The Lemon Index2022 Ram 1500.
The 2022 Ram 1500 is worse than average by owner complaints: 813 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 137, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 23 recalls, and it gets 17 to 26 mpg combined. The best Ram 1500 year is 2000.
Covers the whole Ram pickup line (1500, 2500 and 3500): Ram reports their sales together.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 995 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ram 1500 year. 2022 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 8K to 45K miles on the car (148 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 9K–60K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 7K–50K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 8K–29K miles
Recalls 23
- seat belts 2026
The second-row center and left-side seat belt buckle anchors may have been improperly installed.
- airbags 2025
The steering column control module may cause the driver's side air bag not to deploy as intended.
- airbags 2025
The driver's side air bag may not be connected properly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended.
Show all 23 recalls
- visibility 2024
The mirror glass may detach from the driver's side heated trailer tow rearview mirror.
- brakes 2024
Due to a software malfunction, the anti-lock brake system (ABS) control module may disable the electronic stability control system.
- back over prevention 2024
A rearview camera image that does not display decreases the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- back over prevention 2024
The radio software may prevent the rearview image from displaying.
- stability control 2024
Due to a software malfunction, the ABS control module may disable the electronic stability control system.
- back over prevention 2023
The radio software may prevent the rearview image from displaying.
- fuel system, diesel 2023
The high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) may fail.
- airbags 2023
The B-pillar impact sensors may be missing, which can result in delayed air bag deployment or non-deployment.
- back over prevention 2023
The trailer reverse steering control module (TRSCM) may prevent the rearview image from displaying when the vehicle is placed in reverse.
- electrical 2023
An electrical short may occur in the heater grid relay with the ignition on or off.
- body structure 2022
The tailgate may not latch properly due to misaligned tailgate strikers, which could result in the tailgate opening while driving.
- transmission & drivetrain 2022
A build-up of pressure and heat inside the transmission may result in a transmission fluid leak from the dipstick tube.
- seat belts 2022
The front seat belt retractors may have an improperly welded micro gas generator, which can result in seat belt pretensioner failure.
- fuel system, gasoline 2022
The high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) may fail, causing an engine stall.
- engine 2022
The engine control module (ECM) may have been built with a misaligned capacitor that can short-circuit, resulting in an internal loss of communication.
- back over prevention 2022
The radio software may prevent the rearview image from displaying.
- brakes 2022
The ABS control module software may prevent the electronic stability control (ESC) malfunction indicator light from illuminating during certain conditions.
- airbags 2021
The side air bag inflatable curtain (SABIC) assemblies may have been manufactured with the incorrect amount of compressed gas, which can result in an improper air bag deployment.
- visibility 2021
These vehicles may have been built with incompatible heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC), resulting in the windshield defrosting and defogging system being inoperable to drivers.
- electrical 2021
An electrical short in the relay may cause a vehicle fire with the ignition on or off.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ram told dealers about
Ram sent dealers 1093 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Front Shock Oil Weepage This bulletin involves re-torquing the front shock line fitting to…
- Battery Drain Concern, Dual USB Port Normal Operational Draw, Extended Illumination Or…
- Customer complaints may include abnormal engine noise, rough idle, lack of power, misfire
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenLoss of power steering assist2026
- OpenEngine stall with intermittent restart2024
- Open2022 ram transmission snap ring failure2024
- OpenHigh pressure fuel pump failure2023
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ram 1500 Classic Crew Cab PU/CC 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Ram 1500 Classic Crew Cab PU/CC 2WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ram 1500 Classic Quad Cab PU/EC 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Ram 1500 Classic Quad Cab PU/EC 2WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2900–4350 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.0L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
K1 Clutch Snap Ring failure in the AS69RC Aisin transmission. I loss all forward motion on [XXX] in Iowa City. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2022 Ram 1500 owner · NHTSA complaint 11583560
More owner reports
There is an open recall that is not being taken care of by the manufacture stating my truck engine will catch fire when parked. Seems to me they should fix this as soon as possible.
NHTSA complaint 11512225
My truck experienced the K1 snap ring failure at 3,600 miles.
NHTSA complaint 11588599
Quick answers
Is the 2022 Ram 1500 reliable?
No, it is worse than average by government complaints. It drew 1.4× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 137; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ram 1500 year by this measure since 2010 is 2023.
What are the most common 2022 Ram 1500 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (31%), engine (31%) and electrical (27%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2022 Ram 1500 have?
23 safety recalls (latest: seat belts). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2022 Ram 1500 get?
17 to 26 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2022 Ram 1500 safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2022 Ram 1500 problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 8,700 and 45,800 miles. The middle report was at 23,400 miles, from 148 complaints.
Does the 2022 Ram 1500 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 31% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2022 Ram 1500 cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 to $4350 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2022 Ram 1500 have?
3.0L 6-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl.
What Ram 1500 year is better than the 2022?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2018, 2017 and 2013.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works