2015 Ram 1500 Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 179 electrical system complaints for the 2015 Ram 1500, about 12% of that year's 1,448 total complaints. These include 14 fires and 11 crashes, with a median failure mileage of 39,874 miles. One related recall (15V517000) covers a battery harness issue.
- Electrical System complaints
- 179
- 12% of 1,448
- Crashes reported
- 11
- Fires reported
- 14
- Injuries reported
- 5
- Median mileage
- 39,874 mi
- Related recalls
- 2
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Owners report the electronic rotary shifter jumping out of park into drive or neutral on its own, sometimes causing the truck to roll away and crash into objects while unattended.
- Some describe engine fires starting under the hood or near the rear of the engine, in several cases accompanied by loss of power or an electronic throttle position warning before flames appeared.
- Others report the truck stalling or dying unexpectedly while running or idling in park, sometimes tied to a loose dash connection or failure to restart for hours afterward.
- A few owners noted electrical shorts near door areas or the rear end catching fire while the truck was parked, with the fire extinguishing on its own.
- Some drivers reported dashboard smoke and sudden power loss at highway speed, requiring them to pull over and exit before flames spread.
When 2015 Ram 1500 electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Mar 6, 2015, latest Sep 20, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2015 Ram 1500
- NHTSA 18V332000May 17, 2018Electrical System4,815,661 vehicles
Electrical system:wiring
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Dodge Journey, Charger and Durango, RAM 2500, 3500, 3500 Cab Chassis (more than 10,000lb), 4500 Cab Chassis and 5500 Cab Chassis, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee and Chrysler 300, 2014-2019 RAM 1500, 2015-2018 Dodge Challenger, 2015-2017 Chrysler 200, 2016-2018 RAM 3500 Cab Chassis (less than 10,000 lb), 2017-2018 Chrysler Pacifica and 2018 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. These vehicles are being recalled to address a defect that could prevent the cruise control system from disengaging. If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged, resulting in either the vehicle maintaining its current speed or possibly accelerating.
Risk: If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the software, and perform a software flash on the engine or powertrain control module, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Note: Owners are advised to stop using cruise control until the software update has been performed. In the event that cruise control cannot be disengaged while driving, owners should firmly and steadily apply the brakes and shift the transmission to neutral, placing the vehicle in park once it has stopped.
- NHTSA 15V517000Aug 14, 2015Electrical System1,655 vehicles
Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery:cables
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Ram 1500 diesel 4x2 trucks manufactured August 8, 2013, to July 2, 2015. The affected vehicles have a battery harness that may rub against the frame bracket for the right engine mount resulting in an electrical short.
Risk: If the harness shorts, the vehicle may stall and there is an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to confirm that the battery harness is correctly routed and secured. Any harness that shows evidence of wear will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 8, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R43.
Electrical System complaints by 1500 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are electrical system complaints on the 2015 Ram 1500?
- NHTSA lists 179 electrical system complaints for the 2015 Ram 1500, which is about 12% of the 1,448 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2015 Ram 1500 electrical system?
- Yes. Recall 15V517000, reported in August 2015, covers 2014-2015 Ram 1500 diesel 4x2 trucks with a battery harness that may rub against the frame bracket. A separate 2018 recall (18V332000) also touches electrical/software issues but applies to other Ram models.
- At what mileage do these electrical problems usually happen?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for electrical system complaints on the 2015 Ram 1500 is 39,874 miles.
- Are the electrical problems on the 2015 Ram 1500 dangerous?
- NHTSA data tied to this problem area on the 2015 Ram 1500 includes 14 fires, 11 crashes, and 5 injuries, so some owners reported serious safety outcomes.