Problems · NHTSA complaints
2020 Ram 1500 problems
Owners filed 642 complaints about the 2020 Ram 1500 with NHTSA between Nov 2019 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (165).
Complaints
642
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
24
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
15
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system165
- Engine155
- Steering65
- Power train63
- Visibility/wiper53
- Fuel/propulsion system46
- Structure44
- Service brakes40
- Fuel system, gasoline27
- Exterior lighting21
- Air bags21
- Forward collision avoidance16
- Suspension14
- Vehicle speed control13
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
49
54
63
114
115
145
98
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 49 |
| 2021 | 54 |
| 2022 | 63 |
| 2023 | 114 |
| 2024 | 115 |
| 2025 | 145 |
| 2026 | 98 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
165 reports5 fires
“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.”
Engine
155 reports1 crash4 fires
“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…”
Steering
65 reports2 crashes
“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.”
Power train
63 reports3 crashes
“MGU Failed, 48v code P0DAF had early signs of premature failure. when on the highway, vehicle shut off completely, no power what so ever. Couldn't steer correctly and vehicle was going highway speeds (approximately 70mph) dealer has confirmed the issue being there MGU gone bad, but I have records of water intrusion multiple times on the rear seats, headliner & back glass (XL1) and water intrusion can cause BPCM to go bad along with the MGU to go bad. they first appeared on or around December 2025, most likely way before that but just never noticed it. check engine light came on and showed a code for the BPCM going bad and then I had the CHMSL replaced 3 times under warranty & then the 4th visit they did they urethane warranty superseded the XL1 and even after that fix, there water leak still occurred and dealership wouldn't fix it they stated Stellantis denied the back glass replacement and further repairs because im out of warranty but the warranty expires 8 Years/150,000 miles and my vehicle is only 6 years old and sitting at 118,350 miles. but the entire problem with water intrusion most likely started anywhere from 60-70,000 miles ago. even when I purchased…”
Visibility/wiper
53 reports
“The HVAC heater core assembly failed internally. The machic mentioned that this componet is "going out" in these vehicals. He refered me to the dealership. This should be a recall. I was put at severe risk because the the vehicle had a sudden, severe loss of forward visibility while in motion. The failure caused an oily, chemical mist of ethylene glycol coolant to spray out of the defroster vents directly onto the windshield. This film could not be cleared by windshield wipers or standard defogging functions or whiping the windshield internally. It smeared across the glass, causing catastrophic blinding glare from oncoming headlights and traffic, creating an immediate and extreme risk of a collision. Simultaneously, the failure flooded the sealed cabin with toxic, atomized antifreeze fumes. Inhaling these chemical vapors caused immediate, acute coughing and dizziness while I was actively driving, physically impairing my ability to safely operate and control the vehicle and drastically increasing the risk of a collision Also, it was raining and I couldn't roll the windows down. Yes, the defect and cabin contamination were diagnosed by Priority One in Waterloo,…”
Fuel/propulsion system
46 reports1 crash2 fires
“I have had repeated problems with this truck, even after repair repairs done by the RAM dealership. Currently, I am experiencing a failure of the high-pressure fuel system. I know it is on recall for other diesel engines, and I believe that this engine should be a part of that recall.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.