Ram 1500 stalling problems: what 1,531 owners reported
Owners of the Ram 1500 have told NHTSA about the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving in 1,531 complaints. That is 12.2% of the 12,516 complaints filed for the model. The reports cover model years 2012 to 2026, and the 2022 model year has the most as a share of its own complaints (173 of 631, 27.4%).
NHTSA's recall data lists several recalls for the Ram 1500 where the defect is an engine stall or a sudden loss of power, including campaigns 23V411000, 23V265000, 22V767000, 20V475000, 20V080000 and 18V524000. Whether one applies to a truck depends on the engine, model year and VIN. If this is not your case, read the full Ram 1500 problem report.
TL;DR
- 1,531 stalling or loss-of-power complaints out of 12,516 for the Ram 1500 (12.2%).
- Most reports by count: 2015 (192), 2022 (173), 2014 and 2021 (162 each), 2019 (153).
- Highest share of a year's complaints: 2022 (27.4%), 2021 (23.7%), 2023 (19.2%).
- 19 reports mention a crash and 30 mention a fire. The reports list 2 injuries in total.
- Components named most often: Engine (614), Steering (425), Electrical System (422), Power Train (215).
- Recalls for a stall or sudden loss of power: 23V411000 (3.0L diesel, 2014-2019), 23V265000 (2021, 5.7L eTorque), 22V767000 (3.0L diesel, 2020-2021), 20V475000 (3.0L diesel, 2014-2018), 20V080000 (2019, four-wheel drive), 18V524000 (2018).
Which Ram 1500 years have the most stalling complaints?
| Model year | Reports | All complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | 103 | 7.8% |
| 2025 | 32 | 365 | 8.8% |
| 2024 | 13 | 77 | 16.9% |
| 2023 | 39 | 203 | 19.2% |
| 2022 | 173 | 631 | 27.4% |
| 2021 | 162 | 683 | 23.7% |
| 2020 | 72 | 640 | 11.2% |
| 2019 | 153 | 1,494 | 10.2% |
| 2018 | 67 | 667 | 10.0% |
| 2017 | 87 | 884 | 9.8% |
| 2016 | 148 | 1,554 | 9.5% |
| 2015 | 192 | 1,459 | 13.2% |
| 2014 | 162 | 1,777 | 9.1% |
| 2013 | 139 | 1,281 | 10.9% |
| 2012 | 84 | 698 | 12.0% |
There are two clusters. The 2013 to 2016 trucks and the 2019 trucks each have 139 to 192 reports, but stalling is only 9% to 13% of their complaints, because those years also have many complaints about other things. The 2021 and 2022 trucks are different: stalling is close to a quarter of everything owners reported for those years. The 2023 to 2026 trucks have fewer reports, which is partly because they have had less time on the road and less time for owners to file.
What do Ram 1500 owners describe?
The complaints do not describe one single failure. Reading the quotes, several different situations show up.
Sudden loss of power at speed. A 2024 owner wrote (complaint 11738779): "While driving down the highway, the vehicle completely lost power and the driver was forced to wrestle the truck to the side of the road in traffic." A 2021 owner (11772120) reported that the truck "lost all power and engine shutoff" at highway speeds, and that after it stopped "the e-brake is automatically applied and the vehicle will not restart". That owner says a dealer linked the first event to an open recall, and that a second dealer later identified the RF Module/Hub as needing replacement.
Stalls with no warning light. A 2012 owner (11763137) wrote that the truck "randomly turns off without warning while driving" with "no check engine lights" and no codes shown afterwards. A 2016 owner (11772514) wrote that the truck "has stalled while driving on three different occasions in the last two years. It has never shown a code for the stalls." A 2020 owner (11769572) described three stalls after heavy rain, one at about 70 mph, and wrote that "No check engine light appeared at any point".
Stalls followed by an automatic park or parking brake. Several owners of newer trucks describe the transmission going into park and the parking brake applying. A 2022 owner (11772880) wrote that the truck "made me apply the brake to restart, and release the emergency brake since it applied on its own." A 2025 owner (11772077) described a stall at a complete stop at an intersection, after which the truck "automatically shifted to park" and could be restarted only after pressing the brake, pressing the ignition button and shifting into drive. That owner says the dealership named the PCM and the auto start-stop system. A 2023 owner (11765951) wrote that "My truck went into park while in traffic and engaged the parking brake" and linked it to the eTorque system, which is the owner's belief, not a finding.
Engine failure. A 2019 EcoDiesel owner (11770808) reported that the "engine suddenly seized without warning at highway speed" at about 50,000 miles, and that the truck had been at the dealership for nearly 90 days without a repair plan.
Power steering reported alongside stalling. The component list shows Steering named 425 times in these reports. Some complaints combine the two, such as the 2016 report above. Others describe power steering assist failing while the engine kept running. A 2014 owner (11760776) wrote that they "lost power assist" and first "thought the engine stopped" before realising the engine was still running.
Across all 1,531 reports, 19 mention a crash and 30 mention a fire, and the reports list 2 injuries in total.
Is there a recall for stalling on the Ram 1500?
Yes, several. NHTSA lists these recalls for the Ram 1500 where the stated defect is an engine stall or a sudden loss of power:
| Campaign | Date | Model years | Defect | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23V411000 | 2023-06-08 | 2014-2019, 3.0L diesel | Crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate, so the engine loses the ability to synchronize injector pulses and camshaft timing, possibly stalling it. | Dealers update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. |
| 23V265000 | 2023-04-13 | 2021, 5.7L eTorque | PCM software may cause an incorrect fuel mixture and an engine stall. | Dealers update the PCM calibration software, free of charge. |
| 22V767000 | 2022-10-13 | 2020-2021, 3.0L diesel | The high pressure fuel pump may fail, causing an engine stall. | Dealers replace the pump and inspect and replace additional fuel system components as necessary, free of charge. |
| 20V475000 | 2020-08-13 | 2014-2018, 3.0L diesel | Same crankshaft position sensor tone wheel defect as 23V411000. | Dealers update the PCM software, free of charge. |
| 20V080000 | 2020-02-13 | 2019, four-wheel drive | A transfer case gear may not have been installed correctly, possibly leaving the truck stuck in neutral with a sudden loss of power and a loss of PARK function. | Dealers replace the transfer case, free of charge. |
| 18V524000 | 2018-08-09 | 2018 (among several models) | The powertrain control module may have a voltage regulator chip that may fail, causing a stall. | Dealers replace the PCM, free of charge. |
NHTSA states for each of the stall recalls that a stall can increase the risk of a crash. None of them is flagged "do not drive" in the data. Two further 2019 recalls (19V812000 and 19V020000) concern loss of power steering assist, not engine stalls, so I have left them out of the table.
These recalls are limited to the engines, model years and VINs named above. A truck outside them is not covered by that recall text, and I cannot tell from the complaints whether any individual stall is the recalled defect.
What should you do if your Ram 1500 stalls?
- Check your VIN for open recalls at NHTSA recalls. It takes a minute and is free.
- Write down the date, mileage, speed, weather, any warning messages and whether the truck restarted. Complaints that say "no code" or "no warning" are hard for a dealer to act on without this detail.
- Ask the dealer to check for open recalls and for manufacturer service bulletins that match your symptoms, and ask for the findings in writing.
- Report the problem at NHTSA: report a safety problem. Owner reports are how the numbers in this guide exist.
- If the truck loses power in traffic, I would get it off the road and call for help rather than keep restarting it.
How this guide was made
The numbers come from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for the Ram 1500, as of 27 October 2026. A complaint was counted when the owner's text described the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. The quotes are shortened but not reworded, and each carries its NHTSA complaint number. The method is explained on the methodology page. To look up other models, use the problem lookup.