Dodge RAM 1500 Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Dodge RAM 1500 model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2014 drew the fewest (1) and the 2003 the most (1,170).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Steering | — | — |
| 1994 Among the fewest complaints |
116 | 0 | Electrical system | — | — |
| 1995 Among the fewest complaints |
213 | 0 | Structure | — | — |
| 1996 | 298 | 0 | Power train | — | — |
| 1997 | 361 | 0 | Structure | — | — |
| 2010 | 486 | 4 | Power train | — | — |
| 2000 | 513 | 2 | Structure | — | — |
| 2007 | 517 | 4 | Air bags | — | — |
| 1998 | 520 | 0 | Structure | — | — |
| 2008 | 554 | 5 | Air bags | — | — |
| 1999 | 610 | 0 | Structure | — | — |
| 2009 | 670 | 2 | Power train | — | — |
| 2011 | 689 | 4 | Electrical system | — | — |
| 2012 | 697 | 6 | Electrical system | — | — |
| 2006 | 792 | 9 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2002 | 815 | 3 | Structure | — | — |
| 2004 | 1,099 | 5 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2001 Among the most complaints |
1,112 | 2 | Structure | — | — |
| 2005 Among the most complaints |
1,169 | 4 | Power train | — | — |
| 2003 Among the most complaints |
1,170 | 1 | Air bags | — | — |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Dodge RAM 1500 years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2003 Dodge RAM 1500: 1,170 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 457 (39%); Structure 237 (20%); Power train 125 (11%).
Reports mention 76 crashes, 12 fires, 80 injuries, 6 deaths. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 70,000 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
2005 Dodge RAM 1500: 1,169 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 593 (51%); Air bags 373 (32%); Suspension 82 (7%).
Reports mention 108 crashes, 16 fires, 66 injuries, 5 deaths. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 86,102 miles. 4 recall campaigns listed.
2001 Dodge RAM 1500: 1,112 complaints
Most-reported: Structure 548 (49%); Power train 95 (9%); Air bags 84 (8%).
Reports mention 65 crashes, 35 fires, 80 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 70,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
The Dodge RAM 1500 years with the fewest complaints
1994 Dodge RAM 1500: 116 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 22 (19%); Steering 17 (15%); Suspension 16 (14%).
Reports mention 11 crashes, 7 fires, 13 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 114,500 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
1995 Dodge RAM 1500: 213 complaints
Most-reported: Structure 36 (17%); Electrical system 31 (15%); Power train 30 (14%).
Reports mention 13 crashes, 14 fires, 10 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 120,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Dodge RAM 1500 owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2012 | 697 | 32 | 10 | 27 | 0 | 71,000 |
| 2011 | 689 | 28 | 7 | 21 | 0 | 75,557 |
| 2010 | 486 | 26 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 65,000 |
| 2009 | 670 | 29 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 67,149 |
| 2008 | 554 | 40 | 6 | 37 | 0 | 65,000 |
| 2007 | 517 | 32 | 8 | 38 | 0 | 69,500 |
| 2006 | 792 | 43 | 8 | 42 | 1 | 61,152 |
| 2005 | 1,169 | 108 | 16 | 66 | 5 | 86,102 |
| 2004 | 1,099 | 84 | 29 | 95 | 1 | 71,000 |
| 2003 | 1,170 | 76 | 12 | 80 | 6 | 70,000 |
| 2002 | 815 | 55 | 14 | 62 | 1 | 70,000 |
| 2001 | 1,112 | 65 | 35 | 80 | 1 | 70,000 |
| 2000 | 513 | 37 | 8 | 50 | 0 | 78,000 |
| 1999 | 610 | 64 | 19 | 49 | 1 | 85,945 |
| 1998 | 520 | 66 | 16 | 56 | 8 | 95,000 |
| 1997 | 361 | 31 | 14 | 37 | 1 | 100,000 |
| 1996 | 298 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 4 | 123,000 |
| 1995 | 213 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 120,000 |
| 1994 | 116 | 11 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 114,500 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Dodge RAM 1500 recalls
- Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture (2004–2008 model years; 4,648,270 vehicles across all models; filed May 2016; 16V352000)
- Driver Side Frontal Air Bag May Rupture (2004–2008 model years; 4,077,169 vehicles across all models; filed May 2015; 15V313000)
- Vehicle May Rollaway (2010–2012 model years; 1,482,874 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2017; 17V821000)
- Inadvertent Driver Air Bag Deployment (2012 model year; 1,059,444 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2015; 15V459000)
- Failure of the Left Tie Rod Assembly (2006–2008 model years; 706,664 vehicles across all models; filed Nov 2013; 13V528000)
All 29 Dodge RAM 1500 recall campaigns · Dodge RAM 1500 problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Dodge RAM 1500 years FAQ
Which Dodge RAM 1500 year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2014 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Dodge RAM 1500 years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2003, 2005 and 2001 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the power train. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Dodge RAM 1500 problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the power train (2,389 of 12,402 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Dodge RAM 1500 have?
NHTSA lists 29 recall campaigns covering the Dodge RAM 1500. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Dodge RAM 1500 recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.