Ram 1500 problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 4,615 owner complaints and 70 safety recalls for the Ram 1500. That averages 110.7 complaints per year on the road — far more complaints than typical (index 2.63 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Full-size pickups segment it ranks #4 of 5 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 98.0.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 67% below the 2018 and 2019 models (63 early complaints per model year versus 205).
The 2025 model year has the highest rate (199.1 complaints per year) and the 2024 model year the lowest (26.2). Model years 2019 and 2025 run at least 50% above the model's own average — the ones to research most carefully. Model years 2023 and 2024 sit well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (26.5% of complaints), followed by Electrical (20.7%) and Steering (9.7%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “power steering”, “etorque”, “park”, “trucks” and “turn”. 237 complaints (5.1%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 142 injuries and 4 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 1,015 complaints versus 1,020 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace. The 2025 model year generated the most recent reports (229). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 38 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 70 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2019 (14), 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning, 2 fixable over the air. 3 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model, 3 still open; the latest is “Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Failure” (opened 2025-07-03, still open).
Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Toyota Tundra, GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500; Ford F-150 have more.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 656 | 75.6 | 1.8 | 73 | 0.82 | 80 | 15 | Electrical | View › |
| 2019 Years to research carefully | 1,464 | 190.8 | 4.53 | 338 | 4.19 | 178 | 30 | Electrical | View › |
| 2020 | 622 | 93.2 | 2.21 | 107 | 1.88 | 122 | 14 | Engine | View › |
| 2021 | 671 | 118.3 | 2.81 | 233 | 3.81 | 112 | 15 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2022 | 604 | 129.2 | 3.07 | 182 | 2.46 | 177 | 16 | Engine | View › |
| 2023 | 195 | 53.1 | 1.26 | 72 | 0.87 | 89 | 11 | Engine | View › |
| 2024 Fewest complaints | 70 | 26.2 | 0.62 | 54 | 0.77 | 28 | 6 | Engine | View › |
| 2025 Years to research carefully | 333 | 199.1 | 4.73 | — | — | 229 | 8 | Electrical | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 1,015 · Previous 12 months: 1,020 Steady
Problem areas
Transmission / powertrain ›
399 · 8.6% · 0.74 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- park135
- gear93
- shift84
- transmission108
Interior & equipment ›
387 · 8.4% · 0.94 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- rear window41
- water54
- uconnect29
- screen59
Airbags & seat belts ›
152 · 3.3% · 0.86 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- airbags49
- deploy50
- air bags40
- seat39
Wheels, tires & suspension ›
71 · 1.5% · 0.62 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- air suspension16
- tire26
- ball joint8
- goodyear6
Driver-assist systems ›
57 · 1.2% · 0.22 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- blind12
- collision18
- spot12
- braking17
Other
44 · 1.0% · 0.53 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- pedal19
- accelerated11
- throttle9
- floor7
Lighting ›
44 · 1.0% · 0.61 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- turn signal13
- signal left6
- left turn9
- headlights8
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- power steering421
- etorque136
- park543
- trucks205
- turn651
- electronic252
- emergency brake177
- diesel127
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 38 months
What owners report
The contact owns a 2024 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, after making a right turn, the front passenger's side wheel detached from the ball joint. The vehicle was uncontrollable. The vehicle crashed into a street sign.
While driving northbound on [XXX] from [XXX] into [XXX] during heavy rain, my vehicle experienced an uncommanded Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) deployment just before the bridge.
I was driving down the highway, in light rain around 9pm, very little road traffic, when all of a sudden the forward glass of my sunroof exploded, it sounded like a gun shot.
My 2022 Ram 1500 with the 5.7L HEMI eTorque system illuminated the check-engine light at approximately 88,000 miles with diagnostic codes P0AEE and P0BD4 relating to the motor-generator/inverter temperature sensing system.
While sitting at a red light, the truck will automatically shut off when I take my foot off the gas pedal. It has happened about 10 times over the last 6 months.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Full-size pickups
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota Tundra | 1,525 | 54.1 | 1.29 | Worsening | Rising | 33 | Engine |
| 2 | GMC Sierra 1500 | 3,415 | 90.3 | 2.14 | Worsening | Steady | 30 | Engine |
| 3 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 4,479 | 105.8 | 2.51 | Stable | Steady | 31 | Engine |
| 4 | Ram 1500 | 4,615 | 110.7 | 2.63 | Improving | Steady | 70 | Engine |
| 5 | Ford F-150 | 5,985 | 129.2 | 3.07 | Improving | Falling | 80 | Transmission / powertrain |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 70
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 1
- Over-the-air fix: 2
Safety recalls: 2018 (15) · 2019 (30) · 2020 (14) · 2021 (15) · 2022 (16) · 2023 (11) · 2024 (6) · 2025 (8)
Investigations
- Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Failure Open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 14 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) reports and 6 EWR Death & Injury (D&I) reports describing post recall remedy failures of the brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) system in certain Model Year (MY) 2013-2018 RAM pickup trucks.The subject vehicle models include 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 trucks equipped with a column mounted shift…
- Engine Stall With Intermittent Restart Open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 80 consumer complaints alleging an engine stall and loss of motive power on model year (MY) 2022 RAM 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUV vehicles. The particular engines in the subject vehicles are equipped with the Fiat Chrysler Automotive Group LLC (FCA) 5.7L Hemi eTorque system. The eTorque system is a mild hybrid system that lets…
- High pressure fuel pump failure Open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-021 on October 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel engines. During the investigation, ODI sought to determine if the related defect alle…
Frequently asked questions
Which Ram 1500 model year has the most complaints?
The 2025 model year has the highest rate (199.1 complaints per year) and the 2024 model year the lowest (26.2).
Is the Ram 1500 getting better or worse?
The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 67% below the 2018 and 2019 models (63 early complaints per model year versus 205). In the last 12 months owners filed 1,015 complaints versus 1,020 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace.
What are the most common Ram 1500 problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (26.5% of complaints), followed by Electrical (20.7%) and Steering (9.7%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “power steering”, “etorque”, “park”, “trucks” and “turn”.
How does the Ram 1500 compare with other Full-size pickups?
Within the Full-size pickups segment it ranks #4 of 5 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 98.0. Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Toyota Tundra, GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500; Ford F-150 have more.
Does the Ram 1500 have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 70 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2019 (14), 1 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning, 2 fixable over the air. 3 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model, 3 still open; the latest is “Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Failure” (opened 2025-07-03, still open).