YearToAvoid

2015 Ram 1500 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2015 Ram 1500 ranks 4th worst out of 14 model years, with a complaint index of 77 and 1,448 complaints, earning an Avoid verdict. Owners most often flagged engine problems (31% of complaints), followed by steering (24%) and fuel system (16%) issues.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
77/100
#4 of 14 1500 years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
1,448
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
17
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
79
reported in complaints
Fires
58
Injuries
52
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2024
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
19.5
16.5 city / 24 hwy
Injuries / deaths
52 / 4

Top 2015 Ram 1500 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine453 (31%)
  2. Steering341 (24%)
  3. Fuel System236 (16%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain225 (16%)
  5. Electrical System179 (12%)
  6. Brakes156 (11%)
  7. Other115 (8%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires64 (4%)
  9. Airbags61 (4%)
  10. Structure & Body59 (4%)

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

What owners report

  • Engine bay fires and stalling reported after recall repairs, sometimes with smoke and flames while driving on the highway.
  • Electrical short warnings preceding engine fires, including a case where the truck caught fire while parked with under 500 miles on it.
  • Front axle and suspension components detaching while driving around 40 mph, causing loss of control and a collision.
  • Gear shifter unexpectedly moving into neutral or park on its own while driving at speed.
  • Airbags failing to deploy in low-speed crashes, including a rear-end collision at around 30 to 35 mph.
  • Rear axle bearing friction reported by a plant worker as a known cause of axle-area fires.
2015 Ram 1500 complaints: complaints filed per quarter1092015 Q12016 Q32018 Q12019 Q32021 Q12022 Q32024 Q12025 Q3
1,448 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2015 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2019 Q3 (109).

2015 Ram 1500 recalls

17 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V411000Jun 8, 2023Engine80,629 vehicles

    Engine and engine cooling

    Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Ram 1500 and 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0L Diesel engines. The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate, causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall.

    Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 3, 2023. Some owner notification letters were mailed October 31, 2023. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a future date, anticipated July 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 66A. This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-475.

  2. NHTSA 22V406000Jun 9, 2022Fuel System138,645 vehicles

    Fuel system, diesel:delivery:fuel pump

    Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and 2014-2019 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. A high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure may introduce internal debris into the fuel system, potentially resulting in fuel starvation.

    Risk: Fuel starvation may result in an unexpected loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the HPFP, and inspect and replace, if necessary, additional fuel system components, free of charge. Interim notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed July 21, 2022. Owner notification letters for were mailed for Jeep Grand Cherokee owners starting January 11, 2024. Owner notification letters for Ram 1500 owners were mailed March 7, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLS's number for this recall is Z46.

  3. NHTSA 21V632000Aug 12, 2021Airbags212,373 vehicles

    Air bags:side/window:curtain:inflator

    Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Ram 1500 Classic, 2015-2016 Ram 3500, and Ram 2500 vehicles, and 2016 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a gross vehicle weight rating less than 10,000 lbs. The side air bag inflatable curtain (SABIC) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall may rupture.

    Risk: A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the SABIC assemblies, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on October 4, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 26, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y55.

See all 17 recalls for the 2015 Ram 1500 →

2015 Ram 1500 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16.5 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
19.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,025
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Midgrade
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2015 compared with other 1500 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’09’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2013Caution461,2761117
2014Avoid921,7661619
2015Avoid771,4481719.5
2016Avoid851,5411619.5
2017Caution628781319

All Ram 1500 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Ram 1500 reliable?
Compared to other Ram 1500 model years, 2015 ranks poorly. It has a complaint index of 77, the 4th worst of 14 model years, and carries an Avoid verdict based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Ram 1500?
NHTSA data shows engine complaints lead at 31% of all reports, followed by steering at 24% and fuel system issues at 16%. Median mileage at failure for engine complaints was 71,600 miles.
Does the 2015 Ram 1500 have recall issues?
NHTSA lists 17 recall campaigns tied to the 2015 model year, covering areas including the engine, fuel system, airbags, and tailgate. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2015 Ram 1500 compare to other years?
The 2015 model's complaint index of 77 is worse than 2013 (46), 2017 (62), and 2018 (23), but slightly better than 2014 (92) and 2016 (85), which also carry Avoid verdicts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Ram 1500?
EPA rates the 2015 Ram 1500 at 19.5 mpg combined (16.5 city / 24 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,025.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.