23 recalls covering model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024. To check whether your vehicle is affected, look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall may apply only to some vehicles of a given year.
A control part inside the steering column may keep the driver's airbag from working the way it should. If you are in a crash, the airbag in the steering wheel may not inflate, leaving you without that protection. These trucks do not meet the federal rule for crash protection because of it. Nothing about the way the truck drives will feel different, so you cannot tell on your own whether yours is affected.
These trucks have a part called the hydraulic control unit that runs the anti-lock brakes, the electronic stability control and the traction control. It can fail, shutting all three systems off. Without them, the wheels can lock up in a hard stop and the truck gets no help staying straight on slippery roads or in a sudden swerve, which makes a crash more likely. The notice does not say your regular brakes stop working.
A part in the steering column may not have been welded correctly at the factory. That part carries the electrical signal to the driver's airbag in the steering wheel. If the weld is bad, the airbag may not inflate during a crash, so the driver would not get the protection it is supposed to give. A dealer will check the part and replace it if needed at no cost to you.
The control unit behind the steering wheel, the part that handles the stalk for your turn signals and high beams, may not work properly. Using the turn signal can switch on your high beams, and using the high beams can switch on a turn signal. The turn signal may also fail to shut itself off after you finish a turn. Other drivers can be misled or blinded. Dealers update the module software, and replace the module if needed, free.
These diesel trucks use an electric heater to help the engine start in cold weather. The relay — the switch that turns that heater on — can short out electrically, and it can do so whether the ignition is on or off. A short there can start a fire in the engine compartment. A dealer will replace the relay free of charge. The repair is being rolled out in stages, starting with 2023 models, then 2022, then 2021.
⚠ NHTSA advises: park outside and away from structures (fire risk).
The rubber hoses that carry brake fluid to the rear brakes on these Ram 4500 and 5500 cab chassis trucks were built with an opening inside that is too narrow. That narrow passage can cause a hose to burst. If a hose bursts, you can lose braking power, which makes it much harder or impossible to stop the truck. The trucks also do not meet the federal safety rule for brake hoses. A dealer will put in new rear brake hoses.
The computer that controls your diesel engine may have a part inside it that was installed crooked. That part can short out, and when it does the computer stops talking to the rest of the truck. The result is that your truck can lose power while you are driving. This affects certain Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 models with the 6.7L Cummins turbo diesel engine. A dealer will put in a new engine computer at no cost to you.
The nuts that hold the windshield wiper arms in place can loosen. When that happens, the wipers may not sweep properly, may move out of position, or may stop clearing the glass at all — a real problem in rain or snow, when you need to see the road. The fix is quick: a dealer tightens the wiper nuts free of charge. This recall expands an earlier one, 20V-208, to cover more trucks. Owner letters were mailed in February 2022.
Certain Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups and Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 cab chassis trucks with the Cummins 6.7-liter turbo diesel engine may have a fuel pump that fails. That pump pushes fuel into the engine at high pressure, and if it breaks the engine can shut off suddenly while you are driving, with no warning first. The dealer replaces the pump, updates the engine computer software, and checks the other fuel parts, replacing any that are damaged.
These diesel pickups and cab chassis trucks have a relay — an electrical switch — for the intake heater that helps the engine start in cold weather. It can short out and start a fire, whether the ignition is on or off. A dealer will inspect the relay and replace it if needed, free of charge. This recall has since been replaced by a newer, broader recall, 23V060, which covers the same problem on these trucks.
⚠ NHTSA advises: park outside and away from structures (fire risk).
On these cab chassis trucks with the Cummins 6.7-liter High Output engine, the engine's software may not warn you when the oil level gets too low. Running the engine low on oil can damage it, and that damage can cause an oil leak or even a hole in the engine block. Either one raises the chance of a fire. Dealers will update the engine software at no cost. Owner letters were mailed June 25, 2021.
The owner's manual and service manual for these Ram trucks list the wrong tightening setting for the lug nuts that hold the wheels on. Following those instructions makes the nuts too tight, which can crack or break a wheel stud. If enough studs break, a wheel can come off the truck while you are driving. The dealer corrects the instructions and inspects your wheel studs, replacing any bad ones free.
These trucks were modified by Excellance and fitted with CLASS suspension systems. The flexible hose that carries brake fluid to a rear brake may have been routed where it touches a suspension part. Over time that contact can wear the hose out and let brake fluid leak. If that happens, you can lose some or all of your rear braking, which makes a crash more likely. A dealer installs a kit that repairs any damage and prevents it from happening again.
These trucks were fitted with a suspension system by an outside company, and the flexible rubber hose feeding a rear brake may have been routed where it rubs against a suspension part. Over time that rubbing wears the hose thin and brake fluid can leak out. If that happens, the rear brakes can work weakly or stop working altogether, so the truck takes much longer to stop. The shop repairs the suspension and the worn brake line.
Some 2019-2020 RAM 4500 and 5500 trucks built by Braun Northwest with Liquid Spring rear suspension have a flexible rear brake hose routed where it rubs against a suspension part. Over time the rubbing wears the hose through, and brake fluid can leak out. If that happens, the rear brakes may work poorly or stop working at all, leaving you with much less stopping power than you expect.
Some Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 cab chassis trucks with the Cummins 6.7-liter High Output diesel engine don't protect the engine well enough while it's warming up. Before the engine reaches normal operating temperature, the oil may not fully coat the bearings on the connecting rods inside. That can damage the engine and break a connecting rod, which may punch a hole in the engine block. Oil can then leak onto hot engine or exhaust parts and start a fire.
LiquidSpring made certain adjustable rear suspension systems that were sold for 2019-2020 RAM 4500 and 5500 trucks. On these systems the flexible rear brake hose is routed so it touches a suspension part. The rubbing wears the hose down, and brake fluid can leak out. That can leave the rear brakes partly or completely useless. The parts also fail to meet the federal safety standard for brake systems.
The fuel lines on these diesel trucks may leak fuel into the engine compartment. Diesel pooling or dripping around a hot, running engine is dangerous: if it reaches anything that can ignite it, the truck can catch fire. Dealers will look over the fuel lines and put in new ones if they find a problem. The inspection and any new parts are free of charge.
These are ambulances and emergency vehicles built on Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Freightliner and International chassis and fitted with Whelen brake lights. Depending on how the vehicle was wired, the brake lights can come on even when the driver is not pressing the brake pedal. That breaks the federal rule for vehicle lamps. Whelen replaces the brake lights free of charge, and owners were told to contact Whelen directly rather than a dealer. The recall began March 21, 2019.
These vehicles have cruise control, which holds a set speed for you. A short circuit in the wiring can lock the cruise control on. If that happens, tapping the brake pedal or pressing the off button may not shut it off, and the vehicle can keep its speed or even speed up on its own. Chrysler tells owners to stop using cruise control until the free computer software update is done at a dealer.
Some 2018 Ram 4500 and 5500 cab chassis trucks have brake hoses that were built without the protective anti-rust coating on their metal end fittings. Those hoses run between the brake master cylinder and the brake control unit. Without the coating, the fittings can rust. Rusted fittings can let brake fluid leak out, and losing brake fluid can mean losing your brakes. A dealer will inspect the brake hoses and replace them if they need it.
On these RAM trucks with a column shifter, holding the brake pedal down for a long stretch while the truck is running and in Park can make a small locking pin stick in the open position. With that pin stuck, the transmission can be moved out of Park into any gear without anyone pressing the brake pedal and even without the key in the ignition. That means the truck can end up in gear by accident and roll away.
These vehicles came with a Kidde plastic-handle or push-button fire extinguisher, and those extinguishers have been recalled. The extinguisher can clog so it does not spray, or take far too much force to set off. On some models the nozzle can blow off the valve hard enough to injure someone. The vehicle itself is not defective — the problem is the safety equipment you would reach for during a fire. Kidde will send a free replacement.
Complaints owners have filed with NHTSA about the RAM 4500. These are unverified reports; better-selling years collect more.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: