Head-to-head reliability

RAM 1500 vs Toyota Camry

How the RAM 1500 and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

RAM 15008,338 complaints · 126 recalls
Toyota Camry2,090 complaints · 28 recalls Fewer issues per year

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

Toyota Camry averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. RAM 1500 has 8,338 complaints and 126 recalls on record; Toyota Camry has 2,090 complaints and 28 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryRAM 1500Toyota Camry
Total complaintsAll model years combined8,3382,090 Better
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns12628 Better
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints397177 Better
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years833.8209.0 Better
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints270161 Better
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints151 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.

RAM 1500

  1. 01ENGINE2,486
  2. 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,246
  3. 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,256
  4. 04POWER TRAIN1,184
  5. 05STEERING1,007
In owners' words — ENGINE

“[XXX] Fire occurred while driving [XXX] my Ram 2021 and it was like a mini blast with a lot of sparks as I saw in a rear-view mirror. Everything went out on the dashboard and the car stopped at the Top of Wolf Creek Pass [XXX] . I got out of the car and saw a…”

“On 6/9/2010 I was accelerating up a ramp to merge with traffic on Rt146 north . I had reached the top of the ramp and as I viewed the oncoming traffic behind in the mirror I began to shift into the right lane. Suddenly the engine light started flashing, my tr…”

Toyota Camry

  1. 01POWER TRAIN388
  2. 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER334
  3. 03ENGINE309
  4. 04SERVICE BRAKES288
  5. 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM235
In owners' words — POWER TRAIN

“The contact owned a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH there would be a loud noise emitting from the rear-end of the vehicle that seemed as if the vehicle was running rough. The contact stated that while being idl…”

“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”

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.

RAM 1500 — 126 recalls

Wheels — Hub
#24V794000

The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2025 Ram 1500 vehicles. The front wheel hub encoder rings may be damaged, which can disable the electronic stability control system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electro…

The risk: Driving with a disabled electronic stability control system can increase the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front wheel bearing hub assembly, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this…

Exterior Lighting — Headlights
#24V942000

The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2025 Ram 1500 pickup trucks. Incorrect headlight module software may cause the headlights to become inoperative. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective D…

The risk: Inoperative headlights can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will update the headlight module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 6, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is D4B.

Electrical System — Instrument Cluster/Panel
#26V225000Sep 2026

The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, Ram 4500 Cab Chassis, and Ram 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. A software error may cause the instrument panel display to fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the re…

The risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as gear selection and warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 5, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 35D. Vehicle Identification N…

Electrical System — Instrument Cluster/Panel
#26V225000Sep 2026

The defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, Ram 4500 Cab Chassis, and Ram 5500 Cab Chassis vehicles. A software error may cause the instrument panel display to fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the re…

The risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as gear selection and warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 5, 2026. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 35D. Vehicle Identification N…

Toyota Camry — 28 recalls

Wheels — Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
#23V432000

The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.

The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…

Seats
#24V128000

The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…

The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…

Seats
#24V128000

The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…

The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification
#23V865000

The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…

The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…

Year by year

Which model years to avoid

Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.

YearRAM 1500Toyota Camry
20260100
20250141
2024046
202356760
2022353458
2021662154
2020615265
20191455388
2018644730
2017861148
Years to scrutinize: the 2022 RAM 1500 drew the most complaints (3,534); the 2018 Toyota Camry drew the most (730). Inspect these model years especially closely.

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 RAM 1500 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

RAM 1500 — full reportRAM 1500 reliability & problems 8,338 complaints · all years · NHTSA
Toyota Camry — full reportToyota Camry reliability & problems 2,090 complaints · all years · NHTSA
RAM 1500 vs Toyota Camry — comparison facts
Comparison
RAM 1500 vs Toyota Camry
RAM 1500 total complaints
8,338
Toyota Camry total complaints
2,090
RAM 1500 total recalls
126
Toyota Camry total recalls
28
RAM 1500 avg complaints/year
833.8
Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
209.0
More reliable overall
Toyota Camry
RAM 1500 top complaint area
ENGINE
Toyota Camry top complaint area
POWER TRAIN
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)