Full-size pickups · 7 model years, 2016 to 2026
Ram 1500 vs Toyota Tundra: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Tundra looks better on 5 and the 1500 on 1, with 1 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2016 to 2026 | 1500 | Tundra |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 4.7% | 1.6% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 1.6% | 0.7% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 2.4% | 1.1% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 45,000 | 20,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 7.7 | 5.1 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 5 | 1 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system 1500 owners complain about most is electrical; for the Tundra it is engine. Complaints citing electrical make up 24% of all 1500 complaints, against 11% on the Tundra. The Tundra leans the other way on engine: 35% of its complaints, against 22% for the 1500.
Ram 1500Toyota Tundra
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the 1500 is stalling (15% of its complaints), and the Tundra shares it (15%).
| Problem | 1500 | Tundra |
|---|---|---|
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 15% 544most in 2022 · 43k mi | 15% 239most in 2023 · 34k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 14% 494most in 2016 · 50k mi | 9.7% 151most in 2016 · 10k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 11% 396most in 2018 · 29k mi | 5.0% 7719k mi |
| Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing | 1.9% 68most in 2016 · 62k mi | 10% 162most in 2023 · 35k mi |
| Check engine light or misfire | 7.1% 251most in 2016 · 56k mi | 3.1% 4835k mi |
| Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard | 1.4% 4826k mi | 8.6% 134most in 2022 · 10k mi |
| Power steering cuts out or goes heavy | 9.5% 335most in 2016 · 68k mi | 0 |
| Battery dies or the car will not start | 4.5% 160most in 2022 · 21k mi | 0.4% 6 |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Tundra owners report problems earlier. Half the Tundra complaints that give a mileage come before 20,000 miles; for the 1500 the halfway point is 45,000. 55% of 1500 reports and 84% of Tundra reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Ram 1500Toyota Tundra
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 1,335 for the 1500 and 422 for the Tundra.
Worst and best years
The 2019 1500 draws 1.6 times the complaints of a typical 1500 year for its age. The 2024 Tundra draws 12.4 times the complaints of a typical Tundra year for its age.
Ram 1500Toyota Tundra
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The 1500 draws more recalls: 7.7 campaigns per model year against 5.1 for the Tundra. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Ram 1500
54 recall campaigns and 5 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: transmission and drivetrain (9), backup camera (9) and airbags (8).
- 26V-495 (seat belts) covers 5 model years
- 24V-653 (service brakes, hydraulic) covers 3 model years
Investigations
- RQ25003: Post recall remedy brake transmission shift interlock (btsi) failure (open)
- PE24018: Engine stall with intermittent restart (open)
- RQ23003: Intermittent/comp loss of power steering (open)
Toyota Tundra
36 recall campaigns and 1 NHTSA investigation across these model years. Most recalled: equipment (10), electrical (4) and exterior lighting (3).
- 25V-322 (exterior lighting) covers 4 model years
- 25V-657 (backup camera) covers 4 model years
Investigations
- EA19001: Electrical overstress (closed, led to a recall)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of 1500 complaints report a crash: 4.7%, against 1.6% for the Tundra. Fire reports: 57 for the 1500 and 11 for the Tundra. Complaints on file report 7 deaths in the 1500 and 0 in the Tundra for these model years.
Ram 1500Toyota Tundra
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Ram 1500 or the Toyota Tundra more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Tundra looks better on 5 and the 1500 on 1, with 1 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the 1500 has 3,535 complaints and the Tundra 1,550 for the 7 model years from 2016 to 2026 that both have on file, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the 1500 or the Tundra?
The 1500 has 54 recall campaigns and the Tundra 36 across the 7 model years from 2016 to 2026 that both have on file. The 1500 draws more recalls: 7.7 campaigns per model year against 5.1 for the Tundra.
What are the most common problems on the 1500 and the Tundra?
The most reported problem on the 1500 is stalling (15% of its complaints), and the Tundra shares it (15%).
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