DecodedCarsRam 1500
15 model years from 2013 to 2027, compared on size, efficiency, safety and reliability.
- Model years
- 2013–2027
- Class
- Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD
- Latest engines
- 3.6L 6-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 5.7L 8-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl
- Best MPG
- 21–26 combined, by year
- Latest rating
- ★★★★★ (2021)
- Recalls
- 96 campaigns, all years
- Most complaints
- 2014 (1,717)
- Fewest problems
- 2023
- Interest
- 6,559 Wikipedia views / 30 days
The 2026 1500 in brief
The 2026 Ram 1500 is a standard pickup truck offered with 4 engines (3.6L 6-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 5.7L 8-cyl and 6.2L 8-cyl), including a hybrid version and rear-wheel drive, 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 233 inches long and 80 inches wide on a 145-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,971 lb (Crew Cab 5.7-Ft Box 2WD).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 22 MPG combined (20 city / 25 highway), 7% better than the 2026 standard pickup truck average of 20.5 MPG, for an estimated $3,050 a year in fuel.
It has 9 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 103 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the electrical system.
The Ram 1500 has 15 model years in our data, from 2013 to 2027, classed as Standard Pickup Trucks 2WD, Standard Pickup Trucks 4WD.
Its most efficient year was 2022 at 26 MPG combined; across all years the best version ranged from 21 to 26 MPG.
Owners most often report problems with the steering (2,612), engine (2,370), electrical system (2,268).
Buying used? 2024 has the fewest problems in our data, and 2015 is the year to avoid.
2019 has the most recalls (29); all years together count 96 campaigns and 11,664 owner complaints.
How the 2013 1500 compares
The 2013 Ram 1500 is a standard pickup truck offered with 3 engines (3.6L 6-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl and 4.7L 8-cyl) and rear-wheel drive and 4-wheel drive.
EPA rates its most efficient version at 21 MPG combined (18 city / 25 highway), 21% better than the 2013 standard pickup truck average of 17.3 MPG, for an estimated $3,200 a year in fuel.
About the Ram 1500
The Ram 1500 (DT) is the fifth generation of the Ram Pickup, manufactured by the Ram Trucks division of Stellantis. The fifth generation Ram was introduced in January 2018 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan as a 2019 model year. Ram 1500 trucks are produced at the Sterling Heights Assembly plant in Sterling Heights, Michigan, United States.
From the Wikipedia article "Ram 1500 (DT)", licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
2026 1500 pros & cons
Full 2026 details →What's good
- Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
- AWD / 4WD available
- Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Best and worst years to buy used
2024 1500
77 owner complaints · 6 recalls · 2 fire reports · 7 crash reports
Year to avoid2015 1500
1,459 owner complaints · 17 recalls · 58 fire reports · 79 crash reports
Most reported: Steering
NHTSA recalls and complaints for 10 model years since 2015; use it alongside a pre-purchase inspection. How we calculate this →
Compare head to head
1500 changes by model year
- 2026
- Engines added: 5.7L 8-cyl and 6.2L 8-cyl
- 2025
- Engine added: 3.0L 6-cyl turbo
- Engines dropped: 5.7L 8-cyl and 6.2L 8-cyl
- 2024
- No diesel version any more
- Engine dropped: 3.0L 6-cyl turbo
- 2023
- Best combined MPG down from 26 to 24
- 2021
- Engine added: 6.2L 8-cyl
- Now crash-tested by NHTSA: 5 stars overall
- 2020
- Best combined MPG up from 23 to 26
- 2019
- New hybrid version
- 2014
- New diesel version
- Engine added: 3.0L 6-cyl turbo
- Engine dropped: 4.7L 8-cyl
- Best combined MPG up from 21 to 23
Years without a measurable change are left out.
Show all 15 model years side by side
| Year | Latest engines | Best MPG / range | Length | Weight | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 3.6L 6-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 5.7L 8-cyl | 22 MPG | – | – | Not rated | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 | 3.6L 6-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 5.7L 8-cyl | 22 MPG | 233.1 in | 4,971 lb | Not rated | 9 | 103 |
| 2025 | 3.6L 6-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 23 MPG | 233.1 in | 4,971 lb | Not rated | 8 | 365 |
| 2024 | 3.6L 6-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl | 23 MPG | 233.1 in | 4,971 lb | Not rated | 6 | 77 |
| 2023 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl | 24 MPG | 233.1 in | 4,971 lb | Not rated | 11 | 203 |
| 2022 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl | 26 MPG | 233.1 in | 4,971 lb | Not rated | 16 | 631 |
| 2021 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl | 26 MPG | 233.1 in | 4,971 lb | ★★★★★ | 15 | 683 |
| 2020 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl | 26 MPG | 233.1 in | 4,971 lb | Not rated | 14 | 640 |
| 2019 | 3.6L 6-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 5.7L 8-cyl | 23 MPG | 233.1 in | 4,971 lb | Not rated | 29 | 1,494 |
| 2018 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl | 23 MPG | – | – | Not rated | 15 | 667 |
| 2017 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl | 23 MPG | – | – | Not rated | 13 | 884 |
| 2016 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl | 24 MPG | – | – | Not rated | 16 | 1,554 |
| 2015 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl | 24 MPG | – | – | Not rated | 17 | 1,459 |
| 2014 | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo, 3.6L 6-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl | 23 MPG | – | – | Not rated | 16 | 1,717 |
| 2013 | 3.6L 6-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl, 4.7L 8-cyl | 21 MPG | – | – | Not rated | 11 | 1,187 |
Alternatives to the 2026 1500
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford F-150 | 24 MPG | Not rated | 8 |
| 2026 Chevrolet Silverado | 25 MPG | Not rated | 7 |
| 2026 Nissan Frontier | 21 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2026 GMC Sierra | 25 MPG | Not rated | 6 |
Most common owner-reported problems
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Ram. How we calculate this →