The vehicle had been parked in the street for several hours. I started the vehicle in order to back it into my driveway for the night and then turned it off (total run time for the operation was most likely under a minute from the time the engine was started until it was shut down). The temperature was relatively cool and I did have to wait for the grid heater to cycle before the engine started.…
2022 RAM 3500 electrical problems
severe 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
2fires
2injuries
What stands out
Among the 12 model years of RAM 3500 in our records for electrical problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA electrical 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: Two 2022 RAM 3500s experienced sudden, unprovoked engine compartment fires that destroyed the vehicles, including one that had recently passed a recall inspection for fire risk. Multiple owners face prolonged delays on a critical electrical system recall with no loaner vehicle provided while their trucks sit parked due to fire hazard warnings.
Owners of 2022 RAM 3500s report two catastrophic engine fires without warning — one at 16,900 miles and another at 230 miles. The first vehicle smelled of hot electrical components, then produced white smoke and flames near the driver's windshield; the owner had passed a related recall inspection weeks earlier. The second displayed throttle and exhaust malfunction warnings before losing power and catching fire. Both became total losses.
Beyond fire, owners describe an electromagnetic frequency strong enough to cause headaches at just 10 miles, which a dealer's shielding effort could not resolve. An ABS malfunction disabled traction control, 4WD, and trailer brakes simultaneously, prompting lemon-law surrender. Chronic battery drain requires daily jump starts despite pulling the amplifier fuse. Infotainment screens occasionally fail to power up, disabling backup cameras. Loose fuses in the fuse box cause monthly ABS and traction control faults.
The most pervasive complaint involves NHTSA recall 23V060000 (electrical system): parts remain unavailable months after notification, dealerships ration to one part per week, and manufacturer refuses loaner vehicles while instructing owners the truck is unsafe to drive. One owner self-installed the recall part but was denied reimbursement because he didn't use a dealer and lacked a repair order.
Same RAM 3500 electrical reports on nearby years: 2019 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Engine compartment fire
Electrical fire originating under the hood, producing white smoke and flames without warning. Two owners reported total vehicle loss. One vehicle had passed NHTSA recall Y76 (engine fire risk) just weeks prior; the second produced throttle and exhaust system warnings before fire erupted.
When: 16,900 miles and 230 miles respectively; both relatively new vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Faint odor of hot electrical components followed by white smoke under hood; Flames from under hood near driver's windshield; Dashboard warnings for throttle system malfunction and exhaust system malfunction; Engine compartment smoke and flames without prior electrical warnings
Codes mentioned: Throttle System Malfunction, Exhaust System Malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Both vehicles became total losses and were destroyed by fire before repair was possible
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle #1 had been inspected and passed NHTSA recall Y76 for engine fire risk (September 2022) at 14,192 miles before fire occurred at 16,900 miles
High electromagnetic frequency / EMF exposure
Vehicle produced strong electromagnetic field that caused headaches in occupants. Dealer diagnosed extremely high EMF and wrapped dash in shielding foil without resolving the issue. Manufacturer instructed owner to continue driving despite ongoing symptoms.
When: Approximately 10 miles (brand new vehicle)
Symptoms owners cite: Significant buzzing sensation while driving; Headaches in driver and passenger caused by the sensation; Extremely high electromagnetic frequency detected by dealer
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer wrapped dash in shielding foil; failure persisted. Vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Chrysler regional representative stated vehicle could continue to be driven as it was still performing as designed
ABS system malfunction cascading to other systems
ABS (anti-lock braking system) failures causing simultaneous failure of traction control, 4-wheel drive, and trailer brake systems. Owner reported safety concerns and surrendered vehicle under lemon law.
When: Approximately 8,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: ABS alarm warnings; Traction control system failure; 4-wheel drive disengagement; Trailer brake system failure
Codes mentioned: ABS alarm
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle returned to dealer multiple times; ultimately surrendered to Chrysler under lemon law
Chronic electrical drain causing battery depletion
Persistent parasitic draw on battery requiring daily jump starts from vehicle startup. Owner and dealer initially blamed amplifier; however, pulling amplifier fuse did not resolve the drain.
When: Approximately 230 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Battery depleted overnight requiring daily jump starts; Thumping noise from engine compartment at startup that disappears when engine reaches temperature and EGR opens
Repairs/costs cited: Amplifier fuse pulled but drain persisted; cause unresolved
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dodge claimed no knowledge of cause; blamed amplifier
Infotainment screen power-on failure
Center infotainment display refused to power up on vehicle startup, disabling backup camera function despite other systems (radio, HVAC) working normally. Issue resolved spontaneously after several hours.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Infotainment screen would not power on at startup; Backup camera inoperative due to screen being off; Radio and HVAC functions operational
Repairs/costs cited: System restarted twice and vehicle restarted; failure cleared after several hours. Video of failure documented.
Loose fuses causing intermittent ABS and traction control faults
Monthly check engine lights for ABS and traction control failures traced to loose fuses in fuse box. Reseating fuses clears the error until fuses loosen again.
When: Recurring monthly
Symptoms owners cite: Monthly check engine light for ABS failure; Monthly traction control failure warning; Loose fuses in fuse box; ABS disabled during snow storm
Codes mentioned: ABS / traction control failure
Repairs/costs cited: Reseating loose fuses temporarily clears the error; problem recurs monthly
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated HPU (hydraulic power unit) was bad; did not address root cause of loose fuses
NHTSA recall 23V060000 parts shortage and availability delay
Multiple owners notified of electrical system recall (23V060000) but unable to complete recall due to extended unavailability of necessary parts. Dealerships receiving limited parts weekly. Manufacturer failed to provide interim loaner vehicles or expedite parts. Owner unable to drive vehicle and delayed vacation plans with children.
When: Ongoing as of complaint dates in May 2023
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received but parts unavailable; Owner instructed not to drive vehicle due to fire hazard but no loaner vehicle provided; Dealership limited to one part per week; Manufacturer refused expedite request
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 23V060000
Repairs/costs cited: No repair completed due to parts shortage; one owner ordered parts and self-installed but was denied reimbursement by manufacturer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer denied reimbursement for self-installed recall repair; stated self-installation not reimbursable per corporate policy and repair must be completed at certified RAM dealership. Owner who self-installed reported parts as ordered from RAM dealer and included invoices and photos.
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The contact owns a 2022 Ram 3500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V060000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution…
On 9 September, while driving, I got an emergency dashboard notice that stated Throttle System Malfunction contact dealer. It went out and then another immediately flashed that stated Exhaust System Malfunction contact dealer. The vehicle lost power within seconds after the second notice. I coasted to a stop on the side of the road. Once stopped, smoke quickly started coming out of the engine…
Had electrical trouble with your 2022 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 electrical problem on the 2022 RAM 3500?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2022/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.