Ram1500 Classic2023Overview/ram/1500-classic/2023/base/

2023 Ram 1500 Classic

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2023 1500 Classic.

The 2023 Ram 1500 Classic is specified with a 6.0 qt oil capacity and 5W-20 API viscosity. This model year reports 177 total owner complaints, primarily in the "Unknown Or Other" category, alongside 9 recalls. This reliability data marks a decline in owner complaints compared to the 2019-2021 period, which saw a peak of 1,449 complaints in 2019 and a low of 610 in 2020.

Model year20242023202220212020

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque130.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 04892339BE. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tire sizeP265/70R17 113ROEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.0; Optional: 8.0-9.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter04892339BE alt 68191349AC
Engine air filter68386779AA
Spark plugSP143877AB alt SP149125AF
Battery56029635AC
Front wiper blades55277446AC
Thermostat52028898AJ alt 04893865AC
Cabin air filter68548579AA

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length226 in
Overall width79.1 in
Overall height76.8 in
Wheelbase140.6 in
Curb weight4949 lb
Track (front / rear)68.1 / 67.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, 75W-85 · Synthetic · 75W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 · DOT 3 · DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 130.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.8 qt
Brake FluidDOT 3 · DOT 3 · DOT 4
Differential Gear Oil75W-85 · Synthetic · 75W-90
Engine Coolant Capacity13.7 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Capacity18.3 qt
Engine Oil5W-20 · API · MS-6395
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)21.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)9.0 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)9.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)9.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or StudsBearing Cap M6 T30: 7.4 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper BoltsVibration Damper: 127.0 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)22.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)37.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Differential Fill PlugFront: 26.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 52.0 ft-lbs
Differential drain PlugFront: 26.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 52.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts130.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill PlugBW44-44: 18.0 ft-lbs; BW48-12: 15.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain PlugBW44-44: 18.0 ft-lbs; BW48-12: 15.0 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug6.7 ft-lbs; Fill Plug: 26.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub120.0 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub120.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug ManufacturerMopar
Spark Plug Gap0.043" in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant CapacityR-1234yf
Oil TypeND-12

Brakes

Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 130.0 ft-lbs; Rear: 120.0 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.04" in
Solid Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 10.39; Rear: 0.803
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation0.00059"
Maximum Rotor Runout0.002"
Solid Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.47; Rear: 1.27
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.00059"
Maximum Rotor Runout0.0009"

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°15 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°15 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Install all bolts finger tight. Step 225 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
110.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 20.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 90°. Crossbolts: Use new washer. 21.010 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 10,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 10,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miBattery (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 12,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 20,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Parking Brake System (adjust) · Suspension System (inspect) · Tie Rod (inspect)
Every 30,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 100,000 miPCV Valve (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The provided federal record covers model years 2019–2021 only, meaning there is no direct complaint, recall, investigation, or TSB data for the 2023 model year in this dataset. However, the trend across the available years shows a substantial improvement: complaints fell from 1,449 in 2019 to 610 in 2020, with a slight uptick to 655 in 2021, while recalls dropped from 29 to 14 over the same period, suggesting the manufacturer addressed significant quality issues. The target-year complaint data provided (with top areas including "Unknown Or Other" at 16 and "Electrical System" at 14, plus 9 crash complaints and zero fire complaints) appears to be for 2023, though the totals are markedly lower than prior years, which may indicate either genuine improvement, lower reporting, or incomplete data capture. Without 2023 recall or investigation figures in the record, the trend suggests the Classic generation's worst issues were concentrated in 2019, with meaningful remediation by 2020–2021. A concrete takeaway is difficult given the data gap: the 2023 model year is not represented in the longitudinal federal record, so while the declining trend through 2021 is encouraging, a buyer cannot rely on this dataset alone to assess the 2023 Classic's reliability—additional independent review or warranty history is recommended before purchase.

9
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
485
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
177
Owner complaints
9 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 177 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Unknown Or Other16
Electrical System14
Engine9
Unknown Or Other,Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance8
Exterior Lighting7
Electrical System,Engine7
Power Train6
Steering6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 485 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
S2508000025 REV. B2026-07-06Electrical SystemInstrument Panel Cluster (IPC) and Radio Compass Display has Dashes (--)
1131232026-06-29Service BrakesSPRING KIT - DISC BRAKE PAD
1130702026-06-29Electrical SystemSWITCH – HEADLAMP
1130692026-06-29Electrical SystemSWITCH – HEADLAMP
S2208000045 REV.D2026-06-26StructureBackup Camera Poor Image Quality Inspection

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific 1500 Classic. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2023 1500 Classic take?

6.0 qt of 5W-20 API Certified Meeting MS-6395. Mopar, Penzoil or Shell Helix is preferred., per the factory manual.

Does the 2023 1500 Classic have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.