2023 Ram 1500: Problems & Reliability
SOLID2023 Ram 1500: SOLID — 410 owner complaints, a typical complaint rate for ~3 years on the road; top issue: electrical system (140 complaints).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2023 is 1.03, where 1.00 is a typical 1500 year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road, between the best line (0.75) and caution (1.25). Severity drives it: 61% of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury or involve a safety-critical system (engine, powertrain, steering, brakes or fuel).
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2015–2026 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
410
NHTSA complaints
1.03
Verdict score (1.00 = typical 1500 year)
509
Service bulletins
11
Recall campaigns
Most-reported 2023 Ram 1500 problems
Electrical system is the clear leader, named in 34% of complaints.
| Component | Complaints | Share of 2023 complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 140 | 34% |
| Engine | 94 | 23% |
| Unknown or other | 92 | 22% |
| Service brakes | 74 | 18% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 58 | 14% |
A complaint can name more than one component, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2023 Ram 1500 recalls
11 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2023, reported between Feb 9, 2023 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 |
| 24V729000 | Oct 1, 2024 | Steering › Steering control module |
| 24V653000 | Sep 5, 2024 | Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module |
| 24V413000 | Jun 6, 2024 | Powertrain / transmission › Automatic transmission |
| 24V199000 | Mar 14, 2024 | Air bags › Frontal › Driver clockspring/spiral cassette |
| 23V799000 | Nov 28, 2023 | Steering › Steering control module |
| 23V654000 | Sep 28, 2023 | Backup camera / back-over prevention › Display function |
| 23V263000 | Apr 13, 2023 | Fuel system, diesel › Delivery › Fuel pump |
| 23V059000 | Feb 9, 2023 | Backup camera / back-over prevention › Display function |
2023 Ram 1500 service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 509 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2023 — close to the 551 of the median 1500 year from 2015 to 2026. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (210), powertrain / transmission (74), structure (57). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2023 vs. the year before and after
From the 2022 to the 2023, owner complaints fell by more than half (1,278 → 410) — an improvement. The 2024 that followed fell by more than half (410 → 0), so the 2024 has the lighter record so far.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 1500 | AVOID | 1,278 | 824 | 16 | — |
| 2023 (this page) | SOLID | 410 | 509 | 11 | — |
| 2024 1500 | TOO FEW REPORTS | 0 | 332 | 6 | — |
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 2023 Ram 1500
Electrical system (140 complaints on the 2023): test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system, and have the car scanned for stored fault codes.
Engine (94 complaints on the 2023): 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.
Service brakes (74 complaints on the 2023): check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, look at rotor and pad wear, and ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
Powertrain / transmission (58 complaints on the 2023): 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.
Forward collision avoidance (42 complaints on the 2023): ask about false automatic-braking events and look for driver-assist warning messages.
Recalls: confirm all 11 campaigns above were completed on this VIN.
Know what to pay for the right 2023 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
Is the 2023 Ram 1500 reliable?
2023 Ram 1500: SOLID — 410 owner complaints, a typical complaint rate for ~3 years on the road; top issue: electrical system (140 complaints). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2023 is 1.03, where 1.00 is a typical 1500 year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road, between the best line (0.75) and caution (1.25).
What are the most common 2023 Ram 1500 problems?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported areas on the 2023 Ram 1500 are electrical system (140, 34%), engine (94, 23%), unknown or other (92, 22%). The manufacturer has 509 service bulletins on file for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2023 Ram 1500 have?
11 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2023 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 2023 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 2023 Ram 1500 come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; 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.