2020 RAM Laramie 4X4 3500 Dually - Electronic Nightmare

[Rodies]

We are now nearly six months into owning our brand new RAM 3500 Dually purchased on June 30, 2020 for approximately $77K. We are also six months into experiencing continuous and persistent electronic problems which render this vehicle unsafe to drive on the road. The following list of problems started within 48 hours of purchase.

1) Turn signals that don’t blink, 2) windshield wiper that won’t wipe, 3) trailer brakes that won’t brake our 16000+ pound 5th wheel trailer, and 4) rear parking sensors that won’t sense anything behind the truck when backing up.

This truck has been back to the selling dealership twice (96 miles one way). The last visit to this dealership kept the truck in their service department for 21 continuous days. This truck has also been to our local servicing dealership six times for one to three day visits. As I write this review, our truck has been at the local CDJR dealership for the past 57 consecutive days and counting. The local CDJR servicing dealership is working with FCA/RAM on an open “STAR Case” trying to figure out what’s wrong. Over the course of five months, the two dealerships have combined to replace the ABS control module, Hydraulic Control Unit, Multifunction Switch and Body Control Module. After none of the four “fixes” made a difference, we are now waiting for FCA’s latest part to be installed; the Body Wiring Harness. Servicing dealership says replacing the wiring harness is a “big job” and they're not sure how long it will take.

I receive a sympathetic ear from FCA Customer Care representatives, but that’s about it. I have received no replies to my seven letters (so far). One FCA “case manager” even suggested that I file for arbitration. Our arbitration hearing is set for January 2021.

At this point I’m embarrassed and sorry I bought this truck. Anyone else having a similar experience?

 

[retired]

Sounds like you have a great case for a buy back

 

[mtnrider]

It varies from state to state but look into your local lemon laws. If what you said is accurate I would bet you qualify.


.

 

[20IndyRam]

Your location says Madison. If that's Wisconsin, you are way past qualifying for your state lemon law.


Your vehicle may qualify as a “lemon” if all the following are true:

• You bought or leased a new vehicle
• The vehicle is a car, truck, motorcycle, or motor home
• The vehicle developed a defect or defects (a nonconformity) during its first year and before the warranty expired
• The defect seriously harms the vehicle’s use, value, or safety
• One of the following happened during the vehicle’s first year and before the warranty expired:
  • The dealer failed 4 times to fix the same nonconformity
  • The vehicle was unable to be operated (“out of service”) for 30 days or more due to defects

What does not qualify as a “lemon"?

• Mopeds, semitrailers, or trailers designed for use in combination with a truck or truck tractor are not covered by the Wisconsin Lemon Law.
• Vehicles purchased outside the state of Wisconsin or purchased online and delivered outside Wisconsin
  • If the vehicle was purchased in another state, contact that state’s transportation department to determine what your rights might be under law
• Used vehicles are not considered “lemons”. If you have issues with a used vehicle purchased from a Wisconsin dealer, you may want to file a dealer complaint.

https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/cons-protect/lemon-law/lemonlaw.aspx

 

[Rodies]

We're in Madison GA...

Even the dealership says there's something fundamentally wrong with this truck.

National Center for Dispute Settlement will hear the case and I'm hopeful they'll rule in our favor.

 

[Timsdually]

Your location says Madison. If that's Wisconsin, you are way past qualifying for your state lemon law.


Your vehicle may qualify as a “lemon” if all the following are true:

• You bought or leased a new vehicle
• The vehicle is a car, truck, motorcycle, or motor home
• The vehicle developed a defect or defects (a nonconformity) during its first year and before the warranty expired
• The defect seriously harms the vehicle’s use, value, or safety
• One of the following happened during the vehicle’s first year and before the warranty expired:
  • The dealer failed 4 times to fix the same nonconformity
  • The vehicle was unable to be operated (“out of service”) for 30 days or more due to defects

What does not qualify as a “lemon"?

• Mopeds, semitrailers, or trailers designed for use in combination with a truck or truck tractor are not covered by the Wisconsin Lemon Law.
• Vehicles purchased outside the state of Wisconsin or purchased online and delivered outside Wisconsin
  • If the vehicle was purchased in another state, contact that state’s transportation department to determine what your rights might be under law
• Used vehicles are not considered “lemons”. If you have issues with a used vehicle purchased from a Wisconsin dealer, you may want to file a dealer complaint.

https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/cons-protect/lemon-law/lemonlaw.aspx

Why would he be past filing?
Sounds like everything meets the lemon law.

 

[Rodies]

On December 23,2020 we received a call from our servicing dealership in Madison GA that FCA's latest recommendation to replace the Body Wiring Harness did not work. The truck still has same electronic problems, no turn signals, no windshield wipers, no trailer brakes, no parking sensors.

Looking forward to our arbitration hearing on January 6, 2021

 

[John KIOhio]

We are now nearly six months into owning our brand new RAM 3500 Dually purchased on June 30, 2020 for approximately $77K. We are also six months into experiencing continuous and persistent electronic problems which render this vehicle unsafe to drive on the road. The following list of problems started within 48 hours of purchase.

1) Turn signals that don’t blink, 2) windshield wiper that won’t wipe, 3) trailer brakes that won’t brake our 16000+ pound 5th wheel trailer, and 4) rear parking sensors that won’t sense anything behind the truck when backing up.

This truck has been back to the selling dealership twice (96 miles one way). The last visit to this dealership kept the truck in their service department for 21 continuous days. This truck has also been to our local servicing dealership six times for one to three day visits. As I write this review, our truck has been at the local CDJR dealership for the past 57 consecutive days and counting. The local CDJR servicing dealership is working with FCA/RAM on an open “STAR Case” trying to figure out what’s wrong. Over the course of five months, the two dealerships have combined to replace the ABS control module, Hydraulic Control Unit, Multifunction Switch and Body Control Module. After none of the four “fixes” made a difference, we are now waiting for FCA’s latest part to be installed; the Body Wiring Harness. Servicing dealership says replacing the wiring harness is a “big job” and they're not sure how long it will take.

I receive a sympathetic ear from FCA Customer Care representatives, but that’s about it. I have received no replies to my seven letters (so far). One FCA “case manager” even suggested that I file for arbitration. Our arbitration hearing is set for January 2021.

At this point I’m embarrassed and sorry I bought this truck. Anyone else having a similar experience?

Get a hold of your Better Business Bureau! I had a Lemon Law Vehicle quite a few years ago. The ball rolls faster when you get a hold of the BBB! Make sure you have every receipt!

 

[retired]

Why would he be past filing?
Sounds like everything meets the lemon law.

He is saying he has met the criteria for the lemon law.

 

[Over The Hill]

LEMON

 

[chrisbh17]

Yeah its time for lemon law action....replacing the whole harness should have been their indication its time to let it go

Im always amazed at how much time, effort and consequentially money FCA and a dealer would throw into fixing something. Give the customer a replacement, then take the (clearly broken) one to a "lab" and figure out WTF is wrong with it, then learn from the mistake.

 

[John Jensen]

At this point I’m embarrassed and sorry I bought this truck. Anyone else having a similar experience?

Answering your last question. I have a 2020 Ram 3500 Laramie Cummins HO delivered in May 2020. I have not experienced any of the things you mention. The truck has been excellent in every way.

 

[Rodies]

OK, it's time for an update on our 2020 RAM 3500 Dually.

We did go through an arbitration hearing on Jan 6, 2021. Six days later the NCDS arbitrator ruled in our favor.
We had chosen repurchase as our remedy and NCDS agreed.

On Jan 11, 2021 we received a call from FCA with two pieces of news.

1. A third dealership was able to find the problem and fix our truck. After testing it for a week (including towing) we determined the truck was indeed fixed.

2. Even though we could still legally force the repurchase, FCA offered an "alternative" settlement which we believe is fair and makes things right. We are happy with this truck that now operates as designed.

 

[chrisbh17]

Glad to hear they figured it out!

 

[Neil E]

I'm glad they took care of you. What ended up being the fix?

OK, it's time for an update on our 2020 RAM 3500 Dually.

We did go through an arbitration hearing on Jan 6, 2021. Six days later the NCDS arbitrator ruled in our favor.
We had chosen repurchase as our remedy and NCDS agreed.

On Jan 11, 2021 we received a call from FCA with two pieces of news.

1. A third dealership was able to find the problem and fix our truck. After testing it for a week (including towing) we determined the truck was indeed fixed.

2. Even though we could still legally force the repurchase, FCA offered an "alternative" settlement which we believe is fair and makes things right. We are happy with this truck that now operates as designed.

 

[Rodies]

Reading the repair order, it almost sounds like a foreign language.

Technician isolated a circuit to the ABS module (a200) that "would not carry a load".

They "relatched c6 lock tab and reconnected ABS module". Problem solved...

Beats me if that was the only issue. Maybe replacing all those previous parts made the last fix possible.

All is well now.

 

[Timsdually]

How far away was this dealer that figured it out?

Might want to use that dealer for having service done in the future.

 

[Booms]

All I read was... $77,000 !


Hope you get it all figured out.

 

[wcking1970]

The Picture in my profile is my Brand New RAM 3500 Limited Dually Night Edition with Cummins HO. getting put on a tow truck two days after I bought it in August 2020 with 300 miles on it. Truck would not go more than 2-3 mph. Had taken it out of town for an overnight trip. They towed it to closest dealer. My wife and I took the train back home that day and 1/2 way home dealer called and said they had fixed it. I flew back up the next morning to dive it home. Same thing happened when I went to leave the dealership. I then flew back home. Long story short, the out of town dealer worked with my purchasing dealer. Purchasing dealer had it delivered back close to home. They determined it was a bad PCM and that is a $5K part. Took a month to get the part and fix the truck, no issues since. Pulls my 45' 5th wheel like a champ and I have FCA reimbursed me for all my travel expenses (i.e. train, hotel, plane tickets).

 

[John Jensen]

The Picture in my profile is my Brand New RAM 3500 Limited Dually Night Edition with Cummins HO. getting put on a tow truck two days after I bought it in August 2020 with 300 miles on it. Truck would not go more than 2-3 mph. Had taken it out of town for an overnight trip. They towed it to closest dealer. My wife and I took the train back home that day and 1/2 way home dealer called and said they had fixed it. I flew back up the next morning to dive it home. Same thing happened when I went to leave the dealership. I then flew back home. Long story short, the out of town dealer worked with my purchasing dealer. Purchasing dealer had it delivered back close to home. They determined it was a bad PCM and that is a $5K part. Took a month to get the part and fix the truck, no issues since. Pulls my 45' 5th wheel like a champ and I have FCA reimbursed me for all my travel expenses (i.e. train, hotel, plane tickets).

Sorry to hear you had the trouble but glad to hear it's fixed. And good to know that FCA took care of your expenses. That must help to ease the pain.