2023-2026 Ram 2500 Transmission Control Module Recall (26V288)
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) · 12,736 vehicles · Reported May 7, 2026
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling 12,736 2023-2026 Ram 2500 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module may improperly allow the vehicle speed to exceed the tire speed rating, which can result in a loss of vehicle control. Loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 26V288 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V288000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 43D |
| Date reported to NHTSA | May 7, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) |
| Vehicles | 2023-2026 Ram 2500 |
| Units affected | 12,736 |
| Component | Power Train > Automatic Transmission > Control Module (Tcm / Pcm / Tecm) |
| Safety risk | Loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2023-2026 Ram 2500 in recall 26V288?
A software error in the powertrain control module may improperly allow the vehicle speed to exceed the tire speed rating, which can result in a loss of vehicle control.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2023-2026 Ram 2500 Pick up trucks. A software error in the powertrain control module may improperly allow the vehicle speed to exceed the tire speed rating, which can result in a loss of vehicle control.
Is it safe to drive a 2023-2026 2500 with recall 26V288?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your 2500 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the control module, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 26V288?
Recall 26V288 covers 12,736 vehicles: 2023-2026 Ram 2500.
NHTSA lists 12,736 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2026 | Ram | 2500 |
What is the fix for the 2500 transmission control module recall?
Yes. Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge.
Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 21, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 43D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 14, 2026.
When was recall 26V288 announced?
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) reported recall 26V288 to NHTSA on May 7, 2026. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as May 21, 2026.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| June 21, 2022 | First affected vehicle built (per Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)'s filing). |
| May 7, 2026 | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 26V288000. |
| May 21, 2026 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 4 months ago. If your 2500 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my 2500 is part of recall 26V288?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V288 is open on your 2500, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 26V288000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should 2500 owners do about recall 26V288?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 26V288000 applies to your 2500.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Ram dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the control module happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are 2500 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 195 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 22 of them about the transmission.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the transmission have been filed since recall 26V288 was reported (3) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 195 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 22 of them involve the transmission. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2025 Ram 2500: 62 complaints in total, 7 about the transmission
- 2024 Ram 2500: 59 complaints in total, 7 about the transmission
- 2023 Ram 2500: 49 complaints in total, 6 about the transmission
- 2026 Ram 2500: 25 complaints in total, 2 about the transmission
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
There appears to be leaking from the dipstick tube. Transmission lurches when accelerating and decelerating. Eddies Repair in Pagosa Springs Colorado looked at the vehicle and suggested there may be a recall on this issue. When looking up the vin my vehicle is not included in recall ZA3.
2023 Ram 2500 owner, CO, NHTSA complaint 11676568, filed July 28, 2025
Bought the truck brand new. After 8k miles front tires started cupping. Took it in and was told it was simply due to "soft" factory tires. After 17k miles tires were gone and bought a more expensive higher mileage warranty tire. Rotated tires at 7k miles, After about 3k miles same thing happened.
2023 Ram 2500 owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11691964, filed October 7, 2025
This complaint notes two separate safety problems for the 2023 Ram 2500 Tradesman. 1) Transmission leak. "Heavy transmission leak" noted by dealer during normal service. Apparently so common that the seals are on back order.
2023 Ram 2500 owner, KY, NHTSA complaint 11738397, filed May 17, 2026
Can recall 26V288 make my 2500 a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Transmission problems tend to come back. Harsh shifts, slipping, delayed engagement and sudden loss of drive power often return after a dealer reflashes software or replaces a part, and each return trip to the dealer is another repair attempt on the record.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2023-2026 Ram 2500 has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the 2500 went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your 2500 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ram 2500 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 26V288
Is the 26V288000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed May 21, 2026.
How do I know if my 2500 is part of recall 26V288000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Will a transmission software update fix the problem for good?
Sometimes. Many owners report that shifting problems return after an update. If yours does, go back to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 26V288000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ram. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.