The Lemon IndexRam 1500.
The best Ram 1500 years are 2000, 2002, 2007. Years to avoid: 2012, 2011, 2014. Across 2010-2022, it has a Lemon Index of 120, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.
Reliability by year, 2000 to 2025.
Covers the whole Ram pickup line (1500, 2500 and 3500): Ram reports their sales together.
Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.
Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.
Best years to buy
2000.
Compare the Ram pickup.
vs Ford F-Series · vs Chevrolet Silverado · vs GMC Sierra · vs Toyota Tacoma · vs Toyota Tundra · vs Chevrolet Colorado
Quick answers.
Is the Ram 1500 a good car?
Not overall: it draws more complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 120; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2000 and the worst is 2012.
What are the best Ram 1500 years to buy?
By owner complaints per car sold: 2000, 2002, 2007.
What Ram 1500 years should you stay away from?
The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2012, 2011, 2014.
How many recalls does the Ram 1500 have?
344 safety recalls across the 26 model years we track. Most: 2019 (37), 2014 (24), 2015 (23). Each year's page lists them.
What are the most common Ram 1500 problems?
Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name transmission & drivetrain, engine and electrical most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.
Every year in one table
| Year | Index | Compared with average | Complaints | Top complaint | Recalls | Crash test | MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 50 | 2× fewer complaints than average | 210 | suspension (22%) | 3 | — | 13–16 |
| 2001 | 113 | 1.1× the average car's complaints | 428 | steering (21%) | 3 | — | 13–16 |
| 2002 | 72 | 1.4× fewer complaints than average | 290 | suspension (21%) | 6 | — | 12–16 |
| 2003 | 109 | about average | 397 | transmission & drivetrain (23%) | 11 | — | 13–16 |
| 2004 | 125 | 1.2× the average car's complaints | 466 | transmission & drivetrain (39%) | 12 | — | 12–16 |
| 2005 | 79 | 1.3× fewer complaints than average | 224 | transmission & drivetrain (38%) | 11 | — | 9–16 |
| 2006 | 99 | about average | 254 | suspension (21%) | 14 | — | 9–16 |
| 2007 | 75 | 1.3× fewer complaints than average | 237 | suspension (26%) | 12 | — | 14–16 |
| 2008 | 95 | about average | 251 | steering (39%) | 10 | — | 14–16 |
| 2009 | 93 | about average | 140 | transmission & drivetrain (26%) | 7 | — | 15–16 |
| 2010 | 122 | 1.2× the average car's complaints | 268 | transmission & drivetrain (49%) | 0 | — | 15–16 |
| 2011 | 188 | 1.9× the average car's complaints | 536 | steering (59%) | 0 | — | 15–16 |
| 2012 | 190 | 1.9× the average car's complaints | 602 | steering (53%) | 0 | — | 15–16 |
| 2013 | 89 | 1.1× fewer complaints than average | 384 | electrical (30%) | 20 | ★★★★☆ | 15–21 |
| 2014 | 139 | 1.4× the average car's complaints | 667 | transmission & drivetrain (19%) | 24 | ★★★★☆ | 15–21 |
| 2015 | 110 | about average | 484 | transmission & drivetrain (25%) | 23 | ★★★★☆ | 15–24 |
| 2016 | 139 | 1.4× the average car's complaints | 681 | transmission & drivetrain (27%) | 23 | ★★★★☆ | 15–24 |
| 2017 | 87 | 1.1× fewer complaints than average | 458 | transmission & drivetrain (19%) | 19 | ★★★★☆ | 15–23 |
| 2018 | 78 | 1.3× fewer complaints than average | 424 | electrical (24%) | 11 | ★★★★☆ | 14–23 |
| 2019 | 130 | 1.3× the average car's complaints | 837 | steering (19%) | 37 | ★★★★★ | 17–23 |
| 2020 | 96 | about average | 507 | engine (21%) | 21 | ★★★★★ | 17–26 |
| 2021 | 102 | about average | 562 | engine (41%) | 20 | ★★★★★ | 17–26 |
| 2022 | 137 | 1.4× the average car's complaints | 813 | transmission & drivetrain (31%) | 23 | ★★★★☆ | 17–26 |
| 2023 | 48 | 2.1× fewer complaints than average | 269 | electrical (30%) | 14 | ★★★★★ | 17–24 |
| 2024 | 52 | 1.9× fewer complaints than average | 180 | electrical (29%) | 9 | — | 12–23 |
| 2025 | 206 | 2.1× the average car's complaints | 468 | electrical (55%) | 11 | — | 15–23 |
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works
Updated
Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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