2020 Ram 1500 — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $28,000–$50,000. There is 1 high-severity known issue you need to know before handing over a check.
Kestrel Take
The 5th-gen Ram is genuinely excellent — best-riding full-size truck, most feature-loaded. The air suspension is the main wildcard. The coil spring models are simpler and cheaper to own long-term.
Known Issues for the 2020 Ram 1500
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
The optional air suspension compressor fails — often at 50-80k miles — causing sagging or riding on bump stops.
Repair cost range: $1,200-$3,000
Same generation ZF 8-speed as the 2014 — shudders at light throttle. Correct ZF fluid helps significantly.
Repair cost range: $150 to $4,000
The large Uconnect screen freezes or reboots mid-trip. Software updates help.
Repair cost range: $0-$1,200
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Vehicle sitting lower at one corner — air suspension compressor
- ✗Transmission shudder at light throttle cruise
- ✗Screen that reboots frequently
Good Signs
- ✓Coil spring suspension — simpler, cheaper to own
- ✓Transmission fluid changed with correct ZF fluid
- ✓eTorque 5.7L Hemi with regular oil changes
Found a specific Ram 1500?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2020 Ram 1500 in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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