What year Dodge Ram 1500 should I avoid?

Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, 2005, 2009, and 2012 are rated Avoid, with 2005 having the highest complaint index of any year (100).

What is the best year for the Dodge Ram 1500?

Among years with data, 2010 is the only one rated Good, with a complaint index of 25, the second-lowest of any year covered.

Why is the 2007 and 2008 Ram 1500 rated Caution instead of Good despite low complaint indexes?

Both years are capped at Caution because they have Do Not Drive or Park Outside airbag recalls, even though their complaint indexes are 13 and 38, well below the worst years.

What are the most common problems reported on Dodge Ram 1500 trucks?

Across all model years covered, Transmission & Powertrain complaints are the largest category at 28% of the 5,574 total complaints, followed by Electrical System and Airbags, each at 19%.

How many recalls have been issued for the Dodge Ram 1500?

NHTSA lists 21 recall campaigns across the 2005-2014 model years covered in this data.

Dodge Ram 1500 Best and Worst Years (2005–2014)

Across model years 2005-2014, Dodge Ram 1500 owners filed 5,574 NHTSA complaints and the trucks saw 21 recall campaigns. 2005, 2009, and 2012 rank as Avoid years with the highest complaint indexes (100, 88, 75), while 2010 is the only year rated Good with an index of 25.

Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.

Avoid 2005 Avoid 2009 Avoid 2012

Model years: 9; 2005–2014
NHTSA complaints: 5,574
Recall campaigns: 21
Crashes reported: 338
Fires reported: 60
Top problem area: Transmission & Powertrain

Ram 1500 Complaint Index by year

Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Dodge Ram 1500 problems and recalls by year

Year	Verdict	Index	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Recalls	Top issue	MPG	NCAP
2005	Avoid	100	1,168	108	16	4 !	Transmission & Powertrain	14	—
2006	Caution	50	792	43	8	9 !	Electrical System	14	—
2007	Caution	13	517	32	8	4 !	Airbags	14	—
2008	Caution	38	554	40	6	5 !	Airbags	15	—
2009	Avoid	88	670	29	2	2	Transmission & Powertrain	15	—
2010	Good	25	486	26	3	4	Transmission & Powertrain	15	—
2011	Caution	63	689	28	7	4	Electrical System	15	—
2012	Avoid	75	697	32	10	6	Electrical System	16	—
2014	No verdict	0	1	0	0	0	Steering	—	—

Ram 1500 years to avoid: what went wrong

2005 Dodge Ram 1500 Index 100 · 1,168 complaints · 4 recalls

The 2005 Ram 1500 has the highest complaint index (100) of any year and ranks worst overall. Transmission and powertrain issues make up 51% of complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage of 111,081 miles; owners describe rear axle and pinion nut failures tied to steering loss. Airbags account for 32% of complaints, with reports of non-deployment during crashes at a median of 89,500 miles. The year carries two Do Not Drive recalls covering airbag inflators, plus a recall for an undersized pinion nut retention feature.

2005 transmission & powertrain problems →2005 airbags problems →2005 engine problems →

2009 Dodge Ram 1500 Index 88 · 670 complaints · 2 recalls

The 2009 Ram 1500 posts a complaint index of 88, the second highest of any year. Transmission and powertrain problems are the top category at 34% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 69,000 miles; owners report unexpected shifts out of park and rear axle pinion nut issues addressed by two recalls. Electrical system complaints (16%) show up at a median of 82,000 miles, and suspension complaints (15%) at a median of 52,000 miles. No Do Not Drive recalls apply to this year.

2009 transmission & powertrain problems →2009 electrical system problems →2009 suspension, wheels & tires problems →

2012 Dodge Ram 1500 Index 75 · 697 complaints · 6 recalls

The 2012 Ram 1500 has a complaint index of 75. Electrical system complaints lead at 30% of complaints with a median failure mileage of 65,000 miles, followed by engine complaints at 27% (median 80,750 miles) and fuel system complaints at 18% (median 87,013 miles). Recalls cover a fuel system frame bracket reinforcement, a Kidde fire extinguisher replacement, and a transmission park-lock software/BTSI update. Owners also report airbags failing to deploy in low-speed crashes.

2012 electrical system problems →2012 engine problems →2012 fuel system problems →

Most common Dodge Ram 1500 problems (all years)

Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.

Transmission & Powertrain1,555 (28%)
Electrical System1,045 (19%)
Airbags1,041 (19%)
Engine860 (15%)
Suspension, Wheels & Tires640 (11%)
Fuel System514 (9%)
Steering467 (8%)
Other330 (6%)
Brakes313 (6%)
Structure & Body220 (4%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

Frequently asked questions

What year Dodge Ram 1500 should I avoid?: Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, 2005, 2009, and 2012 are rated Avoid, with 2005 having the highest complaint index of any year (100).
What is the best year for the Dodge Ram 1500?: Among years with data, 2010 is the only one rated Good, with a complaint index of 25, the second-lowest of any year covered.
Why is the 2007 and 2008 Ram 1500 rated Caution instead of Good despite low complaint indexes?: Both years are capped at Caution because they have Do Not Drive or Park Outside airbag recalls, even though their complaint indexes are 13 and 38, well below the worst years.
What are the most common problems reported on Dodge Ram 1500 trucks?: Across all model years covered, Transmission & Powertrain complaints are the largest category at 28% of the 5,574 total complaints, followed by Electrical System and Airbags, each at 19%.
How many recalls have been issued for the Dodge Ram 1500?: NHTSA lists 21 recall campaigns across the 2005-2014 model years covered in this data.