Is the 2019 Ram 1500 reliable?

The 2019 Ram 1500 has 2092 complaints filed with NHTSA (1.9x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: avoid. Most common issue: ELECTRICAL problems.

What are common problems with the 2019 Ram 1500?

Top problems: ELECTRICAL (366 complaints, avg repair $500); STEERING (326 complaints, avg repair $500); ENGINE (237 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2019 Ram 1500?

Yes, there are 29 recall(s): VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES, STRUCTURE, STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, STEERING, SEAT BELTS, BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA, POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE), SEATS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, AIR BAGS, TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR, TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE), POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR, AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR. Contact any Ram dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2019 Ram 1500?

The 2019 Ram 1500 gets 19 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $2526. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2019 Ram 1500?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2019 Ram 1500 is approximately $1,916/year (truck-fullsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2019 Ram 1500

Q: Is the 2019 Ram 1500 often stolen?

The Ram 1500 was the #15 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025 with approximately 6,900 thefts (NICB Hot Wheels data). Theft risk tier: above-avg.

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2019 Ram 1500 has 2092 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.9x the segment average of 1093. The most common issue is electrical problems (17% of all complaints), specifically: i purchased the truck on 10/4/2019. on 10/6/2019 was delivered to my house. after going over the features the sales representative left. i tried backing the truck out of the drive way the truck would not back up because of the brake sensor system. the buttons to control the functions on the steering. There are 29 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 17 fire reports filed.

17 fire reports 88 crash reports 69 injuries

2092

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ELECTRICAL

366 complaints

17%

• I PURCHASED THE TRUCK ON 10/4/2019. ON 10/6/2019 WAS DELIVERED TO MY HOUSE. AFTER GOING OVER THE FEATURES THE SALES REPRESENTATIVE LEFT. I TRIED BACKING THE TRUCK OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY THE TRUCK WOULD NOT BACK UP BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE SENSOR SYSTEM. THE BUTTONS TO CONTROL THE FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING
• WHILE DRIVING MY WORK TODAY I WAS TAKING A LEFT TURN AND MY POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. MY CAR HAD THE POWER STEERING LIGHT POP UP AND ALSO MY SCREEN IN MY GAUGE CLUSTERED SAID, "POWER STEERING UNAVAILABLE SERVICE REQUIRED." I LITERALLY ALMOST CRASHED INTO A HUGE ELECTRICAL POLE. DUE TO MY STEER
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED ABNORMALLY AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, FUEL LEAKED FROM THE TAIL PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOHN ELWAY'S CLAREMONT CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (LOCATED AT 620 AUTO CENTER DR, CLAREMONT, C

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 7 crashes

“I PURCHASED THE TRUCK ON 10/4/2019. ON 10/6/2019 WAS DELIVERED TO MY HOUSE. AFTER GOING OVER THE FEATURES THE SALES REPRESENTATIVE LEFT. I TRIED BACKING THE TRUCK OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY THE TRUCK WOULD NOT BACK UP BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE SENSOR SYSTEM. THE BUTTONS TO CONTROL THE FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2019 Ram 1500

Based on 763 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 17K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

504

30-60K

130

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

STEERING

In line with typicalmedian 18K mi · 162 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 18K mi · 103 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

In line with typicalmedian 12K mi · 79 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

In line with typicalmedian 10K mi · 72 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

In line with typicalmedian 25K mi · 61 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BRAKES

In line with typicalmedian 10K mi · 55 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (29)

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM24/01/2019

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 RAM 1500 vehicles equipped with a 12" touchscreen display and a base-level heating, ventilation and air conditioning ("HVAC") system. Vehicles with this combination do not have a functioning windshield defrosting and defogging system. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 103, "Windshield defrosting and defogging systems."

Risk: The lack of a functioning windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began March 7, 2019. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V12.

Above-average theft risk

#15 most stolen in 2025

The Ram 1500 was the #15 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 6,900 thefts reported to law enforcement.

Notes: Full-size truck; catalytic converters

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2019 Ram 1500

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$2,527

Per month

$211

Per mile

21.1¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$3,201/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,920/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2019 Ram 1500

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,916

Full coverage / month

$160

Liability only / year

$648

vs US avg

+14%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (truck-fullsize)1.08x

× theft risk1.06x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age1.00x

= Full coverage estimate$1916

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Ram 1500 Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

60K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

24K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

30K mi

5.7L HEMI: 8,000 mile oil intervals; EcoDiesel: shorter intervals for DEF and fuel filter. Towing usage requires severe service intervals.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Ram New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Ram. If you're buying a used 2019 1500, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ram dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 2092 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: I PURCHASED THE TRUCK ON 10/4/2019. ON 10/6/2019 WAS DELIVERED TO MY HOUSE. AFTER GOING OVER THE FEATURES THE SALES REPRESENTATIVE LEFT. I TRIED BACKING THE TRUCK OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY THE TRUCK WOULD NOT BACK UP BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE SENSOR SYSTEM. THE BUTTONS TO CONTROL THE FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: THE STEERING WENT OUT DUE TO A PCM FAILURE. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE PCM SHUT DOWN THE STEERING DUE TO SENSING TOO MUCH VOLTAGE FROM GENERATOR TO PROTECT THIS UNIT. I WAS TRAVELING ON US HIGHWAY 400 AT 50MPH WHEN IT WOULD NOT STEER LEFT OR RIGHT. IT WOULD ONLY GO STRAIGHT. I FEEL THAT RAM NEEDS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: /PURCHASED NEW 2019 RAM 1500 LIMITED . TOOK DELIVERY 08/30/2018 AND DINT GET OFF THE LOT DUE TO VEHICLE ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN AND THEN MULTIPLE SAFETY LIGHTS CAME ON. SERVICE THEN ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR BY REPLACING THROTTLE PEDAL ASSEMBLY DUE TO THROTTLE VOLTAGE CODE. PICKED UP TRUCK 09/06/2018 AND
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: A WEEK AFTER BUYING THE CAR I NOTICED WATER UNDER THE CARPET IN THE BACK SEAT AREA , I THOUGHT I SPILLED SOMTHING SO I JUST DRIED IT AND REMOVED THE CARPET FOR 2 DAYS ...THEN SUDDENLY FEW DAYS LATER I FEEL LIKE I CAN HEAR THE OUTSIDE STREET MORE THEN NORMAL AND ALSO I COULD HEAR THE BACK WINDOW SHAK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 29 recalls have been completed — free at any Ram dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)