Ram 1500 Transmission Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Some, but not unusually many. Owners have filed 1,707 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2009–2025 Ram 1500. For the Ram Pickup (all variants), that's 0.39 transmission complaints per 1,000 sold across the 2015–2022 cohorts, close to the 0.28 median of the 53 models we can rate. The worst years are 2015, 2019 and 2016.
Transmission complaints
1,707
Filed with NHTSA, 2009–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
0.39
2015–2022 cohorts, Ram Pickup
Share of all complaints
13.1%
of 13,005 complaints for this model
Transmission recalls
15
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Ram 1500 transmission complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline), and per 1,000 vehicles sold where a published U.S. sales figure exists. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Transmission complaints | Per 1,000 sold | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Transmission recalls | Transmission TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 9 | — | 24.3% | 1 | 17V821000 | 22 |
| 2011 | 176 | — | 25.5% | 6 | 17V82100013V038000 | — |
| 2012 | 92 | — | 13.2% | 6 | 17V82100013V038000 | — |
| 2013 | 86 | — | 6.7% | 18 | 17V82100013V610000 | 59 |
| 2014 | 191 | — | 11% | 24 | 17V82100014V161000 | 92 |
| 2015WORST | 225 | 0.67 | 15.8% | 32 | 17V82100015V661000 | 72 |
| 2016WORST | 200 | 0.58 | 13.3% | 41 | 17V82100017V19800016V30100015V661000 | 72 |
| 2017 | 97 | 0.33 | 11.3% | 10 | 18V10000017V82100017V198000 | 48 |
| 2018 | 55 | 0.28 | 8.6% | 4 | 19V32400018V55600018V28000018V100000 | 37 |
| 2019WORST | 207 | 0.4 | 13.8% | 3 | 20V08000019V32400018V556000 | 88 |
| 2020 | 63 | 0.17 | 9.8% | 3 | — | 118 |
| 2021 | 101 | 0.24 | 14.6% | 2 | 23V265000 | 148 |
| 2022 | 109 | 0.58 | 17% | 1 | — | 106 |
| 2023 | 29 | — | 14% | 0 | 24V413000 | 74 |
| 2024 | 15 | — | 19.2% | 1 | — | 28 |
| 2025 | 52 | — | 13.7% | 2 | — | 46 |
- Per 1,000 sold = complaints ÷ published U.S. calendar-year sales × 1,000. Calendar-year sales stand in for the model-year cohort. A dash means no published figure or fewer than 5,000 sold, too small to divide by.
- Sales for the Ram Pickup cover every variant, so the per-1,000 column counts complaints for all of those variants, not just the Ram 1500. The complaint column is the Ram 1500 alone.
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- No row for 2010: NHTSA's complaints data returned no records for that year under this model's names.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the transmission.
Common Ram 1500 transmission problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 1,707 transmission complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Ram 1500 years to avoid for the transmission
2015 Ram 1500
225 transmission complaints (15.8% of the year's 1,425), 0.67 per 1,000 sold. Most often described: hesitation or delayed engagement. Covered by transmission recalls 17V821000, 15V661000.
2019 Ram 1500
207 transmission complaints (13.8% of the year's 1,501), 0.4 per 1,000 sold. Most often described: loss of power or limp mode. Covered by transmission recalls 20V080000, 19V324000, 18V556000.
2016 Ram 1500
200 transmission complaints (13.3% of the year's 1,501), 0.58 per 1,000 sold. Most often described: hesitation or delayed engagement. Covered by transmission recalls 17V821000, 17V198000, 16V301000, 15V661000.
Worst years are those with at least 10 transmission complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Ram 1500 years to avoid.
Ram 1500 transmission recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Power Train for any Ram 1500 model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 24V413000 · 2024-06-06 · 2023 models
An insufficient weld in the transmission control unit can allow transmission fluid to leak on to electrical components, resulting in a loss of drive power or loss of park function.
- 23V265000 · 2023-04-13 · 2021 models
The powertrain control module software may cause an incorrect fuel mixture condition in the engine, and result in an engine stall.
- 20V080000 · 2020-02-13 · 2019 models
A gear within the transfer case may not have been installed correctly, possibly causing the vehicle to become stuck in neutral. If this occurs while driving, there could be a sudden loss of power. Additionally, a loss of 'PARK' function may occur.
- 19V324000 · 2019-04-25 · 2018–2019 models
The rear driveshaft may have an incomplete weld fusion between the tube and tube yoke, which may lead to weld cracking or the driveshaft fracturing.
- 18V556000 · 2018-08-23 · 2018–2019 models
The rear differential may have been insufficiently filled, possibly resulting in its failure.
- 18V280000 · 2018-05-01 · 2018 models
An incorrect transmission park lock rod may have been installed in the transmission.
- 18V100000 · 2018-02-08 · 2017–2018 models
Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin to stick in the open position. With the pin in the open position, the transmission can be shifted out of PARK…
- 17V821000 · 2017-12-20 · 2009–2017 models
Pushing the brake pedal for prolonged periods when the vehicle is running and in PARK may cause the Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) pin to stick in the open position. With the pin in the open position, the transmission can be shifted out of PARK…
- 17V198000 · 2017-03-23 · 2016–2017 models
The differential pin retaining screw may come loose while driving, potentially causing the differential to break or lock up.
- 16V301000 · 2016-05-16 · 2016 models
The front halfshafts may have been incorrectly manufactured causing them to fracture without warning.
- 15V661000 · 2015-10-15 · 2015–2016 models
The affected vehicles may have been built with rear axles that were incorrectly heat treated.
- 14V161000 · 2014-04-01 · 2014 models
In the affected vehicles, the transmission case may have been improperly machined which can result in the park pawl not properly engaging when the transmission is in the 'Park' position.
Showing the 12 most recent of 15.
Which transmission does the Ram 1500 use?
- ZF 8-speed (8HP / TorqueFlite 8) — 2013–present
Years are as listed for that transmission's applications. Some apply to certain engines only.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2015 Ram 1500 have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 225 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2015 Ram 1500, 15.8% of all 1,425 complaints for that year, or 0.67 per 1,000 sold (Ram Pickup, all variants). The most common description is "hesitation or delayed engagement" (44 complaints). 2 transmission-related recalls cover it: 17V821000, 15V661000. 32 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2019 Ram 1500 have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 207 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2019 Ram 1500, 13.8% of all 1,501 complaints for that year, or 0.4 per 1,000 sold (Ram Pickup, all variants). The most common description is "loss of power or limp mode" (24 complaints). 3 transmission-related recalls cover it: 20V080000, 19V324000, 18V556000. 3 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2016 Ram 1500 have transmission problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 200 transmission complaints with NHTSA for the 2016 Ram 1500, 13.3% of all 1,501 complaints for that year, or 0.58 per 1,000 sold (Ram Pickup, all variants). The most common description is "hesitation or delayed engagement" (33 complaints). 4 transmission-related recalls cover it: 17V821000, 17V198000, 16V301000, 15V661000. 41 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Ram 1500 years have the most transmission complaints?
2015 (225), 2019 (207) and 2016 (200), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the transmission. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so compare the per-1,000-sold column too.
What are the most common Ram 1500 transmission problems?
In the 1,707 transmission complaints, owners most often describe hesitation or delayed engagement (8.5%), loss of power or limp mode (7.4%) and jerking, lurching or harsh shifts (6.4%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a transmission failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Dividing by sales shows how often owners complain relative to how many were sold, which makes models of different sizes comparable.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Ram 1500 model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a transmission complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Power Train (transmission, transfer case and driveline).
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 transmission complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration