The best Ram 1500 years to buy are 2018 and 2020. Avoid the 2013 and 2014: they have the highest complaint rates of any recent Ram, led by sudden loss of power steering, plus engine and fuel gauge faults.
Best years: 20182020 Years to avoid: 20132014
Every 1500 year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known 1500 problems
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 78 | - | 0 | Electrical | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 205 | - | 0 | Electrical | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 639 | 182 | 0 | Engine | Good year |
| 2021 | 686 | 161 | 15 | Engine | Good year |
| 2020 | 643 | 152 | 14 | Electrical | Good buy |
| 2019 | 1,497 | 315 | 30 | Electrical | Average |
| 2018 | 667 | 166 | 15 | Electrical | Good buy |
| 2017 | 885 | 236 | 13 | Steering | Average |
| 2016 | 1,559 | 426 | 17 | Steering | Average |
| 2015 | 1,461 | 432 | 18 | Steering | Average |
| 2014 | 1,781 | 540 | 17 | Steering | Skip this year |
| 2013 | 1,283 | 481 | 12 | Steering | Watch out |
| 2012 | 698 | 321 | 7 | Electrical | Average |
About the 1500
The Ram 1500 is known for its smooth coil-spring ride and comfortable cabin. Its weak years are 2013-2016, when power steering failures topped the complaint list. The 2019 redesign had first-year trouble, but 2020 and 2021 settle down. Note that 2019-2024 sales include the older Ram Classic, sold alongside the new truck.
- 2009-2018: Fourth generation. 2013-2016 have the most complaints; 2017-2018 are much better.
- 2019 on: Fifth generation. 2019 has first-year issues; 2020 and 2021 are good picks. 2023 and later are too new to judge.
1500 warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Ram files with NHTSA. 3,256 1500 bulletins are on file in total.
Water Leak at Center High Mounted Stop Lamp (CHMSL) Warranty Extension XG1 Customers may experience one or more of the following: ?
Back Glass Water Leak Warranty Extension XL1 The customer may experience one or more of the following: ?
Active Air Dam Not Functioning - X96 Warranty Extension This bulletin involves replacing the active front air dam.
3.0L Diesel Crankshaft Tone Wheel Loss of Signal - X94 Warranty Extension This bulletin involves replacing the crankshaft tone wheel.
Mopar: chrysler: extended warranty on the fuel tank inlet check valve has been announced on 2007-2008 Ram 1500 pick up trucks.
Engine Surge Or Hard Start (X63 Warranty Extension) This bulletin involves replacing the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve, if code P0404 is set.
MIL Illumination: P0300, P0302, P0304 or P0306 (X56 Warranty Extension) This bulletin involves checking for excessive cylinder leakage and replacing the cylinder head if necessary.
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the 1500
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Recall query RQ25003 · 2013–2018 · opened Jul 2025
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 14 Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) reports and 6 EWR Death & Injury (D&I) reports describing post recall remedy failures of the brake transmission shift interlock (BTSI) system in certain Model Year (MY) 2013-2018 Ram pickup trucks.The subject vehicle models i...
Preliminary evaluation PE24018 · 2022 · opened Jul 2024
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 80 consumer complaints alleging an engine stall and loss of motive power on model year (MY) 2022 Ram 1500 pickup trucks and 2022 Jeep Wagoneer SUV vehicles.
Recall query RQ23003 · 2013–2016 · opened Aug 2023
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 380 reports from consumers alleging an intermittent or complete loss of power steering assistance in certain 2013-2016 Ram 1500.The failure allegations occur at various speeds with limited detectability to the driver.On March 23, 2016 Fiat Chrysler Automotive (F...
Engineering analysis EA23001 · 2014–2022 · opened Mar 2023 · led to recall 24V957
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-021 on October 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel en...
Preliminary evaluation PE16014 · 2013–2017 · opened Dec 2016, closed Jan 2024
Basis – On December 16, 2016, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE16-014 to investigate 43 vehicle rollaway incidents with operators alleging they had shifted to Park and then exited the vehicle prior to the rollway incidents.
Recall query RQ15004 · 2013–2015 · opened Jul 2015, closed Jan 2016 · led to recall 15V508000
On July 23, 2015, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) launched Safety Recall 15V-461 to remedy security vulnerabilities in approximately 1.4 million model year (MY) 2013 through 2015 vehicles equipped with Uconnect head units (HU) 8.4A (RA3 radio) and 8.4AN (RA4 radio) manufactured by Harman International.On July 24, 20...
Defect petition DP14004 · 2012 · opened Sep 2014, closed Jul 2015
In a letter dated August 21, 2014, the Center for Auto Safety (CAS) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged failures associated with the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) installed in Chrysler SUV's, trucks, and vans beginning in the 20...
1500 vs rivals
Questions
What is the best year for the Ram 1500?
2018 and 2020. The best Ram 1500 years to buy are 2018 and 2020. Avoid the 2013 and 2014: they have the highest complaint rates of any recent Ram, led by sudden loss of power steering, plus engine and fuel gauge faults.
Which Ram 1500 years should I avoid?
2013, 2014. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Ram 1500 average.
Why does my Ram 1500 lose power steering?
On 2013-2016 trucks the electric-hydraulic power steering pump can fail or cut out, making the wheel suddenly heavy. A replacement pump costs about $800 to $1,500.
Based on 12,082 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.