2019 RAM 5500 Problems & Complaints

There is a safety recall on my 2019 Ram 5500 rollback tow truck. The recall number is Y78. On November 17 My truck unexpectedly stopped working on highway M33 in rose city Michigan. I discovered there was a recall on the vehicle for a premature fuel system failure. I called the FCA they told me to take it to Thelen Chrysler Ram in Bay City Michigan. I called Thelen to confirm I could take it there and they said yes. I spent $522 to have it towed there on Friday November 18. I tried to contact the service department and left several messages on the following Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday I called the main dealership office and informed them that the service dept. was not returning my calls, they hand carried the phone to the very arrogant service dept. manager [XXX]. I informed him about the recall on the truck and he said they have not looked at it yet and that he would get back to me when they had time to look at it and didn’t know when that would be. On the 28th he finally called me back and confirmed my fears that it was a total fuel system failure. He then says that there is a recall for that issue but Ram does not a a fix for it, the 2020 models have a fix for the same problem but not the 2019 models. I told him I need it fixed in a timely manor and he told me that’s not possibly because they take care of their regular customers first and they don’t have the lift equipment to fix it that the mechanic would have to do it on the ground and that I need to take it to a different shop. Here's my complaint: I own a tow company called Local Towing Service,LLC. I depend on this tow truck to make my living. FCA told me to take it Thelen , I called Thelen and they told me to have it towed there, now they are telling me to take it some where else that they can’t fix it but it says on their website that they service Ram 5500 chassis . Ram has a recall for this issue with no fix on the 2019 but they do on the 2020? This makes no sense. They know how to fix it. How can INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT CONTAMINATING THE WHOLE FUEL SYSTEM WITH METAL FRAGEMENTS. TRUCK DERATED TO 5MPH. SAT AT DEALERSHIP FOR OVER 3 MONTHS DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM.

The contact owns a 2019 Ram 5500. While the contact's husband was driving the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The driver became aware of an abnormally loud sound. Additionally, the vehicle failed to exceed 40 MPH while driving on a busy highway. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to another dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated, and the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, and a mechanic performed a ride-along with the contact's husband. The failure was diagnosed as a fuel system failure. The contact was informed that the high-pressure fuel pump and the entire fuel system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact contacted the dealer where the vehicle was purchased and was informed of an unknown recall that was initiated two years ago for the fuel system. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and agreed to cover the cost of the high-pressure fuel pump repair only. The failure mileage was approximately 163,000.

While unloading cargo, I was standing on the flatbed of the truck, leaning over the standing side-gates, without realizing they weren’t locked in place. The gates fell down onto a co-worker and I fell out of the truck. Similar incidents have occurred before and after this accident. These gate latches don’t have any warning systems in place to indicate when they are unlocked. It is unknown if this component has been inspected by others.

The contact owns a 2019 Ram 5500. The contact stated that while one of his drivers was driving at an undisclosed speed, the tire tread detached and began to roll down the highway. The driver pulled over to the side of the road. There was no warning light illuminated. There was no injury sustained; however, the driver missed a week of work due to the traumatic experience from the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the diagnostic test was undisclosed; however, the wheel studs were replaced. The contact was concerned about the safety hazard presented with the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2019 Ram 5500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V759000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and 21V880000 (Fuel System, Diesel) however, parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The dealer was made aware of the issue and the contact was informed there was a limited quantity of available parts. The contact was placed on a waiting list. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

I would like to report a major safety concern with the push button start system and programming on the 2019 and up 5500 cab and chassis with the 6.7 Cummins. On November 29th we had a 2019 Ram 5500 that went in the ditch and ended up on its side because of soft ground. It was laid fully on the passenger side. It was still running. Operator tried to turn off engine and it would not. After he climbed out drivers side window he tried to clamp off fuel line. Truck continued to idle until it stuck a few of the main bearings to the crank shaft . truck was towed in and all fluids were checked and filled as needed. Turning the engine over with a barring tool was I was able to free it up. I charged batteries and turned on key it wouldn’t crank. (shifter was in park when unit was unloaded off wrecker into shop) PCM has numerous codes including lost communication with TCM. Didn’t display gear selecting in cluster. After clearing codes truck would start and run. These chassis’ will not turn off if the transmission dash display does not display park or neutral and will not turn off if PCM loses communication with TCM even if transmission is in park or neutral.. Luckily this was not an accident were anything started on fire but chassis should either have a impact or tilt sensor or programmed so if you hold start button for a certain amount of time or press it a certain number of times it overrides ignition system. A mechanic with a 2019 2500 with the Cummins says that his manual states that it button is pushed and held it will turn ignition off after holding for 5 seconds. I test a couple of other 2019 5500”s that are located here and with transmission in drive, vehicle stopped motor running have held button for up to 3 minutes and pushed it up to 30 times and ignition will not turn off unless dash display shows park on neutral. If there had been damage to fuel lines it could have been pumping diesel fuel onto the accident scene

The transfer case shifted itself into neutral while driving on the highway. It wouldn't go into any other gears and it lost all functionality. I wasn't under load and had been maintaining a set 65 mph. There was no warning the RPMs just redlined. I set the vehicle into what registered as park and when I got out it continued to roll towards me. I had 3 small children in the vehicle at the time and had we not made it off the highway in time I hate to think what could have happened. I am a mechanic by trade and it is the only reason we were able to get it to a safe area.

The contact's husband owns a 2019 Ram 5500. While her husband was driving 45 mph, he heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine as the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle stalled while depressing the accelerator pedal. Her husband pulled over to the side of the road and upon inspection, he discovered that smoke and a fire had started in the engine compartment. Her husband grabbed the fire extinguisher and extinguished the fire. The contact owns a towing company and was able to tow the vehicle to a dealer. The dealer informed the contact and her husband that a rod had gone through the engine block. The contact and her husband were provided an estimate for the repair which they declined. The contact had the engine replaced by an independent mechanic. Upon investigation, the contact discovered the vehicle had been placed under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V439000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) which she linked to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was initially provided a case number. The contact then received a call from the manufacturer that her claim was denied. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 164,716

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 RAM 5500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WHILE DRIVING ON WET SURFACES, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS MORE CONTROLLABLE WHILE DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, AN APPOINTMENT TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.