2023 Ram 1500 Safety and Reliability

Just like the level of luxury depends on the trim, so does the safety. The 2023 Quad Cab received an overall four-star safety rating from the NHTSA, while the Ram 1500 safety review for the family-oriented Crew Cab was a better, full five stars. The IIHS gave the 2022 Ram 1500 Crew Cab a Top Safety Pick rating, but this is only applicable to models with the optional front crash-prevention driver-assistance features and LED headlights. The Quad Cab did not receive the same prestigious rating, but it registered Good scores across all the major crashworthiness tests. The standard headlights were rated as Marginal, however.

All new Ram 1500 models get six airbags, ABS, traction and stability control, and a rearview camera. Most of the driver-assistance features are only available as optional extras, which is disappointing considering Ford adds pre-collision assistance with automatic emergency braking as standard on all F-150 models. Forward-collision mitigation is standard fitment on the Laramie trim and above. The Limited model comes as standard with blind-spot monitoring including trailer coverage.

Ram has good optional safety packages, however. The tech includes a full-color head-up display, a digital rearview mirror, trailer tire-pressure monitoring, and a system that will reverse a trailer on your behalf.

The Ram 1500 received 81 out of a possible 100 marks overall in the 2022 J.D. Power Ownership Survey, with 80/100 for the Quality & Reliability rating. There was no 2023 rating yet at the time of writing. Chevrolet's 2023 Sierra has been rated and achieved 85 and 87, respectively. The new Ram had a lot of teething problems in the beginning, with over 20 recalls for the 2019 model, dropping to eight for the 2020 and 2021 models and five for the 2022 models. These were for problems with the seatbelt pretensioners, a backup camera display that fails, faulty fuel pumps, an inoperable defogging system, and a tailgate that might open while driving. The 2023 model has been free of recalls at the time of writing.

Hopefully, most of the truck's issues have been resolved. While there were numerous problems, we feel duty-bound to point out that none are related to the coil-spring rear suspension. It seems like it's up to the task after all, despite the doubters' misgivings.

The 1500 is covered by a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.