Reliability & cost of ownership
Ram 1500 Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Ram 1500? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Ram 1500 problems by model year
203 recall entries across 15 model years and 13,748 owner complaints across 18 model years on file, sourced from the federal NHTSA database. We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the remaining 3 model years — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 1500 | 9 | 105 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2025 1500 | 8 | 373 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2024 1500 | 6 | 78 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2023 1500 | 11 | 205 | 4.5 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2022 1500 | 16 | 639 | 4.5 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2021 1500 | 15 | 686 | 4.5 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2020 1500 | 14 | 643 | 4.5 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2019 1500 | 30 | 1,497 | 4.5 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2018 1500 | 15 | 667 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2017 1500 | 13 | 885 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2016 1500 | 17 | 1,557 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2015 1500 | 18 | 1,460 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2014 1500 | 17 | 1,780 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2013 1500 | 12 | 1,283 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2012 1500 | Not confirmed | 684 | 3.5 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2011 1500 | Not confirmed | 685 | 2.8 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2010 1500 | Not confirmed | 484 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2009 1500 | 2 | 37 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Ram 1500, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- electrical system2,849 complaints
- steering2,808 complaints
- engine2,776 complaints
- power train1,947 complaints
- unknown or other1,388 complaints
- fuel/propulsion system1,321 complaints
- service brakes1,182 complaints
- air bags681 complaints