went to start and nothing, battery is OK has a quick flash of fuel filter service. and still have 35% left according to the truck. I am guessing it is the fuel pump issue awaiting what the dealership states it has only 36000 miles so its still under warranty.
2019 RAM 3500 powertrain problems
severe 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
2crashes
What stands out
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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2019 Ram 3500 powertrain has documented issues with unintended neutral shifts during driving that can disable braking and steering, park-to-drive engagement failures that allow the truck to roll, throttle unresponsiveness, and fuel pump failures—some going unrepaired due to unavailable recall parts. Multiple firmware and component updates have not resolved the transmission problems.
Owners of 2019 Ram 3500 trucks with the 6.7L Cummins engine and Aisin transmission describe a pattern of transmission hunting between neutral and drive, particularly in mountainous terrain and during highway merging. The truck will suddenly shift into neutral, rev to 2000–2500 RPM, then slam hard back into gear—sometimes causing the engine to stall and loss of braking power. This happens repeatedly from as early as 3,500 miles and has resulted in near-accidents and collisions with stationary objects.
Gear shift problems include the shifter becoming stuck in Park and vehicles rolling away while parked, in one case damaging an aircraft. Owners report being able to shift out of Park without their foot on the brake, opposite of normal safety function.
Throttle response frequently drops to zero, leaving drivers with a dead pedal that sometimes recovers after restart. Check engine code P0871 (transmission pressure sensor) appears alongside transmission failures, and some vehicles have entered limp mode without warning.
Fuel pump failure (CP4 type) has stranded multiple owners at highway speed. RAM initiated recall campaign 20V036000 for powertrain issues, but the parts required for repair have remained unavailable from the manufacturer for extended periods. Dealer attempts at firmware updates, transmission solenoid replacement, and full transmission replacement have failed to resolve the core problems.
Same RAM 3500 powertrain reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission Neutral Shift / Hunting / Loss of Drive Authority
Transmission unexpectedly shifts into neutral during acceleration or hill driving, engine revs to 2000–2500 RPM, then slams back into gear. Occurs most during slow mountainous terrain and highway merging. Can cause loss of braking and steering if engine stalls during the event.
When: From 3,500 miles onward; reported at low speeds (5–10 MPH) and during highway acceleration (35–65 MPH merges)
Symptoms owners cite: Unexpected neutral engagement while driving; Engine rev-up to 2000–2500 RPM with no load; Hard slam back into gear after neutral period; Loss of power while passing or accelerating on hills; Engine stall when transmission catches during hill rollback; Severe throttle lag (2–3 seconds) on acceleration from stop; Transmission slip before catching during highway entry from stopped position; Transmission shifts into limp mode without warning light
Codes mentioned: P0871 (transmission fluid pressure sensor / switch C circuit range/performance)
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple firmware/TCM updates attempted without success; transmission internals replaced on at least one vehicle without resolving issue. Transmission solenoid replaced on another vehicle but failure persisted. Dealer unable to diagnose root cause; at least one owner told 'nothing else can be done.'
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: RAM response: 'operating within design limits, will not do anything else.' TSB for TCM update referenced but ineffective. One vehicle subject to NHTSA campaign 20V036000 (powertrain) but parts remain unavailable.
Gear Shift Stuck in Park / Vehicle Rolls in Park
Gear shifter becomes stuck in Park position, preventing shift to Drive. Vehicle rolls away while parked and unoccupied, resulting in collision with trailer and aircraft. Shift-out-of-Park without brake pedal engaged reported after one incident.
When: From approximately 500 miles onward; at least one failure at unknown lower mileage, another at 60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Shift stuck in Park position; Vehicle rolls away while in Park and ignition off; Ability to shift out of Park without brake pedal depressed; No airbag deployment despite collision
Repairs/costs cited: Gear shifter part failure identified and replaced at dealership. One transmission replacement recommended but not completed due to warranty denial.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer aware of failure. RAM had similar recall for 2018 models; 2019 recall coverage unclear. No TSB or systematic repair program documented in these narratives.
Engine Throttle Response Loss / Dead Pedal
Pedal becomes unresponsive immediately after startup or during highway driving. Truck loses ability to accelerate or respond to throttle input. Condition self-resolves after restart in some cases; may leave driver stranded.
When: Intermittent, starting early in vehicle life; 36,000–50,000 miles reported
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of throttle response; Dead pedal with no smoke or noise; Engine stall or shut-down during driving; Condition clears after restart; No diagnostic trouble codes generated
Repairs/costs cited: No repair attempts documented in narratives. One owner states 'haven't heard of a fix.'
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler STAR case S2018000008 references engine surging under load, blamed on lack of engine control software fix. No ETA provided by manufacturer.
Transmission Shift Failure / Check Engine – P0871
Transmission fails to shift into upper gears (last two gears) during highway driving; truck hunts between gears or feels as if in neutral at 2500–3000 RPM. Check engine light illuminates with code P0871 (transmission fluid pressure sensor). Erratic shifting creates loss of vehicle control during highway merging.
When: Highway speeds (60–65 MPH); at least one failure at 4,300 miles; recall mentioned but parts unavailable
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission won't shift into last two gears; Check engine light illumination; RPM climb to 2500–3000 without corresponding gear engagement; Sensation of driving in neutral while accelerating; Inability to keep up with traffic speed during highway merge
Codes mentioned: P0871 (transmission fluid pressure sensor / switch C circuit range/performance)
Repairs/costs cited: Code reset with scan tool temporarily resolves issue until next drive cycle. Recall exists but VIN not listed in at least one case; another vehicle awaiting parts unavailable from manufacturer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall NHTSA 20V036000 acknowledged; parts not available. Previous recalls exist for same problem but do not cover all vehicles.
Transmission Solenoid Failure / Limp Mode
Transmission enters limp mode or loses normal operation; solenoid replacement attempted but failure recurs. Vehicle sometimes unable to restart after losing power.
When: Approximately 4,300 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Unexpected limp mode engagement at highway speed (60 MPH); No warning light prior to failure; Transmission does not recover after solenoid replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission solenoid replaced; failure persisted after repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not contacted by owner; repair performed by dealer.
Fuel Pump Failure – CP4 Pump
Fuel pump (CP4 type) fails while driving at highway speed, causing loss of engine power and stalling. Owners left stranded on roadway. Recall notification issued (campaign 20V036000) but parts unavailable for extended period.
When: Highway speeds; 36,000 miles and higher
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of throttle response at 50 MPH; Engine stall and failure to restart; Check engine light / 'exhaust system service required' message; Complete power loss while driving; Vehicle unable to restart after stall
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump replacement required; work pending at dealership. Recall parts have not been available for extended time.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall NHTSA 20V036000 (powertrain) issued; parts unavailable per manufacturer statement to dealership. No timeline provided for parts availability.
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had powertrain trouble with your 2019 RAM 3500?
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 3500?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 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?
Based on the 17 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 36,257 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/3500.
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.