NHTSA lists 14 safety recalls and 642 owner complaints for the 2020 Ram 1500. Most complaints involve electrical system (165) and engine (155). The EPA rates it 17–26 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4–5 stars overall.
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2026 Ram 1500 vehicles. The second-row center and left-side seat belt buckle anchors may have been improperly installed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2024 Ram 1500 vehicles. The driver's side air bag may not be connected properly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Ram 1500 Classic vehicles equipped with heated trailer tow rearview mirrors. The mirror glass may detach from the driver's side heated trailer tow rearview mirror. As such these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each 1500 model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 37 |
| 2011 | 689 |
| 2013 | 1,282 |
| 2014 | 1,780 |
| 2015 | 1,460 |
| 2016 | 1,554 |
| 2017 | 884 |
| 2018 | 667 |
| 2019 | 1,496 |
| 2020 | 642 |
| 2021 | 685 |
| 2022 | 637 |
| 2023 | 205 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2026 | 0 |
“The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced intermittent starting failures. In addition, the contact stated that while accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated and the message "Please Put the Car in Park" was displayed. The vehicle was driven to a gas station, shut off, and refueled; however, the vehicle failed to start immediately and only restarted after approximately 30 minutes. The battery was replaced by AAA. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times, where the contact was informed that no failure was found and the failure could not be duplicated. Several messages and warning lights, including "Key Fob Not Detected", "Parking Brake Error", the ABS warning light, and the traction control warning light were illuminated during the failure. The dealer notified the manufacturer of the failure, and the technicians advised the dealer to replace the key fob; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was undergoing further diagnostic test. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.”
“I bought this used truck with 60K miles on it in 2024. It is a 2020 truck. At 136K the engine failed.........with the infamous [XXX]. I have an excel summary spread sheet on all maintenance I had done since I owned this truck and I did not pull or haul anything. I heard a tick for about 10 days before I took it to my dealer whom I bought it from and they stated after "scoping" that the # 8 cylinder misfired and cylinder wall scored and the lifter pin bearing failed thus cam shaft damaged and exhaust manifold cracked. They had to replace the engine with a remanufactured engine from [XXX] and replaced intake and exhaust Manifold at a cost of $ 15,021 out of my pocket. I was stuck with no options logically. I do not have a problem with the Dealership - [XXX]. I have a problem with Ram Engineering, Stalantis design. To me there is no excuse to have a big cast iron block v-8 fail at 136K miles. There are many more ram owners who have this same problem I just stated that I had. If I knew then what I know now i would have never bought this truck with this 5.7L engine. There were no warnings, messages or anything displayed to alert there was a problem. I expect that…”
“The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the messages “Power Steering Unavailable - Service Required”, “Service Air Suspension Immediately”, and “Blind Spot Unavailable” were displayed. The contact stated that after the messages were displayed, excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the transmission intermittently surged forward while depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken or towed to the dealer on several occasions. The vehicle was diagnosed with transaxle failure and steering column failures. The battery, transmission, and the radio were replaced on several occasions; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 95,959.”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 2WD Auto 8-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive | 22 | 32 | 26 | $3,600 | 390 |
| 1500 4WD Auto 8-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Diesel, Turbo · 4-Wheel Drive | 21 | 29 | 24 | $3,900 | 418 |
| 1500 HFE 2WD Auto 8-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 | 26 | 23 | $2,800 | 394 |
| 1500 2WD Auto 8-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L, Mild Hybrid; eTorque · Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 | 25 | 22 | $2,900 | 407 |
| 1500 4WD Auto 8-spd, 6 cyl, 3.6 L, Mild Hybrid; eTorque · 4-Wheel Drive | 19 | 24 | 21 | $3,050 | 418 |
| 1500 2WD Auto 8-spd, 8 cyl, 5.7 L, Mild Hybrid; eTorque · Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | $3,900 | 467 |
| 1500 4WD Auto 8-spd, 8 cyl, 5.7 L, Mild Hybrid; eTorque · 4-Wheel Drive | 17 | 22 | 19 | $3,900 | 474 |
| 1500 2WD Auto 8-spd, 8 cyl, 5.7 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 22 | 17 | $4,350 | 514 |
| 1500 4WD Auto 8-spd, 8 cyl, 5.7 L · 4-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | $4,350 | 523 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
14 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 642 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (165), engine (155), steering (65). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2020 Ram 1500 at 17–26 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (9 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2020 Ram 1500 4–5 out of 5 stars overall.