Lemon Law · RAM
RAM lemon law attorney in California
Owners of RAM 1500, 2500, 3500, and ProMaster vehicles have filed complaints with federal regulators describing engine failures that cause sudden stalls, electrical system defects including wiring shorts that can lead to fire, transmission problems that leave vehicles unable to move, service brake malfunctions, and fuel system concerns. Rearview camera displays that go blank and collision avoidance systems that fail are also reported. The manufacturer has issued recall campaigns addressing brake pedal separation, relay fires, air bag deployment defects, and transmission fluid leaks. When a defect covered by warranty is not repaired after a reasonable number of attempts, California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act may require the manufacturer to replace the vehicle or return the purchase price. The statute presumes two repair visits for a safety defect or four for other problems create eligibility, though fewer attempts can qualify if the defect is serious enough. These presumptions apply when the defect is first reported, and the vehicle is presented for warranty repair, within 18 months of delivery or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first (Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22).
Known defects
What RAM owners report, and why repeat repairs matter
These are the categories owners file most often with the federal safety regulator for the RAM model years in the record below. A complaint is one owner's report, not a finding that a vehicle is defective.
Engine Stalls and Failures
Owners describe engines that suddenly stall while driving, sometimes displaying multiple warning messages before losing power. Some reports involve vehicles that shut off and shift into park while moving at highway speeds. Recall campaigns have addressed incorrect fuel mixture software in eTorque engines and fuel pump failures in diesel models. Repeat stalls create a safety risk that can support a claim even if the dealer cannot duplicate the condition on every visit.
1500 · 2500 · 3500 · Promaster
Electrical System Defects
Complaints describe electrical failures that disable multiple vehicle functions simultaneously, including power loss and warning light clusters. The manufacturer has issued park-outside recalls for relay shorts in diesel-equipped trucks that can cause engine compartment fires with the ignition on or off. Turn signal and brake light failures are also reported. Electrical defects that affect safety systems or recur after repair may meet the statute's standards even when symptoms are intermittent.
1500 · 2500 · Promaster · 3500
Transmission and Power Train Issues
Owners report transmissions that fail to engage, leaving vehicles unable to move forward or backward. Some describe sudden shifts into park or messages instructing drivers not to shift while the vehicle continues to operate. One recall addressed transmission fluid leaks from heat and pressure buildup that could contact ignition sources. Another covered control module software defects. When a transmission requires multiple repair attempts or replacement and the problem persists, the case becomes stronger under Song-Beverly.
1500 · 2500 · 3500 · Promaster
Brake System Malfunctions
Reports include brake assemblies that lock up, parking brakes that seize, and anti-lock brake system software that disables electronic stability control. One recall involved master cylinder push rods that could separate from the brake pedal. Another addressed ABS modules that failed to illuminate malfunction lights during stability control problems. Brake defects fall into the safety category, where two repair attempts can establish a presumption of eligibility.
1500 · 2500 · Promaster · 3500
Rearview Camera and Visibility Failures
Owners describe rearview camera displays that show blank screens when the vehicle is placed in reverse, violating federal rear visibility standards. Multiple recall campaigns have addressed trailer reverse steering modules, radio software errors, and control module defects that prevent the camera image from displaying. When a safety system required by federal law fails repeatedly, the manufacturer's inability to provide a permanent repair strengthens the claim that the defect substantially impairs use or safety.
1500 · 2500 · Promaster
Fuel System and Propulsion Defects
Complaints describe dead pedal conditions where the accelerator becomes unresponsive during acceleration, leaving drivers unable to merge into traffic. Owners also report sudden power loss and communication failures between engine control computers and sensors. The symptom is sometimes intermittent, appearing during specific driving conditions. Different defects count separately under the statute, so four repair attempts at one fuel system concern and three at another can together show a pattern that the manufacturer cannot remedy.
1500 · 2500 · 3500 · Promaster
By model & year
Find your exact RAM
Every model year the firm has read the federal record for has its own page. Pick your model year for what owners filed against it, the recall campaigns naming it, and what the statute asks.
1500
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns | Most-reported part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 RAM 1500 | 0 | 7 | None on file |
| 2025 RAM 1500 | 0 | 8 | None on file |
| 2024 RAM 1500 | 0 | 6 | None on file |
| 2023 RAM 1500 | 600 | 11 | Electrical system |
| 2022 RAM 1500 | 2,428 | 16 | Engine |
| 2021 RAM 1500 | 678 | 15 | Engine |
2500
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns | Most-reported part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 RAM 2500 | 0 | 7 | None on file |
| 2025 RAM 2500 | 0 | 6 | None on file |
| 2024 RAM 2500 | 0 | 5 | None on file |
| 2023 RAM 2500 | 144 | 8 | Engine |
| 2022 RAM 2500 | 537 | 12 | Electrical system |
| 2021 RAM 2500 | 107 | 8 | Electrical system |
3500
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns | Most-reported part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 RAM 3500 | 26 | 4 | Electrical system |
| 2025 RAM 3500 | 42 | 5 | Electrical system |
| 2024 RAM 3500 | 43 | 2 | Electrical system |
| 2023 RAM 3500 | 17 | 5 | Electrical system |
| 2022 RAM 3500 | 189 | 12 | Power train |
| 2021 RAM 3500 | 62 | 9 | Electrical system |
Promaster
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns | Most-reported part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 RAM Promaster | 6 | 4 | Air bags |
| 2025 RAM Promaster | 6 | 4 | Engine |
| 2024 RAM Promaster | 12 | 5 | Electrical system |
| 2023 RAM Promaster | 87 | 5 | Steering |
| 2022 RAM Promaster | 64 | 8 | Steering |
| 2021 RAM Promaster | 109 | 8 | Back over prevention |
The statute
When a RAM problem becomes a lemon
These are the presumptions in the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act and the Tanner Consumer Protection Act (Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22). Each applies when the defect is first reported, and the vehicle is presented for warranty repair, within 18 months of delivery or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. They are presumptions, not predictions about any individual vehicle.
A
Two or more attempts (safety)
For a defect that could cause death or serious injury, reported within 18 months or 18,000 miles.
B
Four or more attempts
For the same non-safety warranty problem, reported within 18 months or 18,000 miles.
C
30 days out of service
Cumulative, for warranty repair, within 18 months or 18,000 miles.
Have an attorney read your RAM repair orders.
Start My Free Case ReviewAttorney Advertising disclaimer: Prior results do not predict or indicate a similar outcome in any future matter. The information on this page is general information about California law, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. If your vehicle is unsafe to drive, stop driving it and call the firm on (619) 235-0137. Figures from the federal safety regulator's record are estimates taken from the record on the date shown.