Ram 1500 Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank 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 2009 drew the fewest (37) and the 2014 the most (1,768).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Among the fewest complaints |
37 | 2 | Power train | — | — |
| 2024 Still collecting reports |
74 | 6 | Electrical system | — | 12–23 |
| 2026 Still collecting reports |
97 | 7 | Electrical system | — | 12–22 |
| 2023 | 201 | 11 | Electrical system | 5★ | 12–24 |
| 2025 Still collecting reports |
357 | 8 | Electrical system | — | 15–23 |
| 2022 | 619 | 16 | Engine | 5★ | 12–26 |
| 2020 Among the fewest complaints |
634 | 14 | Electrical system | 4★ | 17–26 |
| 2018 Among the fewest complaints |
662 | 15 | Electrical system | 4★ | 14–23 |
| 2021 | 680 | 15 | Engine | 5★ | 12–26 |
| 2017 | 880 | 13 | Steering | 4★ | 15–23 |
| 2013 | 1,277 | 11 | Steering | 4★ | 15–21 |
| 2015 | 1,452 | 17 | Steering | 4★ | 15–24 |
| 2019 Among the most complaints |
1,482 | 29 | Electrical system | 5★ | 17–23 |
| 2016 Among the most complaints |
1,545 | 16 | Steering | 4★ | 15–24 |
| 2014 Among the most complaints |
1,768 | 16 | Steering | 4★ | 15–23 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the 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.
2014 Ram 1500: 1,768 complaints
Most-reported: Steering 504 (29%); Engine 303 (17%); Electrical system 244 (14%).
Reports mention 98 crashes, 24 fires, 88 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 63,700 miles. 16 recall campaigns listed.
2016 Ram 1500: 1,545 complaints
Most-reported: Steering 311 (20%); Engine 291 (19%); Service brakes 278 (18%).
Reports mention 91 crashes, 36 fires, 73 injuries, 5 deaths. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 52,000 miles. 16 recall campaigns listed.
2019 Ram 1500: 1,482 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 380 (26%); Steering 337 (23%); Engine 229 (15%).
Reports mention 76 crashes, 11 fires, 63 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 18,000 miles. 29 recall campaigns listed.
The Ram 1500 years with the fewest complaints
2009 Ram 1500: 37 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 9 (24%); Electrical system 6 (16%); Engine 5 (14%).
Reports mention 2 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 84,114 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2020 Ram 1500: 634 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 162 (26%); Engine 155 (24%); Steering 63 (10%).
Reports mention 24 crashes, 6 fires, 15 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 24,000 miles. 14 recall campaigns listed.
2018 Ram 1500: 662 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 159 (24%); Engine 110 (17%); Steering 86 (13%).
Reports mention 25 crashes, 8 fires, 25 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 33,000 miles. 15 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Ram 1500 owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 97 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 357 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5,200 |
| 2024 | 74 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 201 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 17,743 |
| 2022 | 619 | 23 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 23,700 |
| 2021 | 680 | 27 | 4 | 23 | 0 | 35,000 |
| 2020 | 634 | 24 | 6 | 15 | 1 | 24,000 |
| 2019 | 1,482 | 76 | 11 | 63 | 1 | 18,000 |
| 2018 | 662 | 25 | 8 | 25 | 0 | 33,000 |
| 2017 | 880 | 80 | 16 | 77 | 1 | 37,600 |
| 2016 | 1,545 | 91 | 36 | 73 | 5 | 52,000 |
| 2015 | 1,452 | 79 | 58 | 52 | 4 | 65,000 |
| 2014 | 1,768 | 98 | 24 | 88 | 0 | 63,700 |
| 2013 | 1,277 | 72 | 10 | 37 | 0 | 62,000 |
| 2009 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 84,114 |
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 Ram 1500 recalls
- Cruise Control cannot be Cancelled (2014–2019 model years; 4,815,661 vehicles across all models; filed May 2018; 18V332000)
- Vehicle May Rollaway (2009–2017 model years; 1,482,874 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2017; 17V821000)
- Radio Software Security Vulnerabilities (2013–2015 model years; 1,416,903 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2015; 15V461000)
- Improperly Installed Seat Belt Buckle Anchor/FMVSS 210 (2019–2026 model years; 1,271,294 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2026; 26V495000)
- Tailgate May Open While Driving (2019–2022 model years; 1,224,078 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2022; 22V904000)
All 95 Ram 1500 recall campaigns · 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.
Ram 1500 years FAQ
Which Ram 1500 year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2009 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (37). 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 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 2014, 2016 and 2019 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the steering. 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 Ram 1500 problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the steering (2,647 of 11,765 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Ram 1500 have?
NHTSA lists 95 recall campaigns covering the Ram 1500. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the 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.