2020 Ram 1500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
25/100
#10 most-complained of 13 1500 years
The 2020 Ram 1500 has a complaint index of 25, ranking 10th out of 13 model years — better than most, with a Good verdict. It has 628 complaints, 14 recalls, and a top problem area of Engine at 28% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 628
- Recalls
- 14
- Crashes / fires
- 24 / 6
- Injuries / deaths
- 14 / 1
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 17 city / 23 hwy
Top 2020 Ram 1500 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine177 (28%)
- Electrical System169 (27%)
- Other111 (18%)
- Fuel System75 (12%)
- Transmission & Powertrain62 (10%)
- Visibility & Wipers62 (10%)
- Steering61 (10%)
- Structure & Body47 (7%)
- Brakes42 (7%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras24 (4%)
What owners report
- Owners describe sudden loss of braking power, with the pedal going to the floor and providing no stopping force even with repeated pumping.
- Some drivers report unexpected automatic emergency braking activation at low speed that seized the wheels and caused a crash into a fixed object.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in front and side-impact collisions, including a head-on crash into a semi truck.
- One owner reported the transmission allowed the truck to roll forward unexpectedly while parked and idling, resulting in a fatality.
- A throttle reportedly maximized unexpectedly while braking to stop, leading to a collision during a merge.
2020 Ram 1500 recalls
14 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V495000Jul 30, 2026Seat Belts1,271,294 vehicles
Seat belts:rear/other:anchorage
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."
Risk: An improperly installed seat belt buckle anchor may fail to properly restrain occupants, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and attach the seat belt buckle anchor to the body structure as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 18, 2026. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 67D. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov on August 6, 2026.
- NHTSA 25V298000May 8, 2025Airbags71 vehicles
Air bags
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."
Risk: A driver's side air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers secured the connectors for the air bag, free of charge. All vehicles have been remedied. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 08C.
- NHTSA 24V754000Oct 10, 2024Visibility & Wipers31,676 vehicles
Visibility:rearview mirrors/devices
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."
Risk: Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the mirror glass, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 5, 2024. Owners may contact FCA Customer Service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 86B.
2020 Ram 1500 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 23 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,900
- 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.
2020 compared with other 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Ram 1500 reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2020 Ram 1500 a complaint index of 25, ranking 10th of 13 model years and earning a Good verdict compared to other Ram 1500 years.
- What is the top problem area for the 2020 Ram 1500?
- Engine complaints make up 28% of all reported issues, followed by Electrical System at 27% and Fuel System at 12%, based on NHTSA complaint data.
- Does the 2020 Ram 1500 have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 14 recalls affecting the 2020 Ram 1500, including issues with visibility/wipers mirror glass, airbags, and structure/body tailgate latches, none marked do-not-drive.
- How does the 2020 Ram 1500 compare to the 2019 model?
- The 2019 Ram 1500 has a complaint index of 100 and an Avoid verdict with 1,477 complaints, far worse than the 2020 model's index of 25 and Good verdict.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Ram 1500?
- The EPA rates the 2020 Ram 1500 at 19 mpg combined (17 city / 23 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,900.