Is the 2019 Ram 1500 a bad year?
1,498 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other 1500 years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2019 Ram 1500 are in line with other 1500 years. Electrical system, steering, brakes and 4 more stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2019 1500 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 18,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 382 (26%) | 7k–43k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 340 (23%) | 6k–52k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 133 (9%) | 2k–70k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 93 (6%) | 10k–54k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 81 (5%) | 12k–50k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 79 (5%) | 7k–34k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 53 (4%) | 1k–20k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 248 (17%) | 10k–65k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 207 (14%) | 2k–40k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Fuel system | 105 (7%) | 15k–43k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Suspension | 33 (2%) | 5k–28k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Stability control | 21 (1%) | 17k–94k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 33 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 29 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 18,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,498 complaints: 76 mention a crash · 11 mention a fire · 42 report an injury · 81 say the car was towed.
180 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
2019 Ram classic big horn. It's been quite a journey with this truck. First, about a month after I bought it (Feb 19) I noticed the bed was a couple of inches to the left of the cab.
We purchased the vehicle on june 12th, 2019. After many electrical issues we took it to autonation for repairs.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 18,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2019 Ram 1500: 30
The second-row center and left-side seat belt buckle anchors may have been improperly installed. An improperly installed seat belt buckle anchor may fail to properly restrain occupants, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
The right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect. An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury.
The driver's side air bag may not be connected properly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended. A driver's side air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
The right and left side curtain air bag inflators may rupture due to a manufacturing defect. An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury.
Due to a software malfunction, the anti-lock brake system (ABS) control module may disable the electronic stability control system. Driving with a disabled electronic stability control system can increase the risk of a crash.
The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate, causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall. An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The tailgate may not latch properly due to misaligned tailgate strikers, which could result in the tailgate opening while driving. An unintended tailgate opening while driving may result in a loss of unsecured cargo, possibly creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
A high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failure may introduce internal debris into the fuel system, potentially resulting in fuel starvation. Fuel starvation may result in an unexpected loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The side air bag inflatable curtain (SABIC) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall may rupture. A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
In the event of a crash, a front seat belt retractor may not properly slow the occupant's forward movement after locking. In the event of a crash, if the front seat belts fail to lock, there is an increased risk of injury.
A software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse. The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
In certain accelerator pedal positions, the floormats may prevent the pedal from returning to the normal resting (idle) position. A pedal that does not return as expected may affect the vehicle's deceleration, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Reduced visibility increases the risk of a crash.
A gear within the transfer case may not have been installed correctly, possibly causing the vehicle to become stuck in neutral. If this occurs while driving, there could be a sudden loss of power. Additionally, a loss of 'PARK' function may occur. A sudden loss of power or a loss of 'PARK' function may increase the risk of a crash.
An incorrect Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensor could have been installed during production causing the sensor to not display the low tire pressure warning indicator. Without a warning indicator, the driver will be unaware if low tire pressure occurs, increasing the risk of a crash.
These vehicles may have been built with a contaminated electric power steering (EPS) gear that may short circuit, potentially resulting in an intermittent loss of power steering assist. An intermittent loss of power steering assist may cause an inconsistent steering effort, especially during lower speed maneuvers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) cooler may crack and allow pre-heated vaporized coolant to enter the EGR system. This mixture may combust inside the intake manifold. Combustion in the intake manifold can increase the risk of a fire.
In the event of a rear impact crash, the rear step kit may cause the rear control arms to contact the fuel tank. Contact with the fuel tank may cause a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The instrument cluster may not properly illuminate driver warnings. Failure of the instrument cluster to properly illuminate may prevent the driver from receiving warnings about the vehicle's systems and increase the risk of crash.
The spare tire provided may differ in size and required inflation pressure from the information on the tire placard label. The driver, referencing the tire placard label, may incorrectly inflate the spare tire, increasing the risk of a crash.
The flash memory of the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) may become corrupted, disabling the vehicle's air bags and seat belt pretensioners. Disabled air bags and seat belt pretensioners increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The rear driveshaft may have an incomplete weld fusion between the tube and tube yoke, which may lead to weld cracking or the driveshaft fracturing. A fractured rear driveshaft could detach from the vehicle and become a road hazard, or it may result in a loss of drive power, both of which can increase the risk of a crash.
These vehicles have improperly machined steering column stub shafts that may break, possibly causing the steering wheel to detach from the steering column. If the steering wheel detaches from the steering column, the driver may lose control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of crash.
Due to an incorrect assembly repair process, the auxiliary battery wire terminal connection may overheat. If the auxiliary battery system overheats, there is an increased risk of a fire within the cabin even if the ignition is off.
The affected vehicles have a brake pedal that may move too far and separate from pedal assembly. If the brake pedal separates from the pedal assembly, the driver may be unable to brake the vehicle, increasing the risk of crash.
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." The lack of a functioning windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of crash.
The battery ground fastener on the driver-side front fender may have been improperly secured, possibly resulting in a loss of power steering assist. A loss of power steering could vary the steering effort required, possibly causing vehicle oversteer or understeer, increasing the risk of crash.
The seat track position sensor on the manually-adjusted passenger seats may come loose and out of position, preventing the sensor from detecting if the seat is in the full-forward position. If the sensor cannot identify that the seat is in the full-forward position and adjust the frontal air bag deployment accordingly, there would be an increased the risk of a injury in the event of a crash.
The rear differential may have been insufficiently filled, possibly resulting in its failure. If the rear axle assembly fails, it can cause a loss of drive or the rear wheels may lock up. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash.
If, when using cruise control, there is a short circuit within the vehicle's wiring, the driver may not be able to shut off the cruise control either by depressing the brake pedal or manually turning the system off once it has been engaged… If the vehicle maintains its speed or accelerates despite attempts to deactivate the cruise control, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ram: 658
Repair instructions Ram sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2019 Ram 1500. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The Customer May Complain About a Popping Noise, Grinding Noise, or an Intermittent No Reverse or Forward Transmission Engagement
Engine PNs: MY 24-26 WD/DT (5.7L) Code P00B is being misdiagnosed and incorrect parts are being installed causing over repair
Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp…
The vehicle will exhibit a service transmission/check engine warning indicator for the following transmission
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
High pressure fuel pump failure
Neighbouring years
2018 1500: 667 complaints, keep it · 2020 1500: 644 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Ram 1500 year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All 1500 years side by side
Other Ram models: Ram 2500 · Ram 3500 · Ram 5500 · Ram Promaster. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2019 Ram 1500 a bad year?
1,498 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other 1500 years. At 18,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Ram 1500?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (382), steering (340), brakes (133), air bags (93), body structure (81).
How many recalls does the 2019 Ram 1500 have?
30 recall campaigns list this model year: Seat belts (NHTSA 26V-495), Air bags (NHTSA 25V-824), Electrical system (NHTSA 25V-298), Air bags (NHTSA 25V-010) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.