Cluster Message “To Operate Tailgate Shift to Park” Vehicle is In Park
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 RAM 1500 body problems
moderate Owners of the 2020 RAM 1500 have filed 36 NHTSA complaints about the body, typically surfacing around 23,000 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
36
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,500
| Model year | body complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 1500 | 29 |
| 2017 1500 | 25 |
| 2018 1500 | 10 |
| 2019 1500 | 65 |
| 2020 1500 (this page) | 36 |
| 2021 1500 | 21 |
| 2024 1500 | 3 |
1crash
What stands out
Owners have filed 36 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 #2 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.
SWITCH – HEADLAMP
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SWITCH – HEADLAMP
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Backup Camera Poor Image Quality Inspection
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Instrument Panel Delamination Customers may comment on the following: ● Wrinkles or bubbles in the instrument panel cover Fig. 1. This bulletin involves inspecting and possibly replacing the instrument panel cover.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2020 Ram 1500 shows a consistent pattern of water intrusion and operational failures. Water enters the cab through the rear sliding window and fixed rear glass, pooling on floors, staining headliners, and reaching airbag areas and electrical components. Owners report this happening both on nearly-new trucks (5,500 miles) and those with moderate use. Multiple owners cite the same problem repeating after dealer window replacements, and Fiat-Chrysler issued technical service bulletins as early as April 2021 acknowledging "Water Leaks At Sliding Backlite" and "Water Leak Rear Of Cab." Body seam failures and improper welds are also documented—one owner found a gaping hole in the truck bed; another discovered water dripping at the brake pedal from an improperly sealed underbody seam.
Tailgate problems are equally concerning. The latch fails unpredictably, opening while driving at various speeds with no warning light. This persists even in vehicles owners say have already been repaired under recall campaign 22V904000. One owner found visible play in the right hinge due to a missing bushing; another reported being told the latch "passed inspection" despite continued failures. Rear door latches malfunction in cold weather, refusing to open or close. Sun visors detach or fracture repeatedly—one vehicle required four passenger-side replacements. Dashboard delamination and bubbling also appear, though reported less frequently.
Same RAM 1500 body reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Water leaks at rear window/sliding backlite seal
Water enters cab through failed seals around the rear sliding window and fixed rear glass. The plastic trim/frame around the rear window detaches or cracks, allowing water to accumulate on the floor carpet, stain the headliner, and potentially reach the third brake light assembly and rear airbag area.
When: Reported across vehicle ages; one owner at 61k miles, another at 5.5k miles, some within first year of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Foul odor in cabin from wet carpet; Water stains on headliner above rear window; Water pooling on rear floor; Mold growth on carpet; Third brake light filled with water; Wet interior after rain or car wash
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite window replacement as attempted fix (one owner's window leaked again after replacement); TSB 23-074-23 addresses plastic trim detachment; dealer repairs ongoing but water continues to enter
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Fiat-Chrysler issued TSB 'Water Leaks At Sliding Backlite' (April 22, 2021) and TSB Rev B 'Water Leak Rear Of Cab Rear Seat or Headliner' (June 2021); no recall issued per owner complaints; some dealers denying coverage; one owner charged $1,300 for repair
Tailgate latch failure and unintended opening
Tailgate unlatches and opens independently while driving at various speeds with no warning light. Issue persists after recall repair (NHTSA Campaign 22V904000) in some vehicles. One complaint mentions missing bushing on right hinge with visible play.
When: Reported at low mileage: 10k, 15k, 41k miles; some owners report 6-10 occurrences over short ownership period
Symptoms owners cite: Tailgate opens while driving without any warning indicator; Visible play in right hinge (one owner report); No warning light illuminated; Tailgate may strike following vehicles or pinned by trailer; Bed tools/cargo at risk of falling
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported play in right hinge with missing bushing; dealers inspecting latches (one dealership tested latch 3 times, passed, but tailgate still failed); repairs ordered but not completed in some cases; one owner told repair not covered under warranty at 41k miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 22V904000 (Structure) issued for tailgate recall, but problem persists in some repaired vehicles; one owner reports being told tailgate 'passed inspection' despite damage and continued failure; dealers attempting repairs
Tailgate sensor malfunction and warning indicator failure
Tailgate ajar sensor reports tailgate open when it is actually closed, or sensor fails to detect an open tailgate. Warning light/indicator either does not illuminate or does not function reliably.
When: Reported at various mileages and ownership periods
Symptoms owners cite: Tailgate ajar warning indicator flashing and buzzing when tailgate is closed; No warning light when tailgate is actually open; Backup camera needed to verify tailgate status; Bed lighting remains on when tailgate is closed
Repairs/costs cited: One complaint mentions 'one of the 5 latch assemblies doesn't know if rear doors are open or closed'; repeated dealer adjustments have not resolved the issue
Tailgate inoperability (stuck/unable to open)
Tailgate fails to open/release, becoming completely inoperable. Occurred after recall service in at least one case.
When: Reported at low to moderate mileage; one owner after recall repair
Symptoms owners cite: Unable to pull tailgate down; Tailgate stuck in closed position; No warning light or indication of problem
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner reports vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign 22V904000 but tailgate still fails to release; dealer did not inspect or diagnose the persisting failure
Rear door latch and seal failure in cold weather
Rear doors will not open or properly close when temperatures drop below 30 degrees. One owner reports daughter's rear door unlatched and opened while driving at 20 mph during cold weather.
When: Occurs in cold weather (below 30 degrees); one incident at 20 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Rear doors will not open when cold; Rear doors will not fully close when cold; Door unlatches while driving in cold weather
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to replicate problem during warm weather service visits
Sun visor detachment and fracture
Sun visor fractured, detached from mounting bracket, or fell into driver's line of sight while driving. Both driver and passenger side visors affected in some vehicles.
When: Reported at 12k-41k miles; one driver's side replaced 3 times, passenger side 4 times on same vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Visor fractured and fell, obstructing driver vision; Visor detached while driving; Broken at bracket mounting point
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple replacements (up to 4 times on one vehicle) have not resolved the issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers identified as common problem with Dodge Ram and Jeep models; no recall issued; some dealers refusing warranty coverage
Body seam and weld failures causing water intrusion
Unsealed or improperly welded body seams and a gaping hole where a weld failed allow water to enter the vehicle during rain or car wash.
When: Discovered at 37k-40k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Wet carpet on driver floor; Water pooling under floor mats with no visible exterior damage; Water dripping at brake pedal area; Saturated floor pad
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer report cited 'seams in the body that were not filled'; another owner found 'gaping hole in truck bed where weld failed' requiring bed replacement; one owner charged separately for repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer contacted in one case but provided no assistance
Dashboard delamination and bubbling
Dashboard lamination peeling and delaminating with visible bubbling on driver and passenger sides.
When: Reported at 40k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard lamination peeling; Bubbling on driver side; Bubbling on passenger side
Third brake light water intrusion and failure
Water leaks into the third brake light assembly, filling it with water and causing potential electrical failure or safety risk.
When: Reported at 61k miles and in newer vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Water filling third brake light; Brake light failure; Water entering electrical components
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related to TSB addressing rear cab water leaks
Synthesized from 36 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tailgate sensor indicates that tailgate is open, when it is closed. This happens repeatedly, even after dealer repairs or adjustments. Bed-lighting remains on during this period.
My 2020 Ram 1500 multifunction tailgate likely got stuck can’t open
Had body trouble with your 2020 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 2020 RAM 1500?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 36 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the body typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most body failures cluster between 5,050 and 40,000 miles, with the median around 23,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 5,050; a quarter make it past 40,000. 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/2020/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.