Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot. Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 RAM 1500 body problems
severe Owners of the 2015 RAM 1500 have filed 35 NHTSA complaints about the body, typically surfacing around 43,000 miles at roughly $1,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See body across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
35
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 1500 | 31 |
| 2014 1500 | 23 |
| 2015 1500 (this page) | 35 |
| 2016 1500 | 29 |
| 2017 1500 | 25 |
| 2018 1500 | 10 |
| 2019 1500 | 65 |
2fires
1injury
What stands out
Owners have filed 35 body complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 11 model years of RAM 1500 in our records for body problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering body on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot. Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot. Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Squeak Or Squawk Noise Coming From Either Side Door Of The Vehicle, It Could Be Just One Door Or More. The Noise Can Be Present In Either The Upper Or The Lower Hinge.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Outside Power Fold Rearview Mirror Noise Or Loose At Pivot. Mirror Contacts Door Window Glass In The Folded Position.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The tailgate is the most complained-about item. It opens randomly while the truck is moving, at any speed, on smooth or bumpy roads, sometimes 10+ times in four weeks. Cargo spills onto highways, potentially striking trailing vehicles. The culprit is a faulty latch mechanism—a plastic piece breaks a metal tab that holds it closed. RAM issued a service bulletin and NHTSA Recall 18V486000, but owners say the repairs didn't stick; several report the tailgate falling open *after* recall work. Parts shortages delayed or prevented repairs at some dealers.
Water intrusion is the second major complaint. Standing water fills the cab during rain—under rear seats (2+ inches reported), in storage wells, headliners, and around door handles. The third brake light seal leaks. Frame welding defects and roof leaks are to blame, but dealer attempts to re-weld frames or replace weather strips haven't fixed it. Water damage to seats and carpets follows. One owner reported water pooling while the truck sat in the driveway.
Corrosion is another theme. Fuel tank mounting straps corrode at the frame and pull free, dropping the tank several inches. Owners in salt-belt states report this even with regular undercarriage washing. One found the strap hanging loose; recall exists but written notification didn't reach all owners.
Less frequent but serious: two owners report complete truck fires—one at 120k miles with all gauges normal, another after an engine replacement. Both vehicles were total losses. One owner also notes the thin plastic inner fender (vs. older metal design) offers little protection for brake lines and steering hoses against road debris.
Minor issues round out the list: degrading fiberglass bed covers that shed particles causing skin rash, a broken door handle cable trapping an owner inside, chrome console latch reflections blinding drivers, and a running board that separated due to improper rivet fastening.
Same RAM 1500 body reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Tailgate randomly opens while driving
Tailgate latch fails intermittently and opens during vehicle operation, allowing bed contents to spill out. Owners report it occurs at any speed, on smooth or rough roads, sometimes multiple times per day. Dealerships identify a faulty metal tab broken by a moving plastic piece in the latch-to-lock linkage. Service bulletin issued but no recall effective for all affected units. One owner reports failure recurring after recall repair attempt.
When: First occurrence within 2 months of purchase for some; ongoing for others at 43k-92k+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Tailgate falls open unexpectedly while driving; Cargo spills onto roadway; Occurs with auto-lock/unlock cycles; Intermittent pattern, sometimes 10+ times in 4 weeks; Happens at all speeds and road conditions; Tailgate may not latch properly when closing manually; Difficulty engaging latch mechanism
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replacement of tailgate mechanism (some owners report needing 2+ replacements); service bulletin addresses plastic-to-metal latch design flaw; recall NHTSA 18V486000 issued but parts delayed or repairs ineffective
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service bulletin released (one owner reports ~Oct 2017); NHTSA Recall 18V486000 for structure/latches/locks/linkages; parts availability issues reported; some owners told recall repair didn't hold
Water intrusion into cab
Standing water appears inside cab during or after rain. Multiple entry points identified: third brake light assembly, frame welding defects, roof leaks, door weather strips. Dealer re-welding of frame did not resolve issue. Water collects under rear seats, in storage wells, floor areas, headliner, and around exit handles. One owner reports this occurring while vehicle parked in driveway.
When: Intermittent, during and after rain events; one report at 4,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Standing water inside cab after rain; Water in passenger-side storage well; Water under rear seats (2+ inches reported); Water in headliner and blinker switch; Staining of roof liner; Wet leather seats; Corrosion developing in rear body; Water in exit door handle
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers attempted weather strip replacement, third brake light replacement, frame re-welding by independent source; none fully resolved issue; water damage to seats and carpet not addressed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Authorized re-welding of frame through independent source; no remedy provided when re-welding failed; no formal recall or repair procedure identified
Inadequate inner fender protection (plastic shroud)
2015 model replaced heavy metal inner fender with thin plastic shroud. Plastic is easily bent, deformed, and removed by hand. Offers minimal protection for ABS components, A/C hoses, power steering hoses, and other under-hood systems. Road debris can puncture the plastic membrane easily, potentially damaging critical systems or causing steering loss.
When: Design change evident from vehicle purchase; risk present during any off-road or highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Thin plastic easily dented or deformed by hand; Plastic membrane readily breached by light debris; Inadequate protection for brake and steering lines; Potential for debris to reach engine compartment or steering; Loss of rust protection vs. older metal design
Repairs/costs cited: No repair noted; owner using workaround solutions
Corrosion and fuel tank strap failure
Front fuel tank mounting strap corrodes at frame attachment point and pulls free, causing tank to drop several inches. Issue reported in salt-belt states despite regular undercarriage washing. Owners aware of recall but one did not receive written notification.
When: Reported at vehicle operation; one owner moved from Massachusetts to South Carolina
Symptoms owners cite: Fuel tank strap loose or hanging; Frame corrosion at strap attachment; Tank drops 6 inches or more; Visible corrosion in rear body area
Repairs/costs cited: One owner using tie-down strap as temporary fix; formal repair available through recall but not universally communicated
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued but written notification not received by all owners; recall number identified in owner research
Engine fire and total loss
Two separate incidents of complete engine fire resulting in total loss. One vehicle caught fire at 65 mph with all gauges showing normal; second incident involved EcoDiesel with prior engine replacement—vehicle shut off on interstate, smoked, then exploded into flames in under 5 minutes. Both fires consumed the entire truck.
When: One at 120k miles (Dec 2018); one at ~5 months after engine replacement with only 10-15k miles on new engine
Symptoms owners cite: Engine shutdown or misfire on interstate; Light smoke from engine compartment; Unable to open hood; Melting material dripping from engine compartment; Loud explosion; Complete vehicle engulfment in flames within minutes; Fire spreads to fuel tank and bed structure
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine replacement under warranty for EcoDiesel prior incident; no repair possible for fire-damaged vehicles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: EcoDiesel engine replaced under warranty 5 months before fire incident; Chrysler/RAM declined responsibility for fire; no 2019 EcoDiesel 1500 planned
Third brake light water seal failure
Third brake light assembly does not seal properly, allowing water ingress into cabin during rain or washing. Stains roof liner and wets interior. Some dealers attempted replacement as part of water intrusion diagnosis.
When: Identified during rain events or vehicle washing
Symptoms owners cite: Water leaks into cabin when it rains; Water leaks when vehicle is washed; Roof liner staining; Interior water damage
Repairs/costs cited: Third brake light replacement attempted by some dealers; effectiveness not confirmed in narratives
Door handle cable failure (driver door)
Inside door handle cable breaks, making it impossible to open driver's door from inside. Described as cheap design and common problem. Safety concern in event of accident or fire.
When: Occurred during normal use, no trauma reported
Symptoms owners cite: Unable to open driver's door from inside; Handle cable broken; No apparent damage or trauma to handle
Ram box cover (bed cover) degradation
Fiberglass bed covers degrade and shed fiberglass particles onto skin when handled. Causes itching rash lasting approximately two weeks. Occurs despite careful maintenance.
When: After approximately 2 years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Fiberglass bed cover material degrades; Loose fiberglass particles on cover surface; Contact with particles causes skin irritation; Rash lasting ~2 weeks
Center console chrome latch sun glare
Chrome border on center console latch reflects sunlight directly into driver's eyes, causing temporary blindness and driving impairment. Occurs during bright sun conditions. Manufacturer states this is the only latch cover offered.
When: During daytime driving with sun exposure
Symptoms owners cite: Chrome reflection blinds driver; Visibility impaired when sun hits chrome; Unable to drive safely when glare occurs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated this is the only latch cover type available for the vehicle
Running board fastener failure
Running board detached from vehicle due to rivet fastening error—rivets attached to body instead of chassis frame, causing structural failure.
When: Not specified in narrative
Symptoms owners cite: Running board broke off vehicle; Improper rivet placement
Synthesized from 35 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had body trouble with your 2015 RAM 1500?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the body problem on the 2015 RAM 1500?
It's a meaningful issue. 35 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,500.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 23 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 20,000 and 80,000 miles, with the median around 43,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,000; a quarter make it past 80,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,500 for body repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to body?
No active recalls currently cover body issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/RAM/1500.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.