Complaint 2183075

Complaint Summary

POWER TRAIN

Owner Narrative

RAM 3500 truck was purchased in Ventura, CA and has experienced multiple electrical and drivetrain failures beginning shortly after purchase. In January 2025 while traveling in Oregon, the infotainment system repeatedly blacked out and the cruise control button stopped functioning. A dealership replaced the cruise control button, restoring cruise control, but the infotainment problem remained. When the vehicle was returned after the repair, a new defect appeared: the horn button no longer worked. Loss of the horn creates a safety risk because the driver cannot warn other vehicles or pedestrians. Around 20,000 miles during a routine service visit at the selling dealership in Ventura, we reported a driveline vibration. The dealership and the upfitter inspected the vehicle and observed tire cupping. They checked the tires for premature wear and recommended overinflating tires as a remedy. The vibration continued and worsened, the infotainment failures persisted. In October 2025 while driving in Wyoming, the vehicle experienced a major drivetrain failure involving the front differential and axle assembly and required towing. The truck was first towed to the Yeti dealership in Afton, Wyoming, which closed shortly after the vehicle arrived. The truck then had to be towed again to Yeti dealership in Jackson Hole. There, technicians diagnosed front differential and axle assembly as the primary failure and also observed premature wear on aftermarket shocks installed by the upfitter. Technicians indicated the differential assembly was not readily available and would require special order. The vehicle was later transferred to another dealership in Dodge City for repair, but the differential components were not immediately inspected or ordered, causing additional delay. The vehicle remains out of service awaiting drivetrain repair. Safety concerns include horn failure, repeated electrical malfunctions, and drivetrain failure while driving.

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.