Model Years

Ram 1500 by Model Year: Problems, Recalls and MPG

Counting owner complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2019 Ram 1500 drew the most (470; most-reported area: electrical system) and the 2023 the fewest (132).

Data: US EPA and NHTSAUpdated Sep 27, 2026

Every model year since 2016 in one place: EPA fuel economy, NHTSA recalls, owner complaints and crash test ratings. The best fuel economy rating, 26 mpg combined, arrived in 2020. Includes the 1500 Classic, the previous-generation truck Ram sold alongside the current one. NHTSA files recalls and complaints for both under the same name.

Most and fewest complaints

Model years ranked by owner complaints filed with NHTSA in their first three years (model year Y: filed by the end of Y+2), so every year is measured over the same time on the road. Years without three full years of data, and partial first years with very few sold, are left out. Counts are not adjusted for how many were sold.

Model yearFirst 3 yearsAll complaintsRecalls
Most reported: electrical system
4701,47729
Most reported: engine
34767815
Most reported: engine
32161216
Most reported: steering
2211,54116
Most reported: steering
19987813
Most reported: electrical system
17062814
Most reported: electrical system
14366115
Most reported: electrical system
13220111

Year by year

Model yearBest ratingRecallsComplaintsCrash test
2026
22 mpg
Gas
795 4 to 5 stars
2025
23 mpg
Gas
8351 4 to 5 stars
2024
23 mpg
Gas
674 4 to 5 stars
2023
24 mpg
Diesel
11201 4 to 5 stars
2022
26 mpg
Diesel
16612 4 to 5 stars
2021
26 mpg
Diesel
15678 4 to 5 stars
2020
26 mpg
Diesel
14628 4 to 5 stars
2019
23 mpg
Diesel
291,477 4 to 5 stars
2018
23 mpg
Diesel
15661
2017
23 mpg
Diesel
13878
2016
24 mpg
Diesel
161,541

Owner complaints by model year

All complaints filed so far. Counts rise with sales volume and with time on the road, so recent years look better than they may turn out. The highlighted bar is the model year with the most complaints in its first three years.

2019: 1,477 complaints

Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Ram 1500
Model yearComplaints
20161,541
2017878
2018661
20191,477
2020628
2021678
2022612
2023201
202474
2025351
202695

Best combined rating by model year

The best-rated version in each model year. Gas: 20 to 23 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2026); highest in 2019. Diesel: 23 to 26 mpg (2016 to 2023); highest in 2020.

  • Best gas version
  • Best diesel version

2026: gas 22 mpg · diesel not offered

Show as a table
Ram 1500 best combined mpg by model year
Model yearBest gas versionBest diesel version
20162124
20172023
20182023
20192323
20202326
20212326
20222326
20232324
202423–
202523–
202622–

Comparisons

Sources and method

  • US EPA fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 18, 2026.
  • NHTSA recall file dated Sep 27, 2026 and owner complaint file dated Sep 26, 2026; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings.

Complaint counts are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.