MODELYEARINDEX

Which Ram 1500 years to avoid

Across 12 scored model years, the 2021, 2019 and 2016 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Ram 1500 Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2021 vs model median 2.3×
Model median3× median
Engine 245
Electrical 161
Driver Assist 84
Avoid

2019 · 2021

Best

2010 · 2011

What the record shows

Written from this model’s own complaint and recall history.

The Ram 1500 has more flagged years than any other truck here, and the mix is consistent across all of them: engine first, electrical second. This is the one full-size pickup in the dataset whose overall grade sits in the flagged band rather than at caution.

Engine complaints dominate. Owners of 5.7-litre Hemi trucks describe a tick or knock developing at moderate mileage, in a number of filings followed by lifter or camshaft failure; the median odometer reading at complaint is about 27,000 miles, which is early for a wear item and part of why these reports are so numerous. Electrical complaints cluster on the UConnect head unit and on instrument and body modules, and the 2019 redesign introduced a fresh set of those in its first years.

Read the engine numbers with the usual caution: these are owner allegations, and Ram sells this truck in very large volume, so a large absolute count is partly a function of how many are on the road. What the within-model comparison shows is that 2021 and 2019 draw materially more reports than a typical Ram 1500 year. 2010 and 2011 record the lowest rates here.

Reviewed Claude, 10 August 2026, against the model's own record and NHTSA campaign filings

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.42× 247 B
2011
0.56× 306 B
2012
0.57× 294 B
2013
0.82× 370 C
2014
1.46× 656 F
2015
1.54× 647 F
2016
1.71× 768 F
2017
1.05× 438 D
2018
0.69× 357 C
2019
2.22× 1,149 F
2020
0.94× 496 C
2021
2.27× 962 F
2022 P
2.44× 1,012 F
2023 P
0.73× 325 C
2024 P
0.28× 123 B
2025 P
1.04× 563 C

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2019 F 1,149 reports · median 13,630 mi

  1. Steering 193

    This truck has had power steering system cease to function 2 times in 3 weeks,on or about 9-1-18 warning lights came on power steering would not operate,vehicle very difficult to steer,dealership had truck for 1… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 185

    While driving my work today I was taking a left turn and my power steering stopped working. My car had the power steering light pop up and also my screen in my gauge clustered said, "power steering unavailable service… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Drivetrain 113

    On five different occasions the vehicle would not shift out of first gear. In each case I was stopped at a stop sign or red light and making a left turn. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

67 crash · 15 fire · 64 injuries

2021 F 962 reports · median 26,902 mi

  1. Engine 245

    I purchased my 2021 ram 1500 limited night edition on march 11, 2021. It was new. Within 3 weeks and less than 1,000 miles of driving the vehicle stalled twice while in the middle of an intersection. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 161

    I parked my truck, shut off the engine, and exited and went inside. I was walking my dog several minutes later and seemed to notice my truck moving backwards. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Driver Assist 84

    Driving vehicle about 2 MPH, taking a right turn - vehicle stalled out and emergency brake light came on. Was able to restart pts ignition without issue, then drive again. Truck has 600+ miles current. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

31 crash · 4 fire · 38 injuries

The best year for the 1500

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2010 is the best-scoring 1500 model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 79.4 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2010 0.42× 247 B
2011 0.56× 306 B
2012 0.57× 294 B

Recalls

98 campaigns on record, 1 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
18V332000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING 2014–2019 4,815,661
17V821000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT 2010–2017 1,482,874
15V461000 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. 2013–2015 1,416,903
26V495000 SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:ANCHORAGE 2019–2025 1,271,294
22V904000 STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS 2019–2022 1,224,078
18V486000 STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE 2015–2017 1,149,223
19V347000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH 2013–2018 1,103,209
15V459000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL 2012–2014 1,059,444
24V436000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2022 1,033,433
24V653000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE 2019–2024 1,025,432
17V302000 AIR BAGS 2013–2016 1,021,279
15V460000 SEAT BELTS 2013–2015 667,441

+ 86 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2021 were reported at a median of 26,902 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Ram 1500 years should you avoid?
2021, 2019, 2016 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Ram 1500 model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Ram 1500?
2010 is the best-scoring Ram 1500 model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 79.4 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Ram 1500 have?
98 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Ram 1500 model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2021 1500
Complaints in window
962
Severity-weighted
1,699.5
Model median (weighted)
747
vs model median
2.27×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
17
Open investigations
1
Score 24.8 F