Is your defective Ram 1500 actually a LEMON?

Find out in 30 SECONDS or less if it qualifies for a REFUND or a CASH SETTLEMENT.

6.7

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
9,833 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2023 Ram 1500 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2023 Ram 1500:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2023 Ram 1500 Owner Comments

problem #12

Nov 182024

1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On 19 November 2024, immediately after dealer performed an oil change and accomplished recall 24V-653 and 24V729, on drive home vehicle engine shut off at a red light as normal (auto start/stop), but did not auto re-start. Had to power cycle in order to move truck. On 20 November 2024, vehicle engine shut off at a red light as normal (auto start/stop), but this time the SafeHold system engaged the parking brake and shifted the truck into park. The parking brake warning lamp illuminated. Truck would not move until the SafeHold system was manually bypassed. Surrounding traffic became impatient and took unnecessary risks to go around my truck that would not move. Immediately took truck to dealer for diagnosis and repair. On 22 November 2024, picked up truck from dealer with problem not repeatable, no repair performed. On 24 November 2024, exact same problem happened (vehicle engine shut off at a red light as normal (auto start/stop), SafeHold system engaged the parking brake and shifted the truck into park. The parking brake warning lamp illuminated. Truck would not move until the SafeHold system was manually bypassed). Surrounding traffic became impatient and took unnecessary risks to go around my truck that would not move

- Clovis, NM, USA

problem #11

Oct 132024

1500

  • miles
2023 RAM 1500 v8 with e-torque system stalls while driving. The vehicle will not start after stalling. The emergency brake is engaged and other lights are on the dash. I have had this problem happen three times and each time I had the vehicle brought to the local Dodge dealer service center. The problem was reported to the dealer service center and they have been unable to reproduce the problem. They also say the computer has no codes indicating a problem. The problem was also reported to Sellantis North America and their reply has been that, since the dealer cannot reproduce the problem, there is no case they can keep open. There were no warning lights prior to the vehicle stalling. After the stall, several warning lights were showing, including emergency brake, anti-traction off.

- Bradenton, FL, USA

problem #10

May 012024

1500

  • miles
Just before I was completely stopped at a red light, the engine died, the transmission shifted to park, and the emergency brake was set. After several minutes and several attempts, the engine started and I was able to drive it home. The only indication something was wrong was the -??Check Engine-?? light was on. That light was off the next morning. I took it to the local Ram dealer to be checked out. The result of the computer diagnosis was -??Nonplausable codes.-?? They said there was nothing they could do. Our fear was (and remains) is that this might happen again while driving at a higher speed in heavy traffic. That could possibly cause serious injury or death, or both. Due to that serious concern, we took it back to the dealer and ask them to keep it for a while to see if it happened with them. While they had it, different personnel drove it over 400 miles, but the problem was not reproduced. Also, no recall has been issued for this model truck. However, there has been a recall for other models with the Etorque engine because of unexpected stalling. We are concerned every time we drive it. In fact, my wife will not drive it nor take the grandkids anywhere in it.

- Gilmer, TX, USA

problem #9

Oct 282024

1500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The Issue I am having is related to the Start/Stop function in the vehicle. Under normal circumstances when Start/Stop is on, and when it engages at a stop, the engine turns off when the brake is depressed. When lifting your foot off the brake, the engine restarts and you can immediately drive forward. My concern is when I come to a stop on an incline, which is very common in the Cincinnati area. When I come to a stop on an incline and Start/Stop is on, and when it engages, the vehicle turns off as it should. As I lift my foot off the brake, the engine starts... All seems fine up to this point... However in my situation, the transmission does not engage immediately. The vehicle will rev up to about 2K RPM and about 2 seconds later the car jerks into forward motion. This happens nearly every time I come to a stop on a hill. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN ON RED... A couple times, I thought I had plenty of room to make a turn only to have another car seem to be right on top of me by the time the my vehicle transmission engaged and I started to move. I took this vehicle to a RAM dealership only to have them say the issue could not be duplicated and that it is operating as designed. I was informed to simply turn off the Start/Stop system. That is NOT a satisfactory answer, especially when there isn't a way to permanently turn the system off. Frustrated with that dealership, I currently have it at another dealership and am currently being told a similar story, but was also told that it can be normal for it to take a couple seconds for all systems to begin talking to each other once the vehicle restarts. Not satisfied with that answer, I am going on a test drive with them tomorrow morning. If the answer is in fact that this issue is as designed, then there should be a large warning label on the dash to TURN OFF START/STOP ON HILLS or the software updated so Start/Stop does not engage on inclines.

- Lebanon, OH, USA

problem #8

Jul 212024

1500

  • miles
The contact owns a 2023 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently shifted to a lower speed. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road and the contact turned the vehicle off. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the system was reset. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times. In addition, the contact stated that the failure occurred while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was scheduled for an upcoming diagnostic test. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #7

Oct 252023

1500

  • 5,000 miles
The contact owns a 2023 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle sputtered and stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and repaired under Customer Satisfaction Program: 18-08-A1-82 (Powertrain Control Module Software). The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the failure had become a persistent failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.

- Tickfaw, LA, USA

problem #6

Jan 142024

1500

  • 14,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2023 Ram 1500. The contact stated that on three separate occasions, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle downshifted to the first gear inadvertently. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and restarted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however, the failure could not be replicated. Additionally, the ERS was disengaged. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 14,000.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #5

Jan 132024

1500

  • miles
I brought the 'new to me' truck to the dealership 2 weeks after purchase to address a known recall and a Customer Satisfaction Notification. The latter related to the PCM software to address an issue of staling (08A). No problems were experienced before the service nor were any services noted on the Carfax for stalling before purchase. Four days after the recall and Customer Satisfaction Notice were addressed, I approached a stop sign with intentions to turn right. I slowed, but not to a complete stop, as I could see that no one was approaching from either direction and rolled thru the stop. I took my foot off the gas as I slowed (guessing to 3 mph) and applied the brake to make the turn when the engine stalled and engaged the parking brake and flashers. I was able to restart the vehicle following the dash instructions, however, this could have been a disaster if someone had been coming from my left of an impatient driver was behind me. The issue has not recurred since happening 3 days ago and the vehicle was taken to the dealership today (records of original visit and second visit attached). No warning message or sounds before the incident. Auto start/stop was turned on at the time.

- Granville, OH, USA

problem #4

Dec 262023

1500

  • miles
It was very cold and the vehicle was moved to the drive from the street and left running by [XXX] in Eagle, CO. It was loaded with ski gear and driven 28 miles to Vail by [XXX]. It was unloaded and driven one mile to a parking lot, parked, and turned off. After skiing the keys were not found so the truck could not be started and five passengers were stranded in Vail. Eventually the keys were found on the kitchen counter in Eagle. The vehicle ran over 25 miles without the key or warning that the key was not in the truck. Had this been a wilderness snowshoe trip without cell coverage, the results could have been deadly. It was a rental vehicle and the products [XXX] and [XXX] drive do not allow driving without the key. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Suttons Bay, MI, USA

problem #3

Sep 292023

1500

  • 99,000 miles
The contact owns a 2023 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle independently shifted into park(P) and the steering wheel became stiff. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The mechanic was not able to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to call the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.

- Noble, LA, USA

problem #2

Aug 282023

1500

  • miles
9/28/2023 - As I was slowing the vehicle down at a stop sign, the vehicle suddenly switched from drive to park, and the parking brake was activated. The motor stopped operating and the light indicating the engine was not operating was on. I was able to start the truck without further problem. The truck has a 5.7 e-torque. On 9/11/20213 the truck was left at Moss Brothers Dodge for diagnostic. The truck was there for 3 days. On 9/13/2023 I picked up the truck. The diagnostic evaluation was unable to retrieve codes errors.

- San Bernardino, CA, USA

problem #1

Aug 152023

1500

  • miles
Incident #1: July 29 2023 Truck was purchased at 16 miles on the odometer and approximately at 160 miles the check engine light came on. The truck was coming to a stop when in sputtered, and the check engine light came on a few seconds after. The truck was drivable and was driven a few miles to my home. The truck was driven a few days later and the electrons on the truck such as the radio started to turn off, followed by a battery warning. I went to pull the truck over immediately as the engine was sputtering. I attempted a jump start of the truck and it ran for a few minutes then shut off. The truck battery was charged and put on a tow truck and sent to the dealership. They replaced the MGU "Motor Generator Unit" after which the issue appeared to have been resolved. The battery charge read between 13.8 - 14.2v and right in the middle of the battery charge indicator. Incident #2 August 15th 2023 The truck was parked at the Reno Airport, and when my flight was canceled, I decided to instead drive to San Francisco. The truck was parked in the sun for about 4 hours before it was driven again. I started driving and a few minutes later, was coming to a red light, started to apply the brakes, there was the same feeling of engine stalling when coming to a stop. The engine didn't stall, and no Check Engine light illuminated. I started the 25 mile uphill drive from Reno to Truckee, and noticed that the battery charge was slowly dropping down to 13v, then 12.8v, then to 12.7v when I got to Truckee. I pulled the truck over, restarted it and the voltage slowly climbed up to 13v and I resumed the drive. I started the climb to the Donner summit over i-80, and noticed the battery charge indicator dropping slowly. Approximately 65 miles later then charge was reading 12.4v and the low battery indicator light came on. I pulled the truck over to avoid it from stalling out like it did during the first incident.

- Truckee, CA, USA

Not what you are looking for?