The vehicle will exhibit a service transmission/check engine warning indicator for the following transmission models: 845RE, 8HP45, 850RE, 8HP50, 8HP70, 8HP75, 8HP75-PHEV, 8HP75-LCV, 8HP90, 8HP95. Transmissions may exhibit the following diagnostic codes: P07E4, P1DB2, P0716, P1B14, P0733, P1D90, P1DB7, P1B13.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 RAM 2500 powertrain problems
severe 25 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
25
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
2crashes
2fires
3injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 25 powertrain 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.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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.
Driveline Vibration. Prop Shaft Diagnostic Information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗When customer complaint is related to inoperative 4 Wheel Drive shifter, loss of 4WD function and/or 4WD related MIL please reference SOL Case #S2508000062 prior to replacement of Transfer Case shift motor.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TRANSFER CASE BW 44-46 If fluid leak is present between the transfer case and the rear driveshaft on a 4WD vehicle the Output Shaft Seal should be considered in lieu of entire transfer case or driveshaft replacement. In the case of major damage to components, contact StarCenter and/or proceed with replacements as necessary.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SEAL - OUTPUT SHAFT
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report the 2019 Ram 2500 powertrain as unreliable and dangerous. The transmission frequently drops out of gear during normal driving—especially while reversing or in intersections—forcing drivers to shift from Park back into Drive while moving, creating collision risk. Multiple owners experienced fires: transmission fluid overheated and sprayed from the dipstick tube onto the turbocharger, igniting the entire vehicle. Two owners sustained burn injuries and smoke inhalation.
High-pressure fuel pump failures leak fuel directly into the crankcase, contaminating engine oil—one truck accumulated 19 quarts of fuel-contaminated oil. Even after recall repairs, metal debris remains in the fuel system and failed emissions components go unaddressed. Driveshafts fail prematurely: U-joints held only by injected plastic instead of snap rings slip out of position within 5,200 miles, causing dangerous vibration at highway speeds.
Electronic throttle control cuts out intermittently, leaving drivers unable to accelerate and forced to rely on cruise control. Vehicles roll forward while in Park on slight inclines. Multiple recalls have been issued, but owners cannot get repair appointments—parts remain unavailable a year or more after recall notifications, and in one case a dealer was stopped from installing an available pump without explanation. Dealers consistently fail to diagnose or repair these defects.
Same RAM 2500 powertrain reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2020 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission dropping out of gear / loss of drive
Transmission intermittently slips into neutral or disengages during normal operation, most commonly while reversing or in traffic. Vehicle loses power without warning, creating collision risk. Some owners report flashing light on gear selector when failure occurs. One owner experienced this at 1,520 miles in reverse/turning; another at 6,670 miles in an intersection; a third at 9,059 miles.
When: Early in vehicle life (1,520–9,059 miles reported); occurs during reverse maneuvers or low-speed turns; some incidents on slight inclines
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission shifts into neutral without driver input; Sudden loss of power/acceleration; Flashing light on gear shifter cluster during failure; Check engine light accompanies some incidents; Occurs intermittently, roughly monthly in some cases
Codes mentioned: STAR case opened for transmission valve body defect
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission valve body replacement and reprogramming attempted; failure recurred in at least one case. One owner reported transmission rebuild eventually needed. Snap rings in transmission came loose in one case.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 20V036000 and 20V043000 address transmission issues; valve body recall (W03) issued for fire risk; Campaign 23V301000 involved software update that did not resolve loss of reverse functionality
Transmission fire / overheat
Transmission fluid overheats and expels from dipstick tube onto turbocharger/exhaust components, igniting vehicle fire. One owner's truck was completely destroyed by fire at 15 mph with 13,500 miles; another experienced sudden smoke under hood and fire at 21,000 miles. Both owners sustained burns and smoke inhalation injuries.
When: 13,500 miles (first incident); 21,000 miles (second incident); W03 transmission valve body recall performed before fires in at least one case
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission temperature gauge reading 230–240 degrees; Smoke coming from under hood; Vehicle immediately stops accelerating; Flames visible in engine compartment; Fire progression from engine compartment through entire vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Expert investigation found fire origin in engine compartment; transmission fluid expelled from extended dipstick tube (~27 inches from fill tube) onto hot turbocharger/exhaust as probable ignition source. FCA refused to pay for destroyed vehicle and trailer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 20V043000 (transmission fire recall) was issued; one owner received buyback offer but manufacturer became unresponsive to processing; manufacturer refused to acknowledge manufacturing defect in one case despite expert findings
Vehicle rolling away while in Park
Vehicle rolls forward on slight inclines even when transmission is in Park and engine is running. Owner exited vehicle, transmission slipped, and vehicle crashed into second vehicle. Another owner experienced similar roll-away with door impact and 25-foot tire slide before stopping.
When: At 1,900 miles; occurs on slight inclines
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls forward despite Park engagement; No driver input or brake failure noted in first incident; Vehicle rolls uncontrollably downhill
High-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure and fuel contamination
HPFP fails prematurely, leaking fuel into crankcase and contaminating engine oil. One owner's vehicle accumulated approximately 19 quarts of fuel-contaminated oil. Metal debris found in fuel system after filter even after dealer-performed recall flush. Symptoms persist over one year despite multiple service visits and two dealership attempts at repair.
When: Post-April 2024 Y78 recall repair; symptoms persisted for over one year
Symptoms owners cite: Misfires; Engine performance issues; Check engine light recurring after each service visit; Fuel in crankcase / fuel-contaminated oil
Repairs/costs cited: Y78 (HPFP) recall repair performed April 2024; second dealership found metal debris in system and failed DPF urea pump and NASA pressure sensor not addressed by original repair facility. Required post-recall fuel pressure tests, contamination checks, and emissions system inspections were not documented or completed per technical service bulletins.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Y78 recall (high-pressure fuel pump) and XQ1 recall (emissions) completed; however, post-repair inspection protocols called for in technical service bulletins were not followed or documented
Electronic throttle control failure (limp mode)
Vehicle intermittently loses throttle response while driving, forcing driver to use cruise control exclusively. Check engine light and electronic throttle control warning illuminate. Vehicle sputters and will not accelerate above ~35 mph without cruise control engaged. One owner has made three service appointments over 1.5 months and spent over $500 without resolution; another experienced loss of accelerator response while merging into traffic.
When: Timing unclear; affects vehicle operability across multiple driving scenarios
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent loss of throttle input; Check engine light and electronic throttle control light illuminate; Sputtering; vehicle will not accelerate normally; Forced reliance on cruise control to maintain speed; Loss of response while merging into traffic
Codes mentioned: P2121 (throttle/pedal position sensor defect)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to find root cause after 3+ service visits and over $500 invested; no repair completed
Driveshaft U-joint failure (plastic injection retention)
U-joints held only by injected plastic rather than snap rings slip out of place, causing severe vibration at highway speeds. One U-joint cap visibly migrated out of position within 5,200 miles, preventing snap ring installation. Ram is the only three-quarter-ton pickup using plastic-only retention instead of snap rings. Cap migration allows grease leakage and vibration accelerates at 45+ mph.
When: Within 5,200 miles on new vehicle; vibration manifests at 45+ mph
Symptoms owners cite: Vibration at highway speeds (45+ mph); Vibration sometimes subsides when accelerating or dropping below 45 mph; U-joint cap visibly out of position; Grease leakage from cap; Dealer unable to diagnose after test drive (insufficient highway speed/duration)
Repairs/costs cited: Three new tire sets installed in under 5,000 miles did not resolve vibration; dealer found nothing wrong despite visible cap displacement; no repair completed
Transmission fluid leak and subsequent transmission failure
Undiagnosed fluid leak from transmission-related hoses or lines led to low fluid level and transmission failure while driving. Replacement of leaking hoses did not resolve underlying issue. Vehicle experienced sudden loss of power and inability to maintain speed, creating hazard in traffic.
When: Timing not specified; failure occurred during operation
Symptoms owners cite: Undiagnosed transmission fluid leak; Sudden loss of power/drive capability during operation; Unable to accelerate or maintain speed
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission-related hoses/lines replaced; transmission ultimately required overhaul or replacement
Sway bar disconnect malfunction in cold weather
Sway bar disconnect becomes inoperable during extreme cold, preventing use of off-road functionality when needed. Component behaves as if frozen and returns to function only after temperature warms. Issue has recurred despite two replacement attempts.
When: During extreme cold weather conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Sway bar fails to disconnect when commanded in cold weather; Component appears frozen; Functionality returns when temperature rises
Repairs/costs cited: Component replaced twice; root cause not determined by dealership
Recall parts unavailability and delay
Multiple owners received NHTSA recall notifications (20V043000, 20V036000, 21V880, 23V301000) but dealers could not perform repairs due to prolonged parts unavailability. Owners report manufacturer exceeding reasonable repair timelines and in one case stopping a dealer from installing an available part without explanation. One owner awaiting recall repair for six months.
When: Across 2020–2024 timeframe; affects owners at various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received; Dealer unable to schedule repair due to parts unavailability; Manufacturer communications vague or absent
Repairs/costs cited: Recall parts remain unavailable months to years after recall issuance; in one case, dealer had pump allocated but FCA prevented installation without explanation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaigns 20V043000, 20V036000, 21V880, 23V301000 issued but parts availability remains unresolved; one owner escalated to FCA North America leadership without resolution after one month
Excessive vibration when shifting into 4WD
Vehicle vibrates excessively when shifted into 4-wheel drive at highway speed (45 mph reported). Not diagnosed or repaired.
When: At 10,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive vibration when 4WD engaged
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle included in NHTSA Campaign 20V043000
Transmission grinding noise on downshift
Transmission produces grinding noise when downshifting right before coming to a stop.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding noise during downshift before stopping
Synthesized from 25 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Ram has ignored this recall NHTSA Recall#21v-880 /Y78 for the high pressure fuel pump in my 2019 Ram 2500 Cummins Turbo Diesel on several occasions. i contacted my dealer and they said they would order the new pump and they can only be allocated 2 pumps a week if they can get one. my dealer called a few weeks later and said they have a pump for recall and scheduled me a time slot to bring ram…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2019 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 powertrain problem on the 2019 RAM 2500?
It's a meaningful issue. 25 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 3,800 and 10,000 miles, with the median around 6,620. A quarter of owners report trouble before 3,800; a quarter make it past 10,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2019/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.