Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2020 Ram 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500 Promaster. The contact stated that after parking and turning the vehicle off, he left it for approximately 10 minutes. The vehicle spontaneously caught fire. The contact was alerted that his vehicle was on fire. The contact noticed that the passenger-side headlight had smoke and flames four feet high. There were no warning lights illuminated prior to the failure. The contact and a bystander extinguished the fire. There were no reported injuries. A call was made to 911 emergency services regarding the incident. The fire and police departments were on the scene. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who determined the failure was due to the wire harness and headlight assembly. A claim was submitted to the insurance company. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …
The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving at approximately 60 MPH, the check engine warning light and power train warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was losing motive power. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal; however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn to the left or right, and while pulling off the roadway the vehicle stalled. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that there were several unknown warning lights illuminated while attempting to restart the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the E-Torque Alternator had failed and needed to be replaced; however, the part to repair the vehicle was on a national backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owned a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the windshield wiper was operating erratically, the lights began flashing, the emergency lights would not work, and the lock was inoperable. The contact observed smoke coming from the vents and underneath the dashboard. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road where the contact observed sparks and flames coming from the dashboard that were approximately 5 feet in height. The Fire Department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was destroyed as a result of the fire. A fire report was filed. The contact was not sure if a Police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a storage lot. The insurance company was pending a tow. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was unknown. …
The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the message "Side Mirror Sensors Unavailable - Service Required" was displayed. The infotainment system screen display turned black; the defroster engaged to high temperature while the A/C system became inoperable. Additionally, the contact stated that the windows failed to roll down while engaging the power window switches, and the front driver's side seat was unmovable. The contact stated that the failure recurred intermittently and lasted approximately 5 minutes. The contact stated that she suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the failure was a significant safety risk. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the messages "Power Steering Unavailable - Service Required", "Service Air Suspension Immediately", and "Blind Spot Unavailable" were displayed. The contact stated that after the messages were displayed, excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the transmission intermittently surged forward while depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken or towed to the dealer on several occasions. The vehicle was diagnosed with transaxle failure and steering column failures. The battery, transmission, and the radio were replaced on several occasions; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 95,959.
The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact stated that after driving 35-45 MPH, the contact approached a stop sign, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart after pushing the Push-to-Start button. The traction control warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the key fob not recognized message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the failure was due to the relay module and PCM and referred the contact to the local dealer. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the PCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, opened a case, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500 Laramie. The contact stated that the alternator was making an abnormal whining noise. The noise had increased and become louder over time. The alternator was making an abnormal grinding sound. While his wife was driving at approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle lost voltage, stopped, and shut down. The flashers became inoperable. The essential power mode message was displayed. The check engine light was illuminated. The contact had replaced the battery three months prior. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where an unknown diagnosis was provided. The vehicle was not repaired due to the part being backordered. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the dashboard and infotainment screen intermittently darkened, and the key fob was inoperable. Additionally, the vehicle failed to shut off as needed. The failure had occurred on several occasions. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was discovered that there was an issue with the electrical system; however, the independent mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact that the vehicle was taken to the dealer due to an electrical failure. The contact stated that the 12-Volt battery had been replaced three times, and the taillight bulbs and front headlight low beam bulbs were replaced several times. The contact stated that when the vehicle was diagnosed by the dealer for the electrical failure, the contact was informed that the front differential seal had failed and was allowing water to leak into the differential, causing the differential to rust. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the contact heard a loud booming sound. The contact stopped to inspect the vehicle, and it was discovered that the driver's side rear glass window panel had exploded outward causing chards of glass to enter the vehicle. The contact stated that during failure the rear defroster was activated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the driver's side rear glass window panel. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 30,000. The VIN was not available.
Electrical complaints in other 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2020 Ram 1500?
NHTSA has 164 complaints about the electrical system of the 2020 Ram 1500, 26% of the model year's 640 complaints. The component named most often is alternator/generator/regulator (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2020 Ram 1500 electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2020 Ram 1500, though it has 14 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2020 Ram 1500 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 30,000 miles, and 43% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 5 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.