RAM owners have filed 16,974 complaints with NHTSA across 10 models. On average the car was 4.79 years old when the problem happened, and 34.4% of reports fall inside the first three years — while the factory warranty was still running.
What breaks on RAM
The systems RAM owners report most, and how often each failure ended in a crash.
| System | Complaints | Share of RAM | Ended in a crash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 13.5% | 2.9% | |
| Service Brakes | 12.2% | 2% | |
| Engine | 7% | 0.7% | |
| Power Train | 5.6% | 10.8% | |
| Electrical System | 4.4% | 0.9% | |
| Unknown Or Other | 4.3% | 3.7% | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4% | 0.7% | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3.8% | 1.9% |
When RAM problems show up
| Measure | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Average age at failure | 4.79 years | How old the car was when the problem happened |
| Reported inside 3 years | 34.4% | Share of complaints filed while the factory warranty was likely still running |
| Complaints describing a crash | 728 | Of 16,974 total |
| Complaints describing a fire | 277 | Of 16,974 total |
A low average age does not automatically mean a fragile car: a brand with a young fleet on the road will always skew early. Read it next to the share reported inside three years.
Which RAM models draw the most complaints
Volume follows sales, so a bestseller will always top this list. The columns worth reading are age at failure and how many reports ended in a crash.
| Model | Complaints | Share of RAM | Avg age at failure | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 | 57.9% | 5.2 yrs | 529 | |
| 2500 | 26.4% | 4.6 yrs | 110 | |
| 3500 | 13% | 3.7 yrs | 71 | |
| 5500 | 0.8% | 3.5 yrs | 9 | |
| PROMASTER | 0.8% | 3.7 yrs | 3 | |
| PROMASTER CITY | 0.5% | 3.2 yrs | 2 | |
| 4500 | 0.2% | 3.6 yrs | 3 | |
| PROMASTER 2500 | 0.2% | 3.1 yrs | 1 | |
| PROMASTER 1500 | 0% | 2.4 yrs | — | |
| PROMASTER 3500 | 0% | 1.0 yrs | — |
RAM complaints by model year
A bad generation shows up here as a block of years, not as a single spike. Recent years look quiet simply because those cars are young and still under warranty.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | — | |
| 2025 | 1 | — | |
| 2024 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2023 | — | 1 | |
| 2022 | 5 | 5 | |
| 2021 | 34 | 17 | |
| 2020 | 34 | 17 | |
| 2019 | 89 | 26 | |
| 2018 | 76 | 14 | |
| 2017 | 97 | 27 | |
| 2016 | 115 | 44 | |
| 2015 | 89 | 64 | |
| 2014 | 107 | 37 | |
| 2013 | 75 | 24 |
What RAM owners report
Grouped by the system owners named. Open any row for the full reports, in their own words — one per model so the same fault does not repeat.
Steering 2,292 Read
This is a 2019 Ram 1500 Classic 4x4 with a hemi engine. The power steering suddenly and with no warning stopped working when my wife was on a winding country road. There was no warning lights on the dash at all. She was unable to turn the steering wheel because the power assist stopped working. This caused her to go into the ditch, where she called me to come help her out of the ditch. I had a very hard time steering it home. We took it to the Ram dealership we bought it from, after we thought we found a recall on it. The Dealership ran our vin, and our truck was not on the recall? But the recall said 2019 Ram 1500? This could have killed someone!!! The Dealership, Parkway Chrysler Doge, Jeep, Ram in Dover Ohio was the dealership we took it to. They informed us, that the steering was shot, and it would take three months to get the steering rack, because of so many steering issues on these trucks. Why have you not stepped in to get this situation corrected?
Service Brakes 2,078 Read
Truck has ABS and Traction Control warning lights alerting. Itermittent failure of brake system. Responsible for an accident 4/13/2026. Dealership has not notified but are sending out recall letters for July 2026. I have a video that illustrates the issues with ABS
ABS System failed when making a right hand turn. It cause my truck to fishtail into on coming traffic and wind up on the other side of the road going the opposite direction. We have not been to a dealership yet. Scared to drive it again. The traction control light and ABS light and brake lights are on all the time. No other warnings.The lights were on when I purchased the truck
This recall came out 1.5 years ago and there still is no remedy. At a car wash my truck wouldn’t stop and I slid into a concrete pole and damaged the fender and headlight. The corporate office told me, when I called, that currently there is nothing that they can do
Engine 1,180 Read
Diesel truck computer system shuts down truck for minor def system error code to 5mph within 85 miles to get to a dealer to reset computer code. This will cause deaths from truck not going any faster than 5mph on freeway. Just because the def system sees an error and might cause a bit more exhaust, to shut down your truck in the middle of nowhere causing traffic nightmares and deaths is the most stupid rule the EPA and mfgs follow. Epa and mfg needs new computer programming on all diesel trucks that have this. If anything, make the derate to 65 mph for 500 miles, far enough so folks can get home safely
My vehicle has suffered both major safety recalls, once where I was with my son after picking him up from school on a highway the egr canister spontaneously combusted causing major damage that fca said was not a manufacturer issue but a after my insurance repaired my vehicle they made the recall for the fires. After 3 weeks with me vehicle from repair the engine stalled out while I was driving at night on a highway, I had it towed to a dealership and after the inspection was told that the tone wheel was broken and that it had caused damage that would require a new engine. I paid close to $7,000 dollars to have the engine replaced because of this. A few months later fca issued a recall for the tone wheel problem the tech at the dealership wrote this in his notes
The contact owned a 2017 Ram Promaster 3500. The contact stated that an employee parked the vehicle in front of an apartment complex, went inside the building to finish working; when the employee returned outside the building, the vehicle was on fire. No warning lights illuminated prior to the fire. The employee saw smoke and flames coming from the engine compartment. The Fire Department was contacted, arrived on scene, and extinguished the fire. No injuries were sustained. A Police report was not filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was towed to an undisclosed location. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 109,000
Power Train 954 Read
The contact owns a 2019 RAM 1500. The contact stated that when his spouse started the vehicle during cold weather conditions, the engine was turned on, revved high, and the gear shift from park (P) to drive (D) inadvertently without the brake pedal being depressed. The contact stated that the vehicle jolted off and crashed into the door of a business. The contact's spouse sustained a head injury but did not receive medical attention. A police report was filed, but the info was not readily available at this time. The vehicle was taken to the spouse's residence and parked. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000
The contact owns a 2020 Ram 3500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and the engine was turned off, the gear shifter shifted into the drive position when the contact's minor [XXX] child entered the vehicle to retrieve an item using the steering wheel and gear shifter to enter, causing the vehicle to roll down a hill and collide with a tree. The impact resulted in significant damage to the passenger side door, bumper, and truck bed. Although a child was inside the vehicle at the time of the incident, no injuries were reported following the collision. No air bags deployed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it had notyet been inspected. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Two snap rings in transmission came loose and caused a catastrophic fail while I was driving . No warning or sounds before it happened. Almost caused a multi vehicle pileup on the interstate. This is an issue that has been happening to all these trucks
Electrical System 753 Read
The recall number is 14V-635 or P65\n\nsays electric defect causes fires from heater Year: 2014\nMake: RAM\nModel: 3500\nTrim: N/A\nSeries: N/A
My 2019 ram 1500 started showing an intermittent warning light on the dash that said check check trailer brake, although I was not towing anything. I continued on my 20 minute commute and parked the vehicle to which point I noticed smoke towards the back of the vehicle. I inspected to see a small fire that apparently had started at the trailer tow module that had shorted and ignited the insulation and surrounding plastics. I was able to extinguish the fire with minimal damage to the truck, mainly the plastic paneling and the wiring and associated components were damaged. I'm reporting this because a vehicle fire is a significant safety concern and I'm probably not the first to have had this happen. I have made no aftermarket adjustments to my towing system and I've only owned the vehicle approximately over a year. The vehicle has about 83,000 miles on it currently
The contact owned a 2021 Ram 5500. The contact stated that the vehicle is a flatbed tow truck, and while one of his drivers was driving at 48 MPH, the tow truck driver noticed that white/gray smoke was emitting from under the hood. It was unknown if the smoke entered the vehicle. The tow truck was towing a vehicle on a flatbed. The contact stated that the driver noticed multiple lights were illuminated, and the RPM was at zero. The driver stated that an abnormal knocking sound could be heard coming from under the front of the tow truck. The driver pulled to the side of the road and immediately exited the vehicle. The tow truck driver used a fire extinguisher to extinguish the fire. None of the air bags deployed. The driver did not sustain any injuries. The contact stated that the damage by the fire was isolated to one side of the engine, by the heater of the relay intake on the driver side. The wires that were connected to the relay were damaged. The fire department was called. The police were called and arrived after the fire was extinguished. It was unknown if a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the business location. The contact owns a vehicle electrical shop and determined that the fire was electrical. There was no damage to the vehicle that was towed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The insurance company was not notified. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 189,040
Unknown Or Other 736 Read
Driver statement: “I was trying to make a turn from pine brook Rd into peace valley RD and the person coming from peace valley rd was invading my lane, so I tried to avoid him and hit a tree. I was unconscious for an unknown amount of time. When I woke up I saw smoke and I tried to remove my seat belt. It wasn’t coming off at first but then I figured out how to remove it. As I left the vehicle, I was feeling light headed and dizzy. And wanted to lay on the road. Someone came for my rescue and I saw fire underneath the van. So I told him that we should move away from the van. The van caught on fire and I was taken to the hospital."
I have a 2016 Ram 1500 p/u and it will let me shut key off without it being all the way in park and then it just rolls, rolled backward out of my driveway ran into parked car. I am able to shift the transmission without pushing the brake pedal without a key in the ignition and when the vehicle is running causing it to stick in the open position and i can shift out of PARK into any gear without pushing the brake pedal or having the key in the ignition
The vehicle rpm reved up and then total loss of power then the vehicle caught fire wile driving down the road. Flames came out under dash and in engine compartment
Fuel/propulsion System 679 Read
While driving on I70 in downtown Indianapolis, I was alerted by a semi driver that something was wrong with my vehicle, or he was attempting to get my attention for something. Once he got my attention, I could see a trail of liquid pouring out from behind me. Thankfully, I was able to get over and get off the highway. I tried to get somewhere safe, but eventually the truck sputtered out. We have now learned that the fuel tank straps failed, and since then we now knoww Chrysler is aware that they are faulty, and that this is something Chrysler is aware of and they have an extension warranty X75 for the 2017. However, they do not have a recall. And I have been attempting to handle things with them directly. They have agreed to take care of the faulty fuel tank straps, but they are not responsible for any consequential damage. I could have been killed that day, if traffic was more severe, or someone flicked a cigarette and it hit the fuel. I could have burnt alive in the truck. Chrysler keeps sending me up the chain, and i'm just told they only owe for the fuel straps. So far I have missed work, had to pay out of pocket for a rental and there is at minimum of $2000 in repair and $200 in out of pocket tows
As I was preparing to travel for the holidays comíng up, I was traveling to Texas to see family. I was driving around 65 mph when suddenly the truck started jerking and slowing down when the gas pedal would not give it power. The car behind slammed the brakes and in order to avoid hitting me had to went the the side of the highway. Before coming to a complete stop the truck a 2020 ram 3500 shut off and will not come off. The tow truck was able to scan the truck and the codes are for low fuel pressure and fuel pump. This was a very scary situation because I’m with all my family and not only did I put them in danger by this truck failing with out a notice of any kind but also put others like the vehicle behind in danger because the truck failed. I have look up and this seems to be a common issue with all the “new ram trucks” not sure why there is no recall yet. Hoping this gets looked at and something can be done for the safety of others
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 638 Read
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 2500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH in a snowstorm on icy roads, the contact pressed the brake pedal and the vehicle slid off the road and side swiped into a telephone pole, where it crashed into a ditch and came to a stop. The police were called to the scene, and the vehicle was towed out of a ditch and driven home. No injuries were reported. A police report was filed. The contact indicated that prior to the crash, the ABS and Traction Control warning lights were constantly illuminated due to a failure related to the NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC ). The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted regarding the crash. The contact and manufacturer were notified regarding the recall. The contact indicated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was 92,000
The contact owns a 2016 Ram 1500. The contact stated that the ABS, the traction control and the brakes warning lights had illuminated. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle failed to stop upon depression of the brake pedal and crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The contact stated that the ABS warning light was illuminated before and after the crash. There were no injuries reported. The vehicle remained operable. No further information was available. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer due to the brake failure, and the contact was informed that there would be a charge for the diagnostic test; however, the contact declined to pay the fee. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that there was an active recall for brake failure; however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000
The contact owns a 2018 Ram 3500. The contact received a notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V896000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle experienced a loss in automotive power and failed to respond as intended to the brake pedal being depressed. The ABS and Traction Control warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the failure caused the contact to lose control and crash into a ditch. No air bags were deployed. Medical attention was not sought and no injuries were sustained. No police report was filed. The vehicle failed to restart as intended and was towed to a local dealer. The local dealer replaced the PCM however, the parts to repair the ABS and HECU were not available. The contact stated that after repairs were made at several local dealers on several occasions, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000
Unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA. Percentages are shares of all 16,974 RAM complaints.
RAM against the rest
| Measure | Where RAM sits | Out of |
|---|---|---|
| By complaint volume | #14 | 29 brands with 3,000+ complaints |
| By age at failure (later is better) | #26 | 29 brands |
| Complaints ending in a crash | 4.3% | across all 16,974 reports |
Ranking by volume says more about how many cars a brand sells than about how they hold up. Age at failure is the fairer of the two.
Compare RAM with the rest
RAM problems by model
9 RAM models have owner complaints on file. Pick one for its worst years, failing systems and what owners actually wrote. Another 1 RAM models have no complaints on record at all.
Owners reported these. Find out if yours is one of them.
- Complaints matched to the exact production run, not just the model
- What the car is worth given what tends to fail on it
- The original window sticker and factory options
- Full research report as a PDF for the pre-purchase inspection
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
Every figure here comes from complaints owners filed with NHTSA — 1,100,006 of them, covering 1,982 models built between 1981 and 2026.
A complaint is an unverified report: someone wrote down what happened to their car. It is not a confirmed defect and not a recall. What makes the volume useful is the pattern — when thousands of owners of the same build describe the same failure, that is a signal no marketing brochure will give you.
Two things we do that the source does not. First, we compute the age of the car at the moment of failure from the incident date and the model year. Second, we group complaints by the first 11 characters of the VIN — the production series — so a bad plant run does not disappear into a model-wide average.
Go deeper
Frequently asked questions
How reliable is RAM?
Owners have filed 16,974 complaints across 10 RAM models. On its own that number reflects how many RAM cars are on the road — compare the average age at failure (4.79 years) instead.
What breaks most often on a RAM?
The most reported system is Steering with 2,292 complaints.
Do RAM problems show up under warranty?
34.4% of RAM complaints describe something that happened in the first three years, while the factory warranty was likely still running.
Which RAM model has the most complaints?
See the model list above — each card shows its complaint count, and the model page breaks it down by year and by system.