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

2020 vs 2021 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 71 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▲ 33.5% more 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 2020 share 2021 share Share change
VISIBILITY 8.1% 2.6% ▼ 5.5 pts smaller share
ENGINE 18.6% 22.7% ▲ 4.1 pts larger share
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1.9% 6.0% ▲ 4.1 pts larger share
STEERING 8.1% 5.3% ▼ 2.8 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 7.4% 9.9% ▲ 2.5 pts larger share
STRUCTURE 5.5% 3.2% ▼ 2.3 pts smaller share
SERVICE BRAKES 2.8% 4.5% ▲ 1.8 pts larger share
SEAT BELTS 1.3% 0.3% ▼ 1.0 pts smaller share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2.1% 1.2% ▼ 0.9 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION 1.6% 0.8% ▼ 0.9 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1.5% 2.3% ▲ 0.8 pts larger share
AIR BAGS 2.1% 2.9% ▲ 0.8 pts larger share
FUEL SYSTEM 7.8% 8.4% ▲ 0.7 pts larger share
WHEELS 0.2% 0.8% ▲ 0.6 pts larger share
BACK OVER PREVENTION 1.1% 1.5% ▲ 0.4 pts larger share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12.6% 12.3% ▼ 0.3 pts smaller share
LANE DEPARTURE 0.8% 0.6% ▼ 0.2 pts smaller share
PARKING BRAKE not reported 0.2% ▲ 0.2 pts larger share
TIRES 0.2% 0.3% ▲ 0.1 pts larger share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 30.7% 28.9% ▼ 1.9 pts smaller share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

2020 14

Campaign components: AIR BAGS, BACK OVER PREVENTION, SEAT BELTS, STRUCTURE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, and VISIBILITY

2021 15

Campaign components: AIR BAGS, BACK OVER PREVENTION, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), POWER TRAIN, SEAT BELTS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STRUCTURE, TIRES, and VISIBILITY

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
6 → 4
◆ Injuries
14 → 23