2020 Ram 1500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2020 Ram 1500 has 868 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 10.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (18% of all complaints), specifically: 3.0l gen 3 ecodiesel engine has excessive lag and delay in throttle response. while traveling at steady speed in lower gears 3rd, 4th, or 5th and then depressing accelerator pedal to increase speed, engine will not respond until three to four seconds have elapsed. this creates a significant hazard w. ⚠️ 12 fire reports filed.

12 fire reports 9 crash reports 7 injuries

868

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

10.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

159 complaints

18%

• 3.0L GEN 3 ECODIESEL ENGINE HAS EXCESSIVE LAG AND DELAY IN THROTTLE RESPONSE. WHILE TRAVELING AT STEADY SPEED IN LOWER GEARS 3RD, 4TH, OR 5TH AND THEN DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO INCREASE SPEED, ENGINE WILL NOT RESPOND UNTIL THREE TO FOUR SECONDS HAVE ELAPSED. THIS CREATES A SIGNIFICANT HAZARD W
• THROTTLE RESPONSE OR ACCELERATION LAG AFTER LETTING OFF THE GAS TO CHANGE LANES OR SLOWING FOR CORNERS ETC. HAS HAPPENED AT END OF EXIT OFF THE INTERSTATE AFTER STOPPING AT STOP SIGN, THEN PROCEEDING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN INTO THE LANE. UPON PRESSING GAS TRUCK SEEMS TO "COAST" OR WAIT A FEW SECONDS
• 2020 RAM 1500 ECODIESEL HAS A SERIOUS TURBO LAG. WHEN YIELDING AND THEN ACCELERATING, THE ENGINE POWER SEEMS TO JUST DROP OUT, FALLS FLAT. BY THIS TIME VEHICLE COASTS INTO APPROACHING LANES AND THEN IT WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATE WITH A BURST OF POWER. I FEEL IT IS TURBO LAG BUT MAY ALSO BE THAT TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 4 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“3.0L GEN 3 ECODIESEL ENGINE HAS EXCESSIVE LAG AND DELAY IN THROTTLE RESPONSE. WHILE TRAVELING AT STEADY SPEED IN LOWER GEARS 3RD, 4TH, OR 5TH AND THEN DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO INCREASE SPEED, ENGINE WILL NOT RESPOND UNTIL THREE TO FOUR SECONDS HAVE ELAPSED. THIS CREATES A SIGNIFICANT HAZARD W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

153 complaints

18%

• ON NOVEMBER 13, 2019 AT 6:00PM PST WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH WESTBOUND ON INTERSTATE 90 AT THE SR18 INTERCHANGE THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECTS AND MAJOR SYSTEMS FAILURES DUE TO LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER. LIGHT CONDITIONS WERE NIGHTTIME, TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, WEATHER WAS CLEAR. ELECT
• VEHICLE CONTINUALLY HAS A DEAD, -DEAD- 0 VOLT BATTERY OVERNIGHT. STARTED ITS 1ST WEEK HOME AND HAS REPEATEDLY HAPPENED HALF A DOZEN TIMES RANDOMLY SINCE. FULLY CHARGING THE BATTERY TAKES ALL DAY. THE BATTERY HAS PROBABLY TAKEN PERMANENT DAMAGE. I HAVE TO CARRY A 1000 AMP JUMP BOX AT ALL TIMES TO HAV
• I WAS DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH WHILE STEERING POWER SHUT OFF AND WARNING ON DASH CAME ON SAYING POWER STEERING WAS DISENGAGED. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY SHUT VEHICLE OFF CHECKED UNDER HOOD AND NOTHING. GOT BACK ON VEHICLE STARTED IT AND WARNING HAD GONE AWAY AND STEERING WAS OK. DROVE FOR ABOU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 5 fire reports

“ON NOVEMBER 13, 2019 AT 6:00PM PST WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH WESTBOUND ON INTERSTATE 90 AT THE SR18 INTERCHANGE THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECTS AND MAJOR SYSTEMS FAILURES DUE TO LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER. LIGHT CONDITIONS WERE NIGHTTIME, TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, WEATHER WAS CLEAR. ELECT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

108 complaints

12%

• THIS DEFECT HAS THE REAL PROBABILITY OF CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH MY VEHICLE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE. TAKING MY NEW TRUCK THROUGH A CAR WASH, I PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AT THE START OF THE WASH. THE CAR WASH HAS ROLLERS THAT DRIVE THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL THROUGH THE CAR WASH. AT THE END, MY VEHIC
• WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHT WHEN I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THIS IS DANGEROUS SHOULD YOU NEED TO QUICKLY MOVE CAR OUT OF WAY. CAR WENT UP TO 5000 RPM BEFORE I RELEASE THE GAS AND PROCEEDED TO SIDE OF ROAD. DEALER COULDN'T DUPLICATE, I AS
• ON SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2020, PARKED AND TURNED ON THE AC. START SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF FRONT AND CAB VENTS. IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF AND LET TRUCK SIT FOR 30 MINUTES AND DROVE ABOUT TEN MILES AND THE WHITE SMOKE AND SMELL RETURNED. PULLED OVER ON THE FREEWAY

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“THIS DEFECT HAS THE REAL PROBABILITY OF CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH MY VEHICLE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE. TAKING MY NEW TRUCK THROUGH A CAR WASH, I PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AT THE START OF THE WASH. THE CAR WASH HAS ROLLERS THAT DRIVE THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL THROUGH THE CAR WASH. AT THE END, MY VEHIC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

70 complaints

• VEHICLE THROTTLE MAXIMIZED WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE TO STOP. AFTER IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THE THROTTLE WENT BACK TO THE IDLE POSITION. I WAS MERGING IN TRAFFIC ONTO ANOTHER STREET. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WAS STOPPED FOR THE MERGER. *LN CASE NUMBER XXXXXXXX ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT
• USUALLY, THE GAS NOZZLE AUTOMATICALLY TURNS OFF THE GAS WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. WHILE WAITING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, HAND ON NOZZLE HOLDING IT OPEN, THE GAS OVERFILLED, GUSHED OUT OF THE FILL TUBE, AND OUT FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. A BIG PUDDLE OF GAS ON THE GROUND. I THOUGHT THE NOZZLE SHUTOFF MALFUNCTIONE
• TRUCK FAILS TO PROPERLY ACCELERATE CREATING DANGEROUS MOMENTS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC.PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENT IN WARMER WEATHER BUT IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY AS MILEAGE ACCUMULATES. THIS ISSUE DID NOT OCCUR IN THE FIRST 3-4000 MILES. BUT NOW OCCURS QUITE FREQUENTLY. W

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“VEHICLE THROTTLE MAXIMIZED WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE TO STOP. AFTER IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THE THROTTLE WENT BACK TO THE IDLE POSITION. I WAS MERGING IN TRAFFIC ONTO ANOTHER STREET. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WAS STOPPED FOR THE MERGER. *LN CASE NUMBER XXXXXXXX ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

62 complaints

• MY BRAND NEW 2020 RAM 1500 LARAMIE SPORT IS EQUIPPED WITH TILTING DOWN DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE MIRRORS WHEN IN REVERSE. THE PROBLEM IS WHEN THEY TILT DOWN, THEY TILT DOWN SO FAR THAT IT IS OUT MY VIEW. I UTILIZE THIS FEATURE FOR BACKING INTO MY GARAGE, ON SIDE ON MY BOAT, WHERE SPACE IS VERY LIMITED.
• THE A/C WILL ALWAYS BLOW COLD AIR ON THE WINDSHIELD REGARDLESS OF MODE. THIS CAUSES THE WINDSHIELD TO FOG ON THE EXTERIOR SIDE LEADING TO POOR VISIBILITY.
• THE HVAC DOES NOT PROPERLY SEAL CAUSING CONSTANT COLD AIR TO FLOW THROUGH THE DEFROSTER. BEING IN FLORIDA, THIS CAUSES THE WINDSHIELD TO CONSTANTLY FOG UP WITH CONDENSATION LIMITING MY FORWARD FIELD OF VIEW. THIS HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY AT NIGHT AND IN THE MORNING. IT DOES HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE DAY

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“MY BRAND NEW 2020 RAM 1500 LARAMIE SPORT IS EQUIPPED WITH TILTING DOWN DRIVER/PASSENGER SIDE MIRRORS WHEN IN REVERSE. THE PROBLEM IS WHEN THEY TILT DOWN, THEY TILT DOWN SO FAR THAT IT IS OUT MY VIEW. I UTILIZE THIS FEATURE FOR BACKING INTO MY GARAGE, ON SIDE ON MY BOAT, WHERE SPACE IS VERY LIMITED. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 868 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 3.0L GEN 3 ECODIESEL ENGINE HAS EXCESSIVE LAG AND DELAY IN THROTTLE RESPONSE. WHILE TRAVELING AT STEADY SPEED IN LOWER GEARS 3RD, 4TH, OR 5TH AND THEN DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO INCREASE SPEED, ENGINE WILL NOT RESPOND UNTIL THREE TO FOUR SECONDS HAVE ELAPSED. THIS CREATES A SIGNIFICANT HAZARD W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: ON NOVEMBER 13, 2019 AT 6:00PM PST WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH WESTBOUND ON INTERSTATE 90 AT THE SR18 INTERCHANGE THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECTS AND MAJOR SYSTEMS FAILURES DUE TO LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER. LIGHT CONDITIONS WERE NIGHTTIME, TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, WEATHER WAS CLEAR. ELECT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THIS DEFECT HAS THE REAL PROBABILITY OF CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH MY VEHICLE AND ANOTHER VEHICLE. TAKING MY NEW TRUCK THROUGH A CAR WASH, I PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AT THE START OF THE WASH. THE CAR WASH HAS ROLLERS THAT DRIVE THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL THROUGH THE CAR WASH. AT THE END, MY VEHIC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: VEHICLE THROTTLE MAXIMIZED WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE TO STOP. AFTER IMPACT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THE THROTTLE WENT BACK TO THE IDLE POSITION. I WAS MERGING IN TRAFFIC ONTO ANOTHER STREET. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WAS STOPPED FOR THE MERGER. *LN CASE NUMBER XXXXXXXX ('PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)