Dodge RAM 2500 loss of power problems

Filed May 27, 2026 · Engine · MT

We purchased our 2012 Dodge Ram heavy duty with tow package new. At just over 152000 miles, the engine started knocking while on vacation. We were not towing at the time. We put in injector cleaner to try and help the knocking. During our vacation, we were on the freeway when we suddenly lost power, the service engine light popped on, and the engine died. We were literally driving one minute and the next were trying to get out of the traffic lane with no control. We restarted the engine, the knocking had stopped and power was restored. Two days later, another episode of power decrease but with no engine service light. We used premium gas, injector cleaner and listened for the knocking that came and went, to drive home. We were told by our local dealership it is a lifter failure and the truck needs a replacement engine.

Filed Jan 27, 2023 · Electrical · OH

While driving, my dodge shut off and it was hard to control my vehicle and come to a safe stop, out of the way of other motorists. Lost all power, as if I turned the key off while driving. Turns out that there is a weak/loss of connection in the WIN module. while the vehicle is running at idle, the truck will shut off as if I turned the key to the off position. This is dangerous and scary. There was no warning or heads up or any issues prior to this incident.

Filed Jan 7, 2022 · Electrical, Steering · CO

While driving the vehicle suddenly lost engine power and turned off. When this happened the steering column locked. It did not just loose power steering. The column itself entirely locked up. At this point the vehicle had no steering and limited breaking and went off the road. Thankfully it just went into a ditch and no damage was done. The vehicle turned right back on. The next day I recreated the problem on some friends property. I gave the keys in the ignition a small tug and the engine would stop and the steering column would lock. The ignition never rotated out of the on position and the key remained in the ignition. I recreated this probably 5 times and it did the same thing every time. I then brought it to the dealer but they didn't have the parts to repair it so I didn't have them look at it. I had to use the vehicle sooner then they could repair it to pull a camper about 1200 miles. I diagnosed the problem to be the ignition switch. I replaced the switch myself and the vehicle has not had the same problem since. I have given the keys in the ignition the same kind of tug and it is no longer a problem. I do have the switch available for inspection. I personally can totally understand the engine turning off due to an ignition switch failure but I believe the actual steering column locking is unacceptable.

Filed Jun 2, 2021 · Steering, Suspension · AR

I was driving on I55 this morning and all of a sudden my truck started vibrating really bad, the steering wheel was veering, I had to constantly fight to keep in my lane. And when I touched my brakes it veered. Riding really rough, and has power loss. I took it to the nearest shop and they said my driveshaft was very loose, and that it is affecting everything that I described. The center driveshaft support bearing is also failing.

Filed Oct 18, 2020 · Electrical · 114,705 miles · CA

The dashboard has disintegrated causing exposure too wiring, intermittent diagnosed and undiagnosed problematic wiring issues with intermittent 'no bus' causing loss of power on freeway. Dealer unable or unwilling to further diagnose issue unless entire dashboard plastic is replaced unfortunately it is the same plastic that numerous people according to dealer and according to several internet searches that the dashboard plastic was not manufactured properly causing physical, emotional and financial harm to tens of thousands of dodge /chrysler owners. When my truck lost all power I was driving in fast lane of fwy. All power was gone including brakes and steering. Had to use muscle power to steer and let vehicle slow enough to use force to brake. Multiple people have informed the federal safety agency in regards to the dashboard. The federal safety agency would only investigate if I had died.

Filed Sep 15, 2020 · Electrical · 132,000 miles · NV

While operating the vehicle on a city street, highway, and off road; on both a rough paved roads and while running over bumps in the road, the vehicle experienced sudden loss of power (engine and all powered accessories) affecting the vehicle's engine, power steering and braking. Fortunately, no accidents or other events have occurred when I was operating the vehicle during this sudden loss of power. While the vehicle was powerless, in motion, the vehicle had to be placed into neutral and the engine restarted before regaining engine and accessory power. This is not the first occurrence and has happened numerous times since purchasing the vehicle used in 2015. I have replicated the loss of engine power while parked with the engine running: by slightly moving the vehicle's ignition key fob while attached to the wireless ignition node (win) module, this caused the vehicle's engine and accessories to shutoff. While researching a solution to the problem, I found numerous comments on vehicle forums and chatrooms, as well as in youtube videos relating to issues problems with defective wins that needed to be replaced and the vehicle be reprogrammed. In my opinion, mopar has known, or should have known about the issues with the win and the vehicle's sudden loss of power while the vehicle is in motion. Loss of power events like I and others have experience has the potential for causing a serious accident resulting in death of serious bodily injury.

Filed Jul 18, 2020 · Acceleration, Engine · 70,000 miles · TN

Driving down the road wont accelate then loose power , then afew a few minutes drives great then never know when it will not accelate drange losing power like that

Filed Dec 10, 2019 · Electrical · PA

On nov 23 2019, while I was driving my truck it suddenly died. I pulled over and started it again. This happened 2 more times that day once on the highway. Since then it has worked intermittently with the issue happening while in motion and also while stationary. I did some research and found out that I'm not alone with this issue. I have read several forums with a lot of owners complaining about the ignition module, win. Clearly this isn't a couple isolated incidents and needs to be addressed by ram. I would find it hard to believe that a total loss of power due to a faulty win that has been recognized as an issue and modified in newer vehicles wouldn't be a safety recall. From what I gather this particular win is able to get dirty on the circuit board thus causing a failure in the connection and ram knew about the problem.

Filed Oct 22, 2019 · Engine · 151,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 dodge ram 2500. While driving 60 MPH, the vehicle hesitated, lost power, failed to accelerate, and stalled. Also, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and failed to restart. The contact stated that code: p1451 appeared. The failure recurred five times and the vehicle was towed to smolich motors (1865 ne hwy 20, bend, or 97701, (541) 389-1177). The dealer diagnosed that the diesel particulate filter tracked soot from the exhaust and the lower particulate emission system failed. The vehicle was repaired. A month later, the turbo system failed and was repaired by a diesel independent mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and did not assist. The approximate failure mileage was 151,000.

Filed Jan 28, 2019 · Acceleration, Electrical · 94,000 miles · CA

R03 (replaces l25) wireless ignition node (win) module win module failure. When driving the vehicle in motion, the engine and power shuts off to the vehicle, causing loss of power steering and braking power. This happened to me while driving on the freeway. This has been recalled due to the same situation on multiple other dodge/chrysler vehicles that have the same win module part/part# as my 2012 ram. 'the wireless ignition node (win) module on these vehicles may have unintentional movement of the frequency operated button ignition key, or fobik, from the 'on' to the 'accessory' position while driving. This could cause unintended engine shut off and increase the risk of a crash.'