Ram 1500 visibility and wiper problems, 2016–2027
73 of the 7,221 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Ram 1500 2016–2027 name the wipers, glass and mirrors (NHTSA’s “Visibility/Wiper” heading — windshields, wipers, washers, mirrors and defrosters). The loudest years: 2020 (63), 2026 (10). Filed under the same heading across these years: 5 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 visibility and wiper 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 wipers, glass and mirrors | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2026 | 10 | 10% | — | — | the year → |
| 2025 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2024 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2023 | 0 | — | — | 1 recall | the year → |
| 2022 | 0 | — | — | 2 recalls | the year → |
| 2021 | 0 | — | — | 1 recall | the year → |
| 2020 in depth | 63 | 10% | 25k | 99 TSBs · 3 recalls | the record → |
| 2019 | 0 | — | 18k | 100 TSBs · 2 recalls | the year → |
| 2018 | 0 | — | — | 43 TSBs | the year → |
| 2017 | 0 | — | — | 51 TSBs | the year → |
| 2016 | 0 | — | — | 52 TSBs | the year → |
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 wipers, glass and mirrors. Nothing here is a rate.
When the visibility and wiper complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2019: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 12 · 2023: 17 · 2024: 12 · 2025: 10 · 2026: 13
Across the model years, half of the 84 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the visibility and wiper problem between 6,000 and 42,000 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 wipers, glass and mirrors, 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.
The drivers side sun visor will break loose in its mount and drop into the drivers line of vision without warning if the right holder is not engaged. It dropped on me while turning westward onto the evening sun. It completely blocked my view of the road and oncoming traffic.
The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked at the residence in the driveway, he became aware that the driver’s side rear window had shattered outwards. The contact stated that there was no impact to the window to cause the window to shatter.
My 2026 RAM 1500 has the optional trailer tow mirrors. I have had similar trailer tow mirrors on my previous vehicle, a 2023 RAM 2500 HD and they did not seem to be as bad as they are here on my 1500 RAM truck. These trailer tow mirrors obscure too much visibility, particularly and specifically at an intersection.
while operating my brand-new 2026 Ram 1500 at approximately 35mph, the panoramic sunroof suddenly and violently imploded with a loud explosion resembling a gunshot. There was absolutely no vehicle ahead of me, no overhead structures, and zero external impact from a rock or debris before the failure occurred.
What is on file about the wipers, glass and mirrors, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- 24V754000 ModerateOct 10, 2024 · 31,676 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Ram 1500 Classic vehicles equipped with heated trailer tow rearview mirrors. The mirror glass may detach from the driver's side heated trailer tow rearview mirror. As such these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- 21V871000 ModerateNov 10, 2021 · 22 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Ram 1500 vehicles. These vehicles may have been built with incompatible heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC), resulting in the windshield defrosting and defogging system being inoperable to drivers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
- 20V622000 HighOct 8, 2020 · 19,075 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Ram 2500 and 1500 vehicles. The driver side mirror glass can detach from the backing plate and no longer provide a reflective surface. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- 20V208000 ModerateApr 9, 2020 · 425,599 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 1500, 1500 Classic and Jeep Compass vehicles. The windshield wiper arm or arms may loosen, possibly causing the wipers to not operate properly and reduce the driver's visibility in certain weather conditions.
- 19V051000 HighJan 24, 2019 · 15 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 RAM 1500 vehicles equipped with a 12" touchscreen display and a base-level heating, ventilation and air conditioning ("HVAC") system. Vehicles with this combination do not have a functioning windshield defrosting and defogging system. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 103, "Windshield defrosting and defogging systems."
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 visibility and wiper complaints?
2020, 63; 2026, 10. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2026 (10%).
Is there a recall for the wipers, glass and mirrors on the Ram 1500?
Yes — 5 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 24V754000 (2023), 21V871000 (2022), 20V622000 (2020), 20V208000 (2020). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do visibility and wiper problems show up on the Ram 1500?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 19,250 miles across the model years; half of them between 6,000 and 42,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Visibility/Wiper" heading cover?
Windshields, wipers, washers, mirrors and defrosters. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.