2019 Ram 1500 problems
What owners report to NHTSA, grouped by component, with the recalls that cover them.
NHTSA has 1,477 owner complaints on file for the 2019 Ram 1500, filed between 2018-06-01 and 2026-09-21. The most common problem areas are the electrical system (379, 26%), steering (337, 23%) and engine (228, 15%). Owners reported 76 crashes, 11 fires, 63 injuries and 1 death in these complaints. NHTSA lists 30 recalls for this model year.
Last updated: · Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases
2019 Ram 1500 complaints by component
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 379 | 26% | 7 | 4 | 5 |
| Steering | 337 | 23% | 12 | 0 | 2 |
| Unknown or other | 233 | 16% | 6 | 3 | 8 |
| Engine | 228 | 15% | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| Power train | 205 | 14% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 114 | 8% | 13 | 2 | 6 |
| Air bags | 91 | 6% | 42 | 0 | 39 |
| Structure | 81 | 5% | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 79 | 5% | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Visibility/wiper | 67 | 5% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 52 | 4% | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 33 | 2% | 8 | 0 | 13 |
| Suspension | 33 | 2% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 29 | 2% | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Exterior lighting | 22 | 1% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint can name several components, so shares can add up to more than 100%. Crashes, fires and injuries are as reported by owners.
The top problem areas, in plain English
Each summary is built from the complaint counts and NHTSA recall notices, not from individual owner stories.
Electrical system: 379 complaints
- 379 complaints of 1,477 (26%) name the electrical system — wiring, battery and charging, fuses, control modules and in-car electronics.
- 69 of them also name the engine; owners reported 7 crashes, 4 fires and 5 injuries in these complaints.
- 3 NHTSA recalls cover this system on the 2019 Ram 1500; the latest, campaign 19V556000, says: “The instrument cluster may not properly illuminate driver warnings.”
Steering: 337 complaints
- 337 complaints of 1,477 (23%) name the steering — the steering wheel, column, gear and power-steering assist.
- 49 of them also name the electrical system; owners reported 12 crashes and 2 injuries in these complaints.
- 3 NHTSA recalls cover this system on the 2019 Ram 1500; the latest, campaign 19V812000, says: “These vehicles may have been built with a contaminated electric power steering (EPS) gear that may short circuit, potentially resulting in an intermittent loss of power steering assist.”
Engine: 228 complaints
- 228 complaints of 1,477 (15%) name the engine.
- 69 of them also name the electrical system; owners reported 5 crashes, 4 fires and 2 injuries in these complaints.
- 2 NHTSA recalls cover this system on the 2019 Ram 1500; the latest, campaign 23V411000, says: “The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate, causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall.”
Power train: 205 complaints
- 205 complaints of 1,477 (14%) name the power train — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts and axles.
- 51 of them also name the electrical system; owners reported 2 crashes, 1 fire and 1 injury in these complaints.
- 3 NHTSA recalls cover this system on the 2019 Ram 1500; the latest, campaign 20V080000, says: “A gear within the transfer case may not have been installed correctly, possibly causing the vehicle to become stuck in neutral.”
Service brakes: 114 complaints
- 114 complaints of 1,477 (8%) name the service brakes — the foot-brake system: pads, rotors, calipers, lines and ABS.
- 25 of them also name the electrical system; owners reported 13 crashes, 2 fires and 6 injuries in these complaints.
- 2 NHTSA recalls cover this system on the 2019 Ram 1500; the latest, campaign 24V653000, says: “Due to a software malfunction, the anti-lock brake system (ABS) control module may disable the electronic stability control system.”
Air bags: 91 complaints
- 91 complaints of 1,477 (6%) name the air bags — frontal, side and curtain air bags, their crash sensors and control module.
- 22 of them also name the seat belts; owners reported 42 crashes, 39 injuries and 1 death in these complaints.
- 5 NHTSA recalls cover this system on the 2019 Ram 1500; the latest, campaign 25V824000, says: “The right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect.”
When the complaints were filed
| Year filed | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 30 |
| 2019 | 180 |
| 2020 | 128 |
| 2021 | 132 |
| 2022 | 156 |
| 2023 | 240 |
| 2024 | 229 |
| 2025 | 251 |
| 2026 | 131 |
What is counted
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the model names 1500, model year 2019. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is NHTSA's confirmed safety defect. See the 2019 Ram 1500 recalls.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Ram 1500?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the 2019 Ram 1500's most common problem areas are the electrical system (379 of 1,477 complaints), steering (337 of 1,477 complaints) and engine (228 of 1,477 complaints).
How many complaints does the 2019 Ram 1500 have?
NHTSA has 1,477 owner complaints on file for the 2019 Ram 1500, including 76 reported crashes and 11 reported fires.
Is there a recall for the 2019 Ram 1500's problems?
NHTSA lists 30 recalls for the 2019 Ram 1500; 6 of the top 6 complaint areas have a matching recall. Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN for open recalls.