Buyer Research

2020 Ram 1500 — Should You Buy One?

Typical asking price: $28,000–$50,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.

Deciding between model years? Compare the 3 Ram 1500 years we've written up →

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.

What we checked

Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11

NHTSA holds 622 owner complaints for the 2020 Ram 1500, across 14 recall campaigns.

A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. The largest single group is the engine at 26%. That is notable without being overwhelming — worth checking, not worth panicking about.

14 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.

Not written up yet: the engine (164 complaints), the fuel system (74 complaints). Those groups are in the public record and are not covered by the issues below. Treat them as something to ask about, not as absent.

Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.

Known Issues for the 2020 Ram 1500

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.

Air suspension compressor failureMedium

The optional air suspension compressor fails — often at 50-80k miles — causing sagging or riding on bump stops.

Repair cost (estimate): $1,200-$3,000

Source: not yet checked against public records.

8-speed transmission shudderMedium

Same generation ZF 8-speed as the 2014 — shudders at light throttle. Correct ZF fluid helps significantly.

Repair cost (estimate): $150 to $4,000

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the transmission and drivetrain (62), the body and structure (43).

Uconnect 12-inch screen freeze/rebootMedium

The large Uconnect screen freezes or reboots mid-trip. Software updates help.

Repair cost (estimate): $0-$1,200

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under electrics and electronics (159).

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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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.

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.

Other Ram 1500 years

2014 Ram 1500

$16,000–$28,000

2013 Ram 1500

$12,000–$20,000