2015 Ram 2500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2015 Ram 2500 has 286 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (16% of all complaints), specifically: vehicle is automatic transmission with optional up or down manual shifting on the shifting column. when driving and in 6th gear, if you hit the down shift on the shifting column, it will drop 6 gears - into first gear causing the truck to rev engine at 7000rpms which is hard on the drive line and i. ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.

6 fire reports 11 crash reports 6 injuries

286

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

45 complaints

16%

• VEHICLE IS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH OPTIONAL UP OR DOWN MANUAL SHIFTING ON THE SHIFTING COLUMN. WHEN DRIVING AND IN 6TH GEAR, IF YOU HIT THE DOWN SHIFT ON THE SHIFTING COLUMN, IT WILL DROP 6 GEARS - INTO FIRST GEAR CAUSING THE TRUCK TO REV ENGINE AT 7000RPMS WHICH IS HARD ON THE DRIVE LINE AND I
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 DODGE RAM 2500. AFTER PARKING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, IT STARTED TO ROLL AWAY INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAIL
• VEHICLE HAS VIBRATION AT 65-75 MPH. BEEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND STILL NOT FIXED.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“VEHICLE IS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH OPTIONAL UP OR DOWN MANUAL SHIFTING ON THE SHIFTING COLUMN. WHEN DRIVING AND IN 6TH GEAR, IF YOU HIT THE DOWN SHIFT ON THE SHIFTING COLUMN, IT WILL DROP 6 GEARS - INTO FIRST GEAR CAUSING THE TRUCK TO REV ENGINE AT 7000RPMS WHICH IS HARD ON THE DRIVE LINE AND I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

43 complaints

15%

• THE TRUCK WANDERS AND DOES NOT STEER CORRECTLY. LOTS OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL VERY SLOWLY IT WONT EVEN TURN THE WHEELS. ITS A VERY SCARY SITUATION THAT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR LIFE TAKING WRECK IF TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS. I KNOW MULTIPLE PEOPLE WITH THESE TRUCKS T
• VEHICLE TPMS ON RAM 2500'S IS SET TO 80PSI FOR "PROPER INFLATION" ON A UNLOADED TRUCK IS WAY TO MUCH. WHEN DRIVING DURNING SUMMER MONTHS TIRE PRESSURE IS EXCEEDING MAX TIRE PRESSURE OF 80PSI. NO WAY TO DEFLATE TIRE TO MORE SAFE PRESSURES WITHOUT TPMS "LIGHT" AND "WARNING INDICATOR" TELLING YOU TO IN
• 2015 RAM 2500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED IT FELT AS THOUGH THE STEERING WAS OFF BY 90 DEGREES. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE FELT LOOSE AND UNSAFE. *JB

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“THE TRUCK WANDERS AND DOES NOT STEER CORRECTLY. LOTS OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL VERY SLOWLY IT WONT EVEN TURN THE WHEELS. ITS A VERY SCARY SITUATION THAT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR LIFE TAKING WRECK IF TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS. I KNOW MULTIPLE PEOPLE WITH THESE TRUCKS T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

35 complaints

12%

• WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES AN HOUR, MY RIGHT KNEE SWIPED MY KEY FOB/KEY CHAIN AND TURN THE IGNITION FROM ON, TO THE ACC POSITION THEREBY TURNING THE ENGINE OFF. I LOSS ALL POWER AND WAS UNAWARE FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL THE TRUCK FROM LOSS OF POWER WAS SLOWING DOWN AND HARD TO STEER. WAS ABL
• "DEAD PEDAL" ON CUMMINS DIESEL ENGINE. IF ACCELERATING THEN LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THEN PRESS IT AGAIN, THERE WILL BE A MOMENTARY "DEAD PEDAL" FOR SEVERAL SECONDS OR MORE WHERE NO ENGINE POWER IS APPLIED. THE HARDER YOU PRESS THE PEDAL THE SECOND TIME (I.E., THE MORE YOU NEED THE POWER), TH
• DEAD PEDAL WHEN PRESSING ON PEDAL TRUCK DOES NOT MOVE. HAPPENED ABOUT 6 TIMES ON MY. WHEN TAKEN OFF FROM A LIGHT AND ALSO WHEN SLOW ROLLING THE PRESS PEDAL WITH NO RESPONCE. ALMOST BE HIT TWICE BY OTHER CARS WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT AND TRUCK DOES NOT MOVE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES AN HOUR, MY RIGHT KNEE SWIPED MY KEY FOB/KEY CHAIN AND TURN THE IGNITION FROM ON, TO THE ACC POSITION THEREBY TURNING THE ENGINE OFF. I LOSS ALL POWER AND WAS UNAWARE FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL THE TRUCK FROM LOSS OF POWER WAS SLOWING DOWN AND HARD TO STEER. WAS ABL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

28 complaints

10%

• I DROVE HOME FROM WORK,PARKED ,TOOK A SHOWER DID SOME HONEY DUES AT HOME THEN.WENT OUT TO DUE SOME SHOPPING AND IN LIKE A TWO HOUR SPAND MY TRUCK DASH MELTED BURNED ALOT OF STUFF...THANK GOD NOBODY WAS DRIVING WHEN IT HAPPENED!!!!!
• THE KEY AND THE IGNITION SWITCH ARE LOCATED SUCH THAT MY RIGHT KNEE CAN BUMP THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF WHILE IT IS RUNNING... LIKE THE GM IGNITION ISSUE THAT CAUSED SUCH A STIR.... MY TRUCK HAD TURNED OFF ONCE ALREADY THIS WAY WHILE IT WAS RUNNING SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V799000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PART OR REMEDY FOR THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“I DROVE HOME FROM WORK,PARKED ,TOOK A SHOWER DID SOME HONEY DUES AT HOME THEN.WENT OUT TO DUE SOME SHOPPING AND IN LIKE A TWO HOUR SPAND MY TRUCK DASH MELTED BURNED ALOT OF STUFF...THANK GOD NOBODY WAS DRIVING WHEN IT HAPPENED!!!!!”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

20 complaints

• LOSING BRAKE LIGHTS WHILE STOPPING. NOT SPECIFIC TO DRIVING CONDITIONS, I.E. DAY NIGHT CITY HIGHWAY WEATHER. ERROR MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, DASH. HAPPENS USUALLY ONCE EACH TRIP.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 DODGE RAM 2500. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILU
• THE INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER DOES NOT PROVIDE THE PROPER VOLTAGE TO STOP THE TRAILER PROPERLY. THIS IS COMMON ON THE 2015 MODEL YEAR. I HAD A 2014 RAM WHICH DID NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE. THERE IS PLENTY INFORMATION ON DIFFERENT FORUMS DOCUMENT THIS ISSUE. IN A PANIC STOP WITH THE TRAILER CONT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“LOSING BRAKE LIGHTS WHILE STOPPING. NOT SPECIFIC TO DRIVING CONDITIONS, I.E. DAY NIGHT CITY HIGHWAY WEATHER. ERROR MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED ON INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, DASH. HAPPENS USUALLY ONCE EACH TRIP.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 286 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: VEHICLE IS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH OPTIONAL UP OR DOWN MANUAL SHIFTING ON THE SHIFTING COLUMN. WHEN DRIVING AND IN 6TH GEAR, IF YOU HIT THE DOWN SHIFT ON THE SHIFTING COLUMN, IT WILL DROP 6 GEARS - INTO FIRST GEAR CAUSING THE TRUCK TO REV ENGINE AT 7000RPMS WHICH IS HARD ON THE DRIVE LINE AND I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: THE TRUCK WANDERS AND DOES NOT STEER CORRECTLY. LOTS OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL VERY SLOWLY IT WONT EVEN TURN THE WHEELS. ITS A VERY SCARY SITUATION THAT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR LIFE TAKING WRECK IF TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS. I KNOW MULTIPLE PEOPLE WITH THESE TRUCKS T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES AN HOUR, MY RIGHT KNEE SWIPED MY KEY FOB/KEY CHAIN AND TURN THE IGNITION FROM ON, TO THE ACC POSITION THEREBY TURNING THE ENGINE OFF. I LOSS ALL POWER AND WAS UNAWARE FOR A FEW SECONDS UNTIL THE TRUCK FROM LOSS OF POWER WAS SLOWING DOWN AND HARD TO STEER. WAS ABL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I DROVE HOME FROM WORK,PARKED ,TOOK A SHOWER DID SOME HONEY DUES AT HOME THEN.WENT OUT TO DUE SOME SHOPPING AND IN LIKE A TWO HOUR SPAND MY TRUCK DASH MELTED BURNED ALOT OF STUFF...THANK GOD NOBODY WAS DRIVING WHEN IT HAPPENED!!!!!
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)