Dodge RAM 3500 Engine Problems
Owners have filed 117 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Dodge RAM 3500 across 13 model years. The 2012 model year has the most (35). The words owners use most often: “engine cooling fuel” (27% of reports).
- 117engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 62%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Engine cooling fuel: mentioned in 32 of 117 complaints (27%)
- Opened hood: mentioned in 6 of 117 complaints (5%)
- Water pump: mentioned in 6 of 117 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 74 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 117 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 17 a fire, 1 an injury.
Dodge RAM 3500 engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 RAM 3500 | 35 | 10% | 73,000 |
| 2011 RAM 3500 | 21 | 9% | 65,000 |
| 2010 RAM 3500 | 17 | 11% | 86,400 |
| 2009 RAM 3500 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2008 RAM 3500 | 11 | 6% | 82,000 |
| 2007 RAM 3500 | 17 | 8% | 102,500 |
| 2006 RAM 3500 | 6 | 2% | 161,500 |
| 2005 RAM 3500 | 3 | 2% | 163,000 |
| 2004 RAM 3500 | 2 | 1% | 142,000 |
| 2003 RAM 3500 | 1 | 0% | 120,000 |
| 2002 RAM 3500 | 1 | 2% | 130,000 |
| 2001 RAM 3500 | 1 | 1% | 87,000 |
| 2000 RAM 3500 | 1 | 2% | 98,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel; fuel system, diesel
Model years: 2010, 2011, 2012
Problem: Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks manufactured March 27, 2009, to September 5, 2013. In the affected vehicles, the electrical connectors of the diesel fuel heater may overheat.
Risk: If the connectors overheat, the fuel heater may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the harness side connector with a silver plated beryllium copper terminal service kit, and inspect the fuel heater for leaks, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. Chrysler issued interim notification to owners on December 8, 2014. The recall began on April 27, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P65.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:diesel
Model years: 2007, 2008
Problem: Chrysler is recalling 108,429 my 2007-2008 dodge ram 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks equipped with 6.7l diesel engines. A silencer pad can sag and contact the exhaust gas recirculation (egr) cooler.
Risk: This could result in an engine compartment fire.
Fix: Dealers will add a bracket to support the engine compartment silencer pad adjacent to the egr cooler. The recall is expected to begin during december 2008. Owners may contact chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Driving my 2012 dodge ram 3500, just as I was crossing one of the busiest intersections in my town my truck lost all power and dropped from 35mph to 5 mph. Barley made it acrossed and pulled over. As soon as I pulled over the engine light comes on, checked code, and U010C lost coms with turbo…
This truck has had to have several high temp burnoffs because of failures in the EGR and Carbon build up. The recent recall for Rams does not cover the 2012, and began at 2013, however, we are experiencing the same exact issues with the same type of system. In addition, we have had repeated airbag…
The wireless ignition module loses connection internally and the truck will lose power while driving. It usually happens when hitting a small bump and the key in the ignition moves. Truck loses electrical power which shuts the engine off which means loss of power steering and brakes.
Smoke started coming from the hood. I opened the hood and the engine had caught fire
The contact owns a 2011 Ram 3500. The contact stated that during cold weather, the engine would not heat up properly and hesitated to start. In addition, the contact stated that on several occasions, the heater grid connector on the driver's side melted bolts and wiring that intruded into the…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Dodge RAM 3500s have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 117 owner complaints about engine for the Dodge RAM 3500. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Dodge RAM 3500 engine?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Dodge RAM 3500?
The most frequent phrase is “engine cooling fuel”, in 32 of 117 complaints, followed by “opened hood” (6).
Other Dodge RAM 3500 problems
- Steering problems (1,017)
- Power Train problems (349)
- Suspension problems (331)
- Air Bags problems (314)
- Electrical System problems (276)
- Structure problems (173)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (147)
- Exterior Lighting problems (144)
See all Dodge RAM 3500 problems.