Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2020 Ram 1500
NHTSA data on file today
The 2020 Ram 1500 has 14 NHTSA recall campaigns and 643 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars, averaged across 4 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #26V495000 Improperly Installed Seat Belt Buckle Anchor/FMVSS 210 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V298000 Improperly Connected Air Bag/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V754000 Rearview Mirror Glass May Detach/FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V904000 Tailgate May Open While Driving NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V767000 Fuel Pump Failure NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V638000 Rearview Camera Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V632000 Side Curtain Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V622000 Driver Side Mirror Glass Can Detach/FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V580000 Seat Belt Retractor May Not Slow Movement NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V191000 Rearview Image Can Remain on Display/FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V513000 All Weather Floor Mats may Interfere with Pedals NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V374000 Side Curtain Air Bag May Not Properly Inflate NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V208000 Windshield Wipers May Not Operate Properly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V407000 ORC May Malfunction and Disable Safety Functions NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electrical System 165 complaints
- Engine 155 complaints
- Unknown or Other 113 complaints
- Steering 65 complaints
- Power Train 63 complaints
- Visibility/Wiper 54 complaints
Of the 643 complaints on file, 24 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 643 complaints, owners report 15 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $3,800–$9,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2020 Ram 1500 has a moderate number of complaints (639) and 14 recalls, suggesting average reliability. Recalls address various issues from seat belts to airbags, pointing to potential safety concerns. However, the complaint distribution across components shows no excessively high frequency in any single system, indicating standard wear and tear rather than systemic flaws. Due to limited data on specific failures, the overall picture remains inconclusive but not concerning.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | Unknown | $100–$1,500 | common |
| Engine | Unknown | $500–$5,000 | common |
| Steering | Unknown | $200–$1,200 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Tire rotations and alignments
- Brake pad and rotor inspections
- Transmission fluid replacement
- Battery and cable check
- Cooling system inspection
- Air filter replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine misfires or noises
- Electrical malfunction warnings
- Steering wheel vibrations
- Unusual brake noises
- Reduced engine power
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2020 Ram 1500 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.