Dodge RAM 3500 Problems by Year
Dodge RAM 3500 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical RAM 3500 year: 2003, 2012. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2012 RAM 3500: 366 complaints, 8 recalls
- 2003 RAM 3500: 286 complaints, 6 recalls
- 2006 RAM 3500: 257 complaints, 8 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2002 RAM 3500: 44 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2000 RAM 3500: 58 complaints, 1 recall
- 1999 RAM 3500: 104 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Dodge RAM 3500 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering problems | 1,017 | 18 | 47 |
| Power Train problems | 349 | 18 | 63 |
| Suspension problems | 331 | 18 | 9 |
| Air Bags problems | 314 | 18 | 42 |
| Electrical System problems | 276 | 18 | 9 |
| Structure problems | 173 | 18 | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 147 | 16 | 16 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 144 | 15 | 2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 124 | 18 | 4 |
| Engine problems | 117 | 13 | 3 |
| Tires | 88 | 17 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 76 | 15 | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 72 | 17 | 11 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 71 | 13 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 61 | 13 | 2 |
| Visibility | 61 | 14 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 48 | 13 | 0 |
| Wheels | 47 | 13 | 3 |
| Visibility/wiper | 34 | 10 | 1 |
| Equipment | 23 | 10 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Other | 22 | 11 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 21 | 10 | 3 |
| Seats | 15 | 9 | 2 |
| Trailer Hitches | 13 | 9 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 8 | 7 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Interior Lighting | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Dodge RAM 3500 problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
All Dodge RAM 3500 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 RAM 3500 | 366 | 8 | — | Steering | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2011 RAM 3500 | 225 | 5 | — | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 2010 RAM 3500 | 150 | 9 | — | Steering | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2009 RAM 3500 | 105 | 5 | — | Steering | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2008 RAM 3500 | 173 | 9 | — | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 2007 RAM 3500 | 210 | 11 | — | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 2006 RAM 3500 | 257 | 8 | — | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 2005 RAM 3500 | 196 | 4 | — | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 2004 RAM 3500 | 214 | 4 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2003 RAM 3500 | 286 | 6 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2002 RAM 3500 | 44 | 0 | — | Structure | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2001 RAM 3500 | 130 | 1 | — | Structure | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2000 RAM 3500 | 58 | 1 | — | Suspension | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1999 RAM 3500 | 104 | 0 | — | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1998 RAM 3500 | 105 | 0 | — | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1997 RAM 3500 | 125 | 1 | — | Power Train | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1996 RAM 3500 | 124 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1995 RAM 3500 | 108 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Fewer complaints than other years |
More from Dodge: all Dodge models · Dodge VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Dodge RAM 3500 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2003 (286), 2012 (366) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical RAM 3500 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Dodge RAM 3500?
Steering, with 1,017 complaints across 18 model years.
How many recalls does the Dodge RAM 3500 have?
32 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.