Ram 1500 Reliability
Quick answer
Across model years 2011–2026, owners filed 13,263 complaints about the Ram 1500 with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system and steering, and NHTSA lists 102 recall campaigns. In CarWhere's ranking of 8 pickup trucks by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022, serious complaints weighted double and adjusted for vehicle age), the Ram Pickup line places 6th: a higher complaint rate than most. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2014–2016, 2019, 2021 and 2022 as years to avoid. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
By CarWhere Research · Last reviewed 2026-11-10 · Source: NHTSA
13,263
NHTSA owner complaints (2011–2026)
687
Complaints citing a crash
102
Recall campaigns
6
Years to avoid
Most-reported Ram 1500 problems
NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2011–2026, by the component owners named, filed 2011–2026. A complaint can name more than one component. The last three columns count complaints that report a crash, a fire or an injury.
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crash | Fire | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 2,783 | 21% | 64 | 65 | 22 |
| Steering | 2,768 | 21% | 114 | 4 | 30 |
| Engine | 2,718 | 20% | 29 | 110 | 26 |
| Powertrain / transmission | 1,721 | 13% | 133 | 14 | 42 |
| Service brakes | 1,357 | 10% | 101 | 10 | 27 |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 1,296 | 10% | 18 | 22 | 12 |
| Air bags | 668 | 5% | 277 | 5 | 207 |
| Speed control / throttle | 586 | 4% | 51 | 4 | 15 |
Of all 13,263 complaints, 687 (5%) report a crash, 204 (2%) a fire and 363 (3%) an injury.
For 2020-and-newer models (2,736 complaints), the most-reported areas are the electrical system (915), the engine (849), the transmission (379), the brakes (291).
Ram 1500 complaints by model year
Where problems concentrate. Year flags come from CarWhere's years-to-avoid analysis, which compares each 1500 model year with the model's other years. The full year-by-year verdicts are on the years-to-avoid page.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 689 | 4 | Electrical system | — |
| 2012 | 698 | 7 | Electrical system | — |
| 2013 | 1,283 | 12 | Steering | — |
| 2014 | 1,781 | 17 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2015 | 1,461 | 18 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2016 | 1,564 | 17 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2017 | 886 | 13 | Steering | — |
| 2018 | 667 | 15 | Electrical system | — |
| 2019 | 1,498 | 30 | Electrical system | Avoid |
| 2020 | 644 | 14 | Electrical system | — |
| 2021 | 687 | 15 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2022 | 639 | 16 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2023 | 205 | 11 | Electrical system | — |
| 2024(new) | 78 | 6 | Electrical system | — |
| 2025(new) | 378 | 8 | Electrical system | — |
| 2026(new) | 105 | 9 | Electrical system | — |
Raw counts are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, and older years have had longer to collect complaints. Years marked "new" have had less than three years on the road. — = not flagged either way.
Ram 1500 recalls
NHTSA lists 102 recall campaigns across Ram 1500 model years 2011–2026. The ones below cover the most model years (campaigns with a park advisory first). Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Model years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21V037000Feb 1, 2021 | 2021 | Service brakes — foundation components / master cylinder | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Ram 1500 Classic SLT trucks. Certain vehicles were built without the retaining clip that secures the master cylinder push rod to the brake pedal, which can cause the brake pedal to…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 26V495000Jul 30, 2026 | 2019–2026 | Seat belts — rear/other / anchorage | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2026 Ram 1500 vehicles. The second-row center and left-side seat belt buckle anchors may have been improperly installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of… |
| 17V821000Dec 20, 2017 | 2011–2017 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / lever and linkage / column shift | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 lbs, 2011-2017 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles, 2009-2017 Ram 1500 and 2010-2017 Ram 2500… |
| 25V298000May 8, 2025 | 2019–2024 | Air bags | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2024 Ram 1500 vehicles. The driver's side air bag may not be connected properly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the… |
| 23V411000Jun 8, 2023 | 2014–2019 | Engine & cooling | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Ram 1500 and 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0L Diesel engines. The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate, causing the engine to lose its ability… |
Best and worst 1500 years
- Years to avoid: 2014–2016, 2019, 2021 and 2022.
- No model year stands out as clearly better than the rest.
- 2024–2026: too new to judge fully; complaint counts are still building.
What to inspect on a used Ram 1500
Based on the components owners report most. None of these replaces an independent pre-purchase inspection.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Recalls: check the VIN for open recalls; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any Ram 1500 can be better or worse than the model's record. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
Ram 1500 reliability FAQ
Is the Ram 1500 reliable?
Across model years 2011–2026, owners filed 13,263 complaints about the Ram 1500 with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system and steering, and NHTSA lists 102 recall campaigns. In CarWhere's ranking of 8 pickup trucks by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022, serious complaints weighted double and adjusted for vehicle age), the Ram Pickup line places 6th: a higher complaint rate than most. CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2014–2016, 2019, 2021 and 2022 as years to avoid. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
What are the most common Ram 1500 problems?
In NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2011–2026, the most-reported areas are the electrical system (2,783), steering (2,768), the engine (2,718) and the transmission (1,721). For 2020-and-newer models, the most-reported areas are the electrical system, the engine and the transmission. One complaint can name more than one component, and complaints are unverified owner reports.
What years of the Ram 1500 should you avoid?
CarWhere's year-by-year analysis flags 2014–2016, 2019, 2021 and 2022 as years to avoid. Each model year is compared only with other 1500 years: complaints are adjusted for time on the road, and serious ones (engine, transmission, brakes, steering, fuel system, or a reported crash, fire or injury) count double, with a smaller adjustment for recall campaigns.
How long does a Ram 1500 last?
In CarWhere's lifespan study, 2% of 64,428 used 1500 listings in the US had passed 200,000 miles and 10.6% had passed 150,000. Among those 10+ years old, 8.7% are past 200,000 miles. Maintenance history matters more than the model average for any one car.
How many recalls does the Ram 1500 have?
NHTSA lists 102 recall campaigns covering Ram 1500 model years 2011–2026. The one covering the most model years is 21V037000 (service brakes, 2021). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How do I check a specific used Ram 1500?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
How we measure 1500 reliability
- Complaints are every NHTSA owner complaint filed for the Ram 1500, model years 2011–2026, across all the body-style and trim names NHTSA files them under, de-duplicated by complaint number. They are unverified owner reports.
- The pickup trucks ranking uses the same complaints and sales, weights serious complaints double and adjusts for vehicle age, then compares 8 models. See the full ranking.
- Year flags compare each 1500 model year only with other 1500 years, so they say which years to prefer, not how the 1500 compares with other models.
- This is federal complaint and recall data, not a survey and not comparable to Consumer Reports or J.D. Power ratings. It does not estimate repair costs.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints and NHTSA recall campaigns (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-11-10; published U.S. sales figures; CarWhere years-to-avoid analysis.