Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2020 Ram 3500 — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2021 to Dec 2021
The most reported issue is fuel system, diesel problems (19 complaints). 5 complaints involved crashes. 6 involved fires.
Open Safety Recalls (11)
NHTSA Campaign: 21V439000
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 cab chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6.7L High Output engine. The engine calibration software may not warn about low oil volume.
Risk: Low oil can damage the engine, causing an oil leak or a punctured engine block, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will update the engine calibration software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 25, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y21.
NHTSA Campaign: 22V035000
Component: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 vehicles, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, 5500 Cab Chassis and 3500 Cab Chassis with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs. The windshield wiper arms may loosen, possibly causing the wipers to function improperly and reduce the driver's visibility in certain weather conditions.
Risk: Reduced visibility increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will tighten the wiper nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2022. This recall is an expansion of recall number 20V-208. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z08.
NHTSA Campaign: 20V191000
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Cherokee, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, and Jeep Renegade and 2019 Dodge Challenger vehicles equipped with 8.4" or 12" radio displays. A software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
Risk: The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update available as of May 1, 2020. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W30-W37.
NHTSA Campaign: 20V043000
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 2500 and 3500 Pickup vehicles equipped with six-speed automatic (68RFE) transmissions. A build up of pressure and heat inside the transmission may result in a transmission fluid leak from the dipstick tube.
Risk: The leaking transmission fluid may contact the turbocharger or another ignition source within the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission valve body separator plate and reprogram the powertrain control module. The recall began March 2, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W03.
NHTSA Campaign: 21V880000
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500 pickup trucks, and Ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 cab chassis vehicles equipped with Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engines. The High Pressure Fuel Pump (HPFP) may fail, resulting in a sudden engine stall without warning.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the HPFP, update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software, and inspect and replace additional fuel system components as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters to inform owners of the safety recall were mailed on January 4, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 17, 2022. Phase 2 owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on March 2, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y78.
NHTSA Campaign: 20V207000
Component: STRUCTURE
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 Pick-up trucks equipped with an accessory bed step. In certain side loading conditions, the bed step may unexpectedly fail while in use.
Risk: A bed step that unexpectedly fails while in use increases the risk of injury to the user.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the bed step support brace, free of charge. The recall began on July 9, 2020 (RAM 2500) and began on October 6, 2020 (Ram 3500). Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's numbers for this recall are W24 and W44.
NHTSA Campaign: 21V398000
Component: WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2021 RAM 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. Incorrect information in the Service and Owner's Manuals may cause the flanged lug nuts to be over-tightened, which could result in a broken wheel stud and possible wheel separation.
Risk: Wheel separation can cause a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the torque specification in the owner's manual and other published service documents. Dealers will also inspect the vehicle's wheel studs, replacing them if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 30, 2021. Campaign Y36 owner notification letters were mailed on November 30, 2021. Campaign Y26 owner notification letters were mailed on December 1, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US's numbers for this recall are Y26 and Y36.
NHTSA Campaign: 20V511000
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 cab chassis built with a Cummins 6.7L High Output engine. Inadequate warmup protection can cause a lack of oil film on the engine connecting rod bearings while the engine is reaching operating temperature. This can result in engine damage and connecting rod failure, which could potentially puncture the engine block.
Risk: A damaged engine block may leak oil, which can contact hot engine or exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will flash the engine calibration software to enhance the engine warm up protection, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W57.
NHTSA Campaign: 22V140000
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ram 2500 and 2021-2022 Dodge Durango vehicles, and 2019-2022 3500 cab chassis with GVWR less than 10,000 lbs. The ABS control module software may prevent the electronic stability control (ESC) malfunction indicator light from illuminating during certain conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Risk: An ESC malfunction indicator light that fails to illuminate during an electronic stability control problem can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the ABS control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Z20.
NHTSA Campaign: 22V835000
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FCA US, LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Ram 2500 and 2020-2022 Ram 3500 vehicles. A build-up of pressure and heat inside the transmission may result in a transmission fluid leak from the dipstick tube.
Risk: Leaking transmission fluid may contact an ignition source within the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the transmission dipstick and transmission vent assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 29, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is ZA3.
NHTSA Campaign: 22V904000
Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 pickup trucks. The tailgate may not latch properly due to misaligned tailgate strikers, which could result in the tailgate opening while driving.
Risk: An unintended tailgate opening while driving may result in a loss of unsecured cargo, possibly creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the tailgate striker alignment to the box latch and adjust, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 22, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is ZB8.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 111)
Power Train →4 issues
Your truck's gear shifter moved into Drive on its own while parked with the engine off, causing the vehicle to roll downhill and hit a tree. A child was in the truck at the time and used the steering wheel and shifter to climb in, but it's unclear if that action caused the shifter to move or if it shifted on its own. The collision caused significant damage to the passenger door, bumper, and truck bed. The issue likely involves the transmission shifter mechanism or its locking system, which may need inspection or replacement to prevent unintended gear shifts.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your parked truck shifted into Drive on its own while turned off, causing it to roll away before stopping. The dealer was unable to identify or repair the problem. This is a serious safety issue since your vehicle moved without your input.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your truck sometimes won't shift into Park or turn off the engine, which is a serious safety issue. The problem is intermittent and getting worse — it now shows the vehicle is in Drive while moving even when you've selected Park. The dealer has visited multiple times but can't reproduce the problem, and there are no diagnostic codes to help identify the issue. Similar transmission and software problems on your previous Ram truck eventually led to transmission failure, and you're noticing the same pattern starting with this vehicle.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
You received a recall notice for your 2020 Ram 3500's powertrain, but the dealership couldn't complete the repair because the required parts weren't available yet. The manufacturer acknowledged the delay and confirmed parts are still not in stock. You haven't experienced any actual failure with your vehicle yet.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Fuel System, Diesel →4 issues
Your 2020 Ram 3500's high-pressure fuel pump failed, causing the engine to stall and the vehicle to become undrivable. When you took it to the dealer for the recall repair, they installed the same defective pump instead of the correct replacement part, which an independent mechanic later identified. You had to pay out of pocket for the correct pump replacement that should have been covered under the recall at no charge.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
While driving at 75 MPH, your truck suddenly started shaking and lost power, triggering the check engine light. The dealer found that the fuel line had failed and the fuel injectors and fuel rail needed replacement. Even after recall work was performed, the problem happened again.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your 2020 Ram 3500 is subject to a recall (Campaign 21V880000) for a diesel fuel system issue, but your dealer has informed you that the required repair parts are not yet available from the manufacturer. You're concerned that the manufacturer has taken an unreasonable amount of time to make these parts available for the recall work. The fix will likely involve replacing or repairing a fuel system component once the parts become available at your dealership.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
You received a recall notice for your 2020 Ram 3500's diesel fuel system (Campaign 21V880000), but the replacement part needed to complete the repair wasn't available when you tried to schedule service. You haven't experienced any actual fuel system failure yet, but the manufacturer has taken longer than expected to make the part available for distribution to dealers.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Tires →2 issues
Your truck's front passenger tire exploded while driving near Kingman, Arizona, causing the vehicle to shake and nearly lose control. Two months later, the front driver's tire began separating at the tread, and you noticed vibration in the front end before both failures occurred. You replaced all six tires after discovering the defect. The fix will involve replacing the original equipment tires with a different brand or model.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
While driving at 50 mph, your front passenger tire suddenly blew out due to the tread separating from the tire. Later, you noticed shuddering in the front end, and a tire shop found that your front driver's side tire also had separated tread and needed replacement under warranty. Both failures occurred around 4,000 miles of tire use, which is unusually early for tire failure.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Unknown Or Other →1 issue
Your vehicle caught fire shortly after you turned off the engine during normal operation, with no obvious external cause. Despite a thorough investigation by your insurance company and the dealership over several weeks, they couldn't identify what caused the fire. This type of unexpected fire requires immediate inspection of the electrical system, fuel system components, and engine bay for potential short circuits or fuel leaks.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Engine,fuel/propulsion System →1 issue
Your truck is experiencing multiple engine and emissions system failures, including a cracked EGR valve, leaking charge air cooler, faulty diesel particulate filter, and catalytic converter issues. You're seeing warning codes repeatedly, limp mode limiting you to 5 mph, constant "Power Reduced" messages, unstable idle, engine noises from the front, and a loose gear shifter that doesn't always register Park properly. Both the Ram dealership and an independent diesel shop have confirmed these issues. Fixing this will likely require replacing or repairing the EGR valve, DPF, charge air cooler, catalytic converter, and related sensors, plus inspecting the transmission shifter assembly.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Electrical System →1 issue
Your check engine light came on, and the dealership diagnosed a faulty Grid Heater Relay that they said could have caused a fire if you'd kept driving. You've noticed that newer model years (2021-2023) have a recall for the same part, raising concerns that your 2020 may have the same defect. The fix will involve replacing the Grid Heater Relay with a new one.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Electrical System,engine →1 issue
Your truck caught fire in the engine compartment shortly after you used remote start via the key fob. The fire was severe enough that it required the fire department to respond, and they couldn't fully extinguish it until the battery cables were cut. This indicates a serious electrical or fuel system issue that occurred when the engine was being started remotely.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Engine And Engine Cooling,engine →1 issue
Your engine overheated while driving at highway speeds without any warning light appearing on your dashboard. The dealer found that the cooling fan module had failed, which required engine replacement to fix the problem. This happened at about 97,000 miles. The repair will likely involve replacing the cooling fan module and possibly the engine itself.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Wheels →1 issue
While driving your 2020 Ram 3500, the front wheels became inoperable and the vehicle pulled to one side. A dealer diagnosed the problem as failed front wheel studs that need replacement. This happened at approximately 36,000 miles.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Electrical System,service Brakes →1 issue
Your ABS (anti-lock braking) module has failed twice since you bought the truck. This system helps prevent your wheels from locking up during hard braking. The module will need to be replaced or repaired to restore proper ABS function.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Engine And Engine Cooling →1 issue
Your vehicle is leaking coolant from underneath, and your EGR warning light is on. The dealer diagnosed that your EGR valve has failed and is causing the coolant leak. The fix will involve replacing the EGR valve.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Engine →1 issue
Your truck has been repeatedly showing DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) and regeneration warning messages, requiring more frequent and longer regeneration cycles. After two years of this problem and multiple dealership visits where codes were cleared but the issue persisted, your truck eventually entered Low Power Mode and couldn't tow or accelerate. A dealer discovered the factory wiring harness had rubbed through the charged air cooler boot, which was preventing proper diesel particulate filter regeneration. The repair cost $4,500, and despite filing a warranty claim with Ram, your request for reimbursement was denied after customer service issues and poor communication.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Back Over Prevention →1 issue
Your 2020 Ram 3500 is part of a recall (Campaign 25V552000) for the back-over prevention system, but the required repair part hasn't been made available yet. You've been waiting longer than seems reasonable for the dealer to complete this recall work. The manufacturer has been notified of the delay, though you haven't experienced any actual system failure.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Get notified when any of these become free repairs
We'll alert you if a new recall is issued for your vehicle — that means a free fix at the dealer.
Related Vehicles
Other Ram 3500 years: