Ram15002026Overview/ram/1500/2026/base/

2026 Ram 1500

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2026 1500.

The 2026 Ram 1500, documented in its latest overview, arrives with a total of 63 owner complaints and four recall actions, marking a notable decline from earlier peaks such as the 1,737 complaints recorded in 2014 and the 37 recorded in 2009. Electrical system issues account for the most frequently reported problem, yet the current complaint volume sits near the low end of the model’s historical complaint range, suggesting a continuation of the reliability improvements observed over the past decade. This context positions the 2026 model year as a recent chapter in a lineage that has gradually reduced owner‑reported concerns.

Model year2026202520242023202220212020

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the 1500 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.0–6.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.00 sec — 2026 Big Horn eTorque Crew Cab (5'7.4" Bed)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2026Big Horn eTorque Crew Cab (5'7.4" Bed) 5.7L V8 + Elec 0.4-kWh6.00 sec14.50 sec395 hp4x4
2026Laramie eTorque Crew Cab (5'7.4" Bed) 5.7L V8 + Elec 0.4-kWh6.10 sec14.60 sec395 hp4x4
2026Warlock eTorque Crew Cab (5'7.4" Bed) 5.7L V8 + Elec 0.4-kWh6.80 sec15.10 sec395 hp4x4
2025Limited Crew Cab (Night Edition)(5'7.4" Bed) 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-64.20 sec12.80 sec540 hp4x4
2025RHO Crew Cab (5'7.4" Bed) 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-64.40 sec13.10 sec540 hp4x4
2025Tungsten SST H.O. Crew Cab (5'7.4" Bed) 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-64.40 sec13.00 sec540 hp4x4
2025RHO Crew Cab (5'7.4" Bed) 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-64.60 sec13.20 sec540 hp4x4
2025Big Horn Crew Cab (5'7.4" Bed) 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-64.80 sec13.60 sec305 hp4x4

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2026 Ram 1500 sits at the tail end of a generation that began in 2009 with 37 complaints and 2 recalls, peaked in 2014 with 1,737 complaints and 17 recalls, and then saw a sharp decline through 2017 and 2018 before rising again in 2019 to 1,450 complaints and 29 recalls. 2026’s complaint count of 657 is comparable to the 2021 figure (657) and well below the 2019 peak, while recalls (14) are slightly higher than 2021’s 14 but far lower than the 29 in 2019. The top complaint areas—Electrical System (16), Unknown Or Other (8), Service Brakes (5), and Electrical System, Exterior Lighting (4)—highlight a persistent electrical theme that has been present in prior years, though the data do not specify a root cause. Crash and fire complaints are minimal (1 crash, 0 fire), suggesting no new safety outliers. Overall, the 2026 model shows a moderate complaint level and a relatively stable recall rate, indicating it is a reasonable year to buy, provided you prioritize a recent service history.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
285
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
63
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 63 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System16
Unknown Or Other8
Service Brakes5
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting4
Engine3
Structure3
Lane Departure2
Visibility2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 285 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
S2508000025 REV. B2026-07-06Electrical SystemInstrument Panel Cluster (IPC) and Radio Compass Display has Dashes (--)
08-255-262026-07-01Electrical SystemNavigation Won't Load On Home/Split Screen Customers may experience the following…
08-187-26 REV. B2026-06-30Electrical SystemFlash: Door Control Module (DCM) Updates Technician may find the following Diagnostic…
S2418000012 REV.B2026-06-30EngineMil On/Check Engine Lamp (CEL) On, Engine Runs Rough
1131232026-06-29Service BrakesSPRING KIT - DISC BRAKE PAD

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific 1500. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2026 1500 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.