Ram 1500 Years to Avoid
Avoid: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2022 · Best: 2009 — based on 12,308 NHTSA complaints across 18 model years (2008–2025), severity-weighted and adjusted for time on the road; 2015–2022 average: 1.83 complaints per 1,000 sold.
Based on CarWhere's analysis of 12,308 NHTSA complaints, the Ram 1500 years to avoid are 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2022 — the worst logged up to 2.4× the model's median severity-weighted complaint rate, driven by steering failures. Updated November 2026.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of November 2026 · How we rate model years
Year-by-year verdict
| Model year | Complaints | Severe | Recalls | Verdict | Problems & recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | — |
| 2009 | 37 | 17 | 2 | BEST | — |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 4 | N/A | — |
| 2011 | 688 | 487 | 4 | SOLID | — |
| 2012 | 694 | 446 | 7 | SOLID | — |
| 2013 | 1,251 | 941 | 12 | CAUTION | — |
| 2014 | 1,733 | 1,351 | 17 | AVOID | — |
| 2015 | 1,425 | 1,168 | 18 | AVOID | 2015 1500 problems → |
| 2016 | 1,503 | 1,248 | 17 | AVOID | 2016 1500 problems → |
| 2017 | 858 | 696 | 13 | CAUTION | 2017 1500 problems → |
| 2018 | 641 | 411 | 15 | SOLID | 2018 1500 problems → |
| 2019 | 1,449 | 933 | 29 | AVOID | 2019 1500 problems → |
| 2020 | 608 | 337 | 13 | CAUTION | 2020 1500 problems → |
| 2021 | 655 | 464 | 14 | AVOID | 2021 1500 problems → |
| 2022 | 583 | 401 | 15 | AVOID | 2022 1500 problems → |
| 2023 | 183 | 111 | 10 | SOLID | 2023 1500 problems → |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 5 | N/A | 2024 1500 problems → |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 6 | N/A | 2025 1500 problems → |
"Severe" = complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury, or a safety-critical component. Verdicts compare each year against the rest of the Ram 1500. Full methodology.
1500 problems by model year
Each year has its own page with the complaint components, NHTSA recall campaigns, service-bulletin count, a comparison with the year before and after, and what to check on a used one.
Common Ram 1500 problems
Across the federal record, the most-reported problem areas on the Ram 1500 are steering, engine, fuel. The confirmed and owner-reported issues below include owner mileage and repair-cost ranges where available.
Electronic power steering failure
· Ram 1500 2013–2019Corroborated by 59 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 2,369 steering complaints across 2013–2019, typically 20,000–200,000 miles. Owner-reported repair cost $1,300–$4,500.
Crankshaft tone wheel or position sensor failure
· Ram 1500 2015–2016Corroborated by 4 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 739 engine complaints across 2015–2016, typically 125,000–192,446 miles.
Fuel tank strap corrosion and detachment
· Ram 1500 2012–2018Corroborated by 15 owner accounts of this failure, within a federal cluster of 712 fuel complaints across 2012–2018, typically 90,000–210,000 miles. Owner-reported repair cost $1,700.
Why these years stand out
2014 Ram 1500: 1,733 owner complaints on federal record, 1,351 of them severe, plus 17 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Ram 1500.
2015 Ram 1500: 1,425 owner complaints on federal record, 1,168 of them severe, plus 18 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Ram 1500.
2016 Ram 1500: 1,503 owner complaints on federal record, 1,248 of them severe, plus 17 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Ram 1500.
2019 Ram 1500: 1,449 owner complaints on federal record, 933 of them severe, plus 29 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Ram 1500.
2021 Ram 1500: 655 owner complaints on federal record, 464 of them severe, plus 14 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Ram 1500.
2022 Ram 1500: 583 owner complaints on federal record, 401 of them severe, plus 15 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Ram 1500.
Know what to pay for the right Ram 1500 — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
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FAQ
What years of the Ram 1500 should you avoid?
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall data, the Ram 1500 years to avoid are 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2022 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates, led by steering issues. See the year-by-year table for the full picture.
What are the best years for the Ram 1500?
The 2009 Ram 1500 shows the cleanest federal records among years with enough time on the road to judge — the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates for the model.
How is the Ram 1500 verdict calculated?
Each model year's NHTSA owner complaints are weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries, and safety-critical components count more), converted to a rate per year on the road, and compared against the rest of the Ram 1500's own history, then adjusted for recalls. Full method at /research/years-to-avoid/methodology.
How do I check a specific Ram 1500 before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for that exact VIN plus a market price check from verified buyers.
Is the Ram 1500 reliable?
The Ram 1500's reliability depends heavily on the model year. Across 12,308 NHTSA owner complaints, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2022 rate "avoid", while 2009 shows the cleanest federal records — see the year-by-year verdicts above.
What are the most common problems with the Ram 1500?
The most-reported problem area for the Ram 1500 is steering, followed by engine and fuel. Confirmed failures include electronic power steering failure, crankshaft tone wheel or position sensor failure, fuel tank strap corrosion and detachment. See the common-problems section above for owner-reported mileage and repair costs where available.
Sources & data notes
All figures are drawn from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Office of Defects Investigation — owner-filed complaints and recall campaigns — covering the Ram 1500 across every model year on record. Retrieved November 2026. Counts are raw federal filings and are not adjusted for the number of vehicles sold or registered (the per-1,000-sold figure above divides 2015–2022 complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales); a verdict compares each model year against the rest of the Ram 1500, not against other vehicles. Full scoring at the methodology page.
Verify the flagged years in NHTSA's public database:
Verdicts are computed from federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, refreshed monthly. Read the full methodology.