2020 Ram 1500 MPG
Across its 8 EPA-rated gasoline versions, the 2020 Ram 1500 returns 15–22 mpg city, 21–32 highway and 17–26 combined.
The most efficient pairs the 3.0-liter turbo 6-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, at 26 mpg combined. The thirstiest version uses the 5.7-liter 8-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive and is rated 17 mpg combined. The EPA also rated a hybrid version, the best at 23 mpg combined. That is 3 mpg better than the best gasoline 2019 version (23 mpg).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 2WD | 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 22 | 32 | 26 | Diesel · 390 g CO₂/mi |
| 1500 4WD | 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic 8-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 21 | 29 | 24 | Diesel · 418 g CO₂/mi |
| 1500 HFE 2WD | 3.6 L 6-cyl hybrid | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 | 26 | 23 | Regular · 394 g CO₂/mi |
| 1500 2WD | 3.6 L 6-cyl hybrid | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 | 25 | 22 | Regular · 407 g CO₂/mi |
| 1500 4WD | 3.6 L 6-cyl hybrid | Automatic 8-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 19 | 24 | 21 | Regular · 418 g CO₂/mi |
| 1500 Classic 2WD | 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 25 | 20 | Regular · 450 g CO₂/mi |
| 1500 2WD | 5.7 L 8-cyl hybrid | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Midgrade · 467 g CO₂/mi |
| 1500 4WD | 5.7 L 8-cyl hybrid | Automatic 8-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 17 | 22 | 19 | Midgrade · 474 g CO₂/mi |
| 1500 Classic 4WD | 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 19 | Regular · 475 g CO₂/mi |
| 1500 2WD | 5.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 22 | 17 | Midgrade · 514 g CO₂/mi |
| 1500 4WD | 5.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | Midgrade · 523 g CO₂/mi |
| 1500 Classic 2WD | 5.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 22 | 17 | Midgrade · 513 g CO₂/mi |
| 1500 Classic 4WD | 5.7 L 8-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | Midgrade · 526 g CO₂/mi |
2020 Ram 1500 fuel cost per year
Driving 15,000 miles a year on midgrade gasoline at the September 2026 U.S. average of $4.96 a gallon, the 2020 Ram 1500 costs about $4,380 a year to fuel in its most efficient form (17 mpg combined), or roughly 29 cents a mile.
This is an estimate from EPA combined mpg and the EIA national average price; your cost depends on how and where you drive and on local prices.
2020 Ram 1500 specs
2020 Ram 1500 buyers could choose between 5 engines, according to EPA records: 5.7 L 8-cyl, 3.6 L 6-cyl hybrid, 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo, 3.6 L 6-cyl and 5.7 L 8-cyl hybrid. It came with an automatic transmission, in four-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive versions. The EPA classes it as a standard pickup truck.
| Engine size (L) | Cylinders | Transmissions | Drive | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.7 L | 8 | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel Drive | 4 |
| 3.6 L hybrid | 6 | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel Drive | 3 |
| 3.0 L turbo | 6 | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 3.6 L | 6 | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel Drive | 2 |
| 5.7 L hybrid | 8 | Automatic 8-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive; 4-Wheel Drive | 2 |
2020 Ram 1500 problems
Owners have filed 640 complaints about the 2020 Ram 1500 with NHTSA, the U.S. vehicle-safety agency, as of October 2026.
Electrical system is the most-reported area (18% of component mentions), followed by engine (17%) and steering (7%).
Spread over its time on sale, that is 91 complaints a year: fewer than the 2019 (185 a year) and the 2021 (113 a year).
That ranks 8th of 17 Ram 1500 model years (2008–2024), counting from the most complaints per year.
Of the 640, 24 mention a crash, 6 a fire and 12 an injury.
| Component | Mentions | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 164 | 18% |
| Engine | 155 | 17% |
| Unknown or other | 112 | 12% |
| Steering | 65 | 7% |
| Power train | 63 | 7% |
| Visibility/wiper | 53 | 6% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 46 | 5% |
| Structure | 44 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 40 | 4% |
| Gasoline fuel system | 27 | 3% |
| Air bags | 21 | 2% |
| Exterior lighting | 21 | 2% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 19 | 2% |
| Suspension | 14 | 2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 12 | 1% |
| Visibility | 11 | 1% |
| Back over prevention | 10 | 1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 10 | 1% |
| Lane departure | 10 | 1% |
| Seat belts | 10 | 1% |
| Seats | 4 | <1% |
| Wheels | 4 | <1% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | <1% |
| Diesel fuel system | 2 | <1% |
| Hydraulic service brakes | 2 | <1% |
| Tires | 2 | <1% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 1 | <1% |
| Other fuel system | 1 | <1% |
What owners told NHTSA
On August 11, 2026, following substantial rain, the engine unexpectedly stalled three times while the vehicle was being driven. The most serious occurrence happened at approximately 70 mph in heavy highway traffic. …
I am having DEF related issues with my 2020 Ram 1500 ecodiesel that will ultimately cause the vehicle to no longer operate. …
The contact owns a 2020 Ram 1500. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the steering wheel temporarily seized. The message "Service Power Steering" was displayed. The steering functionality returned and the contact continued driving. …
2020 Ram 1500 recalls
NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns for the 2020 Ram 1500.
The most recent, campaign 26V495000 from July 2026, concerns seat belts.
Air bags account for 4 of the 14 campaigns, more than any other area.
20V622000 · October 8, 2020 · Visibility
Problem: The driver side mirror glass can detach from the backing plate and no longer provide a reflective surface. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: Missing driver side mirror glass reduces visibility and increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side mirror glass, free of charge.
20V374000 · June 25, 2020 · Air bags
Problem: The affected vehicles may have an improperly crimped diffuser in the side curtain airbag which may result in the diffuser detaching from the inflator in the event of an air bag deployment.
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the diffuser detaches from the inflator during air bag deployment, the air bag may not inflate properly, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: FCA US will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side curtain air bag assemblies, free of charge.
| Campaign | Reported | Component | 1500 years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26V495000 | July 30, 2026 | Seat belts | 2019–2024 |
| 25V298000 | May 8, 2025 | Air bags, Electrical system | 2019–2024 |
| 24V754000 | October 10, 2024 | Visibility | 2020–2023 |
| 22V904000 | December 8, 2022 | Structure | 2019–2022 |
| 22V767000 | October 13, 2022 | Engine, Gasoline fuel system | 2020–2022 |
| 22V638000 | August 25, 2022 | Back over prevention | 2020–2021 |
| 21V632000 | August 12, 2021 | Air bags | 2015–2020 |
| 20V580000 | September 24, 2020 | Seat belts | 2019–2020 |
| 20V191000 | September 10, 2020 | Back over prevention | 2019–2020 |
| 20V513000 | August 27, 2020 | Vehicle speed control | 2019–2020 |
| 20V208000 | April 9, 2020 | Visibility | 2019–2020 |
| 19V407000 | May 31, 2019 | Air bags, Seat belts | 2019–2020 |
Safety ratings
NHTSA crash-tested 4 versions of the 2020 Ram 1500; the best overall score is 5 out of 5 stars.
Its Quad PU/EC 2WD and Quad PU/EC 4WD versions scored 4 stars overall.
| Version tested | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quad PU/EC 2WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Crew PU/CC 2WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Quad PU/EC 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Crew PU/CC 4WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Crash-test photos: NHTSA (public domain). NHTSA can reuse a test for later model years of the same design.
Compared with other years
Complaints per year on sale divide each model year's NHTSA complaints by the years since it went on sale, so older and newer Ram 1500s can be compared fairly. Among other 2020 models in the EPA's standard pickup trucks class, the 2020 Chevy Silverado 1500 (27 mpg) and 2020 Ford F-150 (24 mpg) come closest on combined fuel economy.
| Year | Best mpg | Complaints | Per year on sale | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 23 | 884 | 88 | 13 |
| 2018 | 23 | 667 | 74 | 15 |
| 2019 | 23 | 1,494 | 185 | 30 |
| 2020 | 26 | 640 | 91 | 14 |
| 2021 | 26 | 683 | 113 | 15 |
| 2022 | 26 | 631 | 125 | 16 |
| 2023 | 24 | 203 | 50 | 11 |
Every Ram 1500 model year compared →
Similar 2020 models
FAQ
Is the 2020 1500 a good car?
We don't rate cars, but the official data gives a picture. The 2020 Ram 1500 has 91 NHTSA complaints per year on sale (8th most of 17 model years), 14 recall campaigns, a best overall crash rating of 5 stars and up to 26 mpg combined from the EPA.
What are common 2020 1500 problems?
The components owners report most to NHTSA are electrical system (164), engine (155) and steering (65). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many recalls does the 2020 1500 have?
NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns. To see whether a recall is still open on a specific car, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2020 1500 get?
The EPA rates the gasoline versions at 17–26 mpg combined (15–22 city, 21–32 highway). The hybrid versions reach up to 23 mpg combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2020 1500 per year?
About $4,380 a year for 15,000 miles in its most efficient form, using EPA mpg and the September 2026 U.S. average midgrade gasoline price of $4.96 a gallon (EIA).