Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

2017 vs 2018 RAM 1500

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 107 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 13.2% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 2017 share 2018 share Share change
STEERING 22.3% 10.6% ▼ 11.8 pts smaller share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6.1% 13.2% ▲ 7.2 pts larger share
FUEL SYSTEM 12.0% 17.2% ▲ 5.3 pts larger share
SUSPENSION 5.2% 3.0% ▼ 2.3 pts smaller share
AIR BAGS 4.0% 2.2% ▼ 1.8 pts smaller share
BACK OVER PREVENTION 0.1% 1.9% ▲ 1.7 pts larger share
SERVICE BRAKES 5.2% 3.6% ▼ 1.7 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY 1.1% 2.6% ▲ 1.6 pts larger share
STRUCTURE 2.8% 1.2% ▼ 1.6 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 7.6% 6.2% ▼ 1.4 pts smaller share
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1.7% 1.1% ▼ 0.7 pts smaller share
WHEELS 1.4% 0.9% ▼ 0.5 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3.1% 3.6% ▲ 0.4 pts larger share
ENGINE 15.9% 16.3% ▲ 0.4 pts larger share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1.3% 0.9% ▼ 0.4 pts smaller share
TIRES 0.2% not reported ▼ 0.2 pts smaller share
LANE DEPARTURE 0.1% not reported ▼ 0.1 pts smaller share
PARKING BRAKE 0.1% not reported ▼ 0.1 pts smaller share
SEAT BELTS 0.9% 0.9% ◆ 0.0 pts unchanged
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 20.6% 28.1% ▲ 7.5 pts larger share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

2017 13

Campaign components: AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, and POWER TRAIN

2018 15

Campaign components: AIR BAGS, BACK OVER PREVENTION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, and POWER TRAIN

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
16 → 8
◆ Injuries
77 → 25