Ram 1500 engine problems, 2016–2027
1,796 of the 7,221 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Ram 1500 2016–2027 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2016 (354), 2021 (280), 2022 (250). Filed under the same heading across these years: 3 manufacturer bulletins, 3 recall campaigns. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Ram 1500 engine problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the engine | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | — | — | 3 TSBs | the year → |
| 2026 | 10 | 10% | — | 33 TSBs | the year → |
| 2025 in depth | 77 | 22% | — | 71 TSBs | the record → |
| 2024 | 23 | 31% | — | 51 TSBs | the year → |
| 2023 | 47 | 23% | — | 77 TSBs | the year → |
| 2022 in depth | 250 | 41% | 41k | 118 TSBs | the record → |
| 2021 in depth | 280 | 41% | 28k | 172 TSBs | the record → |
| 2020 in depth | 165 | 26% | 48k | 191 TSBs | the record → |
| 2019 in depth | 246 | 17% | 26k | 176 TSBs · 2 recalls | the record → |
| 2018 in depth | 156 | 24% | 49k | 96 TSBs · 3 recalls | the record → |
| 2017 in depth | 188 | 21% | 44k | 93 TSBs · 3 recalls | the record → |
| 2016 in depth | 354 | 23% | 65k | 120 TSBs · 3 recalls | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.
When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 3 · 2017: 12 · 2018: 19 · 2019: 149 · 2020: 148 · 2021: 163 · 2022: 197 · 2023: 293 · 2024: 260 · 2025: 344 · 2026: 208
Across the model years, half of the 532 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 24,000 and 88,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
When starting my vehicle I noticed a ticking sound. After idling a couple minutes the ticking would get quieter. Recently I can still hear the ticking while driving. I've heard it could be the manifold bolts getting sheered off or it can be the purge solenoid. To me it sounds like a lifter ticking
Coolant bipass valve stuck in one position and costs 8 $800 to fix. This was a recall on previous years and clearly hadn't been fixed. Should be under recall
Was making a left had turn from a stop sign and my truck just shut off. I was going roughly 5 mph or less when this happened. I was able to coast for a second until the emergency brakes came on for some reason while the truck was still in drive.
Driving on city streets at low speed, the engine has stalled 3 times from April to July 2021. All 3 times occurred within 5-10 minutes of starting the vehicle. Approaching an intersection, then slowly making a turn (once turning left, twice turning right) and attempting to accelerate.
Vehicle stalls randomly while driving and automatically applies the emergency brake. Stalling randomly and applying the emergency brake in the street/highway with traffic is dangerous and unsafe. This is our primary vehicle and the dealership has been unable to recreate the stalling.
What is on file about the engine, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- 23V411000 HighJun 8, 2023 · 80,629 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Ram 1500 and 2014-2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0L Diesel engines. 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.
- 20V475000 HighAug 13, 2020 · 58,016 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Ram 1500 and 2014-2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. 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.
- 19V757000 CriticalOct 24, 2019 · 107,980 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Ram 1500 and 1500 Classic Pickup trucks equipped with 3.0L Eco Diesel engines. The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may crack and allow pre-heated vaporized coolant to enter the EGR system. This mixture may combust inside the intake manifold.
3 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year
- Sep 26, 2026
- Flash: Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination and the vehicle must SYMPTOM: exhibit/set one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): ● P05CC-00 - Cold Start A Camshaft Position Timing Performance Bank 1. ● P05CE-00 - Cold Start B Camshaft Position Timing Performance Bank 1. This bulletin involves inspecting
- Sep 8, 2026
- Engine PNs: MY 24-26 WD/DT (5.7L) Code P00B is being misdiagnosed and incorrect parts are being installed causing over repair. Refer to SOL S2609000006 The IAFM Foam Engine Valley Cover (PN 53013735AB) does not provide sufficient clearance for proper routing of the MDS solenoid jumper harness (PN 05148163AE). As a result, the harness may become compressed by the foam cover. To prevent unnecessary
- Aug 19, 2026
- Flash: Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination and the vehicle may SYMPTOM: exhibit/set the following Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC): ● P0300 - Multiple Cylinder Misfire. Customers may experience one of the following: ● Vehicle runs rough on initial cold start only after an overnight or extended soak. **This bulletin involves
Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the Ram 1500
Source: the same filesCommon questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Ram 1500 years have the most engine complaints?
2016, 354; 2021, 280; 2022, 250. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2022 (41%).
Is there a recall for the engine on the Ram 1500?
Yes — 3 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 23V411000 (2019), 20V475000 (2018), 19V757000 (2019). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the Ram 1500?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 51,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 24,000 and 88,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.