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2020 Ram 3500 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
51% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2020 Ram 3500 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 67% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2020 Ram 3500 have fuel system problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 58 of 116 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Ram 3500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (51%), and the largest group is filed under fuel/propulsion system (33). For comparison, the 2019 scores 42% and the 2021 scores 43%. On a test drive, check for hard starts, stalling, hesitation, a fuel smell 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 2020 compares with other Ram 3500 years
Of the 10 Ram 3500 years with enough complaints to score, the 2020 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (51%). The worst is the 2022 (74%), the best the 2018 (5%). By volume, the 2020 drew 116 complaints (58 drivetrain), against 136 for the 2019 and 62 for the 2021.
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 3500 problems · 2020 · 2021 3500 problems · 2022 3500 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2020 Ram 3500
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2020 Ram 3500 said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical fuel system 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 58 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2020 Ram 3500 engine and transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2020 Ram 3500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 11 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.
FCA US, LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Ram 2500 and 2020-2022 Ram 3500 vehicles. A build-up of pressure and heat inside the transmission may result in a transmission fluid leak from the dipstick tube.
Risk: Leaking transmission fluid may contact an ignition source within the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the transmission dipstick and transmission vent assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 29, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at…
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…
6 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 2020 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 2020 Ram 3500
Does the 2020 Ram 3500 have fuel system problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 58 of 116 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Ram 3500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (51%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the fuel system and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Ram 3500?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2020 Ram 3500 is fuel/propulsion system: 33 of 116 complaints (28%) name it, followed by engine (27) and fuel system (24). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2020 Ram 3500 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 51% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 67% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 10 Ram 3500 years we score, it ranks 2nd-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 2020 Ram 3500?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the 2020 Ram 3500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 11 in total: 22V835000 (power train: automatic transmission), 21V880000 (fuel system, diesel: delivery: fuel pump), 21V439000 (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 2020 (51%). 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.