2020 Ram 1500: Problems & Reliability
CAUTION2020 Ram 1500: CAUTION — 644 owner complaints (1.14 per 1,000 sold), rated on its recalls: 13 campaigns, 5 for fire or crash risk; top issue: electrical system (166 complaints).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2020 is 1.34, where 1.00 is a typical 1500 year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60. 55% of its complaints are severe — a crash, fire, injury or a safety-critical system. Its raw count is below the median year, but it has been on the road only about 6 years, so complaints are arriving faster than for older 1500 years.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, published U.S. sales, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2015–2026 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
644
NHTSA complaints
1.14
Complaints per 1,000 sold
1,202
Service bulletins
14
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2020 Ram 1500 problems
Electrical system leads a spread-out record, named in 26% of complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2020 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 166 | 26% |
| Engine | 156 | 24% |
| Unknown or other | 113 | 18% |
| Steering | 65 | 10% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 63 | 10% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2020 Ram 1500 recalls
14 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2020, reported between May 31, 2019 and Jul 30, 2026.
| NHTSA campaign | Reported | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 26V495000 | Jul 30, 2026 | Seat belts › Rear/other › Anchorage |
| 25V298000 | May 8, 2025 | Air bags |
| 24V754000 | Oct 10, 2024 | Visibility › Rearview mirrors/devices |
| 22V904000 | Dec 8, 2022 | Structure › Body › Tailgate › Hinge and attachments |
| 22V767000 | Oct 13, 2022 | Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump |
| 22V638000 | Aug 25, 2022 | Backup camera / back-over prevention › Display function |
| 21V632000 | Aug 12, 2021 | Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator |
| 20V622000 | Oct 8, 2020 | Visibility › Rearview mirrors/devices › Exterior |
| 20V580000 | Sep 24, 2020 | Seat belts |
| 20V191000 | Sep 10, 2020 | Backup camera / back-over prevention › Sensing system › Camera |
| 20V513000 | Aug 27, 2020 | Speed control / throttle › Accelerator pedal |
| 20V374000 | Jun 25, 2020 | Air bags |
+2 more campaigns on the NHTSA record.
2020 Ram 1500 service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 1,202 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2020 — more than the 551 of the median 1500 year from 2015 to 2026. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (323), structure (168), engine & cooling (121). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2020 vs. the year before and after
From the 2019 to the 2020, owner complaints fell by more than half (1,449 → 644) — an improvement. The 2021 that followed held roughly level (644 → 687).
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 1500 | AVOID | 1,449 | 1,155 | 30 | — |
| 2020 (this page) | CAUTION | 644 | 1,202 | 14 | — |
| 2021 1500 | AVOID | 687 | 1,100 | 15 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Ram 1500 years to avoid.
What to check on a used 2020 Ram 1500
Electrical system (166 complaints on the 2020): test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system, and have the car scanned for stored fault codes.
Engine (156 complaints on the 2020): cold-start it yourself and listen for ticking or knocking; check for oil leaks, low coolant and a lit check-engine light, and ask for oil-change records.
Steering (65 complaints on the 2020): check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering at parking speed, and clunks over bumps.
Powertrain / transmission (63 complaints on the 2020): test-drive from cold through every gear and feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder; ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced.
Visibility / wipers (54 complaints on the 2020): test the wipers at every speed, the washers, defrosters and the climate system.
Recalls: confirm all 14 campaigns above were completed on this VIN.
Know what to pay for the right 2020 Ram 1500 — then negotiate it
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FAQ
Is the 2020 Ram 1500 reliable?
2020 Ram 1500: CAUTION — 644 owner complaints (1.14 per 1,000 sold), rated on its recalls: 13 campaigns, 5 for fire or crash risk; top issue: electrical system (166 complaints). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2020 is 1.34, where 1.00 is a typical 1500 year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; caution starts at 1.25 and avoid at 1.60.
What are the most common 2020 Ram 1500 problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2020 Ram 1500 are electrical system (166, 26%), engine (156, 24%), unknown or other (113, 18%). The manufacturer has 1,202 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2020 Ram 1500 have?
14 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2020 Ram 1500, most recently 26V495000 (Jul 30, 2026, seat belts); 25V298000 (May 8, 2025, air bags); 24V754000 (Oct 10, 2024, visibility). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2020 Ram 1500 before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2020 Ram 1500 come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the per-1,000 rate divides complaints by published U.S. 2020 calendar-year sales; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.