Best Ram 1500 Years to Buy
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, the best Ram 1500 years to buy are 2009 — the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates among years with enough road time to judge, while 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2022 are the years to skip.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of October 2026 · How we rate model years
Buy these years
Every Ram 1500 year, ranked by federal record
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Recalls | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 6 | OK |
| 2024 | 0 | 5 | OK |
| 2023 | 183 | 10 | OK |
| 2022 | 583 | 15 | AVOID |
| 2021 | 655 | 14 | AVOID |
| 2020 | 608 | 13 | OK |
| 2019 | 1,449 | 29 | AVOID |
| 2018 | 641 | 15 | OK |
| 2017 | 858 | 13 | OK |
| 2016 | 1,503 | 17 | AVOID |
| 2015 | 1,425 | 18 | AVOID |
| 2014 | 1,733 | 17 | AVOID |
| 2013 | 1,251 | 12 | OK |
| 2012 | 694 | 7 | OK |
| 2011 | 688 | 4 | OK |
| 2010 | 0 | 4 | OK |
| 2009 | 37 | 2 | BEST |
| 2008 | 0 | 0 | OK |
Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume; verdicts are severity-weighted rates per year on the road, compared within the model’s own history.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best year for the Ram 1500?
2009 — based on federal NHTSA records, it shows the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Ram 1500 model year with meaningful time on the road. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
Which Ram 1500 years should I avoid?
2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2022 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates, led by steering issues. The full breakdown is on our Ram 1500 years-to-avoid page.
Is a used Ram 1500 a good buy?
Year-dependent. Across 12,308 NHTSA owner complaints on record, the spread between the cleanest and worst Ram 1500 years is significant — pick from the best-year list, confirm the specific car's history by VIN, and negotiate from what buyers actually paid rather than asking prices.
How do I buy the best Ram 1500 year for the right price?
Two steps: verify the exact car (free VIN decode, then the recall/complaint record for that VIN), and negotiate the out-the-door price in writing. CarWhere's AI car-buying agent does the second part for you — it contacts dealers about the exact Ram 1500 you pick, requests written itemized out-the-door quotes, and negotiates them down while you approve every message ($34.99/month, includes Pro pricing data).