2016 Ram 3500 Fuel System Problems

Your DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) pump failed, which reduced your truck's speed to 5 mph. You paid a diesel mechanic $2,865.81 to replace the pump after the dealer quoted $3,900 for the same repair. You claim Ram promised reimbursement through a recall but denied your request for the out-of-pocket cost you paid.

Your DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) pump failed and you paid for the repair out of pocket. A recall was later issued for this part, so you submitted a warranty claim, but it was denied because you hadn't completed a required software update (download 67a) before the repair—even though that update wasn't available when your pump failed. You believe your truck qualifies for the recall based on mileage and date of manufacture.

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A FULL STOP, THE TRUCK ACCELERATES FOR LESS THAN ONE SECOND. AFTER THE SHORT BURST OF ACCELERATION, IT STOPS EVEN THOUGH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION HAS NOT CHANGED. THERE IS NOW ZERO ACCELERATION FOR ONE TO THREE SECONDS, LEAVING THE TRUCK IN A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS POSITION. THE ACCELERATION COMES BACK WITHIN ONE TO THREE SECONDS AND THE TRUCK DRIVES NORMALLY AFTER THAT. WHEN YOU COME TO A FULL STOP AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THE BEHAVIOR REPEATS AND THE DELAY SEEMS TO DECREASE AS THE TRUCK 'WARMS UP'. THIS BEHAVIOR WAS VERIFIED BY TWO DRIVERS AND MULTIPLE TECHNICIANS AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO ARE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM BUT RECOGNIZE THE POTENTIAL DANGER THAT CAN BE CAUSED BY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS HAD THE TRUCK FOR ALMOST ONE MONTH TRYING TO SOLVE AND CONTINUE TO VERIFY THE EXISTENCE AND DANGER ASSOCIATED WITH THE ISSUE. CHRYSLER'S STAR TEAM HAS ALSO BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH AND A ROOT CAUSE HAS STILL NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED.

INSTALLED A NORTHERN TOOL GRAVITY FED AUXILIARY DIESEL FUEL TANK FOR DIESEL TRUCK. WORKED GREAT FOR ALMOST A YEAR. ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN COMING TO A STOP, NOTICED DIESEL FUEL POURING OUT OF FILLER TUBE. THE 2016 RAM 3500 DIESEL DOES NOT COME WITH A FUEL CAP AND RELIES ON VALVE IN FILLER TUBE TO PREVENT FUEL COMING UP, USUALLY IN A WARM DAY SITUATION. WITH WEAKENED VALVE, AND USING GRAVITY FED AUXILIARY FUEL TANK, RAM TRUCK CAN CREATE SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD. THE ONLY WAY TO ELIMINATE HAZARD WITH FUEL IN AUXILIARY TANK IS TO MANUALLY TURN OFF VALVE ON AUXILIARY TANK. IT IS VERY COMMON TO HAVE AUXILIARY FUEL TANK ON 1 TON HEAVY TRUCK. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE RAM GO BACK TO FUEL CAP OR REDESIGN CURRENT VALVE.

2016 3500 CUMMINS TURBO DIESEL WITH AISIN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 342 GEAR RATIO HAS SLUGGISH ACCELERATION AND WHAT SEEMS TO BE AN UNRESPONSIVE THROTTLE AND WHAT SEEMS TO BE CALLED A DEAD PEDAL OR TORQUE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, MAYBE TO HELP FUEL ECONOMY TO MEET GOVERNMENT GUIDE LINES. DEALER SAYS IT'S "NORMAL" ACCORDING TO GOOD BROTHERS DODGE WEYMOUTH MA. PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC I FEEL I WILL GET INTO A REAR END COLLISION SINCE TRUCK WILL NOT ACCELERATE LIKE EVERY OTHER VEHICLE WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GO PEDAL. PLEASE HELP PROTECT MY KIDS.

THE DEF TANK SUDDENLY READ EMPTY AND IT WAS OVER 3/4 FULL IT BEGAN TO COUNTDOWN THE WARNING OF REDUCED SPEED IN 200 MILES I WAS DRIVING BETWEEN CA AND AZ AT NIGHT . I WAS OVER 250 FROM ANY TOWN DRIVING AT 65 IT SUDDENLY SLOWED TO 5 MPH. THIS CAUSED VEHICLES TO SWERVE AROUND ME AND BRAKE. I UNDERSTAND YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE NOT TO USE DEF BUT FOR SAFETY THE VEHICLE SHOULD AT LEAST BE ABLE TO KEEP THE MIN FREEWAY SPEED OF 55. THEN UPON RESTART IDLE ONLY FOR COLD ENVIRONMENT SITUATIONS.

THE DEF PUMP STOP WORKING NEVER HAD A MAINTENANCE LIGHT TO COME ON UNTIL THE TRUCK REACH ABOUT 76000 MILES AT THAT TIME THE SYSTEM WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE PUMP WAS NO GOOD I WAS ON MY WAY BACK FROM NEW YORK WHEN IT INDICATED THAT IT WAS GOING TO SLOW DOWN TO 5MILE PER HOUR FOR 145MILE BUT IT DID NOT DO IT.