While leaving the veterinary office parking lot there is a short steep hill. As I started up the hill slowly as there are pedestrians around. About halfway up my truck starts rolling backwards as if the transmission has shifted into neutral I hit the brakes to stop and then start out again. This has happened about 5 times in the same place since I have owned the truck and one other place that…
2020 RAM 3500 powertrain problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
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 2020 Ram 3500 shows a pattern of critical powertrain issues including failures to hold park (creating rollaway hazards), high pressure fuel pump failures especially under towing, driveshaft separation, and transmission control glitches. Some issues are intermittent and hard to reproduce, making diagnosis difficult; a recall exists but parts have been unavailable for an extended period.
Owners describe a series of serious powertrain failures across 11 complaints. The most alarming issue is the gear shifter either failing to engage park or unexpectedly shifting into drive while the engine is off and the vehicle is parked—causing the truck to roll away, in two cases with children inside the vehicle. This happens at mileage ranging from 75,000 to 150,000 miles, and one owner reports it occurring over 30 times, yet dealers cannot consistently reproduce it to fix it.
High pressure fuel pump failures appear twice, including one incident while towing a 43-foot trailer that left the driver stranded and disabled. Another owner reports this same pump failure on a prior Ram 3500 (2019 model) at only 4,000 miles; after repair on the 2020 model, the owner notes loss of torque and increased fuel and DEF consumption.
A driveshaft separated on the highway, damaging brake lines and transmission harness and disabling brakes—forcing the driver into a ditch. One owner experienced a DEF limp-mode malfunction where the computer refused to register added fluid, locking the truck at 5 mph and creating a serious roadway hazard. Multiple owners report transmission hesitation on inclines, with one describing the vehicle rolling backward despite being in park.
A recall (NHTSA Campaign 22V835000) for powertrain issues has been issued, but parts availability has been severely delayed, and at least one owner had a repair denied and then was blacklisted from recall service by the manufacturer.
Same RAM 3500 powertrain reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2021 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Gear Shifter Fails to Park / Unexpected Shifter Movement
Transmission gear shifter fails to engage or hold park, or shifts into drive unexpectedly while vehicle is parked and off. Creates a critical safety hazard if the vehicle rolls away, especially when occupied.
When: At 75,000 miles, 150,000 miles, and intermittently across vehicle ownership. One incident reported at 75k, another at 150k. Intermittent behavior makes dealer reproduction difficult.
Symptoms owners cite: Gear shifter shifts to drive while engine is off and vehicle is parked; Vehicle will not go into park or will not stay in park; Vehicle rolls away when parked; Shifter indicates vehicle is in drive while moving, even when driver believes it is in park; Rolling backwards on inclines despite shifter in park; Inability to turn engine off (clutch cannot disengage)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to reproduce issue. One narrative mentions TCM (transmission control module) software update was applied at dealership with temporary success. No parts or costs cited by owners.
High Pressure Fuel Pump Failure
High pressure fuel pump failure under towing load, causing engine to shut down. At least one owner had the repair denied under a safety recall due to vehicle modifications, then vehicle was blacklisted from recall work by parent company. Another owner reports second occurrence of same issue on different truck (2019 model).
When: While towing a 43 ft trailer. Second incident also reported on 2019 Ram 3500 at 4,000 miles. Repair on 2020 completed but quality concerns reported afterward.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shuts down while towing; High pressure fuel pump failure confirmed at dealership
Repairs/costs cited: Owner #9 paid $2600 in rental truck costs and $400 in towing. Repair completed but owner reports truck afterward lost torque, increased diesel consumption, and increased DEF usage. First dealership refused recall; second dealership did repair after owner consulted lawyer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: FCA encouraged owner to find different dealership. Parent company Chrysler blacklisted vehicle from recall work, citing safety modifications unrelated to fuel pump issue. Recall: NHTSA Campaign 22V835000 (Powertrain) - parts availability delayed significantly.
Driveshaft Failure / Separation
Driveshaft bolts came apart and driveshaft fell out of vehicle while driving on highway. Caused damage to brake lines and transmission harness, disabling brakes and forcing driver into ditch to avoid collision.
When: One week after vehicle service. No mileage cited.
Symptoms owners cite: Driveshaft falls out of vehicle; Brake lines damaged by separated driveshaft; Transmission harness damaged; Loss of braking ability
Repairs/costs cited: Owner states bolts came apart; vehicle had been serviced one week prior. Truck was repaired but details not provided.
DEF Limp Mode Malfunction
Engine enters limp mode (5 mph max) despite DEF fluid being added and gauge showing safe level. Computer system does not register DEF fluid addition, forcing tow to dealership for computer reset. Creates serious roadway safety risk because vehicle cannot be moved to safety.
When: When DEF reservoir low and owner attempted to top off en route.
Symptoms owners cite: DEF warning light indicates 300 miles until limp mode; DEF added but computer does not register it; Engine enters limp mode at 5 mph despite proper fluid level shown on gauge; Vehicle cannot be driven safely on roadway or moved off roadway
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle required tow to dealership for computer reset. Owner notes that government and first responder vehicles with same engine are exempt from limp mode for safety reasons.
Transmission Reluctance to Park / Neutral Roll (Incline Engagement Issue)
Transmission appears to shift into neutral or lose park engagement on short steep inclines despite driver believing shifter is in park. Vehicle rolls backward. TCM software update applied at dealer with temporary resolution reported.
When: Intermittently on steep driveways/parking lot hills. Occurred about 5 times in one location and once in another. Same issue pattern reported on owner's prior 2016 Ram 2500.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward on incline despite shifter position; Transmission appears to shift into neutral; Brakes needed to prevent rollback
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to reproduce issue but applied TCM (transmission control module) software update. Owner reports no further problems after update.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TCM software update applied at dealership.
Recall Parts Availability Delay
Owners received recall notification for NHTSA Campaign 22V835000 (Powertrain) but repair parts were not available for extended period, well beyond reasonable timeframe. Manufacturer confirmed parts unavailable. Two owners reported the delay.
When: At time of recall notification; parts availability prolonged.
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received but parts unavailable to complete repair; Manufacturer delays exceeded reasonable timeframe
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed; parts distribution issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 22V835000 (Powertrain). Manufacturer confirmed parts were not yet available.
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
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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 2020 RAM 3500?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 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 11 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 112,500 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/2020/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.