Ram

3500

Heavy Duty Pickup Truck · model years 2013 to 2026

See all 91 3500 trims All Ram cars

The verdict

Best year: 2026. complaints: 28, below this model's typical 122; recalls: 4, below this model's typical 12.

Worst year: 2018. complaints: 811, about 6.7x this model's typical 122; recalls: 10, below this model's typical 12.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Ram 3500
Year	Trims	HP	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	Top complaints
2013	7Diesel	no data	16	115	3 (1 open)	STEERING 21%, ENGINE 15%, SUSPENSION 10%
complaints: 115, below this model's typical 142 recalls: 16, above this model's typical 12 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 complaints reporting a fire: 7 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 36 of 100, where higher is better.
2014	6Diesel	no data	15	202	4 (1 open)	STEERING 14%, POWER TRAIN 13%, SUSPENSION 11%
complaints: 202, about 1.7x this model's typical 122 recalls: 15, above this model's typical 12 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 9 complaints reporting a fire: 7 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 23 of 100, where higher is better.
2015	6Diesel	no data	14	137	4 (1 open)	POWER TRAIN 15%, ENGINE 14%, SERVICE BRAKES 12%
complaints: 137, above this model's typical 122 recalls: 14, above this model's typical 12 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 5 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 49 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	6Diesel	no data	14	134	3 (1 open)	STEERING 16%, ENGINE 12%, WHEELS 12%
complaints: 134, above this model's typical 122 recalls: 14, above this model's typical 12 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 complaints reporting a fire: 5 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 45 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	5Diesel	385	12	316	4 (1 open)	SERVICE BRAKES 33%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 11%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%
complaints: 316, about 3.1x this model's typical 101 recalls: 12, in line with this model's typical 12 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 complaints reporting a fire: 1 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 15 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	6Diesel	385	10	811	4 (1 open)	SERVICE BRAKES 43%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 12%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%
complaints: 811, about 6.7x this model's typical 122 recalls: 10, below this model's typical 12 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 complaints reporting a fire: 2 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	6Diesel	no data	14	138	2 (1 open)	FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL 15%, ENGINE 12%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 12%
complaints: 138, above this model's typical 122 recalls: 14, above this model's typical 12 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 9 complaints reporting a fire: 5 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 41 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	6Diesel	no data	11	116	2 (1 open)	FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 21%, ENGINE 17%, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL 15%
complaints: 116, below this model's typical 122 recalls: 11, below this model's typical 12 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 complaints reporting a fire: 7 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 55 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	7Diesel, Gas	370	9	62	1 (1 open)	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 19%, POWER TRAIN 12%, ENGINE 11%
complaints: 62, below this model's typical 142 recalls: 9, below this model's typical 12 complaints reporting a fire: 4 NHTSA advised parking the 2021 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 43 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	9Diesel	370	12	191	2 (2 open)	POWER TRAIN 49%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%, ENGINE 10%
complaints: 191, above this model's typical 183 recalls: 12, in line with this model's typical 12 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 complaints reporting a fire: 5 NHTSA advised parking the 2022 model year outdoors over fire risk open NHTSA investigations: 2 Score: 16 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	6Diesel	370	5	17	0	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, ENGINE 13%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 13%
complaints: 17, below this model's typical 122 recalls: 5, below this model's typical 12 NHTSA advised parking the 2023 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 64 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	9Diesel, Gas	370	2	46	0	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 18%, SERVICE BRAKES 17%, ENGINE 9%
complaints: 46, below this model's typical 183 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 12 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 80 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	6Diesel, Gas	no data	5	43	0	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 30%, SERVICE BRAKES 20%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 10%
complaints: 43, below this model's typical 122 recalls: 5, below this model's typical 12 Score: 86 of 100, where higher is better.
2026	6Diesel	430	4	28	0	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 31%, SERVICE BRAKES 15%, POWER TRAIN 9%
complaints: 28, below this model's typical 122 recalls: 4, below this model's typical 12 Score: 89 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Owner complaints2013: 115 to 2026: 28

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Ram 3500 to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.