AutoUtility currently tracks 621 official NHTSA owner defect complaints for the 2020 Ram 1500. Electrical System issues are the most frequently reported category, appearing in 159 complaints (25.6% of submitted records). Among these NHTSA complaint records, 24 filings cite a crash, 6 cite a fire, 11 report one or more injuries, 1 reports one or more fatalities.
- • Total NHTSA Complaints: 621 reports
- • #1 Reported Problem Area: Electrical System (159 reports • 25.6% of submitted complaints)
- • Secondary Problem Areas: Engine & Cooling (134), Fuel & Propulsion System (74)
- • Crash-Citing Complaints: 24 filings
- • Fire-Citing Complaints: 6 filings
- • Complaints Reporting Injuries / Fatalities: 11 injury filings • 1 fatality filings
Most Reported Problems for 2020 Ram 1500
Top automotive subsystem defect categories ranked by unique owner complaint volume in federal records
Electrical System
Engine & Cooling
Fuel & Propulsion System
NHTSA records list 1 official safety recall campaign for this model year involving the same broad component area:
- Campaign #22V767000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Powertrain & Transmission
Visibility, Wipers & Glass
NHTSA records list 3 official safety recall campaigns for this model year involving the same broad component area:
- Campaign #21V632000 AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR
- Campaign #24V754000 VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
- Campaign #20V208000 VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
Symptoms Mentioned in NHTSA Owner Reports for 2020 Ram 1500
Specific mechanical, electrical, and driver-assist defect symptoms identified via deterministic narrative analysis
AutoUtility uses deterministic phrase matching to identify recurring symptom descriptions within consumer-submitted NHTSA complaint narratives.
Loss of Motive Power While Driving
Recent NHTSA Owner Reports for 2020 Ram 1500
Representative defect filings submitted by owners to the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
"Twice in the past two years, the eTorque system had failed will driving on the highest. When the unit fails, you lose all power asks if you're battery is low, you can pose the ability to even steer. The first time, I was on the i87 going north, and barely made it off the road. I was nearly hit by..."
"The power steering goes out at random times after the steering warning light comes on. This usually happens after the secondary cooling system kicks in. I have had it looked at by one mechanic who thinks it's the rack and pinion portion of the steering, he was unable to find a replacement part. It..."
"The contact owns a 2020 Ram Promaster 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V552000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Three dealers, including Cross Jeep Chrysler (1501 Gardiner Ln, Louisville, KY 40218), were..."
"Loud whining sound coming from engine. The dealership confirmed a MGU Alternator failure."
"MGU Failed, 48v code P0DAF had early signs of premature failure. when on the highway, vehicle shut off completely, no power what so ever. Couldn't steer correctly and vehicle was going highway speeds (approximately 70mph) dealer has confirmed the issue being there MGU gone bad, but I have records..."
Complaint History for Ram 1500
Reported defect complaint volume across sibling model years (2015–2026)
| Model Year | NHTSA Complaints | Crash Reports | Safety Recalls | Detailed Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Ram 1500 | 1439 | 79 | 18 | View 2015 Problems → |
| 2016 Ram 1500 | 1527 | 90 | 17 | View 2016 Problems → |
| 2017 Ram 1500 | 866 | 80 | 13 | View 2017 Problems → |
| 2018 Ram 1500 | 654 | 25 | 15 | View 2018 Problems → |
| 2019 Ram 1500 | 1464 | 74 | 30 | View 2019 Problems → |
| 2020 Ram 1500 Current Page | 621 | 24 | 14 | Current |
| 2021 Ram 1500 | 667 | 26 | 15 | View 2021 Problems → |
| 2022 Ram 1500 | 597 | 23 | 16 | View 2022 Problems → |
| 2023 Ram 1500 | 194 | 10 | 11 | View 2023 Problems → |
| 2024 Ram 1500 | 70 | 5 | 6 | View 2024 Problems → |
| 2025 Ram 1500 | 323 | 8 | 7 | View 2025 Problems → |
| 2026 Ram 1500 | 0 | 0 | 6 | View 2026 Problems → |
Detailed NHTSA Component Breakdown for 2020 Ram 1500
Complete distribution of consumer defect reports across all 112 granular NHTSA system and subsystem classifications
| Vehicle Component / System | Total Complaints | Crash Reports | Fire Reports | Reported Injury Entries | Reported Fatality Entries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other / Uncategorized NHTSA category: UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 68 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine NHTSA category: ENGINE | 56 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System NHTSA category: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 52 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering NHTSA category: STEERING | 39 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Wipers NHTSA category: VISIBILITY/WIPER | 35 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel & Propulsion System NHTSA category: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 33 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure & Body NHTSA category: STRUCTURE | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain NHTSA category: POWER TRAIN | 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine & Cooling NHTSA category: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts NHTSA category: SEAT BELTS | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes NHTSA category: SERVICE BRAKES | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension NHTSA category: SUSPENSION | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags NHTSA category: AIR BAGS | 7 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility / Glass NHTSA category: VISIBILITY | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System NHTSA category: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance NHTSA category: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control NHTSA category: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention / Camera NHTSA category: BACK OVER PREVENTION | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SERVICE BRAKES | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| LANE DEPARTURE,BACK OVER PREVENTION | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Doors, Latches & Locks NHTSA category: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,WHEELS | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SEATS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE,SEATS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,STRUCTURE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY/WIPER | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE,BACK OVER PREVENTION | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,VISIBILITY/WIPER | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ENGINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| ENGINE,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING,STRUCTURE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,AIR BAGS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System NHTSA category: FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| POWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| POWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS,ENGINE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,LANE DEPARTURE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| POWER TRAIN,VISIBILITY,ENGINE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes NHTSA category: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SERVICE BRAKES,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SERVICE BRAKES,LANE DEPARTURE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| STEERING,AIR BAGS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| STEERING,AIR BAGS,SERVICE BRAKES | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| STEERING,ENGINE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| STEERING,LANE DEPARTURE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| STEERING,SUSPENSION | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| STRUCTURE,SERVICE BRAKES | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| STRUCTURE,VISIBILITY/WIPER | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SUSPENSION,TIRES,ENGINE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires NHTSA category: TIRES | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| VISIBILITY,ENGINE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER,BACK OVER PREVENTION | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels & Hubs NHTSA category: WHEELS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Official NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)
Formal safety defect inquiries and engineering analyses opened by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)
High pressure fuel pump failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE21-021 on October 14, 2021, to investigate incidents alleging a stall/loss of motive power as a result of high-pressure fuel pump failures in certain model year (MY) 2019-2020 Ram 2500, 3500, 4500, and 5500 heavy duty trucks equipped with 6.7L Cummins turbodiesel engines. During the investigation, ODI sought to determine if the related defect allegation was limited in scope to the recalled popula...
The complaint records on this page are retrieved directly from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) public database.
Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.