Ford F-150 vs Ram 1500
Half-ton pickups · head to head, 2010–2027
The Ford F-150 and Ram 1500 were both sold for 18 model years (2010–2027). Among the F-150's own years, its best bet is 2024; no year to avoid; the newest year rated a good buy is 2025. Among the 1500's own years, no year clearly stands out as the best bet; no year to avoid; the newest year rated a good buy is 2024.
Ford F-150
Pickup · 2010–2027
- Best bet 2024
- Newest good buy 2025
- Avoid none
- Be careful 2011–2012, 2021
Ram 1500
Pickup · 2010–2027
- Best bet no standout year
- Newest good buy 2024
- Avoid none
- Be careful 2013–2016, 2025
How to read this: each model's verdicts compare that model's own years with each other (serious owner complaints per car on the road against that model's usual year, using New York registrations). They are not a reliability ranking of one model against the other, so a good-buy F-150 year says nothing about whether it beats a 1500. (How we judge.)
Year by year, side by side
| Year | Ford F-150 | Ram 1500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Not rated | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2026 | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | Side by side |
| 2025 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 2.3× usual, mostly engine and collision avoidance | Side by side |
| 2024 | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | Side by side |
| 2023 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | Side by side |
| 2022 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.2× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | Side by side |
| 2021 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.9× usual, mostly power train and engine | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2020 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2019 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.2× usual | Side by side |
| 2018 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | Side by side |
| 2017 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | Side by side |
| 2016 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.3× usual, mostly steering and engine | Side by side |
| 2015 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.5× usual, mostly steering and engine | Side by side |
| 2014 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.3× usual, mostly steering and engine | Side by side |
| 2013 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.1× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly steering and engine | Side by side |
| 2012 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.2× usual, mostly power train and engine | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2011 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.3× usual, mostly power train and engine | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2010 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | Not rated | Side by side |
Each chip rates that year against the same model's other years. Tap a chip for the year's details; "Side by side" compares both models that year, trim by trim.
Compare any year, trim by trim
2027: the newest shared year, at a glance
| 2027 Ford F-150 | 2027 Ram 1500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict (vs the model's own years) | Not rated | Not rated |
| Starting price (MSRP range) | — | $42,375 to $99,995 base price by trim, 10 trims |
| Engines and horsepower | — | — |
| Fuel economy (EPA combined) | — | — |
| Seats | 5–6 | 5–6 |
| Third row | — | — |
| Cargo behind last row | — | — |
| Bed length | 67.1–78.9 in | 67 in |
| NHTSA crash rating | — | — |
| Recalls · owner complaints (NHTSA) | — · — | — · — |
Sources: OpenSpec and the makers' equipment guides, NHTSA vPIC, EPA and NHTSA ratings. Cargo, towing and bed length rows appear when we have them. "—": not in our data. Compare every 2027 trim →
Key features: base trim vs top trim
| F-150 King Ranch first listed | F-150 XLT last listed | 1500 Tradesman lowest price, $42,375 | 1500 TRX highest price, $99,995 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | Optional | Optional | — | — |
| Adaptive cruise control | — | — | Standard | Standard |
| Blind-spot warning | — | — | Standard | — |
| Heated front seats | Standard | — | — | Standard |
| Sunroof or moonroof | Optional | Optional | — | — |
| 360-degree camera | — | — | — | Standard |
"Standard" and "Optional" are for that trim as the 2027 data lists it (a package or option adds an "Optional" item); "—": not verified in our sources, never a guess. The cheapest and most expensive trim of each model; every trim is on the model's 2027 page (F-150, 1500).
Known fixes and extended coverage
Ford F-150
23 manufacturer programs on file: 7 extended coverage, 16 repair programs.
- Extended coverage In some of the affected vehicles, an undesirable noise may develop from the cam phasers in the 3.5L GTDI engine. This noise might occur as a rattle when starting the engine after the vehicle was turned off for an extended period of time or… (21N03, 2017–2020 models)
- Extended coverage This is a one-time repair program for vehicle owners that report unintended tailgate opening.Affected vehicles are eligible for this repair through April 3, 2030 or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle, whichever… (20N03, 2015–2018 models)
- Extended coverage Extended Warranty Coverage- In the affected vehicles, if water enters into the electrical system, it could cause the tailgate to unlatch. (20N01, 2015–2018 models)
- Extended coverage Certain 2011 - 2013 Model Year F-150 and 2012- 2013 Model Year Expedition/Navigator Vehicles Equipped with A 6R80 Transmission Transmission Molded Leadframe Extended Coverage In some of the affected vehicles, an output shaft speed (OSS)… (19N01, 2011–2013 models)
Ram 1500
12 manufacturer programs on file: 8 extended coverage, 4 repair programs.
- Extended coverage 3.0L Diesel Crankshaft Tone Wheel Loss of Signal - X94 Warranty Extension This bulletin involves replacing the crankshaft tone wheel. (14-007-21, 2014–2018 models)
- Extended coverage Back Glass Water Leak Warranty Extension XL1 The customer may experience one or more of the following: ● A cracked backlite frame Fig. 1 resulting in an interior water leak (crack is visible to the customer). ● Water leak from at top of… (23-042-24, 2019–2021 models)
- Extended coverage Back Glass Water Leak Warranty Extension XL1 The customer may experience one or more of the following: ? (2309823, 2019–2021 models)
- Extended coverage Water Leak at Center High Mounted Stop Lamp (CHMSL) Warranty Extension XG1 Customers may experience one or more of the following: ? (2307423, 2019–2021 models)
From manufacturer bulletins filed with NHTSA, counted per program. A count is how many programs exist, not how good or bad a model is: a maker that extends coverage is paying for a known problem. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
Which should you buy?
- Buying used, years both are rated a good buy: 2017–2020, 2022–2024. In those years, choose on price, size and features.
- Years to skip: neither model has a year we rate avoid.
- Newest year rated a good buy: F-150 2025; 1500 2024.
- Before you buy either: run the VIN for open recalls and ask the dealer whether the extended-coverage repairs above were done.
Rules applied to the data on this page: no overall winner is declared, because our verdicts compare each model with itself.