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CarsRam › 1500 › 2023

2023 Ram 1500: engine and transmission complaints

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
41%
71 of 175 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

41% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2023 Ram 1500 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Better than 52% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 22 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 36%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
71
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
197
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
11
10 crashes · 5 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM66 · 34%
ENGINE46 · 23%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER45 · 23%
SERVICE BRAKES35 · 18%
POWER TRAIN28 · 14%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE21 · 11%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
64%
421 of 688
2012
56%
322 of 697
2013
20%
235 of 1,273
2014
41%
654 of 1,761
2015
46%
622 of 1,443
2016
42%
621 of 1,535
2017
41%
331 of 870
2018
40%
247 of 659
2019
34%
465 of 1,469
2020
41%
239 of 623
2021
59%
373 of 675
2022
54%
315 of 607
2023
41%
71 of 197

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

POWER TRAIN09/05/2026
I had to get a couple jump starts in one day. then got a diagnosis check it said u1267 then got battery check it said it wasn't charging, check engine light was one after awhile went off. y'all installed the standard battery instead of the agm battery in the ram torque. that's reason for other glitches as well heat an …
POWER TRAIN08/31/2026
While driving a 2023 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel (37,000 miles) at highway speeds while towing a load on an incline grade, the vehicle experienced a sudden, uncommanded drop into an aggressive "Limp Mode." The dashboard displayed a "Service Electronic Throttle" warning, and engine power was immediately and severely restricted. …
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE08/11/2026
The truck has done this four times since 01/22/2026. While still moving slowly the truck will do this while going down the highway. One other safety issue was when I merged into traffic on the highway (You have to merge into the fast lane at this location) the truck wouldn't go past 4th gear approximately 40 mph with c…

Three of 71 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (11)

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Ram 1500 and 2023 Ram 2500 vehicles. The trailer reverse steering control module (TRSCM) may prevent the rearview i…
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator, and 2022-2023 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with a 3.0L diesel engine. The high pressure fue…
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Ram 1500, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with GVWR less than 10,000 lbs., and 2022-2024 Ram 2500 vehicles. The radio software…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2023 Ram 1500

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.