Look — RAM's electrical-system story is well-documented in the NHTSA file, and it ain't pretty. 2,657 complaints across 40 year-model entries from 2013 to 2026. Not a small number. 2018 RAM 2500 leads the list, but the same issue shows up across multiple years on the same platform. 1 fatality report on file with NHTSA tied to this category on RAM vehicles. That elevates this from nuisance to safety-critical. Average shop fix runs about $850 — not catastrophic, but it adds up over time. Across the 681 complaints reporting odometer mileage, the median failure lands at about 39,181 miles. Read the specific complaints before assuming the worst — the category covers everything from a forty-dollar switch to a twenty-five-hundred-dollar module.
ProblemsByVin RAM / ELECTRICAL
40 model-year entries · 2013–2026
RAM electrical problems
2,657 owner complaints filed with NHTSA against RAM vehicles for electrical issues. 48 active recall campaigns. See electrical across all makes →
Complaints
2,657
Recalls
48
Year-models
40
Avg fix
$850
45crashes
83fires
31injuries
1fatality
Worst-affected RAM model-years for electrical Top 25 by complaint volume
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
2018 RAM 2500
444 complaints · 1 recall · ~$850 moderate
2019 RAM 1500
275 complaints · 3 recalls · ~$850 moderate
2014 RAM 1500
175 complaints · 3 recalls · ~$850 severe
2021 RAM 1500
167 complaints · ~$850 moderate
2013 RAM 1500
158 complaints · ~$850 severe
2018 RAM 1500
138 complaints · 2 recalls · ~$850 severe
2016 RAM 1500
138 complaints · 1 recall · ~$850 critical
2025 RAM 1500
135 complaints · 2 recalls · ~$850 moderate
2020 RAM 1500
126 complaints · ~$850 moderate
2018 RAM 3500
126 complaints · 1 recall · ~$850 moderate
2017 RAM 2500
112 complaints · 1 recall · ~$850 moderate
2015 RAM 1500
112 complaints · 2 recalls · ~$850 severe
2017 RAM 1500
66 complaints · 1 recall · ~$850 severe
2013 RAM 2500
39 complaints · 1 recall · ~$850 severe
2014 RAM 2500
34 complaints · 2 recalls · ~$850 severe
2025 RAM 2500
33 complaints · 2 recalls · ~$850 moderate
2017 RAM 3500
33 complaints · 1 recall · ~$850 moderate
2016 RAM 2500
32 complaints · 1 recall · ~$850 severe
2019 RAM 2500
23 complaints · ~$850 severe
2015 RAM 2500
23 complaints · 1 recall · ~$850 severe
2021 RAM 2500
20 complaints · 3 recalls · ~$850 severe
2015 RAM Promaster City
20 complaints · 2 recalls · ~$850 moderate
2025 RAM 3500
18 complaints · 2 recalls · ~$850 moderate
2024 RAM 1500
18 complaints · ~$850 moderate
2017 RAM Promaster City
18 complaints · ~$850 moderate
Active recalls — RAM electrical 12 on file
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, Ram 4500 Cab Chassis, and Ram 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles
An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as gear selection and warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 5, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 35D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 16, 2026.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Ram Cab Chassis, and Ram 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles
An instrument panel display that does not show critical information, such as warning lights or gear selection, increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and update the instrument panel software or replace the instrument panel cluster, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 18, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's numbers for this recall are B4C and B8C. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning December 4, 2025.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2026 Ram 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, 2500, 4500 Cab Chassis, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles
An incorrect warning light can fail to alert the driver to critical safety information, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the instrument panel cluster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 9, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 79C.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Ram 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis, and 4500, 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6
An electrical short in the relay can result in an engine compartment fire with the ignition on or off, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the relay, free of charge. This will be a Phased campaign. Phase 1 will include 2023 model year vehicles. FCA US will notify dealers on or about 3/23/2023 and begin notifying owners on or about 4/5/2023. Phase 2 will include 2022 model year vehicles and Phase 3 will include 2021 model year vehicles. FCA US will notify dealers and owners on or about 4/27/2023 for Phase 2 and 5/11/2023 for Phase 3. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed March 28, 2023. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 5, 2023. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 13A. This recall is an expansion of and supersedes recall number 21V-798.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Ram 3500, 2500 pickup trucks, and Ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 cab chassis vehicles equipped with Cummins 6
A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park these vehicles outside of buildings or structures, and not near other vehicles, until the vehicle has been remedied. Dealers will inspect and, if needed, replace the Solid State Intake Heater Grid Relay ("Relay"); if FCA US Recall ID Y08 (NHTSA Recall ID 21V-163) is open, then insulating material will be applied to the Relay after inspection. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y76. This recall has been superseded by 23V060.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021 Ram 2500, 3500, and 3500, 4500, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6
A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if needed, replace the Solid State Intake Heater Grid Relay ("Relay"); if FCA US Recall ID Y08 (NHTSA Recall ID 21V-163) is open, then insulating material will be applied to the Relay after inspection. Customers are advised to not park these vehicles inside of buildings or structures, or near other vehicles until the vehicle has the final repair completed. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y76. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for this recall is Y08. This recall has been superseded by recall number 21V-798.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Ram 1500 vehicles
Failure of the instrument cluster to properly illuminate may prevent the driver from receiving warnings about the vehicle's systems and increase the risk of crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began August 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V83.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with a 48v auxiliary battery system located behind the rear seat (sales code: XBZ)
If the auxiliary battery system overheats, there is an increased risk of a fire within the cabin even if the ignition is off.
Fix: FCA US has notified owners, and dealers will properly secure the auxiliary battery fasteners, free of charge. The recall began March 15, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler's customer service at 1-800-853-1403. The Chrysler number for this recall is V17.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles
If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Dodge Charger Police vehicles, 2007-2013 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis, 2008-2013 RAM 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis, and 2013 RAM 2500 and 3500 vehicles
If the alternator fails, the vehicle may stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash. There is also the possibility that the alternator may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the alternator with a revised alternator, free of charge. The recall began on December 23, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S68.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain RAM ProMaster Trailer Light Modules, part number 68229650AB
Trailer brake lights that are inoperative can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will mail letters to owners to try to notify the purchasers of the modules, and dealers will replace the Trailer Tow Light Control Modules, free of charge. The recall began on June 20, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S29.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 RAM ProMaster vehicles manufactured July 24, 2015, to February 15, 2016, and 2015-2016 ProMaster City vehicles manufactured August 15, 2014, to February 1, 2016
Trailer brake lights that are inoperative can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Trailer Tow Light Control Module, free of charge. The recall began on June 20, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S22.
Common questions
How many RAM electrical complaints are on file with NHTSA?
2,657 complaints across 40 model-year entries from 2013 to 2026. 48 active recall campaigns cover electrical issues across the RAM lineup.
Which RAM model has the most electrical complaints?
The 2018 RAM 2500 leads with 444 complaints in this category. Next: 2019 1500 (275) and 2014 1500 (175).
What does it cost to fix RAM electrical problems?
Independent shops average $850 for electrical repairs across the RAM lineup. Dealer pricing tends to run twenty to forty percent higher. Specific cost depends on the failure mode and parts availability.
Are there RAM electrical recalls?
Yes — 12 active recall campaigns cover electrical on RAM vehicles. Recall fixes are free regardless of mileage or warranty status. The list below shows current campaigns with their NHTSA numbers.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database.
Editorial commentary written by Tony Marino, an independent contributor to ProblemsByVin
and not affiliated with RAM.
Severity ratings derive from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities on the NHTSA complaint and recall record.
Repair cost averages reflect independent-shop pricing and may differ in your area.