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Why do Ram diesel fuel pumps and fuel lines keep failing?
Three diesel recalls on Ram trucks, and all of them trace back to fuel delivery. The oldest, from 2019, covers 2019 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500 diesels whose fuel lines may leak into the engine compartment near ignition sources. The other two are high-pressure fuel pump failures. On 2019-2020 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups and 3500, 4500 and 5500 cab chassis with the Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel, the HPFP can fail and stall the engine with no warning. On 2014-2019 Ram 1500 with the 3.0L diesel, shared with the Jeep Grand Cherokee, a failing HPFP sheds debris into the fuel system and starves the engine. The 2019 model year is caught in all three.
Warning signs to watch for
- A smell of diesel fuel or wet spots in the engine compartment
- The engine stalls suddenly while driving
- Loss of engine power from fuel starvation
- Often no advance warning at all — the notices say the high-pressure pump can fail and stall the engine without warning
Is it safe to keep driving?
None of these three recalls carries a stop-driving or park-outside order from NHTSA or Chrysler, so you can keep driving while you wait for parts and an appointment. That said, two of them describe failures that can happen with no warning: the Cummins 6.7L high-pressure fuel pump can stall the engine suddenly, and the 3.0L pump can starve the engine of fuel and cut power. The fuel-line recall is a fire risk. If you smell fuel or see wetness under the hood, get it inspected before driving further.
What the free repair involves
Dealers inspect the fuel lines and replace them if needed on the 2019 heavy-duty recall. For both high-pressure fuel pump recalls, they replace the HPFP and inspect the rest of the fuel system, replacing any additional components as necessary; the Cummins recall also includes a Powertrain Control Module software update. All of the work is done at a dealer free of charge, with no over-the-air option.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 2 |
| high | 1 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-06-09 | Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram 1500 Diesel Fuel Pump Failure | high |
| 2021-11-12 | Ram Heavy-Duty Diesel Trucks Can Stall Without Warning | critical |
| 2019-06-27 | Ram diesel trucks: fuel lines may leak and catch fire | critical |
Common questions
My Cummins diesel runs fine — does the fuel pump still need replacing?
Yes. The recall is based on the possibility of a sudden high-pressure fuel pump failure, not on symptoms you can feel. Dealers replace the HPFP, update the PCM software and check other fuel system parts, free of charge.
Is the 3.0L diesel pump recall the same as the Cummins one?
No. They are separate recalls. The 2021 recall covers 2019-2020 Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks and cab chassis models with the Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel; the 2022 recall covers 2014-2019 Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee with the 3.0L diesel.
Will my fuel lines be replaced automatically?
Not necessarily. On the 2019 fuel line recall for 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500 diesels, dealers inspect the lines first and replace them only if needed. Check your VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm your truck is included.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.