Data report
2019-2024 Ram 6.7 Cummins Problems: CP4 Pump, DPF and the Grid Heater Bolt
Published · Updated · 13 min read
On the 2019 and later Ram 2500 and 3500 diesel, the model year decides your biggest risk. 2019-2020 trucks were built with a CP4 high-pressure fuel pump that Ram recalled because it can fail and stall the engine without warning. 2021-2023 trucks carry a heater grid relay recalled for fire risk. Many 2022 trucks have had trouble with their exhaust filter and a sensor some were built without. And the grid heater bolt failure known from the older 6.7 is still reported.
This guide sorts those problems by year with 318 NHTSA owner complaints that clearly involve the diesel, Ram's recalls and bulletins, and current part prices, and it says where the evidence is thin. For 2007.5-2018 trucks, see our guide to 6.7 Cummins problems on older Rams.
The short answer
- What breaks: the CP4 high-pressure fuel pump on 2019-2020 trucks (66 complaints describe a failure, and another 106 are about waiting for the recall repair), the DPF and its sensors (27, of which 18 are on 2022 trucks), the DEF system (25) and the grid heater bolt and relay (22).
- Which years: 2019-2020 for the pump, recall 21V-880 (Ram's Y78). 2021-2023 for the heater grid relay fire recalls. 2022 for most DPF complaints.
- What to check first: open recalls by VIN, especially Y78 on a 2019-2020 truck. Then stored codes (P0087 and P008A for fuel, P2459 for regeneration frequency, P2609 for the grid heater) and the regeneration history.
- What it costs: recall work is free. Out of warranty, owners reported $4,500 for a DPF repair and $963 for a DEF repair in 2024; one owner's 2021 estimate for a pump failure that took out the fuel system was $20,000. A new DPF lists for about $1,100 to $2,490 by cab.
- The best move: on a 2019-2020 truck, do not buy or tow with it until the Y78 pump replacement is done and documented.
The one idea: these trucks are defined by their recalls
The 2019 Ram HD brought a new body and an updated 6.7 Cummins, and with it a new high-pressure fuel pump: a Bosch CP4 design, where the 2007.5-2018 trucks had used the CP3. verified That pump is the reason a 2019 or 2020 truck is a different purchase from a 2021.
- 2019-2020: the CP4 pump recall (Y78) verifiedRam recalled about 222,000 trucks because the pump "may fail, resulting in a sudden engine stall without warning." Dealers replace it with a CP3.3-style pump and update the software.
- 2021-2023: the heater grid relay recalls verifiedThree recalls cover a relay that can short and start a fire with the ignition on or off. Owners were told to park outside until it is fixed.
- 2022: the exhaust filter and a missing sensor verifiedRam's emissions recall Y43 adds a particulate matter sensor some 2021-2022 trucks were built without. Most DPF complaints are on 2022 trucks.
What 2019 and later Ram 6.7 owners report to NHTSA
- Fuel pump recall: waiting for parts, or trouble after the repair106
- Fuel pump failure: stall, no-start, power loss66
- DPF clogging / regeneration27
- DEF / SCR system25
- Grid heater bolt / intake heater22
- Turbo actuator / VGT / exhaust brake8
- Lift pump / fuel pressure / water in fuel7
- Injectors2
- EGR valve / cooler2
The three to know Everything else
Source: NHTSA owner complaints on 2019-2026 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500 trucks, pulled 2026-10-10 with every NHTSA model name. Keyword-matched, not adjudicated; one problem per complaint. A count of reports, not a failure rate.
The fuel pump dominates. 66 complaints describe a pump problem with a stall, a no-start, a loss of power, a tow or metal in the fuel system, and 63 of them are on 2019-2020 trucks. Another 106 mention the pump or the Y78 recall without describing a failure: most are owners told the replacement parts were not available, some for a year or more, and some describe new problems after the recall repair.
After the pump, the DPF (27), the DEF system (25) and the grid heater (22) lead. Turbo, injector and EGR complaints are in single digits so far, though these trucks are young enough that wear items may not have shown up yet.
A note on how we counted: Ram sells the same trucks with a 6.4 HEMI gas engine under the same names. We kept only complaints that name the diesel, Cummins, the 6.7 or a diesel-only part, which leaves out some real diesel complaints that do not say so.
Problems by model year: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and later
Short answer: 2019 and 2020 are the CP4 years: check that recall Y78 is done. 2021 has the fewest complaints in our data. 2022 carries most of the DPF complaints and the heater grid relay recall. 2023 and later trucks have few complaints yet, partly because they are newer.
| Model year | Fuel pump and engine recalls | Diesel complaints | Pump failure | Pump recall wait | DPF | DEF | Grid heater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | CP4 high-pressure pump; recall 21V-880 (Y78) replaces it | 106 | 25 | 55 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| 2020 | CP4 high-pressure pump; recall 21V-880 (Y78) replaces it | 112 | 38 | 50 | 3 | 6 | 4 |
| 2021 | Pump changed from the CP4; grid heater relay recalls 21V-163 and 23V-060 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 2022 | Grid heater relay recall 23V-060; ECM recall 22V-642 | 58 | 1 | - | 18 | 8 | 9 |
| 2023 | Grid heater relay recall 23V-060 | 7 | - | - | 1 | - | 2 |
| 2024 | - | 9 | - | - | 2 | - | 2 |
| 2025 | - | 8 | - | - | 1 | 5 | - |
Complaints: NHTSA owner complaints on 2019-2026 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500 trucks, pulled 2026-10-10 with every NHTSA model name. Raw counts, not adjusted for sales or age: newer trucks have had less time to fail and to be reported.
How to read this table. Raw counts, not rates. Newer trucks have had less time to wear out and to be reported. Three things are clear anyway:
- The pump problem ends with the 2020 model year. Pump failure complaints drop from 63 on 2019-2020 trucks to 3 on 2021-2022 trucks, and the recall covers only 2019-2020. We have not confirmed from a Ram document which pump 2021 and later trucks were built with.
- 2022 is the DPF year. 18 of the 27 DPF complaints are on 2022 trucks.
- The grid heater is every year. Complaints run from 2019 through 2024.
2019-2020: the CP4 fuel pump recall (Y78, 21V-880)
What the recall says. Recall 21V-880 (Ram's number Y78) covers 2019-2020 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups and 3500, 4500 and 5500 cab chassis trucks with the 6.7 Cummins, about 222,000 vehicles: "The High Pressure Fuel Pump (HPFP) may fail, resulting in a sudden engine stall without warning." Dealers replace the pump, update the powertrain software and inspect and replace other fuel system parts as necessary, free of charge. verified
The replacement pump is different. Ram's bulletin 14-008-22 explains how to tell the original CP4-style pump from the CP3.3-style pump installed under Y78, "to eliminate confusion and possible noise complaints shortly after pump replacement." So a truck with the recall done has a different pump, and it may sound different. verified
What a failure looks like. A sudden loss of power and a stall, often at highway speed, that may not restart. Several owners saw an exhaust or emissions warning message first:
"'Exhaust System Service Required See Dealer.' Complete loss of power for no reason."
Owner of a 2020 Ram 2500 at about 27,000 miles, 2021. NHTSA complaint 11438629
Ram's bulletin on pump failure and contamination (18-099-22) lists the codes: P0087 (fuel rail pressure too low), P008A (low-pressure fuel system pressure too low) and injector circuit codes P0201 to P0206, with an engine that will not start. It covers inspecting for contamination, cleaning the fuel system and replacing a fuel system kit. verified Once the pump comes apart, metal goes downstream: 17 of the 66 failure complaints mention metal or contamination.
What to do.
- Check the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup or with a Ram dealer. Ask for the repair order if the seller says it was done.
- If it stalls and will not restart, have it towed to a Ram dealer and point to Y78. Do not keep cranking it.
- If parts are back-ordered, keep the dealer's paperwork showing you asked. 36 of the recall complaints describe waiting for parts.
What it costs. Under the recall, nothing. Before the recall, one 2019 Ram 3500 owner was given a $20,000 estimate after a pump failure in 2021, of which insurance covered $13,000.
2021-2023: the heater grid relay fire recalls
Three safety recalls cover the solid-state relay that powers the intake grid heater on newer trucks with the 6.7 Cummins: verified
- 21V-163 (Ram Y08): 2021 Ram 2500-5500, about 19,000 trucks; the relay may short and start a fire. It was later superseded by 21V-798.
- 21V-798 (Ram Y76): 2021-2022 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups and 3500-5500 cab chassis, about 131,000 trucks; "an electrical short in the relay may cause a vehicle fire with the ignition on or off." Dealers inspect and, if needed, replace the relay.
- 23V-060: 2021-2023 Ram 2500, 3500 and 3500-5500 cab chassis, about 302,000 trucks; dealers replace the relay. Owners were advised to park outside and away from structures until the repair is done.
Check the VIN on any 2021-2023 truck. Owners of 2019-2020 trucks, which are not in these recalls, have also reported relay failures and grid heater codes.
Every year: the grid heater bolt
"Air intake grid heater bolt deteriorated, falls into the intake runner and gravity causes the bolt to end up in cylinder #6."
Owner of a 2019 Ram 2500, 2024. NHTSA complaint 11601784
What it is. The grid heater sits in the intake after the turbo. Its power terminal uses a small nut and bolt inside the intake that heat and arcing wear until they break off. The piece is drawn into a cylinder and damages the piston, valves and head. It is the same failure documented on the 2007.5-2018 engine. aggregated 13 of the 22 grid heater complaints on 2019 and later trucks mention the bolt or nut, and 6 describe it reaching a cylinder or piston.
The warning sign. Code P2609 (intake air heater circuit). Several owners got P2609 before or instead of the failure. Have the heater hardware inspected rather than only replacing the relay. aggregated
The fix. There is no recall for the bolt itself. Aftermarket retention and upgrade kits replace the factory hardware; one 2023 owner reported $800-plus for an aftermarket replacement in 2024. Owners whose bolt reached a cylinder describe engine repairs and replacements.
2022: DPF regeneration problems and recall Y43
"Truck began exhaust regeneration at frequent intervals. Truck produced check engine light for 'regen frequency P2459'."
Owner of a 2022 Ram 2500, 2025. NHTSA complaint 11689162
What owners describe. Regenerations every 100 to 150 miles, code P2459 (regeneration frequency), "exhaust filter full" messages and limp mode, sometimes while towing. Several smelled burning or fuel vapor in the cab during a regeneration.
The sensor. Ram's emissions recall Y43 installs a particulate matter (PM) sensor that some trucks were built without; NHTSA's index lists it for 2021-2022 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500, and owners of 2022 Ram 2500 trucks report it too. Ram also extended the DPF warranty on 2021-2022 Ram 3500 and 4500 trucks with the sensor installation (X97, bulletin 09-014-22). verified 6 of the 18 DPF complaints on 2022 trucks mention Y43 or the missing sensor, and several say their problems started after the recall work.
What to do. Check whether Y43 and X97 apply to your VIN, and ask the dealer to put the coverage in writing before paying for DPF work. Short trips and long idling load the filter fastest; a highway run lets it regenerate. aggregated
What it costs. A DPF assembly lists for about $1,100 to $2,490 depending on cab and part number, and the SCR catalyst for about $1,190. Owners reported $280 for a stationary regeneration and $4,500 for a DPF repair in 2024.
DEF system and the rest
- DEF (25 complaints). Warnings, countdowns to a 5 mph limit and frozen DEF. Owners reported $963 for a DEF repair in 2024 and $365 to thaw a frozen tank in 2026. A DEF pump module lists for about $284. aggregated
- Turbo and exhaust brake (8). The variable-geometry turbo's actuator is the known weak point on the older 6.7; a 2019 and later turbo lists for about $6,830. aggregated
- Lift pump and fuel pressure (7). Low-pressure codes and hard starts can come from the in-tank lift pump rather than the high-pressure pump; check the cheap side first. aggregated
- Other recalls to check: 19V-498 (2019 trucks: diesel fuel lines may leak into the engine compartment), 22V-642 (2022 trucks: an ECM capacitor can short and cut drive power), and the 68RFE transmission dipstick tube recalls 20V-043 and 22V-835. verified
What you found, and what to do about it
| You found | It probably means | What it can cost | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-2020 truck with recall Y78 open | The CP4 pump has not been replaced | Free at a Ram dealer | Get it done before you buy or tow |
| Y78 done, repair order in hand | The pump was replaced with the CP3.3 style | - | Good sign. |
| Stored P0087 or P008A, metal in the fuel filter | Fuel pump failure or contamination | Free under Y78 on 2019-2020; otherwise a fuel system job | Walk away unless the recall repair covers it |
| 2021-2023 truck with a relay recall open | The heater grid relay has not been replaced | Free | Get it done; park outside until then |
| Code P2609 | Grid heater relay or the heater hardware failing | Upgrade kit; engine repair if the bolt reaches a cylinder | Investigate before driving hard |
| P2459, frequent regenerations, "exhaust filter full" | DPF loading, a sensor, or the Y43 sensor issue | $280 for a forced regen; $4,500 reported for a DPF repair | Negotiate; check Y43 and X97 first |
| DEF warning or countdown | DEF pump, heater, sensor or fluid | $365 to $963 reported | Negotiate |
Part prices are OEM list prices at the time of publication. Owner-reported costs come from NHTSA complaints and show what those owners paid or were quoted in those years, not a quote. We do not have reliable labor estimates for these jobs.
What we cannot tell you
- How often the replacement pump fails. The recall replaces the CP4 with a CP3.3-style pump; complaints about trouble after the repair exist, but there is not enough data to judge the new pump.
- Which pump 2021 and later trucks use. Pump complaints nearly stop after 2020, but we have not confirmed the change from a Ram document.
- Whether 2022 trucks are worse or just better reported. The DPF complaints cluster on 2022, around the Y43 sensor recall; we cannot separate the hardware from the attention.
- How common the grid heater bolt failure is. Complaints are reports, not rates, and owners learned about this failure from the older trucks.
- Labor costs. We quote part list prices and what owners reported, not shop rates.
FAQ
What years did Dodge/Ram use the CP4 pump?
On the Ram 2500 and 3500 with the 6.7 Cummins, the 2019 and 2020 model years. The 2007.5-2018 trucks used the Bosch CP3, and recall 21V-880 (Y78) covers only 2019-2020 trucks, whose CP4 pumps dealers replace with a CP3.3-style pump. Pump failure complaints nearly stop with the 2021 model year.
Is there a recall on the 2019 Ram 2500 CP4 pump?
Yes. Recall 21V-880 (Ram's Y78) covers 2019-2020 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups and 3500-5500 cab chassis trucks with the 6.7 Cummins, about 222,000 vehicles. The pump may fail and stall the engine without warning. Dealers replace the pump, update the software and replace other fuel system parts as needed, free of charge. Check any VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup.
What are the most common problems with the 2019-2024 Ram 2500 diesel?
In NHTSA complaints: the CP4 fuel pump on 2019-2020 trucks, by far, then the DPF and its sensors (mostly 2022 trucks), the DEF system and the grid heater bolt and relay. Heater grid relay fire recalls cover 2021-2023 trucks. Turbo, injector and EGR complaints are still few.
What problems do 2022 Ram 2500 diesels have?
Mostly the exhaust filter: frequent regenerations, code P2459 and limp mode, often linked by owners to Ram's emissions recall Y43, which installs a particulate matter sensor some trucks were built without. 2022 trucks are also in the heater grid relay recall 23V-060 and the ECM recall 22V-642. Check all three by VIN.
What does code P2459 mean on a Ram 6.7 Cummins?
P2459 means the DPF is regenerating more often than the engine computer expects. Causes include short trips and idling, a faulty sensor, or problems after sensor work. On 2021-2022 trucks, check whether Ram's Y43 recall and X97 DPF warranty extension apply before paying for repairs.
Is there a recall for the Ram 6.7 Cummins grid heater?
For the relay, yes: 21V-163, 21V-798 and 23V-060 cover 2021-2023 trucks because the relay can short and start a fire. For the grid heater bolt that can fall into a cylinder, no. Code P2609 is a warning sign; have the heater hardware inspected.
Is the 2021 Ram 2500 diesel better than the 2019-2020?
For the fuel pump, the data says yes: pump failure complaints nearly stop after 2020 and the recall covers only 2019-2020. A 2019-2020 truck with the Y78 replacement done and documented has dealt with that risk. 2021 trucks are in the heater grid relay recalls, so check those by VIN.
Go deeper
Each of these pages shows the sources behind every claim, the confidence tier and the part numbers:
- Ram 6.7 Cummins 2019+ platform page · the older trucks: 6.7 Cummins problems, 2007.5-2018
- Failure modes: CP4 fuel pump and contamination · Grid heater bolt and relay · DPF and SCR system · DEF quality and freezing · VGT actuator · Lift pump
- Repairs: Emissions system repair · DEF system · VGT turbo
- Parts: DPF assembly · SCR catalyst · DEF pump module · Turbocharger
- How we verify and tag facts
Sources. NHTSA owner complaints database (US government public domain), keyword-matched and limited to complaints that clearly involve the diesel; owner quotes are taken from complaint narratives with capitalization normalized, and complaint numbers are given so you can read them in full. NHTSA recall records 21V-880, 21V-163, 21V-798, 23V-060, 19V-498, 22V-642, 20V-043 and 22V-835. Ram bulletins 14-008-22, 18-099-22 and 09-014-22 and emissions recall Y43, from NHTSA's manufacturer communications index. Part prices are OEM list prices at the time of publication. Torque Index aggregates and cross-checks public information, takes no paid placement and does not provide repair or inspection services.