Dodge RAM 3500 won't start problems

Filed Feb 1, 2022 · Electrical · PA

My key fob ignition switch is going bad. The 1st time I noticed is when I was pulling my camper on vacation and the truck just shut off all the lights everything. I safely pulled over and then I tried to start it and it wouldn't start.. I then wiggled the key and then it started. I talk to other people that own rams and they say they have the same problem. So I talked to the dealer and they said the only thing they can do is replace the Ignition. Which could cost more than $600. Now I would think being that this is quite a common thing that Chrysler would take care of the problem before somebody gets hurt or even killed from their vehicle shouting off and not knowing what to do. There are videos on YouTube on how to Terra park and clean the Ignition but I don't think that is a good idea.

Filed Dec 17, 2019 · Electrical · 137,887 miles · OK

Have to use force to engage clutch to start vehicle. The vehicle was stationary with a trailer attached. Unable to turn off vehicle when fueling due to probability that it would not start. Tried jumper cables without success. After stomping clutch several times vehicle started.

Filed Aug 16, 2017 · Engine · 124,000 miles · TX

The 2012 dodge ram 3500 4x4 6.7 diesel will intermittently stop running. The gauges will all go dead, the engine will stop running and will not start up again until the vehicle is completely stopped, put in park and key turned off and then back on again. It does not matter if the vehicle is at high or low speeds, with or without a load, pulling a trailer or running empty. Once it has started back up, it may run for a couple of weeks or a couple of hours before it does it again. It does not seem to be affected by temperature or weather because it has happened in hot and cool weather and wet and dry conditions. Yesterday it happened when I was merging onto the freeway at 70 MPH. Last week it happened when I was pulling out of my driveway at less than 5 MPH. Road surface does not seem to create the condition for the problem to happen either because I have been on both smooth surfaces when it happened and on dirt roads happened, always at various speeds. Has anyone else experienced this problem or is this truck just an oddity?

Filed Apr 8, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 185,000 miles · AZ

Tipm (totally integrated power module) failed, causing vehicles engine to stall at 75mph on freeway. Condition resulted in a "no-start" scenario. Because of this failed tipm, the onboard diagnostic computer has no power, resulting in an inability to diagnose with obdii scan tools. This situation could have resulted in a possibly fatal accident, as the vehicle was in motion at 75mph on a major freeway with moderate traffic. When the vehicle stalled, all power steering and brakes were lost. These parts are prone to failing, but chrysler refuses to accept responsibility. An aftermarket replacement is available at the price of approx. $600, but these parts are special order, and take several days to receive.

Filed Jun 16, 2016 · Acceleration, Electrical · 220,000 miles · TX

Truck died in middle of road, truck would not start .son towed truck out of road to parking lot. Truck, started again ran 3 days. Pulled out of parking lot , the truck accelerated out of controlled hit brakes a few times and truck died again in middle of road. Started again , truck moved 10 feet and died . Tipm (totally integrated power module ) has failed. Unexpected acceleration scared me considerably. Less experienced driver or my wife would have got scared and crashed.

Filed Jan 2, 2016 · Transmission · 25,000 miles · AK

Vehicle repeatedly gets stuck in park, but indicates reverse. Will not start or move. Transfer case is not allowed to move to neutral, because shift indicator lever indicates it is in reverese. So called "emergency override procedure" does not work. Batteries must be disconnected for 30 minutes before shift lever can be released. After having the vehicle towed to the dealership (at my own expense) upon the first occurence, I was informed this would never happen again. Unfortunately it has happened twice since then and I am most assured it will happen again.

Filed Sep 4, 2015 · Electrical · 58,000 miles · CT

When attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle will not start unless one turns the key fob extremely hard and wiggling the fob while turning. The vehicle also stalls after the key is released, and stalls while traveling down the road.

Filed Jun 25, 2015 · Steering · TX

Ignition will not crank. We have 2 keys for it, neither works the first time. Takes 10-30 minutes to get the key to turn. I have seen there are recalls for ignitions for the same year, make and model as ours. Our VIN does not come up as having the recall.

Filed Oct 10, 2014 · Fuel system · 66,305 miles · CA

Driving my diesel, 1 ton, 2004, 4x4 truck with 66,000 miles, turning left across traffic into a business. Engine stops, no brakes, no steering, no warning, nothing. Never had a problem with this truck before this event. Traffic is coming at us and I am headed into a ditch as I cannot turn vehicle. Frantically trying to get vehicle started, will not start, but able to roll forward and make it into business barely missing ditch. People come out to help push vehicle into safe spot. Called tow truck, they get there about 1.5 hours later. He got truck started, said to drive it down the street that probably something clogged the diesel tank inlet, but ok now. Truck seemed ok, so we hooked up our boat that was in this business, proceeded home. Got about 1 mile away on twisty mountain road, truck again dies, no brakes again, cannot hardly steer and cannot stop boat and truck and proceed down hill holding on trying to stay on road. I managed to get it stopped. Had it towed to dealer this time. Dodge dealer explains that the "lift pump" that pulls diesel fuel from tank to engine had gone out, they state "this is common problem that dodge knows about." they refuse to replace the "lift pump" that is fairly inexpensive saying that dodge knows there is a problem and the consumer has to pay to have a "fuel pump" put into the fuel tank as the fix. This cost is over $1400. Upon hearing that I cannot have the "lift pump" just replaced, I went to the internet forums on cummings diesel "lift pumps" turns out there are lots of pages showing this is a common problem with the cummings diesel and most all will experience it. If dodge knows there is a problem and people can be killed due to how the truck suddenly dies, they should be responsible for addressing the problem!

Filed Jan 29, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 38,000 miles · WA

Driving at night going about 60 MPH when all systems failed, no engine, no power brakes, no power steering and worst of all, no lights. Engine wouldn't crank, fuse box was making snapping sounds even with key out of ignition. After about 5 min truck started and I was able to drive it home, about 5 miles. Truck ran, but poorly. The next day I attempted to drive it to the dodge dealer, truck did same thing (complete system failure) after driving about 5 miles. I then had truck towed to the dealer. Naturally truck runs fine for service tech, they reset a bunch of codes, but could find nothing definitive. Unable or unwilling to do more. This fills me with absolutely no confidence. In 4 days I need to take this truck pulling a trailer from wa to az for work.