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2019 Ram 3500 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
42% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2019 Ram 3500 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 51% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2019 Ram 3500 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 56 of 136 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Ram 3500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (42%), and the largest group is filed under engine (22). For comparison, the 2018 scores 5% and the 2020 scores 51%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2019 compares with other Ram 3500 years
Of the 10 Ram 3500 years with enough complaints to score, the 2019 is the 4th-worst on engine and transmission share (42%). The worst is the 2022 (74%), the best the 2018 (5%). By volume, the 2019 drew 136 complaints (56 drivetrain), against 806 for the 2018 and 116 for the 2020.
Ram 3500 years to avoid and best years →
2013 3500 problems · 2014 3500 problems · 2015 3500 problems · 2016 3500 problems · 2017 3500 problems · 2018 3500 problems · 2019 · 2020 3500 problems · 2021 3500 problems · 2022 3500 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2019 Ram 3500
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2019 Ram 3500 said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 56 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2019 Ram 3500 engine and transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2019 Ram 3500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 14 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500 pickup trucks, and Ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 cab chassis vehicles equipped with Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel engines. The High Pressure Fuel Pump (HPFP) may fail, resulting in a sudden engine stall without warning.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the HPFP, update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software, and inspect and replace additional fuel system components as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters to inform…
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 cab chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6.7L High Output engine. The engine calibration software may not warn about low oil volume.
Risk: Low oil can damage the engine, causing an oil leak or a punctured engine block, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will update the engine calibration software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 25, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US LLC's number for…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 cab chassis built with a Cummins 6.7L High Output engine. Inadequate warmup protection can cause a lack of oil film on the engine connecting rod bearings while the engine is reaching operating temperature. This can result in engine damage and connecting rod failure, which could potentially puncture the engine block.
Risk: A damaged engine block may leak oil, which can contact hot engine or exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will flash the engine calibration software to enhance the engine warm up protection, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 2500 and 3500 Pickup vehicles equipped with six-speed automatic (68RFE) transmissions. A build up of pressure and heat inside the transmission may result in a transmission fluid leak from the dipstick tube.
Risk: The leaking transmission fluid may contact the turbocharger or another ignition source within the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission valve body separator plate and reprogram the powertrain control module. The recall began March 2, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer…
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks, and 3500, 4500, and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The fuel lines may leak fuel into the engine compartment.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel lines, replacing them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 18, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.…
9 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2019 Ram 3500? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2019 Ram 3500
Does the 2019 Ram 3500 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 56 of 136 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Ram 3500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (42%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2019 Ram 3500?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2019 Ram 3500 is fuel system: 28 of 136 complaints (21%) name it, followed by diesel (27) and engine (22). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 42% of the relevant total.
Is the 2019 Ram 3500 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 42% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 51% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 10 Ram 3500 years we score, it ranks 4th-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Ram 3500?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2019 Ram 3500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 14 in total: 21V880000 (fuel system, diesel: delivery: fuel pump), 21V439000 (engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication), 20V511000 (engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication), and more. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Ram 3500 years are better?
Among the Ram 3500 years we track, the 2018 (5%), the 2017 (17%) and the 2016 (33%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2019 (42%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/ram-3500
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.