Dodge RAM 1500Years to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 12,417 NHTSA owner complaints across 22 model years, no Dodge RAM 1500 year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997. The RAM 1500 has 29 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 Best years'94 '95 '96 '97Fewest complaints for their age Owner complaints12,417Top: Power train Safety recalls291992–2014 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Dodge RAM 1500 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the RAM 1500 median. Tap a year for its full report.

0 6 1162132983615206105131,1128151,1711,0991,1747925175546704886896981

'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'14

Avoid
Caution
Solid
Best
Not rated

2014Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls 2012Solid49/100698 complaints · 6 recalls 2011Solid49/100689 complaints · 4 recalls 2010Solid58/100488 complaints · 4 recalls 2009Solid50/100670 complaints · 2 recalls 2008Solid52/100554 complaints · 5 recalls 2007Solid54/100517 complaints · 4 recalls 2006Solid45/100792 complaints · 9 recalls 2005Caution34/1001,174 complaints · 4 recalls 2004Caution35/1001,099 complaints · 5 recalls 2003Caution35/1001,171 complaints · 1 recall 2002Solid43/100815 complaints · 3 recalls 2001Caution35/1001,112 complaints · 2 recalls 2000Solid53/100513 complaints · 2 recalls 1999Solid47/100610 complaints · 0 recalls 1998Solid50/100520 complaints · 0 recalls 1997Solid61/100361 complaints · 0 recalls 1996Solid66/100298 complaints · 0 recalls 1995Best73/100213 complaints · 0 recalls 1994Best82/100116 complaints · 0 recalls 1993Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls 1992Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall

Complaints by system

Most common Dodge RAM 1500 problems

All model years combined: 12,417 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

2,392Power train167 crash/fire/injury

2,217Air bags482 crash/fire/injury

2,029Structure117 crash/fire/injury

1,400Electrical system149 crash/fire/injury

865Suspension

852Steering

741Engine

606Engine and engine cooling

497Service brakes, hydraulic

3,42128 other systems335 crash/fire/injury

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.

Complaints by system
System	Complaints	Crash, fire or injury
Power train	2392	167
Air bags	2217	482
Structure	2029	117
Electrical system	1400	149
Suspension	865	67
Steering	852	96
Engine	741	36
Engine and engine cooling	606	44
Service brakes, hydraulic	497	67
28 other systems	3421	335

29 recalls

Dodge RAM 1500 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

Tank assembly: mounting18V-160 · 2010–2012 · Mar 8, 2018 · 218,617 vehicles Equipment17V-824 · 2012 · Dec 21, 2017 · 61,791 vehicles Lever and linkage: column shift17V-821 · 2010–2012 · Dec 20, 2017 · 1,482,874 vehicles Passenger side: inflator module16V-352 · 2004–2008 · May 24, 2016 · 4,648,270 vehiclesDo not drive Air bags: frontal15V-459 · 2012 · Jul 22, 2015 · 1,059,444 vehicles Driver side: inflator module15V-313 · 2004–2008 · May 26, 2015 · 4,077,169 vehiclesDo not drive Passenger side: inflator module15V-312 · 2003 · May 26, 2015 · 385,686 vehiclesDo not drive Driveline: differential unit14V-796 · 2005 · Dec 16, 2014 · 257,065 vehicles Ignition: switch14V-795 · 2006–2007 · Dec 16, 2014 · 54,164 vehicles Air bags14V-770 · 2004–2005 · Dec 3, 2014 · 250,896 vehicles Linkages: tie rod assembly13V-529 · 2008 · Nov 6, 2013 · 271,733 vehicles Linkages: tie rod assembly13V-528 · 2006–2008 · Nov 6, 2013 · 706,664 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 29 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

21 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the RAM 1500

Sep 17, 2021
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · 2003–2008 · still open
Open
Apr 19, 2019
Electrical overstressEA19001 · 2010–2012 · closed Sep 19, 2024
Led to recall 20V-024
Feb 24, 2015
Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA15001 · 2003–2007 · still open
Led to recall 14V-668
Oct 20, 2014
Chrysler's execution of 13V-528 & 529AQ14003 · 2006–2008 · closed May 16, 2016
No recall
Sep 25, 2014
Totally Integrated Power Module FailureDP14004 · 2009 · closed Jul 24, 2015
No recall
Jun 24, 2014
Rear Differential FailurePE14019 · 2005 · closed Dec 23, 2014
Led to recall 14V-796
Jun 11, 2014
Air Bag Inflator RupturePE14016 · 2003–2007 · closed Mar 2, 2015
Led to recall 13V-172
Jul 19, 2012
Rear Differential FailurePE12021 · 2009 · closed Mar 5, 2013
Led to recall 12V-474
Jul 25, 2008
2000-2001 DODGE RAM PICKUP HOOD LATCHPE08047 · 2000–2001 · closed Dec 17, 2008
No recall
Nov 2, 2005
ENGINE STALLEA05018 · 2004–2005 · closed Aug 29, 2007
No recall