There is a known issue with the vehicle surging during normal driving situations. Doge has an article about this but will not address or fix the issue. Their article states that it’s possible that this will not create a code. I have 42000 miles on this engine.
2020 RAM 2500 engine problems
moderate 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2020 RAM 2500 with 6.7L Cummins diesel exhibits a pattern of fuel system and engine failures across the complaint cluster. The dominant issue is catastrophic failure of the Bosch CP4.2 high-pressure fuel pump, which owners report disintegrating internally and scattering metal debris throughout the fuel system. Pump failure triggers sudden engine stall at highway speeds (55–65 mph), complete loss of power steering and brakes, and engine misfire. One owner's oil sample showed over 10% diesel fuel contamination in the crankcase, consistent with fuel leaking past failed pump seals. Repair costs exceed $8,000–$20,000 because the pump failure requires replacement of injectors, fuel lines, and tank purging.
A critical dealer issue compounds the problem: replacement parts, including pumps and related components, are backordered 30–90 days (one dealer cited 3 weeks to 8 months). Chrysler issued a recall in October 2021, but as of March 2022, no remedy was available. The manufacturer revised the pump design in July 2020, then abandoned it entirely for the 2021 model year without public announcement.
Secondary failures reported include grid heater overheating causing engine damage (one requiring engine replacement), engine surging without diagnostic codes, and massive oil leaks. Warranty denial has occurred despite technical service bulletins documenting known defects.
Same RAM 2500 engine reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
High-Pressure Fuel Pump (HPFP) / CP4.2 Injection Pump Failure
The Bosch CP4.2 high-pressure fuel pump experiences sudden, catastrophic failure that can disable the engine entirely. Failure results in metal debris circulating through the fuel system, requiring replacement of the fuel pump, injectors, fuel lines, and related fuel system components. Owners report repair costs in the $8,000–$20,000 range with parts availability delays of 30–90 days.
When: Reported across mileage range from 24,000 to 78,000 miles; one incident at 300,000 miles (unrelated grid heater failure)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine misfire (especially cylinder misfires); Loss of power while driving; Sudden engine stall at highway speeds (55–65 mph); Knocking or tapping noise from engine; Engine surge or surging throttle during normal driving; Engine shuddering, bogging, and shaking; Hard starts; No check engine light in some cases; code P0303 (cylinder misfire) in others; Fuel smell in engine oil
Codes mentioned: P0303, P0542
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel pump replacement; fuel injector replacement; fuel line replacement; fuel tank purging; oil analysis by Blackstone Labs showed >10% diesel fuel contamination in crankcase, reducing viscosity from 5W40 to 5W20 equivalent. Parts availability severely constrained; 30–90 day wait times reported; one dealer reported 3-week to 8-month backorder for all three failed components (DEF pump, turbocharger, and primary fuel pump).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued October 2021 for 2020–2022 RAM 2500 with 6.7L Cummins diesel; Chrysler revised the pump in July 2020 but failures continued; 2021 model year reverted to older pump design. As of March 2022, no remedy available. Dealer parts availability remains critically constrained; no public announcement of revision or design change. Warranty denial reported in at least one case.
Grid Heater / Heating Element Failure
Engine grid heater or heating element relay overheats and fails, causing engine damage. At least one owner reports complete engine replacement due to grid heater overheating; another reports P2609 code (grid heater) at 38,000 miles with concern that it could lead to fire.
When: 38,000 and 300,000 miles reported
Symptoms owners cite: Knocking noise from engine compartment; Check engine light (P0542 heating element relay code; P2609 grid heater code); Engine overheating
Codes mentioned: P0542, P2609
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement performed in one case. Grid heater bolt failure noted; owners report grid heater bolt failures causing engine damage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) exists for P0542 heating element relay issue; warranty denial reported despite TSB existence. Owner added aftermarket RAM air intake ($1,000+) as workaround to prevent complete engine failure.
Engine Power Loss and Drivability Issues
Engine loses all power while driving, including loss of power steering and power brakes. No warning prior to failure; warning light ('Exhaust System Failure') appears only after engine has stalled. One incident resulted in near multiple-vehicle accident.
When: Incident reported; exhaust system not properly sealed prior to failure
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of engine power while driving; Loss of power steering and power brakes; No warning before stall; Exhaust system failure warning light (post-stall)
Repairs/costs cited: Exhaust system was serviced and allegedly not sealing properly; technicians had to reseal and retest. Relationship between exhaust work and fuel pump/turbocharger failure unclear per owner.
Engine Surging and Throttle Control Issues
Vehicle surges or loses throttle response during normal driving. Dodge reportedly has an article about the issue but will not fix or address it. Issue may not generate a diagnostic code.
When: 42,000 miles reported
Symptoms owners cite: Surging during normal driving; Throttle surge; No diagnostic code generated in some cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge has published information about surging issue but refuses to address or repair it.
Massive Oil Leak
Widespread oil leaking from engine, creating environmental hazard. Associated with grid heater bolt failures that cause secondary engine damage.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Oil leak from engine; Environmental contamination (leaks on roads)
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 engine trouble with your 2020 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 engine problem on the 2020 RAM 2500?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 17 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 17 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 104,591 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2020/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.