Fans of Mopar love the Ram 1500. However, it’s far from being a reliable pickup, and that’s despite winning Motor Trend‘s Truck of the Year award. Problems range from 2012’s cam lifter failures and 2013’s electrical faults to 2015’s unintended rollaway and 2019’s driveshaft fracture.
Key Points
- The Ram 1500’s fourth and fifth generations have a long list of problems. Some of which include faulty cam lifters, airbag issues, structural flaws, and engine stalls.
- 2011 and 2012 models are known for electrical malfunctions and fuel pump failures, receiving four and seven recalls, respectively.
- Model years 2013 to 2016 are among the worst hit. 2013 has 12 recalls, while 2014 has 15; the rest of the models have all received more than 13 recalls, each.
- The redesigned 2019 Ram 1500 has 22 recalls on record, the most ever in recent years. Issues range from wiper malfunctions and airbag failures to detaching brake pedals and steering wheels.
2011 and 2012 Ram 1500s Come With Malfunctioning Airbags and Faulty Electricals
The fourth-generation Ram 1500 pickup truck wasn’t all too reassuring. For one, model year 2011 bagged 618 complaints, and 2012 received over 500. Recalls for these model years stood at four and seven, respectively.
Much of the problems were electrical malfunctions. Both model years together have 300 plus complaints regarding defective relays, fuel pump failures, and electrical shorts.
Turns out, the Total Integrated Power Module (TPIM) is known to cause several problems. Unintended acceleration, fire risks, airbags not deploying, engine stalls have all been reported.
Owners have noticed the smell of burnt wires entering the cabin. Several complaints about airbags not deploying in the event of a crash are also available. The safety risk led to occupants getting severely injured.
Drivers have even reported airbags inadvertently going off, resulting in expensive repairs. Fortunately, there is a recall for that. However, only select VINs are included.
A defective relay causes the fuel pumps to fail, a problem stemming from the faulty TPIM. It leads to the truck’s engine stalling unexpectedly. The pump also has a mind of its own, turning on and off even when the car is not running. This causes severe battery drain and has left owners stranded.
Engine and Powertrain Problems Mar 2011 and 2012 Ram 1500s
Engine problems are aplenty for the Ram 1500. Consumers report abnormal shaking and knocking sounds from the 5.7L Hemi V8. Upon diagnosis, the issue happens to be faulty camshaft lifters.
Additionally, engine misfires are common, especially from cylinders three and five. Unfortunately, the fix is pretty expensive as it requires installing a new engine. Expect the bill to be in the vicinity of $4,000 to $5,000. Owners report the issue persisting even in newly installed engines.
2011 and 2012 models have a lot of powertrain complaints too. Drivers report the vehicle rolling away after putting the transmission in park. Other powertrain-related problems include the shift solenoid going bad, and the vehicle engaging limp mode.
The truck’s rear axle pinion nut can become loose. This causes the axle to lock up, leading to a crash. A recall is available, and Stellantis estimates around 300,000 units to be affected.
2013-2016 Models Receive Double-digit Recalls, Plagued by Engine Problems, Powertrain Failures, Electrical Malfunctions, and Lack of Quality
If you’re looking for a used Ram 1500, it’s best to avoid 2013-2016 models. Engine problems, powertrain failures, electrical malfunctions, and a general lack of quality control are notable issues.
Models between 2013 and 2016 received double-digit recalls. 2013 has 12, while 2014 has 15; the rest of the models have all received more than 13 recalls each.
Model year 2013 alone has 150 complaints against its electronics. Owners found the keyfob to not respond and sometimes randomly locking and unlocking the doors. The digital display goes off unexpectedly, the turns signals don’t work at times, and the electronic stability control gets disabled due to a software glitch.
The NHTSA also has a recall addressing the 1500’s randomly opening tailgate. Also, 2013 and 2014 models receive a lot of airbag issues; complaints about the warning light staying on and the airbags not deploying are available.
Loss of power steering, vehicle rollaway, software security glitches, and cruise control malfunction are all common in the 2015 and 2016 model years.
Just like the previous models, the cam lifters on 2013-2016 Ram 1500s tend to go out, as does the Crankshaft Position Sensor. On top of that, Rams with the Ecodiesel engine receive a bunch of complaints about EGR coolers failing and engine manifolds leaking.
Also, structural problems like rear shocks detaching and front half shafts fracturing have affected quite a few models. Fortunately, Stellantis has recalls addressing these.
2019 Ram 1500 Gets Airbag Issues on Top of Fracturing Driveshafts and Detaching Steering Wheels
The redesigned fifth-gen. Ram 1500 has 22 recalls on record, the most ever in recent years. One can easily find the sheer lack of quality as issues range from minor wiper malfunctions to life-threatening airbag failures.
Per the NHTSA, the flash memory inside the truck’s Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) may become corrupted, disabling the vehicle’s airbags and seat belt pretensioners.
Some models can even have their steering wheels coming off! These vehicles have improperly machined steering column stub shafts that can break, causing the steering wheel to detach from the column.
Equally concerning are driveshafts fracturing, and brake pedals detaching from the assembly. Yes, the NHTSA has a recall for some 200,000 units wherein the adjustable pedals may move too far and separate from the pedal assembly.
Problems don’t end there. Many of the engine issues and electrical concerns from prior models are present in the latest version. Suffice to say, 2019 is definitely not the Ram 1500’s best year.
Ram 1500 is Capable, But Some Models are Not Worth the Hassle
The Ram 1500 is a fairly problematic truck. But here’s the thing, there are several happy owners racking up thousands of miles without any serious complaints. The truck is not necessarily unreliable but have a higher rate of problems than its closest adversaries.
However, that’s enough of a reason to be concerned. But understand that the Ram 1500 is still a capable truck, offering excellent performance and oodles of luxury. It’s just that some model years are simply not worth the hassle.
Photos: Stellantis
