Ram 3500
Every model year 2016–2026: recalls, owner complaints, NHTSA crash ratings and EPA efficiency side by side, each value traced to the file it came from.
Which model year the record favours
Source: recalls and complaints per year on the roadOn the filed record so far, the 2017 is the cleanest 3500 year we hold, and the 2021 the one to check hardest. The 2021 carries a standing park-outside or do-not-drive advisory, which outranks every other number on this page.
Both figures are divided by the number of years the car has been on sale, because otherwise the oldest year on the page loses every time simply for having been around longer. The current model year and any year under three on the road are left out: their records are not finished.
Which Ram 3500 years reported which system early
Source: NHTSA complaints, odometer at reportEarliest on the record: 2016 engine complaints at 0.39× the mileage of same-age vehicles (median 24,000 miles). Latest: 2019 fuel/propulsion system at 2.33× (41,000 miles).
| Year | Service Brakes | Engine | Fuel/Propulsion System | Steering | Wheels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | — | 0.66× | 0.86× | — | — |
| 2019 | — | 1.79× | 2.33× | — | — |
| 2018 | 1.93× | — | — | 1.22× | — |
| 2017 | 1.82× | — | — | — | 0.93× |
| 2016 | — | 0.39× | — | 1.24× | 0.84× |
Each cell is that model year’s median odometer when owners reported the system, divided by the median for the same system across every make’s complaints on the same model year. under 0.67× reported early; 1.5× or more late; a dash means too few readings. When problems get reported, not how often — complaint counts are in the table above. Across the whole fleet: which systems go first.
What owners filed about the Ram 3500, by system
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsEvery system, every year →The systems the federal record is deep on for this nameplate: the complaints per model year, the mileage owners reported them at, and every recall, investigation and manufacturer bulletin filed under the heading — each one linked, none a failure rate.
| Head-to-head | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 3500 vs GMC Sierra 2500HD · Pickup truck | Sierra 2500HD +8.9 | |
| 2026 3500 vs GMC Sierra 3500HD · Pickup truck | Sierra 3500HD +9.1 | |
| 2026 3500 vs Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD · Pickup truck | Silverado 2500HD +14.8 | |
| 2026 3500 vs Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD · Pickup truck | Silverado 3500HD +21.2 |
In the studies
Source: computed from the same record, method on each pageCommon questions about the Ram 3500
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich Ram 3500 year is the best used buy?
On the recall record, the 2017 3500 comes out top of the years before the current one: Safety Signal grade F (37/100), 12 recalls and 315 owner complaints on file. That ranks paperwork, not condition — a specific car's history and service record still decide it.
What Ram 3500 years should I avoid?
2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 have the weakest recall records in this range — one carries an active park-outside or do-not-drive advisory. The year pages list every campaign, its severity and whether a repair exists yet. Every 3500 model year ranked, with the reasons.
How many recalls does the Ram 3500 have?
Across model years 2016–2026, NHTSA has posted 98 recall campaigns for the Ram 3500. They are counted per model year in the table above, because a campaign almost never covers the whole run — it covers a build range.