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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2020 Ram 1500 Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
63about this part
Share
10%of 641 total for the year
Median mileage
22,000miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 63 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2020 Ram 1500, 10% of the 641 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 22,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Hot smell in cabin when using 4x4 mode navigation system is not accurate, shows me on roads I'm not. Speed sign recognition either does not work or is very inaccurate. Traffic jam updates never happen. Lane keeping system displays message to place hands on wheel. Then turn off. My hands are on the wheel, it still deactivates itself. Vehicle has sort 8 weeks in dealership, they can fix it”

NHTSA complaint #11399051, filed 2021-03, 6,500 miles

“I have been noticing my transmission has been slipping from time to time starting around 35 to 40 MPH. It only has 22000 miles on it, as well as bogging down the engine when I let off the gas when it dose happen.”

NHTSA complaint #11416529, filed 2021-05, 22,000 miles

“There is a significant delay in throttle response on the 1500 eco-diesel. There are numerous situations and scenarios where you push the throttle down and the car delays for a few seconds before the engine increases power. I could be pulling out into traffic sometimes and sometimes I accelerate normal and sometimes when I push the gas pedal the car delays and I am stuck without any acceleration for a few seconds. You could attempt to speed up to pass on the highway sometimes and again sometimes it does accelerate and sometimes it does not accelerate at all.”

NHTSA complaint #11374154, filed 2020-11, 22,000 miles

“On two separate occasions in the past week, the throttle pedal in this gen 3 ecodiesel engine has failed to respond upon pressing it to make a turn after driving the truck for a few minutes. I will drive a few miles, then stop in a turning lane awaiting a chance to complete the left hand turn across traffic, and when I apply pressure to the throttle pedal nothing happens. It's as if the pedal has been unplugged. As I continue to hold pressure on the pedal, several seconds will go by and then immediately there will be a harsh jerk and the truck will immediately apply power. …”

NHTSA complaint #11330143, filed 2020-06, 3,800 miles

“While stopped at light when I began to accelerate making a left turn the transmission wouldn't shift out of first gear. This is dangerous should you need to quickly move car out of way. Car went up to 5000 RPM before I release the gas and proceeded to side of road. Dealer couldn't duplicate, I asked them to flash the computer and they refused, saying any updates would be over the air. Which is not true. Truck is supposed to be equipped with tailgate ajar warning light, it is in manual and on my build sheet. Dealer tells me that its not. So there not putting in the correct equipment. …”

NHTSA complaint #11329360, filed 2020-06, 4,622 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
20261010%
20254913%
20241519%
20232914%
202210617%
20219914%
20206310%
201920714%
2018609%
20179811%
201620213%
201522615%
201419211%
2013867%
2009924%

Other parts of the 2020 Ram 1500

Electrical system
164 complaintsEngine
155 complaintsOther or unknown
112 complaintsFuel system
76 complaintsSteering
65 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
63 complaintsBody and structure
44 complaintsBrakes
42 complaintsAir bags
21 complaintsExterior lighting
21 complaintsForward collision avoidance
16 complaintsSuspension
14 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2020 Ram 1500

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology