Ram 1500 Reliability
16,198 NHTSA complaints (2009–2026). Complaint rate: 49.8 per 1,000 vehicles.
Ram 1500 Generations
Manufacturer redesigns the car every few years (a “generation”). Each generation has different engineering and common issues. Click a generation to see year-by-year breakdown.
| Generation | Years | Complaints | Crashes | Volume | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 1 | 1981–1993 | 0 | 0 | Show years | |||
| Gen 2 | 1994–2001 | 0 | 0 | Show years | |||
| Gen 3 | 2002–2008 | 0 | 0 | Show years | |||
| Gen 4 | 2009–2018 | 10,450 | 661 | Hide years | |||
| 2009 | 47 | 0 | View 2009View→ | ||||
| 2010 | 629 | 32 | View 2010View→ | ||||
| 2013 | 1,539 | 103 | View 2013View→ | ||||
| 2014 | 2,336 | 148 | View 2014View→ | ||||
| 2015 | 1,909 | 113 | View 2015View→ | ||||
| 2016 | 1,994 | 122 | View 2016View→ | ||||
| 2017 | 1,128 | 109 | View 2017View→ | ||||
| 2018 | 868 | 34 | View 2018View→ | ||||
| Gen 5 | 2019–present | 5,748 | 244 | Show years |
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: Avoid the 2014–2016 Ram 1500 (383 crash-related complaints). The 2023 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: STEERING.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
Too New
Need 3+ years on the road for reliable complaint data.
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Ram 1500 Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| STEERING | 2,450 | 3.9% |
| ENGINE | 2,317 | 1.0% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2,101 | 2.6% |
| POWER TRAIN | 1,537 | 8.2% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1,186 | 4.0% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1,032 | 1.4% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 955 | 7.5% |
| AIR BAGS | 554 | 44.9% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 485 | 8.7% |
| SUSPENSION | 421 | 3.1% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009GOOD | Gen 4 | 47 | 0 | — | View 2009View→ |
| 2010GOOD | Gen 4 | 629 | 32 | 7 | View 2010View→ |
| 2013 | Gen 4 | 1,539 | 103 | 15 | View 2013View→ |
| 2014AVOID | Gen 4 | 2,336 | 148 | 38 | View 2014View→ |
| 2015AVOID | Gen 4 | 1,909 | 113 | 86 | View 2015View→ |
| 2016AVOID | Gen 4 | 1,994 | 122 | 59 | View 2016View→ |
| 2017 | Gen 4 | 1,128 | 109 | 20 | View 2017View→ |
| 2018 | Gen 4 | 868 | 34 | 12 | View 2018View→ |
| 2019AVOID | Gen 5 | 2,045 | 103 | 17 | View 2019View→ |
| 2020 | Gen 5 | 853 | 35 | 13 | View 2020View→ |
| 2021 | Gen 5 | 1,062 | 37 | 4 | View 2021View→ |
| 2022 | Gen 5 | 925 | 36 | 6 | View 2022View→ |
| 2023GOOD | Gen 5 | 288 | 19 | — | View 2023View→ |
| 2024TOO NEW | Gen 5 | 113 | 6 | 1 | View 2024View→ |
| 2025TOO NEW | Gen 5 | 415 | 8 | 4 | View 2025View→ |
| 2026TOO NEW | Gen 5 | 47 | 0 | — | View 2026View→ |
See also: Ram 1500accident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
Buying a Ram 1500?
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