Ram 1500 problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 9 model years (2018–2026), NHTSA has logged 4,840 owner complaints and 74 safety recalls for the Ram 1500. That averages 110.2 complaints per year on the road — far more complaints than typical (index 2.73 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Full-size pickups segment it ranks #4 of 5 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 97.2.
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 68% below the 2018 and 2019 models (63 early complaints per model year versus 205).
The 2025 model year has the highest rate (201.4 complaints per year) and the 2024 model year the lowest (27.2). Model years 2019 and 2025 run at least 50% above this model's average of 110.2 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. Model years 2023 and 2024 run at least 40% below this model's average of 110.2 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (26.0% of complaints), followed by Electrical (21.3%) and Steering (9.6%). 246 complaints (5.1%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 147 injuries and 4 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 1,117 complaints versus 1,046 in the previous 12 months — up 7%. The 2025 model year generated the most recent reports (232). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 38 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 74 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 investigations have covered this model, 3 still open; the latest is “Post Recall Remedy Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Failure” (recall query, opened 2025-07-03, still open).
Within its segment it has more complaints per year than Toyota Tundra, GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500, but fewer than Ford F-150.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 664 | 75.6 | 1.87 | 80 | 15 | Engine | View › |
| 2019 ▲50%+ | 1,492 | 191.5 | 4.75 | 183 | 30 | Electrical | View › |
| 2020 | 639 | 94.1 | 2.33 | 126 | 14 | Engine | View › |
| 2021 | 683 | 118.0 | 2.92 | 99 | 15 ⚠ | Engine | View › |
| 2022 | 623 | 130.1 | 3.22 | 178 | 16 | Engine | View › |
| 2023 | 202 | 53.3 | 1.32 | 90 | 11 | Engine | View › |
| 2024 Fewest complaints | 76 | 27.2 | 0.67 | 31 | 6 | Engine | View › |
| 2025 ▲50%+ | 360 | 201.4 | 4.99 | 232 | 8 | Electrical | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 101 | 101.0 | 2.5 | 98 | 9 | Electrical | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 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: 1,117 · Previous 12 months: 1,046 Within ±30% year on year
Problem areas
Engine ›
1,258 · 26.0% · 1.17 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Electrical ›
1,031 · 21.3% · 1.35 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Steering ›
463 · 9.6% · 1.49 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Transmission / powertrain ›
414 · 8.6% · 0.73 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Unspecified or other ›
401 · 8.3% · 0.92 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Body & structure ›
347 · 7.2% · 0.79 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Fuel system ›
292 · 6.0% · 1.39 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Brakes ›
234 · 4.8% · 0.8 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Airbags & seat belts ›
162 · 3.3% · 0.88 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Wheels, tires & suspension ›
75 · 1.5% · 0.62 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Driver-assist systems ›
64 · 1.3% · 0.23 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Lighting ›
52 · 1.1% · 0.69 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Other
47 · 1.0% · 0.53 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 38 months
What owners report
The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact's [XXX] daughter seated in the rear passenger’s side seat attempted to exit the vehicle and removed the seat belt.
My mom was driving my 2024 Ram 1500 Limited equipped with eTorque and was coming to a stop. While decelerating, the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly accelerated forward without her intentionally pressing the accelerator pedal.
Engine seized resulting in loss of propulsion while driving on the freeway Vehicle: 2019 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel Mileage at failure: ~50,000 miles Purchase: Bought brand‑new in April 2020 Maintenance: 8 documented oil changes, all performed on schedule While…
On three occasions over the last 6 months my truck has died completely. The first time all warning lights came on and there was no speed showing but the truck kept driving. When I finally parked and restarted everything was normal.
My 2026 RAM 1500, with approximately 3,900 miles, experienced an unexpected engine shutdown on October 13, 2026. After entering the vehicle, fastening my seatbelt, pressing the brake, and starting the engine, the engine ran for approximately one second.
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 | 1,578 | 54.3 | 1.35 | Worsening | Rising | 34 | Engine |
| 2 | GMC Sierra 1500 | 3,662 | 90.6 | 2.25 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 32 | Engine |
| 3 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 4,756 | 108.4 | 2.69 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 34 | Engine |
| 4 | Ram 1500 | 4,840 | 110.2 | 2.73 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 74 | Engine |
| 5 | Ford F-150 | 6,163 | 117.6 | 2.91 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 84 | Transmission / powertrain |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 74
- 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) · 2026 (9)
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…