Decode a Ram 1500 VIN free with NHTSA vPIC. See its generation and the NHTSA recalls for that model year, then read what owners have reported.
Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.
Ram has sold the 1500 in the US since the 1994 model year, and there have been four generations. Gen 2 first (1994–2001), then Gen 3 (2002–2008). The DS arrived for 2009–2018, and the DT took over for 2019–2026. Across those years NHTSA lists 120 vehicle recall campaigns and 24,157 owner complaints. Complaints pile up on the DS. Its 2014 and 2016 model years alone account for 3,313 of them, with owners bringing up steering most often and engine and cooling after that. EPA rates the Gen 2 at 12–17 mpg combined, while the DT, whose lineup includes hybrid versions, gets 12–26 mpg. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.
Four generations since the 1994 model year. The DS (2009–2018) has the most owner complaints, the DT (2019–2026) the most recall campaigns (65).
Mentions in 3,743 NHTSA complaints.
Mentions in 6,116 NHTSA complaints.
Mentions in 10,161 NHTSA complaints.
1C6RR7LM?FS······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2015 Ram 1500 SLT, built in Warren, MichiganMentions in 4,137 NHTSA complaints.
1C6SRFFT?KN······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2019 Ram 1500 Big Horn/Lonestar, built in Sterling Heights, MichiganNHTSA has 120 campaigns on file for 1500 model years 1994–2026, and the 2019 shows up in more of them than any other year (29), ahead of the 2014 (17). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.
Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.
Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.
Complaints peak with the 2014 (1,768 of 24,157). Tap any bar or generation.
Mentions in 4,137 complaints, 2019–2026.
The 2019 stands out. On its own it has 1,481 of the DT’s 4,137 complaints (36%), and owners across the generation name electrical system most often (1,263 mentions), then engine and cooling (1,055).
Mentions in 10,161 complaints, 2009–2018.
By area, nothing stands out. Steering leads with 2,255, with engine and cooling (2,013) and the electrical system (1,656) close behind. Complaints peak with the 2014 (1,768 of 10,161).
Mentions in 6,116 complaints, 2002–2008.
Of the seven model years, the 2003 (1,170) and 2005 (1,169) drew the most complaints. Owners across the generation name air bags most often (1,777 mentions), then powertrain (1,255).
Mentions in 3,743 complaints, 1994–2001.
Structure and body owns this generation. Its 1,290 mentions are more than twice the next area, powertrain (456). Complaints peak with the 2001 (1,112 of 3,743). Fires come up in 130 complaints, or 3.5% against 1.8% for all 1500 model years, which is the highest rate of any generation.
Steering leads NHTSA complaints for the 2019. Many owners describe a sudden loss of power assist with a Service Power Steering warning, and some say the wheel sticks off center. Two 2019 recalls target this, one for a contaminated steering gear that can short circuit and one for a loose battery ground fastener. CarComplaints ranks a leaking rear window, a loud clacking noise and a sticking steering wheel as top 2019 problems. On the 2021, stalling is common, including 5.7-liter eTorque trucks that shut off at low speed, and a recall covers the high pressure fuel pump on 2020–2022 3.0-liter diesels. [1] [2] [3]
Power steering failure is the standout complaint on the 2013–2014 trucks. NHTSA owners describe the electric steering rack quitting with a Service Power Steering message, leaving the wheel very hard to turn, sometimes at low mileage, and many had to wait for parts. CarComplaints ranks power steering failure first for 2014, ahead of air suspension faults and assorted electrical problems. Owners of 2014 trucks with the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel also report EGR trouble, fuel pump failures and engine replacements. [4] [5]
Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.
Owner summary updated September 25, 2026.
Ram 1500 owners on Reddit mostly trust the drivetrain, crediting the eight-speed automatic and sharing 5.7 Hemi trucks well past 100,000 miles, including a 2019 Big Horn taken to 285,000. Known Hemi weak spots are broken exhaust manifold bolts and lifter failures, and several eTorque owners replaced worn generator bearings or whole units, sometimes after long parts waits. Newer trucks draw complaints about electrical glitches and leaking rear windows, while early Hurricane six owners say they would not return to the V8.
Opinions of individual owners, summarized in our own words. Not verified data; check recalls and complaints above.
Hybrid and diesel 1500 versions count alongside gas ones. Tap a year to see its top systems.
Crashes 11 · fires 7 · injuries 13
Crashes 13 · fires 14 · injuries 10
Crashes 18 · fires 17 · injuries 17 · complaints reporting a death 3
Crashes 31 · fires 14 · injuries 37 · complaints reporting a death 1
Crashes 66 · fires 16 · injuries 56 · complaints reporting a death 4
Crashes 64 · fires 19 · injuries 49 · complaints reporting a death 1
Crashes 37 · fires 8 · injuries 50
Crashes 65 · fires 35 · injuries 80 · complaints reporting a death 1
Crashes 55 · fires 14 · injuries 62 · complaints reporting a death 1
Crashes 76 · fires 12 · injuries 80 · complaints reporting a death 5
Crashes 84 · fires 29 · injuries 95 · complaints reporting a death 1
Crashes 108 · fires 16 · injuries 66 · complaints reporting a death 5
Crashes 43 · fires 8 · injuries 42 · complaints reporting a death 1
Crashes 32 · fires 8 · injuries 38
Crashes 40 · fires 6 · injuries 37
Crashes 29 · fires 2 · injuries 21
Crashes 26 · fires 3 · injuries 13
Crashes 28 · fires 7 · injuries 21
Crashes 32 · fires 10 · injuries 27
Crashes 72 · fires 10 · injuries 37
Crashes 98 · fires 24 · injuries 88
Crashes 79 · fires 58 · injuries 52 · complaints reporting a death 4
Crashes 91 · fires 36 · injuries 73 · complaints reporting a death 4
Crashes 80 · fires 16 · injuries 77 · complaints reporting a death 1
Crashes 25 · fires 8 · injuries 25
Crashes 76 · fires 11 · injuries 63 · complaints reporting a death 1
Crashes 24 · fires 6 · injuries 15 · complaints reporting a death 1
Crashes 27 · fires 4 · injuries 23
Crashes 23 · fires 6 · injuries 9 · complaints reporting a death 1
Crashes 10 · fires 1 · injuries 4
Crashes 7 · fires 2 · injuries 3
Crashes 9 · fires 3 · injuries 2
Crashes 3 · fires 1 · injuries 2
Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.
EPA lists 285 1500 versions for model years 1994–2026 (gas, diesel and hybrid). The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 384 g/mi, for the 2022 diesel. Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.
12–17 mpg · CO₂ 523–741 g/mi
9–17 mpg · CO₂ 523–987 g/mi
14–24 mpg · CO₂ 426–614 g/mi
12–26 mpg · CO₂ 384–748 g/mi
Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Greenhouse-gas ratings start with the 2013 model year. Source: fueleconomy.gov.
Take 2002–2008. NHTSA lists 19 recall campaigns for the 1500, against 13 for the Ford F-150 and 27 for the Chevrolet Silverado. Pick a range to compare.
Model years 2002–2008
Model years 2002–2008
Model years 2002–2008
Model years 2009–2018
Model years 2009–2018
Model years 2009–2018
Model years 2019–2026
Model years 2019–2026
Model years 2019–2026
NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.
Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.
Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped
Illustration: VinNumber.net
Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net
Ram 1500 carries its VIN in four locations: the dashboard plate through the windshield, the driver's door jamb sticker, the frame rail on the driver's side near the front axle, and the cab corner behind the driver's door. Confirm that the frame stamp matches the dashboard plate. The DT generation starts with the 2019 model year; the VIN’s 10th character (K for 2019) shows which side of that line a car falls on.
The 2014 leads with 1,768, ahead of the 2016 (1,545) and 2019 (1,481). Those first two alone make up 14% of the 24,157 1500 complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.
NHTSA’s recall records show 120 vehicle campaigns for model years 1994–2026, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns. By generation, DT leads with 65. Then come the DS (43), Gen 3 (19) and Gen 2 (2), and a campaign can span two generations.
15V-312, 15V-313, 16V-352, 25V-010, 25V-592 and 25V-824 cover air bag inflators that can rupture. NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 03V-503, 18V-160, 17V-824, 15V-517, 19V-757, 17V-434 and 19V-142. Do-not-drive advisories came with 15V-312, 15V-313, 16V-352 and 21V-037. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.
By US model year, the Gen 2 is 1994–2001 and the Gen 3 2002–2008. DS spans 2009–2018, DT 2019–2026. Read the year off the VIN’s 10th character (K is 2019).
It varies. EPA rates the 2019–2026 DT at 12–26 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive, up from 12–17 mpg for the 1994–2001 Gen 2 (fueleconomy.gov).
For 2019–2026 models the 1500 has 65 NHTSA recall campaigns. The Ford F-150 has 88, the Chevrolet Silverado 47. Complaints run 4,137, 5,251 and 4,990 in that order, with no sales adjustment.