Troubleshooting 'Trailer Disconnected' Error Message on 2016 Ram 3500 Dash Display

Updated 06/26/2018 | Published 06/23/2018

Question:

Warning on my Dash . First check trailer wiring and then trailer disconnected. On and off while I Drive any Ideas?

asked by: Jorge O

Expert Reply:

If your Ram's dashboard display is telling you your trailer is disconnected, and this message comes on and goes off as you drive, the issue is most likely to be corrosion in either the vehicle socket and/or the trailer plug. Something is interrupting the connection of the trailer brake circuit and this is generating the error messages. Please refer to the linked photo to see the trailer plug contact that handles the brake circuit.

Inspect both the vehicle socket and trailer plug for signs of corrosion, trapped dirt or water. Even slight discoloration on the electrical contact can indicate a corrosion problem. You can apply an aerosol contact cleaner (such as Caig De-Oxit or any similar electrical contact cleaner product your local hardware store offers) to see if that corrects the issue.

Sometimes the corrosion problem can build up inside these connectors where it is very hard to see. In this case new connectors like # H20046 and # A10-7072VP may be needed. You could also have a loose trailer ground which would affect the brake circuit.

You may care to have a look at the linked article on brake controller troubleshooting.

expert reply by: Adam R