On november 4, 2017 at about 10:30 am after hard acceleration to 70 MPH on an open four lane highway in clear weather, and application of brakes, the truck re-accelerated on its own with no pressure on the fuel pedal. Upon application of the brakes, the truck slowed but when pressure removed from the brakes, the truck re-accelerated. It took three separate applications of the brakes, before the…
2015 RAM 2500 cruise control problems
severe 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
1crash
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 13 cruise control complaints filed for the 2015 RAM 2500, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 7 model years of RAM 2500 in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2015 Ram 2500 has generated 13 complaints centered on cruise control and throttle performance. The most dangerous issue is unintended acceleration where the engine revs and the truck continues accelerating despite braking—one owner needed multiple brake applications and neutral gear to regain control at highway speed, while another was forced off the road into a ditch with injuries to his wife and 17-month-old child. Dealers scanned for codes and found nothing; the owner's attorney is now handling the case. Several owners report a "dead pedal"—throttle lag of several seconds when flooring the accelerator from stops—which creates hazards during highway merges and intersection crossing. One diesel owner has experienced this consistently in four months of ownership and states every Ram 2500 diesel has it; dealers dismiss it as turbo lag, but the owner disagrees. Cruise control switches fail and require replacement, sometimes again within 6,000 miles. Some trucks won't disengage cruise control when the button is pressed. One owner's ABS sensor fault disabled cruise control, traction control, and four-wheel-drive simultaneously—a fail-safe he considers counterproductive. On inclines, cruise control loses speed before the transmission downshifts, making it unsafe. Dealers have been unable to diagnose the acceleration issues, and FCA has offered a conditional software update only if the vehicle exhibits symptoms.
Same RAM 2500 cruise control reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration with brake unresponsiveness
Engine revs and vehicle continues accelerating despite brake application. Occurs after hard acceleration; brakes may require multiple applications or vehicle must be shifted to neutral to regain control. Cruise control may remain engaged and unresponsive to button press.
When: Multiple episodes reported; one at ~140,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine continues revving even when brakes applied; Vehicle accelerates despite releasing accelerator pedal; Cruise control remains engaged and does not disengage via button; Engine revs in neutral and park; Check engine or electronic throttle service message may flash
Codes mentioned: No codes detected on scanner at auto parts store or dealership
Repairs/costs cited: Complaints state dealerships could not replicate the issue or diagnose root cause. One dealer advised consumer the failure was a manufacturer defect but vehicle was out of warranty and owner declined repair at own expense. Vehicle permanently parked due to safety concerns.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: FCA offered conditional software update (IF vehicle exhibits symptoms). Owner's attorney involved in resolution. Some owners reported manufacturer stated they could not assist due to out-of-warranty status.
Electronic throttle lag (dead pedal)
Significant delay between accelerator pedal input and engine response. Occurs when flooring pedal from stops or near-stops and when releasing then re-pressing accelerator. Delay is several seconds and creates hazardous situations when merging into traffic or crossing intersections.
When: Consistent problem since purchase; one owner experienced issue within 4 months of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Throttle does not respond immediately when accelerator pressed hard; Delay of several seconds before vehicle moves forward; Huge delay when accelerator released and re-pressed in quick succession; Engine unresponsive during highway merges or intersection crossings; Described as 'dead pedal' and 'turbo lag' by owners
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer told owner it was turbo lag; owner disputes this characterization. FCA claims they will not correct the issue. No repairs documented; owners report the problem is widespread across Ram 2500 diesel models.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: FCA reportedly refuses to address issue. Dealers claim it is normal and cannot change settings.
Cruise control switch failure
Cruise control set button fails to activate cruise control. Switch appears defective and requires replacement, but failure recurs within 6,000 miles.
When: First failure at 28,000 miles, second failure at 34,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control set switch does not respond when pressed; Cruise control mode shows 'ready' but set function non-functional; Identical failure symptoms on replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Switch replaced at dealership; failure recurred within 6,000 miles and required second replacement.
Cruise control will not disengage
Cruise control remains engaged or active even when switch is pressed to turn it off. Vehicle continues at set speed or accelerates unexpectedly.
Symptoms owners cite: Speed control will not shut off when switch is activated; Vehicle may speed up or disengage on its own intermittently; Cruise control mode stuck on
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership could not locate problem. Owner reports 5 million FCA vehicles affected but his truck does not appear on NHTSA or Ram recall websites.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer found no problem during service visit in January 2018. Owner mentions conditional recall from FCA requiring software update if symptoms present.
Cruise control malfunction on inclines
Cruise control loses speed on inclines and transmission shifts down slowly. Vehicle slows 6 mph before transmission downshift occurs, making cruise control unusable on roads with inclines.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle loses 6 mph before transmission shifts down to maintain speed on inclines; Cruise control cannot be used on roads with inclines; Owner must drive in truck lane to avoid being rear-ended due to speed loss
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer claims behavior is normal and settings cannot be changed.
ABS sensor fault disables cruise control and four-wheel-drive
ABS speed sensor malfunction illuminates ABS warning light and triggers fail-safe that disables cruise control, traction control, and four-wheel-drive. Sensor replacement does not resolve the problem.
When: Occurred during winter conditions
Symptoms owners cite: ABS speed sensor fault light illuminates; Cruise control stops working; Traction control stops working; Four-wheel-drive stops working
Codes mentioned: ABS speed sensor fault
Repairs/costs cited: ABS speed sensor was replaced but the fail-safe light and disabled functions remained active. Owner criticizes the fail-safe design as 'stupid' for disabling 4WD over a speed sensor issue.
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2015 RAM 2500?
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 cruise control problem on the 2015 RAM 2500?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 22,000 and 42,000 miles, with the median around 35,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 22,000; a quarter make it past 42,000. 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 $600 for cruise control 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 cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control 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/2500.
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.