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Ram 1500Model year report

2026 Ram 1500 Problems

Compared with other Ram 1500 years

Too new to compare

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2023

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
103filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
3,450miles, 6 complaints with mileage
Recalls
9campaigns on record
Trend
Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl RWD · 18 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2026 Ram 1500 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Complaints on this model year center on electronics and software rather than mechanical wear: owners describe backup cameras going blue, infotainment screens freezing or rebooting, and instrument clusters blanking, with many trucks having only a few thousand miles on them. Several owners also describe the engine shutting off and the transmission dropping into park while driving, and a recurring theme is that dealers cannot reproduce the problems or must wait on back-ordered recall parts.

  1. Other or unknown

    Towing lights and trailer brake recall parts on wait

    • 11 complaints (11%)
    • median 82,000 mi at 0.4 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
    • filed 2026

    Owners report open trailer-tow module campaigns that leave the truck unable to tow, with dealers quoting long wait lists and only a few parts arriving each week or month. Some describe trailer brake or trailer light function issues directly, while others report being told the repair cannot be scheduled yet. Related bulletin text covers false trailer-lamp messages and trailer brake control updates. Reported on recently delivered trucks, with owners waiting weeks to months for parts.

    Recall 26V0590003 related service bulletins

    What to check: Confirm by VIN whether trailer-tow and lighting recalls were completed, and test trailer lights and trailer brakes with a trailer before relying on the truck to tow.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I have been trying to schedule an appointment to fix the trailer lighting recall for over six months. The dealership tells me the parts are on back order even though I know people are getting this fixed at other dealerships.”

    NHTSA complaint #11772607, filed 2026-10

    “Feb 02, 2026 Manufacturer Recall Number03D NHTSA Recall Number26V-059 Recall StatusRecall Incomplete Summary The trailer turn signal will not flash when the vehicle turn signal lever is actuated and the trailer stop lamps will not be activated upon application of the vehicle service brakes. In addition, if equipped, the trailer brakes will not function. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11719328, filed 2026-02
  2. Engine

    Engine or electrical shutdown while driving

    • 13 complaints (13%)
    • median 1,600 mi at 0.9 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
    • filed 2026

    Owners report the engine cutting off without warning while driving, sometimes at speed, with the transmission going into park and the electronic parking brake engaging on its own. Some were able to restart after several attempts or after cycling the ignition, while others had the truck towed and left at the dealer without a confirmed cause. Complaints also mention loss of throttle response and the truck refusing to move after a stop. Described on trucks with a few thousand miles or less, often during ordinary driving or pulling away from a stop.

    Recall 26V225000Recall 25V8260003 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask the dealer for the service history on any instrument-cluster or powertrain software updates, and note whether the truck has been in for stalling complaints.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The vehicle shut off in the middle of the road while driving without warning. To get it restarted, we needed to activate with remote start on key fob several times before it would allow us to restart. The vehicle also did the same behavior 3 more times in a parking lot where it would immediately halt and shut off while the vehicle was in motion. We have today reported to the dealer and will be transporting the car there today.”

    NHTSA complaint #11772616, filed 2026-10

    “My 2026 RAM 1500, with approximately 3,900 miles, experienced an unexpected engine shutdown on October 13, 2026. After entering the vehicle, fastening my seatbelt, pressing the brake, and starting the engine, the engine ran for approximately one second. When I attempted to shift into Reverse, the engine shut off and the transmission automatically went into Park. The dashboard and electronics remained powered, but the vehicle would not shift into another gear or respond to the start button. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11770919, filed 2026-10
  3. Electrical system

    Instrument cluster blanks or shows wrong data

    • 10 complaints (10%)
    • median 3,000 mi at 0.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
    • filed 2025–2026

    Complaints describe the gauge cluster going dark or failing to show safety information while driving, odometer and trip readings changing or flashing, and gauges that misbehave after a remote start. Some owners tie the blanking to an open instrument-cluster recall; others report theme-mode settings disappearing after a software update, leaving the display washed out at night. Reported at low mileage in the sampled complaints, including trucks with only a few hundred miles.

    Recall 26V225000Recall 25V8260003 related service bulletins

    What to check: Verify the instrument-cluster recalls were completed on the VIN, and check that gauges and the odometer read normally after a remote start.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Tachometer and speedometer freak out when pressing brake pedal and start button simultaneously while in park after a remote start. I found that unlike the GM product I just owned when you enter cab after a remote start you only need to press the start button before driving. When you release the brake pedal the aforementioned gages stop freaking out. Then a quick press of the start button will allow you to drive vehicle.”

    NHTSA complaint #11716971, filed 2026-02

    “September 18 my vehicle had 948 mikes on it. After driving 17 gps miles vehicle Milage had advanced to 965. After returning to vehicle the Milage had changed to 950. Also Trip A changed from 102 to 89. I’ve been noticing my gas Milage don’t make sense as the vehicle only would show 7-8 mpg while the vehicle computer would show 17-18 mpg. Therefore this problem has existed since I bought it. There is a definite problem with the center electronic cluster and apparently ram has a backlog of months to replace them. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11688183, filed 2025-09
  4. Electrical system

    Backup camera drops to a blue screen

    • 8 complaints (8%)
    • typically at 0.4 yrs old
    • filed 2026

    Owners describe putting the truck in reverse and getting a blue or blank screen instead of the camera image, sometimes several times on one drive. Powering the vehicle off and restarting usually restores the picture temporarily. Some dealers have been unable to duplicate the fault, and complaints note rear visibility without the camera is poor. Reported across the sampled complaints regardless of mileage, often within the first months of ownership.

    Recall 26V560000Recall 26V5310003 related service bulletins

    What to check: Test the rear camera several times in reverse, including right after a cold start, and ask whether the rear-visibility software updates or recalls have been performed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “On several occasions, when placing the truck in reverse, I get a blue screen when I should get camera feed from the rear camera. I have owned the truck 2 months and this has happened 3 times. While I showed the dealership a photo of the problem, they have been unable to replicate and it there has been nothing done to address this safety issue.”

    NHTSA complaint #11731315, filed 2026-04

    “The rear backup camera on my vehicle intermittently fails while the vehicle is in reverse. During today's drive, the backup camera screen repeatedly flashed blue and lost the camera image multiple times while reversing. This issue occurred without warning and required me to stop and reattempt reversing without a reliable rear camera image. The malfunction happened more than once on the same drive, indicating an ongoing and repeatable failure rather than an isolated incident. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11709421, filed 2026-01
  5. Electrical system

    Screen freezes, blanks, rearview/radio reboots

    • 17 complaints (17%)
    • typically at 0.5 yrs old
    • filed 2025–2026

    Complaints describe the center screen locking up, going black, rebooting on its own, or refusing to connect to phone projection, with navigation and climate controls unavailable until the system restarts. Some report a software update starting while driving, disabling cameras, radio and driver-assist features. Dealers have told owners the faults are under investigation with no immediate fix, though software updates are referenced in bulletin text. Typically reported on low-mileage trucks, within the first months of ownership.

    Recall 26V5600003 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether the latest radio software update has been applied and cycle through the screen functions, phone pairing and navigation before buying.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “On Saturday April 25 while driving my leased Ram 1500 Tungsten with the radio volume turned all the way down (no sound), I was changing stations on SiriusXM using the steering wheel button when the volume suddenly went to maximum. It was easily over 100db and would not respond to the volume control knob and continued blasting until I turned the radio/center console power off. I took the vehicle to the dealership the following Monday, but they did not find any codes indicative of what may have caused the problem. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11734823, filed 2026-04

    “The Uconnect system freezes up, produces a black screen, or will not allow carplay to work as should. The vehicle has been to the dealer three times this is a major safety issue- Uconnect controls essential safety operations(Back up cameras, climate control, hands free safety alerts, radio)”

    NHTSA complaint #11748983, filed 2026-07

Buying note. This model year's complaints lean heavily on software and electronics, so ask for the full recall and software-update record by VIN and confirm each one was actually completed rather than only scheduled. A long test drive that includes the backup camera, screen functions and gauges, plus a check of any open campaigns with back-ordered parts, will tell you more than the mileage alone.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 103 consumer complaints for the 2026 Ram 1500. 6 of the complaints include a mileage, and 83% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 3,450 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns and 344 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Body and structure (3), Suspension (3), Back-over prevention (rear camera) (2), Latches, locks and linkages (2), Steering (2), Seat belts (1), Seats (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “One day into ownership of the vehicle, A warning popped up on the digital dash cluster saying that the Warning Light Illumination Unavailable Service Required . I was able to acknowledge the error and then two days later it came back with the same message. I dont even have 200 miles on this car.”

NHTSA complaint #11694599, filed 2025-10

Other or unknown: “The Ram 2026 towing package includes tow mirrors. These mirrors create a huge blind spot. multiple times I have started to pull out only to realize there was a car coming. I have had many close calls because these mirrors are so tall. I asked Ram about putting on the regular mirrors but they say it is not possible. I have read in many forums people with the same complaints.07”

NHTSA complaint #11749926, filed 2026-07

Engine: “2026 Ram Acceleration problem. It has happened 3 times as the vehicle only has 4200. Miles on it. I had it towed to dealership and they were able to duplicate failure. They ran a number of diagnostic test and software updates. I haven’t had a failure since , but it’s only been a few days. 1/27/2026”

NHTSA complaint #11764983, filed 2026-09

Exterior lighting: “On August 20 i received an update for the Uconnect blue screen in reverse recall. In doing this update it created a new problem with the u connect screen creating a blinding/distracting light in night time driving. They removed a setting theme mode which would keep the screen in dark mode. Without this setting the screen is in white mode. No other setting within the u connect settings will reduce the level of brightness. This could cause an accident do to eyes adjusting from the bright white screen. I have pictures to demonstrate issue.”

NHTSA complaint #11759063, filed 2026-08

Mileage when problems were reported

83% of the 6 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 1,600 and 6,650 miles.

83%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–7517%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (6 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 3,450 miles.

Complaints by year filed

This model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.

2025202693
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2026 Ram 1500 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
1500 2WD3.0L 6-cyl8-speed automatic182521$3,200
1500 4WD3.0L 6-cyl8-speed automatic182420$3,350
1500 4WD6.2L 8-cyl8-speed automatic101412$6,850
1500 HO 4WD3.0L 6-cyl8-speed automatic152117$4,850
1500 RHO 4WD3.0L 6-cyl8-speed automatic141615$5,500
1500 2WD3.6L 6-cyl · hybrid8-speed automatic202522$3,050
1500 2WD5.7L 8-cyl · hybrid8-speed automatic172219$4,000
1500 4WD3.6L 6-cyl · hybrid8-speed automatic192421$3,200
1500 4WD5.7L 8-cyl · hybrid8-speed automatic162018$4,200
1500 Warlock 4WD3.6L 6-cyl · hybrid8-speed automatic171817$3,950

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 9 recalls for the 2026 Ram 1500 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 344 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 344 bulletins →

Other model years of the Ram 1500

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20261033,4509—21Too new to compareToo new
20253655,3318—21Too new to compareToo new
2024779,5006—20Too new to compareToo new
202320317,872114–51718 · FewerToo new
202263126,500164–51757 · TypicalRising
202168335,000154–51767 · MoreRising
202064025,000144–51751 · TypicalRising
20191,49418,000294–51781 · MoreRising
201866733,0001542026 · FewerRising
201788437,6001342040 · TypicalRising
20161,55451,1921642054 · TypicalRising
20151,45965,0001742049 · TypicalRising
20141,77763,7001642056 · TypicalRising
20131,28162,0001142037 · TypicalRising
20093781,7072——0 · FewerFalling

All Ram 1500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2026 Ram 1500?

Complaints on this model year center on electronics and software rather than mechanical wear: owners describe backup cameras going blue, infotainment screens freezing or rebooting, and instrument clusters blanking, with many trucks having only a few thousand miles on them. The issues reported most often: Towing lights and trailer brake recall parts on wait; Engine or electrical shutdown while driving; Instrument cluster blanks or shows wrong data.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2026 Ram 1500 have?

NHTSA recorded 103 consumer complaints for the 2026 Ram 1500 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2026 Ram 1500 is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 50 complaints (49% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 16.

Has the 2026 Ram 1500 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2026 Ram 1500 get?

The EPA rates the 2026 Ram 1500 (1500 2WD, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2026 Ram 1500 reported?

Among the 6 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 3,450 miles and the middle half falls between 1,600 and 6,650 miles; 83% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.