2026 RAM 1500 problems & reliability
91 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2026 RAM 1500, alongside 7 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several components.
2 complaints report injuries (2 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System → | 45 | 49% |
| Unknown / Other | 16 | 18% |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 | 10% |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 10% |
| Engine | 8 | 9% |
| Power Train | 8 | 9% |
| Visibility/wiper | 6 | 7% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 5 | 5% |
| Air Bags | 3 | 3% |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 3% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 18 reported components →Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
What owners report
“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”
Engine · filed Sep 17, 2026
“While driving at highway speeds, a severe transmission defect caused an electronic and mechanical failure chain on my 745-mile vehicle. The transmission experienced an immediate loss of hydraulic control, causing the engine to surge to 4,000 RPM and violently slam three separate times under load, attempting to force a…”
Power Train · filed Sep 14, 2026
“On September 14, 2026, my 2026 Ram 1500 Limited, with approximately 6,000 miles, caught fire while parked and unattended in my workplace parking lot. I had driven the vehicle approximately six minutes to work and parked it at approximately 1:30 PM. I did not notice any warning lights, warning messages, smoke, unusual…”
Unknown / Other · filed Sep 14, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
322 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2026 RAM 1500. The 10 most recent:
Radio Over The Air Update to U43.17 R1H Software Version (FOTA) Customers may experience one or more of the following:- Navigation Stability - Android Auto & Carplay stability & connectivity- Air suspension- Trailer Tow…
OTHERDOC_175 · Other · issued 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…
9100898 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 8, 2026
Wrong Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Configuration Customers may comment on one or more the following: ● Oil pressure gauge and battery life gauges are blank or missing from the IPC Fig. 1. ● The Trailer Brake radial…
08-328-26 REV. A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 5, 2026
Wrong Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Configuration Customers may comment on one or more the following: SYMPTOM: ● Oil pressure gauge and battery life gauges are blank or missing from the IPC Fig. 1. ● The Trailer Brake…
08-328-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 3, 2026
Switch - Tailgate Handle Prior to replacing the Tailgate Handle Switch, please review MasterTech Article - Tailgate Handle Inoperative.
9100892 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 2, 2026
Mil On/Check Engine Lamp (CEL) On, Engine Runs Rough
S2418000012 REV.C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 31, 2026
MODULE Air Bag Control CAUTION: If ORC contains active or stored B2207 DTC AND the vehicle contains a Pulse module (or other 3rd party non-approved devices, see below for more details) - DO NOT SUBMIT ORC WARRANTY…
9100867 Rev 1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 31, 2026
Sunroof Assy Sunroof glass and/or sunshade cannot open/close (inoperative). 1. Please follow the service procedure: 08-Electrical/8N - Power Systems/ Power Top, Sunroof/ Diagnosis and Testing. 2. If sunroof motors…
9100886 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 28, 2026
***Recall Completion Prior to Sale of Vehicle***
114282 · Warranty Program/Extension · issued Aug 26, 2026
***Recall Completion Prior to Sale of Vehicle***
114283 · Warranty Program/Extension · issued Aug 26, 2026
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2026 RAM 1500 has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2026 RAM 1500?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.