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Ram 1500 Best and Worst Years

Recalls and crash-test ratings for every model year from 2009 to 2026, from official NHTSA data.

Model yearsData retrieved By Sources & methodology

Short answer

Among Ram 1500 model years through 2024, 2011 and 2012 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2019 has the most (29). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.

Quick read

Ram 1500: Key Facts

Model years with data
17 (2009–2026)
Distinct recall campaigns
95
Fewest recalls
2011 and 2012 (0)
Most recalls
2019 (29)
Most recalled system
Air bags (33)

Ram 1500 Recalls and Ratings by Model Year

Ram 1500 — NHTSA recall campaigns and overall crash rating, model years 2009–2026
Model yearRecall campaignsOverall crash ratingMost recalled systems
2026 Recent: still collecting recalls 7 Not rated Back over prevention, Electrical system, Exterior lighting
2025 Recent: still collecting recalls 8 Not rated Electrical system, Back over prevention, Electronic stability control (esc)
2024 6 Not rated Air bags, Back over prevention, Electronic stability control (esc)
2023 11 4–5 stars Air bags, Back over prevention, Electronic stability control (esc)
2022 16 4–5 stars Back over prevention, Air bags, Seat belts
2021 15 4–5 stars Back over prevention, Air bags, Steering
2020 14 4–5 stars Air bags, Visibility, Back over prevention
2019 29 4–5 stars Air bags, Electrical system, Power train
2018 15 4 stars Power train, Air bags, Engine and engine cooling
2017 13 4 stars Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Air bags
2016 16 4 stars Power train, Air bags, Engine and engine cooling
2015 17 4 stars Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system
2014 16 4 stars Air bags, Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling
2013 11 4 stars Air bags, Power train, Electronic stability control (esc)
2012 0 3–4 stars None on record
2011 0 2–3 stars None on record
2009 2 Not rated Fuel system, gasoline, Power train

The scale of the difference

Recall Campaigns by Model Year

Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.

  1. 20267 recalls
  2. 20258 recalls
  3. 20246 recalls
  4. 202311 recalls
  5. 202216 recalls
  6. 202115 recalls
  7. 202014 recalls
  8. 201929 recalls
  9. 201815 recalls
  10. 201713 recalls
  11. 201616 recalls
  12. 201517 recalls
  13. 201416 recalls
  14. 201311 recalls
  15. 20120 recalls
  16. 20110 recalls
  17. 20092 recalls

Ram 1500: Analysis

How to read recall counts

A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.

What the recalls were about

Across all model years, the systems named most often in Ram 1500 recalls are air bags (33), power train (23), back over prevention (18), engine and engine cooling (18) and electrical system (17). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.

Crash-test ratings

NHTSA has an overall star rating for 13 of these 17 model years. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.

FAQ: Ram 1500 Best and Worst Years

What are the best years for the Ram 1500?

By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2011 and 2012 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.

Which Ram 1500 model years have the most recalls?

2019 has the most, with 29 recall campaigns each.

Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?

No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.

Sources & methodology

Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "1500", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.

NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by . Editorial policy