Head-to-head reliability
Dodge RAM VAN vs FORD F 150
How the Dodge RAM VAN and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Dodge RAM VAN vs FORD F 150: The RAM VAN averaged 382 complaints per year over 4 years, with 2 recalls and 2 deaths, while the F-150 averaged 1,131 complaints per year over 10 years, with 145 recalls and 1 death. The van's issues often involve structure and air bags, while the F-150's are more about power train and electrical systems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Dodge RAM VAN or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Dodge RAM VAN
The Dodge RAM VAN is a full-size work van with a modest complaint volume of about 382 per year over four years. Owners frequently report structural failures like stabilizer bars falling off and frame rust causing steering loss, plus air bags that fail to deploy in crashes. Electrical fires and fuel line cracks also appear, making it a vehicle that demands careful inspection of its undercarriage and safety systems.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a popular full-size pickup with a much higher complaint rate of about 1,131 per year over ten years. The most common issues involve the transmission jerking or losing power, electrical glitches like camera malfunctions, and lighting problems. With 145 recalls, it's clear that many components have been subject to safety campaigns, so checking for completed recall work is essential.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Dodge RAM VAN | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,529 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 2 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 65 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 382.3 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 98 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 | 1 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Dodge RAM VAN
- 01STRUCTURE554
- 02AIR BAGS432
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER166
- 04ELECTRICAL SYSTEM134
- 05POWER TRAIN112
Owners report the stabilizer bar snapping off and frame rust from factory A/C drainage routing, which can cause the steering mechanism to separate. This means a sudden loss of steering control, a critical safety risk.
In multiple crashes, the air bags failed to deploy, and some emitted chemical contents without inflating. This leaves occupants unprotected in a frontal impact, increasing injury risk.
Complaints include under-hood fires originating near the ABS module and stalling without warning. These electrical faults can lead to total loss fires or sudden loss of power.
The only two recalls for this van involve the automatic transmission column shift lever and linkage. This suggests a risk of the gear selector failing, potentially causing unintended movement or inability to shift.
“WHILE COMING BACK FROM SOME ERRANDS AS I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY I HEARD A BIG SNAP ON MY FRONT END AND BANG AND SCRAPPING ON PAVEMENT AS SOON AS I STOPPED TO LOOK THE WHOLE PIECE OF THE STABILIZER BAR FELL OFF THE FRONT END CHASSIS AND AS I LOOKED ON FRONT E…”
“URGENT SAFETY ISSUE: DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD VEHICLE LOSES COMPLETE STEER ABILITY!!! HAD TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND FOUND FRAME RUSTED THROUGH (DUE TO FACTORY ROUTING OF A/C WATER DRAINAGE) AND CAUSED STEERING MECHANISM TO SEPARATE WHERE THE STEERING CONNECTION IS…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners of the 10R80 transmission report hard, delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and sudden loss of power. This can leave a driver stranded or cause a crash if power is lost in traffic.
Common complaints include front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, plus loud bangs from the transmission area. These electrical gremlins can disable driver-assist features and indicate deeper issues.
There are 1,164 complaints about exterior lighting, and a recall for headlights. Faulty headlights reduce visibility for the driver and other road users, especially at night.
Engine issues are frequently reported, and there are two engine-related recalls. Problems can range from stalling to reduced power, affecting reliability and safety.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Dodge RAM VAN — 2 recalls
The defect: ON CERTAIN VAN AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE IGNITION/PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS CAN ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED (OR IN THE "LOCK" POSITION). THIS CAN ALSO ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY…
The risk: EITHER OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY CAUSING A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEARSHIFT BLOCKER AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
The defect: ON CERTAIN VAN AND PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE IGNITION/PARK SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE. THIS CAN ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED (OR IN THE "LOCK" POSITION). THIS CAN ALSO ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY…
The risk: EITHER OF THESE CONDITIONS COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY CAUSING A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEARSHIFT BLOCKER AND BRACKET ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Dodge RAM VAN or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Dodge RAM VAN has far fewer complaints per year (about 382) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,131). However, the van's issues are often severe, like frame rust and air bag failures, while the F-150's higher volume includes many transmission and electrical problems. In practice, the van may need more intensive structural checks, while the F-150 demands attention to its transmission and electronics.
Key differences
- The Dodge RAM VAN has structural complaints like stabilizer bar detachment and frame rust causing steering loss, while the Ford F-150's top issue is transmission jerking and power loss.
- Air bag non-deployment is a recurring and dangerous complaint for the RAM VAN, whereas the F-150's safety-related complaints often involve driver-assist features like pre-collision assist failing.
- The RAM VAN has only 2 recalls, both for transmission column shift, but the F-150 has 145 recalls covering lighting, battery cables, engine, and seats.
- Electrical fires are reported in the RAM VAN, while the F-150 has more electrical complaints about cameras and warnings, but fewer fire reports in the sample.
- Inspect the front frame and undercarriage for rust-through, especially around the steering box and A/C drain routing, as this can cause steering separation.
- Check the stabilizer bar and its mounts for cracks or missing pieces, and test the air bag system for proper deployment readiness if possible.
- Test drive the truck extensively, focusing on transmission shifts between gears, looking for jerks, clunks, or delayed engagement.
- Verify that all recalls, especially for headlights, battery cables, and engine, have been performed by checking the VIN with a Ford dealer.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on both models using the NHTSA VIN lookup tool.
- For the Dodge RAM VAN, have a mechanic inspect the frame, stabilizer bar, and air bag system, and look for signs of electrical fires or fuel line cracks.
- For the Ford F-150, scan for transmission trouble codes and test drive in stop-and-go traffic to feel for harsh shifts, and check all cameras and driver-assist features.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially any transmission repairs or software updates for the F-150, and any structural repairs for the RAM VAN.
- Budget for potential repairs: the RAM VAN may need rust treatment or air bag service, while the F-150 might need transmission work or electrical diagnostics.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Dodge RAM VAN or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Dodge RAM VAN vs FORD F 150
- Dodge RAM VAN total complaints
- 1,529
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Dodge RAM VAN total recalls
- 2
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Dodge RAM VAN avg complaints/year
- 382.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Dodge RAM VAN
- Dodge RAM VAN top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN