9 RAM 1500 years you should clean at all costs, according to the drivers

Over the years, the Ram 1500 has established itself as one of the leading pickup trucks in the American market. In 2025, it ranked fifth for overall sales, moving 374,059 units, and its increased focus on luxury and comfort, along with plenty of performance, continues to keep the truck near the top of the segment. Among its qualities is reliability, which you’d expect in a vehicle designed to withstand extensive, demanding use. However, there are still some model years that should be approached with more caution.

Only a handful of mass-market nameplates throughout history have an impeccable track record when it comes to reliability. Unfortunately, the Ram 1500 is not one of them, with different model years experiencing a wide range of problems. Some are just cosmetic, but this truck, in some guises, is no stranger to serious mistakes that can get it off the road. Considering the account owner feedback for the respective years, these are the Ram 1500 models you should avoid at all costs in the used market.

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1999 Dodge Ram 1500

Towards the end of the second-generation Dodge Ram 1500, things started to take a turn for the worse for the flagship pickup truck. Earlier years were very reliable and trouble-free, which is a bit odd, given that most vehicles have ironed out their problems by the end of a generation’s run. Some models are different, but the worst seems to be the first of the second-gen Ram 1500s from the 1999 model year.

One issue that the 1999 model year has drawn a handful of complaints about is the transmission. Difficulty switching gears is common, but sudden, complete failure is the most commonly reported issue on CarComplaints.com. The 46RE is the automatic gearbox that tends to flake the most, so be incredibly careful if you’re thinking of going for one of these trucks, and make sure the maintenance history is solid over the years.

But even more problematic than the 1999 Ram 1500’s transmission are the problems inside the cabin, specifically the dashboard cracking. Even owners who take extra care of their cars report doing nothing to prevent cracks from appearing. It’s not a problem that will stop you from driving, but it certainly won’t look good.

2001 – 2003 Dodge Ram 1500

Moving into the next century, the 2000 model year also had its fair share of problems, most of which were related to the cracking dashboard, but the overall volume of complaints was not as high as the 1999 truck. And it’s certainly not as sloppy as the 2001 model year. Once again, the dashboard features as the main culprit in the complaints submitted, as well as problems with the transmission using the same units offered in 1999.

The third generation Ram 1500 was introduced the following year, but unfortunately, Dodge couldn’t fix the Achilles heel for this truck: the dashboard. The 2002 model year records the highest number of complaints regarding cracked dashboards of all model years. Elsewhere, engine overheating problems began to creep in and transmission complaints began to creep in, with owners reporting major failures in the 4.7L V8 due to oil sludge and blown head gaskets, often costing thousands to repair. On RepairPal.com, coolant leaks are also mentioned.

Things aren’t looking too good for the second year of the third-generation Ram 1500. Engine problems such as a cracking dashboard return once again. The 5.7L HEMI engine can occasionally stall frequently requiring a complete rebuild after a failure. Another major cause of concern with the 2003 Ram 1500 is a rusted frame, with fixes only managing to delay the issue for a limited time.

2011 – 2012 Ram 1500

For the rest of the third generation until 2008, things started to improve across the board for the Ram 1500, with overall complaints decreasing. For the 2009 model year, the fourth generation of the truck arrived and, as owners report, it was a very successful launch as far as reliability goes. The 2010 model year isn’t looking bad either. In 2011, however, now bearing only the Ram 1500 name, problems for the nameplate began to resurface. Not with the dashboard this time, but mainly with electrical issues.

For the 2011 model, in particular, owners have repeatedly reported problems with the TIPM, which has subsequently led to fuel pump failure. Part replacement is not cheap. Trucks equipped with the 5.7L HEMI engine are also prone to camshaft and lifter failure, which can cause the engine to completely break down if not taken care of. For the 2012 model year, the cam and lifter issue was most frequently reported by owners on CarComplaints.com. TIPM still causes some discomfort in the 2012 model year, but it’s not as widely noted as the 2011 truck.

2013 – 2014 Ram 1500

Unfortunately, the following two model years don’t see much improvement when it comes to overall complaints submitted by owners. Starting with the 2013 Ram 1500, there have been several reports targeting the truck’s infotainment system, which is the most reported issue on CarComplaints.com. The center touchscreen may turn off completely, or you may experience localized problems with things like the radio or GPS.

According to owners who provided information on NHTSA’s website, both the 2013 and 2014 Ram 1500s suffer from a wide range of power steering problems. Many of these reports cite complete failure of the system, which, at high speeds, is, of course, incredibly dangerous. The transmission can be a pain point for the 2014 model, in particular, with owners reporting several instances of incorrect gear changes and bumping when trying to get it into the correct gear. Another thing to note with the 2014 Ram 1500 is a possible exhaust leak originating from the manifold. This is not as widely reported as other issues, but is definitely worth noting when checking the model.

2019 Ram 1500

The last model year we advise avoiding if possible is the 2019 Ram 1500. The first of the current generation for pickup trucks, the 2019 model year doesn’t have the same complaints as others on this list, but it has the most complaints among the new models. If you want a used model instead of paying the nearly $41,575 price tag for the latest version, paying a little more for an early 2020 model will help you avoid the following issues.

On NHTSA’s website, the types of complaints vary significantly, but once again, power steering problems stand out. Despite being an all-new model, owners still report the system intermittently loses power, mainly this time at low speeds. The same sentiment is shared by owners at CarComplaints.com, who note that the wheel can get stuck in the 11 o’clock position. Inside the cabin, the 2019 models suffered electrical problems, with things like the radio, air conditioning, and some important safety and driver-assistance tech unreliable. The first models in the new generation are prone to encounter some problems, but considering the number of complaints, the 2019 Ram 1500 is especially one to avoid.

methodology

To select the Ram 1500 model years for this list, we looked at a variety of sources, including CarComplaints.com, RepairPal, and NHTSA’s website, to see which vehicles have the most complaints and problems overall. We also reviewed individual complaints on forums dedicated to pickup trucks, ensuring that reported issues for model years were consistent across the board.

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Read the original article on SlashGear.