10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
90,286 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #14

Feb 162021

3500

  • miles
While pulling a trailer, integrated trailer brake controller stopped working and disabled the trailer brakes. All trailer lights worked, just no brakes. Showed red warning in dash and "CF" on brake controller after failure. No warning before failure. Checked connections and tested with another trailer. Even with no trailer, warning is on and trailer brakes are not functional. Created hazard to driver and other motorists by spontaneous loss of brakes. Online forums indicate this is not an isolated incident. More recently, now the trailer running lights have failed. Brake and turn signal lights work, but no running lights. No police report of inspections. Not yet repaired. Available for inspection.

- Raceland, LA, USA

problem #13

Jan 102021

3500

  • 5,000 miles
The integrated brake controller is intermittent at best. I purchased a trailer and it hooked up fine. Worked fine towing until I disconnected the trailer and seven pin connector. Now the controller tells me there is no trailer on the controller and the dash alerts. Upon pulling the trailer again the controller tells me I'm not towing when I am. ??

- Fairdale, KY, USA

problem #12

Jul 102019

3500

  • 105,000 miles
While in motion my foot brake does not send enough voltage to the electric brakes on my toy hauler 5th wheel trailer. I have to use the hand brake lever to safely stop the trailer.. while stopped my foot brake sends 3.4 volts to the trailer while the hand brake sends 12 volts (the gain is turned to its highest). With the ignition off, the brake lights on the truck to do not activate with the foot brake pedal. My local Ram dealer does not know what the problem is, nor have they heard from Chrysler. The appointment wit the Ram dealer was on July 10, 2019.

- Seaview, WA, USA

problem #11

Jan 042018

3500

  • miles
Brake transmission shift interlock recall, NHTSA recall #17V-821, recall date 01/04/2018. I have contacted the local dealership-service department on numerous attempts and I am being told parts are not available at the time for said recall.

- Kyle, TX, USA

problem #10

Jun 152019

3500

  • 107,000 miles
When stepping on the brakes while pulling my 40 ft toy hauler power is not being supplied to the electric brakes. If the electric brakes are applied by hand then power is supplied. Also, the brake lights to do not come on on the truck when the foot brake is applied unless the engine is running. This truck has the factory installed integrated brake controller. The fuse for feeding power to the trailer brake is good.

- Seaview, WA, USA

problem #9

Nov 162018

3500 6-cyl Diesel

  • 195,000 miles
Win modules and/or ignition switch randomly turns engine off and all electronics including trailer brake controls. Vehicle loss of power brakes and power steering. Loss of trailer brake controls. I was driving pulling a 10,000lbs. Trailer and truck was near impossible to stop. I was driving down the highway. Glad I wasn't driving around pedestrians, and no traffic, or driving into a city rush hour like I usually am. Now I don't pull a trailer anymore with this truck because I'm scared of smashing someone or something. A lot of people use these trucks as commercial vehicles and towing and this needs addresses before someone gets hurt or killed.

- Casper, WY, USA

problem #8

Nov 172017

3500

  • 96,000 miles
Hissing noise coming from hydroboost area. While driving and when stopped with engine running there is a hissing noise under the dash. Depressing the brakes, the noise quiets. When turning the steering wheel, the noise quiets. Upon further investigation the noise is coming from the hydroboost area.

- Enterprise, AL, USA

problem #7

Jun 292016

3500

  • 22,000 miles
The oem trailer brake controller will show a "trailer brakes disconnected", "check trailer brakes" this is a random message and checking the wiring shows no problems. The dealers appear to be clueless about the issue and blame the owners trailer. The warning on the dash display and on the oem trailer brake will display at any speed and without brake application. There are repeated posts on the various internet forums with no correction available, and since it is a intermittent problem, very hard to diagnose.

- Livingston, TX, USA

problem #6

Oct 152014

3500 4WD 6-cyl

  • 124,000 miles
My driver was traveling at 80 mph in cruise control when he started to notice a vibration from the truck that was shaking the mirrors. He took the vehicle out of cruise control and started to decelerate. At approximately 70 mph a large bang was heard from beneath the vehicle and the front end of the truck was lifted off of the pavement. This caused the vehicle to be turned slightly sideways when it came back down into contact with the pavement while traveling at 70 mph! thankfully my driver was able to correct the vehicle straight but when he pushed on the brake pedal it went all the way to the floor. He was able to coast the vehicle to the side of the road and eventually bring it to a stop. Parts from the truck had been strewn down the interstate over approximately 200 yds. There was a vehicle traveling behind my driver at the time of the incident but luckily they were far enough behind that they were able to take evasive actions to avoid any flying debris. Thankfully there were no injuries or after incident accidents that occurred though I would attribute this to the alert and responsive driving of both my driver and the driver of the vehicle behind him. Had there been a vehicle directly behind or to the side of him there could have been a major accident possibly resulting in injuries or death. This vehicle was towed to a Dodge Ram dealer where we were informed that the front drive shaft was the part that failed. We were informed by dealer personnel that this drive shaft has a joint that is non-serviceable nor easily inspected and that this was the root cause of the failure. Other parts that were effected were the transfer case (the case was broken in two pieces and the internals were blown out), transmission cracked beyond repair, brake lines had been severed, fuel lines had been severed and a hole was punched through the cab bottom into the passenger area.

- Salt Lake City, UT, USA

problem #5

Jan 062014

3500

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 14V154000 (service brakes, hydraulic); however, the part needed for the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Carmi, IL, USA

problem #4

Aug 102014

3500

  • 74,000 miles
I was driving down the highway 97 close to prince george, Canada, I heard a loud scratching sound which I thought to be worn out brake pads. It was Sunday evening and all dealers where closed. When I called the Dodge dealership next morning(I spent the night in town) they could not assist me because they were booked. So I went to a garage who could take me in. I was told the brake pads where not to bad but the drive shaft was ripped out of the casing at the centre of the vehicle and the vehicle was not drivable. I called the Chrysler customer service and they said I had to wait till they could look at it next day(day 2). And even if it would take another day. I then told the local repair shop to fix it up since I had to little kids already waiting to get home. Chrysler said they would not reimburse me that I follow their guidelines or they would not give back any money. There I am with a $85000 vehicle and an extended warranty for $4000 and they would refuse to help me rather let me and my family wait for two days. Another issue is a recall that was supposed to be fixed at the front end but they have according to my Chrysler dealer been able to get the parts in. By now both front ball joints are loose and the front end is shaken even here they had no answer for the 14 month delay.

- Port Coquitlam, WA, USA

problem #3

Jun 202014

3500 6-cyl Diesel

  • 69,000 miles
While driving South hauling a horse trailer on a two lane highway, my truck would hit a slight bump or ridge in the road and start violently shaking. The only remedy is to slow to a stop. The steering wheel shakes violently, it is hard to steer, the brakes can't slow like normal. It is a dangerous not only to occupants in the vehicle, but to other people on the road. This vehicle is a hazard to everyone!!!!

- Keenesburg, CO, USA

problem #2

Nov 132013

3500

  • 67,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the brakes overheated and all four brake calipers caught on fire without warning. The contact also mentioned that the brakes were newly installed prior to the failure. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the technician stated that the calipers and brake lines would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 67,000. The VIN was not available.

- Antelope, CA, USA

problem #1

Feb 142012

3500

  • 400,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Dodge Ram 3500. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph and attempting a turn, the brakes seized without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they stated that they needed to replace the brake control module. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was contacted and provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 400,000 and the current mileage was 600,000.

- Ogden , UT, USA