If your 2022–2026 RAM 1500 has left you stranded — the engine suddenly cutting out while you drive, a transmission that stutters or slams into gear, a “Stop/Start Unavailable” warning that keeps coming back, or a new truck stuck at the dealer waiting on back-ordered parts — you’re not alone, and you’re not stuck. RAM 1500 transmissions and the 5.7L Hemi eTorque system have drawn a steady stream of owner complaints, and the eTorque stalling issue is the subject of an open federal safety investigation. If your RAM 1500 has been in the shop two or more times for the same problem, you may have rights under your state’s lemon law — including a possible buyback of the truck.
Here’s what the data shows, what other RAM 1500 owners are dealing with, and how to find out free — in about two minutes — whether yours may qualify.
Quick answer: A 2022–2026 RAM 1500 may qualify as a lemon in California, Arizona, or Florida if it was purchased or leased new or certified pre-owned and the dealership has had 2 or more chances to fix the same warranty-covered problem without success. Recall repairs that don’t solve the problem still count in your repair history. The manufacturer — not you — typically pays the attorney fees in a lemon law claim.
What the Data Shows for the 2022–2026 RAM 1500
Across these model years, RAM 1500 complaints cluster into a few clear and repeating categories — transmission behavior, engine stalling and hybrid-system faults, and a long run of electrical and software recalls. The most serious of these has drawn federal attention:
- eTorque stalling — under federal investigation (NHTSA PE24018): On July 19, 2024, NHTSA opened a Preliminary Evaluation into an estimated 150,000 2022 RAM 1500 and Jeep Wagoneer vehicles with the 5.7L Hemi eTorque engine. Regulators describe a “loss of motive power due to electrical concerns causing the engine to shut down.” The failure owners report is alarming: the engine cuts out at low speed, and immediately after, the truck shifts itself into PARK and engages the emergency brake, causing an abrupt stop in live traffic.
- A related 2021 recall (background): RAM had already recalled all 131,700 of its 2021 RAM 1500 eTorque trucks (NHTSA 23V-265) for a separate over-rich-fuel stalling defect. Regulators concluded the newer 2022 stalling has a different, likely electrical cause — which is why the investigation exists.
- A string of newer recalls: 2022–2026 RAM 1500s have been hit with recalls for rearview-camera failures, instrument-panel software, turn-signal faults, electronic stability control, and trailer-tow modules. NHTSA has also opened a recall query into roughly 1.2 million Stellantis trucks over the brake-transmission shift-interlock system.
Here’s the part that matters for your rights: recall repairs are free, but they don’t erase your lemon law claim. If your RAM keeps having the same problem after a fix — or racks up repeated warranty visits for stalling, shifting, or electrical faults — those visits build your repair history. A truck that keeps failing is exactly what lemon law exists for, no matter how many recall letters the manufacturer mails.
The Most Common 2022–2026 RAM 1500 Problems
1. Transmission Problems
The single most-reported issue across these model years is the 8-speed automatic transmission. Owners describe:
- Hard or harsh shifting — gear changes that bang or jerk instead of shifting smoothly.
- Slipping and stuttering — the truck hesitates or shudders pulling away from a stop.
- Unexpectedly dropping into neutral — a loss of drive power in motion.
- Delayed engagement — a pause between selecting a gear and the truck moving.
Transmission Control Module (TCM) failures and
