While going through an automatic car wash with the engine running, the transmission in Neutral, and my foot off the brake, my truck suddenly shifted into Park and shut off. When I tried to restart it, the display showed "Key Fob Not Detected," even though the fob was in my hand. It took several attempts before the truck restarted. Fortunately, the vehicle behind me did not hit me. This happened three more times before I made it out of the wash. I have since disabled the Engine Stop-Start feature and tried again, with the same result. The truck continues to shift into Park and shut off at random while in a car wash. This is a safety concern, and I would like it diagnosed and repaired.
2025 Ram 1500: key fob or push-button start problems
11 of the 380 complaints about the 2025 Ram 1500 describe key fob or push-button start problems.
- owner complaints
- 11
- of this car's complaints
- 3%
- recalls
- 5
Key fob or push-button start problems by model year
What owners say
Since the vehicle was brand new frequently, the transmitter loses communication with the key fob and you cannot start the vehicle. I have been stuck many times for hours trying to get it started. Took it to the dealer three times. They said there is no fix currently and that it's happening to a lot of customers.
The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start as intended. The contact became aware that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start while using the key fob. The contact manually restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the failure was diagnosed with a misfire at cold start. The contact was informed that the part to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The vehicle was not repaired; however, the computer was reset. The vehicle was released to the contact. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the instrument cluster went blank. The blind spot light failed to function as intended. In addition, the driver's side rear view mirror failed to adjust as intended. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V059000 (Exterior Lighting, Electrical System). The contact was informed that the parts would be unavailable for the next six months. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.
The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact stated that the doors locked after her husband exited the vehicle. The key fob failed to open the door. After two hours, the vehicle suddenly unlocked. No warning lights were illuminated. Upon starting the vehicle, it was driven to another location but failed to restart. The vehicle made an abnormal trembling sound. The vehicle was jump-started. The brake pedal made a trembling sound. All the warning lights illuminated. The blind spot light was flashing. The instrument cluster was inoperable. While driving, the brakes had to be pumped for it to respond and stop. The contact called the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer, where it was determined the vehicle was working as designed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and they opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000 during the initial failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.
My vehicle has experience repeated electrical system failures resulting in no-start condition and a loss of reliability. The first incident was in Nov 2025. The vehicle would not start after being parked at work from 0630-1530. The batteries had been drained due to what the dealer identified as a radio frequency module issue. The technician explained it to having gotten "stuck" in update mode. The vehicle was under warranty at the time and required a replacement of the module and two new batteries. I asked what I should look for in case this happens again in hopes of getting it to the dealer before it drains the batteries and I was told there are no real indicators. Early in April, the auto started not working consistently and the FOB would not open the doors. I replaced the battery in the FOB but the issue continued. Since that time I have monitored the voltage gauge. The vehicle was taken to the dealer again mid-April. The tech said he could not get the auto start issue to duplicate, stated there were two software updates that they updated and that it should be good to go. Monday, April 27, 2026 I parked the truck after work with the voltage reading 14.3. Tuesday, April 28, when I attempted to get in the truck to go to work at 0615, the failed to start or respond to the key FOB in any way. Once again, the truck was towed to the dealer where it is currently. The tech has stated they are having to replace the batteries again. This pattern indicates an electrical system failure due to battery drain and repeated no-start conditions. The failures occur without warning and have resulted in the vehicle being inoperable on more than one occasion. This repeated issue presents a safety concern if the vehicle can become stranded unexpectedly due to this failure. The issue does not appear to be resolved. The tech informed me that the company is still trying to figure it out.
First I would get a check engine light and infotainment screen would go black and odometer started blinking. Restart required. Occasionally the key fob is not detected. Reset the check engine light twice. Once at Huntington Beach RAM and once at Sunnyvale Chrysler. Both times the technician was unable to determine cause of fault. Slowly the failures became worse. The vehicle infotainment system and safety features that controls propulsion and ADAS intermittently started to fail and ultimately the truck started to stall. This stalling occurred 15 minutes after a service oil change and tire rotation at Sunnyvale Chrysler / RAM. Had to tow vehicle back to Sunnyvale. Batteries changed. Tech stalled on test drive after about 5 miles. RAM app still oddly indicates low battery, even though Sunnyvale replaced both batteries. Additionally, the trailer tow module (under recall) information / status on the infotainment screen menu started flashing. The trailer tow module recall was not installed as scheduled, even though parts were checked and available, however due to parts shortage, dealer indicated sales vehicle get priorities for the modules at this time. The screen started changing status without touching the screen or menu buttons. This is a serious condition I feel warrants complete check out and repair to avoid safety concerns due to failures / hazards in the operational effectiveness of the vehicle systems / controls, that could increase risk of an accident ,that might lead to vehicle or property damage, injuries or other catastrophic events. [XXX] , Owner Systems Safety Engineer INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Key Fob intermittently stops communicating. Both key sets do the same and have replaced FOB batteries. Nearly 50% of the time the key FOB will not work or start vehicle. A message is displayed that the key is not in the vehicle.
My truck has an issue where the headlights do not turn on when I press the key fob while approaching the truck. This is at night only. The side mirror lights, rear cargo lights and interior lights activate however the headlights do not. This is an issue for personal safety when approaching the truck in the dark. There must be a glitch. The headlights will illuminate during the daytime when it is bright out or if the remote start is activated. The vehicle was seem by a Ram Dealership and no active recalls were present. Manufacturer Recall No. : D4B which addresses some headlight issues apparently did not effect my truck and no flash was done on the software. I feel that this is a major safety concern as I am unable to brightly see my surroundings when I approach my truck.
Vehicle arriving and parked in parking spot. Occupants tried to leave vehicle and doors would not unlock. Had to use keyfob whicle still inside of vehicle. Door unlock buttons were not working to unlock doors. Only front doors unlocked but rear doors remained locked trapping 1 occupant in the rear. Driver exited the vehicle and the alarm went off. Driver had to try multiple times to shut off alarm. Driver entered vehicle and vehicle did not recognize key fob. Rear occupant was not able to exit vehicle as rear doors would not unlock. Rear occupant had to climb over center consul to exit vehicle. Keyfob # 2 had to be retrieved from house and brought to vehicle in order to unlock vehicle. After 30 minutes keyfob number 1 was functioning normally.
The contact owns a 2025 Ram 1500. The contact stated that immediately after purchasing the vehicle, the vehicle experienced various electrical failures that included the vehicle not starting, and the message "Key Fob not in vehicle" was displayed. Additionally, the check engine warning light activated along with the message engine overheating. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the headlight flashed off and on, and the parking brake erroneously activated, causing the vehicle to shut off in traffic. The vehicle was taken on several occasions to be serviced; however, the failure recurred. No further information was available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 10.
Brand new 2025 Ram 1500 Bighorn/Lonestar purchased on 10/24/24. From day 1 it pulls to the right at highways speeds. The dealer has tried to fix the issue with alignment two times, but not luck, they don’t know what is wrong because all the numbers in alignment are green and good. There are several online posts that are talking about this issue with the 2025 Ram 1500s. Also in regard to my truck greeting light feature, the service advisisor said the technician claims it is not a feature on the Bighorn/Lonestar trims, but I believe it is. If it wasn't a feature, then I wouldn't have those options in my settings. I also discovered something interesting about this. At night, after turning my truck off - but without pressing the key fob, LOCK button, if I press the key fob UNLOCK button, the headlights and taillights come on (as per the featured settings) like they are supposed to do. However, if I press the key fob LOCK button first (1 or 2 presses - it doesn't matter), when I press the key fob UNLOCK button, the headlights and taillights do not turn on (as per the featured settings) like they are supposed to. Again, I believe this is a software issue, but could be related to the headlight module that I am seeing being reported online as well.
Service bulletins that may apply
- The Customer May Find The Following Symptoms: Left/Right Front/Rear Button(s) Stuck Down
- MIL-On After a Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Replacement
- The Customer States There Is a Blinking Odometer
- Trailer Reverse Steering Control Radio Soft Button Blinks Even Without a User-Initiated Calibration
- Blindspot Alert Unavailable Service Required Warning Message Customers must experience on one or more of...
- Tow Nav Menu Option Unavailable
- 68488364AC: fuse block underho 1)
- Fuse block underhood - pwr dis a/c
Related recalls
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, Ram 4500 Cab Chassis, and Ram 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. A software error may cause the instrument panel display to fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards numbers 102, "Transmission Shift Position Sequence," 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems," 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment," 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems for Light Vehicles," 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems," 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System," and/or 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Risk
- An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as gear selection and warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the instrument panel software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 5, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. FCA's number for this recall is 35D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on beginning April 16, 2026.
Recall number 26V225000 · Recall details
Electrical system: integrated trailer brake control
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Jeep Wagoneer S, 2025-2026 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, Ram 4500 Cab Chassis, Ram 5500 Cab Chassis, and 2026 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. Due to an improperly designed trailer tow module, the trailer lights may fail to illuminate and the trailer brakes may fail.
- Risk
- Trailer brake lights and turn signals that do not illuminate reduce visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, trailer brakes that fail increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the trailer tow module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning March 17, 2026. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 03D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on February 10, 2026.
Recall number 26V059000 · Recall details
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Ram Cab Chassis, and Ram 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. A software error may cause the instrument panel cluster display to be blank. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems," 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems," and 102, "Transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect."
- Risk
- An instrument panel display that does not show critical information, such as warning lights or gear selection, increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and update the instrument panel software or replace the instrument panel cluster, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 18, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's numbers for this recall are B4C and B8C. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on beginning December 4, 2025.
Recall number 25V826000 · Recall details
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2025 Ram 1500 vehicles. A software error may cause an incorrect tire inflation pressure message to display on the instrument panel.
- Risk
- An incorrect tire pressure message may result in improperly inflated tires, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the instrument panel software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning April 24, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. FCA's number for this recall is 30C.
Recall number 25V231000 · Recall details
Electrical system: software
- What is wrong
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2025 Ram 1500 pickup trucks. Incorrect headlight module software may cause the headlights to become inoperative. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Risk
- Inoperative headlights can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the headlight module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 6, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. FCA's number for this recall is D4B.
Recall number 24V942000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2025 Ram 1500 key fob
Is key fob or push-button start problems a common problem on the 2025 Ram 1500?
11 of 380 owner complaints about the 2025 Ram 1500 (3%) mention key fob or push-button start problems. The model year with the most reports is 2013.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2025 Ram 1500?
There are 5 recalls and 270 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2025 Ram 1500
Check engine light 50Misfire 18Stalling 18Warning lights 16Brake failure 15Headlights 15Loss of power 15Backup camera 14Adaptive cruise 13Screen failure 13Power steering loss 11Won't start 11Battery drain 10Start-stop 10ABS 9Lane assist 8Jerking 7Pulling 7Won't shift 7Door locks 6Hesitation 6Grinding brakes 5Collision warning 5
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