2020 RAM 1500

Vehicle Specs & Maintenance Data

Engine Size
Engine
3L V6 Turbo
Oil Type & Capacity
5W-40 Full Synthetic (10.5 qts)
Transmission
Automatic 8-spd
Wheel Torque
130
ft-lbs

The 2020 RAM 1500 maintenance specs on this page cover the key fluids, torque values, and wear items you need for routine service. Use these numbers as a quick reference when performing oil changes, tire rotations, brake jobs, and other scheduled maintenance on your RAM 1500.

For oil changes, the 2020 RAM 1500 takes 5W-40 Full Synthetic motor oil with a capacity of 10.5 quarts. Brake fluid type is DOT 3, the recommended coolant is Mopar OAT (Purple/Violet), and transmission fluid is ATF+4. Always use the manufacturer-recommended fluids to maintain warranty coverage and engine longevity.

When mounting wheels on the RAM 1500, torque the lug nuts to 130 ft-lbs using a calibrated torque wrench. Over- or under-torquing can lead to warped brake rotors or loose wheels. Re-torque after 50 to 100 miles on newly installed wheels.

Owners of the 2020 RAM 1500 have reported 5 common issues including "eTorque System Stalling and 48V Battery Failure", "Exhaust Manifold Bolt Breakage" and "Uconnect 12-Inch Touchscreen Unresponsive". Scroll down to the Diagnostics tab for detailed descriptions, solutions, and estimated repair costs.

There are 13 NHTSA safety recalls on file for the 2020 RAM 1500. Check the Recalls tab below for full details.

Specifications on this page are compiled from multiple publicly available sources including manufacturer documentation, NHTSA data, and automotive databases. Always cross-reference with your owner's manual or official factory documentation before purchasing parts or performing any service.

The 2020 RAM 1500 uses 5W-40 Full Synthetic motor oil (10.5 qt capacity), requires lug nuts torqued to 130 ft-lbs, takes DOT 3 brake fluid.

2020 RAM 1500 Specifications
Motor Oil5W-40 Full Synthetic
Oil Capacity10.5 qt
Lug Nut Torque130 ft-lbs
Brake FluidDOT 3
CoolantMopar OAT (Purple/Violet)
Transmission FluidATF+4
Transmission Fluid
Fluid Type
ATF+4
Shop
Coolant
Fluid Type
Mopar OAT (Purple/Violet)
Shop
Brake Fluid
Fluid Type
DOT 3
Shop
Washer Fluid
Windshield
Shop

Manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedule for the 2020 RAM 1500. Always verify intervals against your owner's manual.

Service Item
Interval
Engine Oil & Filter
8,000 mi / 12 mo
0W-20 full synthetic (3.6L/5.7L HEMI) or 5W-20 (3.6L), 7 qt (5.7L HEMI)
Tire Rotation
8,000 mi / 6 mo
Rotate every oil change
Cabin Air Filter
20,000 mi / 24 mo
Replace more often in dusty conditions
Engine Air Filter
30,000 mi / 36 mo
Inspect every 15,000 mi
Brake Fluid
40,000 mi / 36 mo
DOT 4
Transmission Fluid
60,000 mi
ZF 8-speed TorqueFlite; ATF+4 or ZF-approved fluid
Transfer Case Fluid
60,000 mi
4WD models; Mopar BW 44-40 transfer case fluid
Coolant
100,000 mi
Mopar OAT coolant; then every 50,000 mi
Spark Plugs
30,000 mi
Mopar Champion copper core (HEMI) at 30,000 mi or iridium at 100,000
Serpentine Belt
100,000 mi
Inspect at 60,000 mi
Battery
60 mo
Inspect annually
DTC Code Lookup

Enter a diagnostic trouble code to see causes, symptoms, and fixes for the 2020 RAM 1500.

Common problems reported by 2020 RAM 1500 owners, with recommended fixes and estimated repair costs.

1

eTorque System Stalling and 48V Battery Failure

The 5.7L and 3.6L eTorque mild hybrid system causes unexpected engine stalls while driving, often triggering automatic parking brake engagement. The 48V lithium-ion battery pack fails prematurely, leading to no-start conditions and ESS (Engine Stop-Start) malfunction. NHTSA opened Preliminary Evaluation PE24018 covering approximately 150,000 vehicles. Cold weather significantly worsens battery performance.

Solution

Replace the 48V battery pack assembly. Update the eTorque system and PCM software. TSB 14-010-22 addresses MGU communication faults. Replace the Motor Generator Unit if a whining noise is present. Note: the truck has no traditional alternator; the eTorque MGU charges both the 48V and 12V systems.

Est. Cost: $500 - $3,500
2

Exhaust Manifold Bolt Breakage

The 5.7L HEMI exhaust manifold bolts fracture due to repeated thermal expansion and contraction cycles, causing an exhaust leak. Symptoms include a ticking noise on cold start that may quiet as the engine warms, reduced fuel economy, and an exhaust smell in the cabin. The broken bolts can damage the manifold and cylinder head threads.

Solution

Replace the broken exhaust manifold bolts with updated Mopar bolts (improved metallurgy). If the manifold is warped or cracked, replace the manifold assembly. TSB 09-011-22 covers cold-engine ticking noise from the exhaust manifold area. Typically covered under powertrain warranty.

Est. Cost: $400 - $1,500
3

Uconnect 12-Inch Touchscreen Unresponsive

The 12-inch Uconnect 5 touchscreen freezes, goes completely black, or becomes unresponsive to all inputs including hard buttons. The backup camera may still function even when the screen is black. Owners report needing to shut off the truck and wait several minutes before the system recovers. Radio presets and settings are occasionally lost.

Solution

Perform a Uconnect software update. TSB 08-058-22 covers infotainment system diagnostics. Perform a system master reset if a software update does not resolve the issue. Replace the head unit if the screen shows hardware failure symptoms.

Est. Cost: $0 - $1,500
4

Rearview Camera Wiring Harness Short

The rearview camera wiring harness may short circuit, preventing the backup camera image from displaying when the vehicle is in reverse. This is a federal safety standard violation (FMVSS 111 - Rear Visibility). The short can also affect trailer camera and surround-view functionality.

Solution

NHTSA Recall 22V-693 requires inspection and replacement of the rearview camera wiring harness. Dealers will repair or replace the affected harness at no cost. Check for any signs of melted insulation near the tailgate hinge area.

Est. Cost: Covered under recall
5

Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Software Malfunction

A software bug in the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) control module can disable the Electronic Stability Control system without warning. The ESC warning light may or may not illuminate when the system is inactive, leaving the driver unaware that a critical safety system is not functioning, especially dangerous when towing.

Solution

NHTSA Recall 22V-820 requires dealers to update the ABS control module software. The reprogramming is free of charge and takes approximately one hour. Verify that the ESC light operates correctly after the update.

Est. Cost: Covered under recall

13 NHTSA safety recalls for the 2020 RAM 1500. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov

1

AIR BAGS

Campaign: 25V298000 Date: 08/05/2025

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2024 Ram 1500 vehicles. The driver's side air bag may not be connected properly, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence

A driver's side air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy

Dealers secured the connectors for the air bag, free of charge. All vehicles have been remedied. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2025. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is 08C.

2

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES

Campaign: 24V754000 Date: 10/10/2024

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Ram 1500 Classic vehicles equipped with heated trailer tow rearview mirrors. The mirror glass may detach from the driver's side heated trailer tow rearview mirror. As such these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence

Detached mirror glass can reduce driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the mirror glass, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 5, 2024. Owners may contact FCA Customer Service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is 86B.

3

STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

Campaign: 22V904000 Date: 08/12/2022

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 pickup trucks. The tailgate may not latch properly due to misaligned tailgate strikers, which could result in the tailgate opening while driving.

Consequence

An unintended tailgate opening while driving may result in a loss of unsecured cargo, possibly creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect the tailgate striker alignment to the box latch and adjust, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 22, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is ZB8.

4

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Campaign: 22V767000 Date: 13/10/2022

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Jeep Wrangler, Ram 1500, and 2021-2022 Jeep Gladiator vehicles equipped with 3.0L diesel engines. The high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) may fail, causing an engine stall.

Consequence

An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the HPFP and inspect and replace additional fuel system components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 17, 2023. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is Z96.

5

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

Campaign: 22V638000 Date: 25/08/2022

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Jeep Wrangler, RAM 1500 and 2021 Jeep Gladiator vehicles. A radio software error may prevent the rearview image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence

A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 6, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA, LLC's number for this recall is Z86.

6

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR

Campaign: 21V632000 Date: 12/08/2021

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Ram 1500 Classic, 2015-2016 Ram 3500, and Ram 2500 vehicles, and 2016 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with a gross vehicle weight rating less than 10,000 lbs. The side air bag inflatable curtain (SABIC) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall may rupture.

Consequence

A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the SABIC assemblies, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on October 4, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 26, 2022. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is Y55.

7

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

Campaign: 20V622000 Date: 08/10/2020

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Ram 2500 and 1500 vehicles. 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."

Consequence

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. The recall began November 5, 2020. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W70.

8

SEAT BELTS

Campaign: 20V580000 Date: 24/09/2020

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Wrangler and Ram 2500, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 and 2020 Jeep Gladiator vehicles. In the event of a crash, a front seat belt retractor may not properly slow the occupant's forward movement after locking.

Consequence

In the event of a crash, if the front seat belts fail to lock, there is an increased risk of injury.

Remedy

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front seat belt retractors, free of charge. The recall began November 12, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W67.

9

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Campaign: 20V191000 Date: 10/09/2020

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Jeep Gladiator and Jeep Cherokee, 2019-2020 Ram 1500 Pickup, Ram 2500 Pickup, Ram 3500 Pickup, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge Durango, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, and Jeep Renegade and 2019 Dodge Challenger vehicles equipped with 8.4" or 12" radio displays. A software error can cause the rearview camera image to remain displayed after the vehicle has been shifted out of reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

Consequence

The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update available as of May 1, 2020. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W30-W37.

10

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

Campaign: 20V513000 Date: 27/08/2020

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with adjustable pedals. In certain accelerator pedal positions, the floormats may prevent the pedal from returning to the normal resting (idle) position.

Consequence

A pedal that does not return as expected may affect the vehicle's deceleration, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will modify the driver's floormat to remove the potential for pedal interference, free of charge. The recall began September 10, 2020. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W63.

11

AIR BAGS

Campaign: 20V374000 Date: 25/06/2020

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2020 Ram Promaster vans and 1500 pickups. 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.

Consequence

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. The recall began July 16, 2020. Owners may contact FCA US customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US's number for this recall is W52.

12

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

Campaign: 20V208000 Date: 09/04/2020

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 1500, 1500 Classic and Jeep Compass vehicles. The windshield wiper arm or arms may loosen, possibly causing the wipers to not operate properly and reduce the driver's visibility in certain weather conditions.

Consequence

Reduced visibility increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the wiper nuts, free of charge. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is W25.

13

AIR BAGS

Campaign: 19V407000 Date: 31/05/2019

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 1500 vehicles. The flash memory of the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) may become corrupted, disabling the vehicle's air bags and seat belt pretensioners.

Consequence

Disabled air bags and seat belt pretensioners increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ORC or replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's numbers for this recall are V61 and V71.

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1500 — Other Model Years
2026202520242023202220212019201820172016
See Also
2020 RAM 1500 Lug Nut TorqueBest Oil for 2020 RAM 1500All Vehicles Using 5W-40 Full Synthetic OilAll Vehicles Using DOT 3Oil Change Guide: 2020 RAM 1500Wiper Replacement: 2020 RAM 1500