Guidelines For The Use Of Alternative Diesel Fuels.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 RAM 1500 fuel system problems
moderate 62 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,200 · see fuel system across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
62
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,200
What stands out
Owners have filed 62 fuel system complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 9 model years of RAM 1500 in our records for fuel system problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering fuel system on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Customer concern includes Mil-On/Check Engine Lamp-On. There also may or may not be driveability-related concerns that accompany the Mil-On condition. Upon further investigation, there may be a fault code for P062A-FUEL PUMP CONTROL PERFORMANCE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Engine Oil Filter Interchangeability
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Diesel Fuel Injector Cleaning Procedure
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Diesel Fuel Injector Cleaning Procedure
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2015 Ram 1500 diesel fuel system breaks down in two overlapping ways. The primary failure is the high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP), which sheds metal debris internally. Owners describe sudden loss of motive power at highway speeds, vehicle stalling and refusing to restart, or slipping into Limp Mode where the truck maxes out at 20–40 mph. Failures hit anywhere from 41,000 miles to over 200,000, with many clustering in the 70k–150k range.
Complicating the repair: metal fragments travel through fuel rails, injectors, and DEF components, causing secondary contamination. Dealers find shavings inside injectors, fuel lines, and DEF sensors. One owner had a fuel filter replaced twice before the real problem surfaced. Repair parts for NHTSA Recall 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel) remain unavailable months or even a year after owners receive recall notices. Dealers confirm parts don't exist; manufacturer provides no timeline or interim solution.
Beyond pump failure, owners report fuel tank bracket corrosion at 60k–150k miles, causing the tank to sag or detach—a fire hazard masked by normal driving until inspection catches it. One vehicle failed state inspection due to 4-inch tank sag.
Owners face compounded hardship: dealers hold vehicles for months waiting for parts, manufacturers deny secondary damage claims as out-of-warranty, rental car costs rack up ($1,900 for one owner's month-long wait), and some dealerships refuse recall work on high-mileage trucks. One owner reported hospital-level stress on a disabled family member stranded after roadside breakdown.
Same RAM 1500 fuel system reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
High-pressure fuel pump failure
Metal shavings or material degradation inside the high-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) causes complete fuel system breakdown, loss of motive power at highway speeds, or inability to restart. Owners report the pump fails outright or returns to failure after initial replacement.
When: Typically 70k–217k miles; can occur early (41k) or very high mileage (196k+)
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of motive power at speed (35–75 mph); Vehicle stalls and refuses to restart; Limp Mode engagement, max speed 20–40 mph; Hesitation or jerking before downshift; No warning light, or check engine / electronic throttle control light illuminated; Metal fragments found in fuel lines, injectors, or DEF system; Smell of gasoline (suggesting fuel leakage)
Codes mentioned: P0087 (Fuel Relay Flash System), High-pressure fuel pump failure (diagnostic scanners)
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanics and dealers replace HPFP; some repairs cost $850+ for parts alone. Repair parts unavailable on recall 22V406000 for extended periods (months to 1+ year). One owner reports dealer kept vehicle 1 year waiting for parts. Several owners had repeated failures after HPFP replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 22V406000 (Fuel System, Diesel) issued but recall repair parts not available. Owners left waiting indefinitely; one report of $2,750 in expenses (computer board replacement + rental car) not reimbursed. Manufacturer told one Canadian owner repair not covered because vehicle is Canadian. One dealer refused recall work due to excessive mileage. Manufacturer acknowledged issue but provided no assistance or timeline.
Fuel system contamination and secondary damage
Degraded fuel pump internals release metal shavings into fuel rails, injectors, and DEF system, causing progressive contamination. Debris clogs fuel filters, damages injectors, fouls DEF sensors, and in some cases seizes the engine.
When: 70k–148k miles; can persist or emerge after initial HPFP replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light; Black smoke from exhaust; Unburnt fuel in system (observed in DEF sensor); Fuel filter requires replacement (owners changed filter twice, failure returned); Engine running rough; Seized engine (one report at 103k miles)
Codes mentioned: Check engine stored codes (generic; not detailed in narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel rails, filters, injectors, and DEF sensors require replacement. One owner replaced fuel filters twice independently before dealer diagnosed metal shavings. Unburnt fuel damage to DEF sensor not covered by factory warranty per one dealer. Repair labor and parts add up quickly; owner reports $1,900/month vehicle rental during extended waits.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 22V406000 does not cover secondary damage (DEF sensor, injectors) caused by pump failure—marked as out-of-warranty by dealers. Owners told repair not covered even though root cause is the recalled component.
Difficulty starting and no-start failures
Vehicle cranks slowly, fails to crank, or displays 'Service DEF' or electronic throttle control messages; owner unable to restart or must make multiple start attempts.
When: 41k–196k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start or difficult to start; Message 'The Vehicle Will Not Start. Service DEF. See Dealer'; Message 'Service Electronic Throttle Control' displayed; Message 'Regeneration Mode' displayed during start attempt; Multiple restart attempts required; Check engine light
Codes mentioned: DEF system codes (implicit from messages; not specified)
Repairs/costs cited: Cause could not be determined by dealers or independent mechanics in several cases. One jumpstart allowed vehicle to reach dealer but failure not reproducible. One owner's vehicle at dealer 1 year waiting for recall part. No repairs completed in most cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 22V406000 invoked; parts unavailable. Manufacturer provided no timeline or interim solution. One dealer reset mileage countdown display but issue persisted.
Fuel tank strap/bracket corrosion and detachment
Fuel tank support straps and mounting brackets corrode excessively, causing fuel tank to sag, detach, or hang loose. No immediate operational failure but presents severe fuel leak and fire hazard.
When: 63k–151k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Fuel tank visibly dangling or sagging (one reported 4-inch sag); Metal frame/bracket visibly rusted; Tank detachment discovered during inspection; No warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: One owner diagnosed corrosion during State Inspection; dealer replaced fuel tank strap bracket and vehicle was repaired. Other owners reported detachment but did not proceed to repair or dealer refused to help. One owner referenced TSB 14-002-18 REV.A.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner's repair was completed; manufacturer did not assist. Two other owners notified manufacturer; manufacturer provided no assistance and stated repair not covered by recall (related to Campaign 18V160000 for gasoline models, but diesel owner VIN not included). Manufacturer referred one owner to NHTSA Hotline.
Limp Mode and speed governor enforcement after emission recall repair
After emission-related recall repair work, vehicle enters Limp Mode involuntarily, limiting speed to 20–40 mph even without active fault. Vehicle cannot be coaxed back to full power.
When: 105k–170k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle enters Limp Mode (max 20–40 mph); Service Electronic Throttle warning light; Check engine light; Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) light illuminated; Cannot accelerate above governed speed; Lightning bolt symbol displayed
Codes mentioned: Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) codes (implied)
Repairs/costs cited: Two different dealers replaced manifold gasket, fuel supply lines, and turbo water feed lines. One independent mechanic performed force regeneration of DPF. Failure recurred or persisted despite these repairs. Root cause not isolated or resolved in narrative accounts.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no remedy documented. Owners left without diagnosis or resolution despite multiple dealer visits.
Fuel gauge and sensor malfunction
Fuel gauge displays empty after refueling or malfunctions independently. Fuel level sensor fails; owner pursues replacement but issue recurs.
When: 41k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Fuel gauge displays empty despite full tank; Check engine light; Fuel pump also suspected at same time
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic replaced fuel pump and fuel sensor; failure recurred. Vehicle not yet repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer advised owner to take vehicle to dealer for diagnostic; no repair outcome provided.
Synthesized from 62 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had fuel system trouble with your 2015 RAM 1500?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the fuel system problem on the 2015 RAM 1500?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 62 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,200 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the fuel system typically fail?
Across the 37 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most fuel system failures cluster between 96,000 and 149,000 miles, with the median around 120,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 96,000; a quarter make it past 149,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,200 for fuel system repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to fuel system?
No active recalls currently cover fuel system issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/RAM/1500.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.