2024 I drove the truck during the day on the highway and made various stops for Christmas Shopping. I went for dinner with my Family. After dinner climbed into the truck and depressed the break and started the truck. Once the truck started the break pedal could be pushed to the back floorboards. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11630887, filed 2024-12

   “The contact owns a 2022 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving and attempting to park, when the brake pedal was depressed, it became spongy and was inoperable. As a result, the contact crashed into a building and damaged the aluminum siding of the building. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with front left caliber failure and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 2300.”

   NHTSA complaint #11534756, filed 2023-07, 2,300 miles

Buying note. Check that the open recalls for this model year — transmission dipstick, ABS/ESC software, rearview camera and heater grid relay — have actually been completed, since owners report long waits for parts. A longer test drive that includes towing if you plan to, plus a full module scan, will surface most of the electrical and transmission symptoms 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.