MODELYEARINDEX

Which Ram 3500 years to avoid

Across 12 scored model years, the 2012, 2014 and 2020 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Ram 3500 Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2012 vs model median 2.4×
Model median3× median
Steering 203
Fuel System 33
Suspension 32
Avoid

2012 · 2014

Best

2010 · 2021

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.69× 112 C
2011
1.44× 218 D
2012
2.37× 367 F
2013
0.91× 126 C
2014
1.49× 206 D
2015
0.97× 134 C
2016
1.03× 124 C
2017
0.84× 123 C
2018
0.87× 136 C
2019
1.14× 131 D
2020
1.24× 139 D
2021
0.52× 73 C
2022 P
1.85× 242 F
2023 P
0.17× 23 B
2024 P
0.62× 61 B
2025 P
0.64× 75 B

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2012 F 367 reports · median 25,000 mi

  1. Steering 203

    I was backing out of my driveway with the wheel turned slightly to the right. My truck felt as though it had shifted into 4wd. I stopped, moved forward approximately five feet. Stopped and backed five feet. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Fuel System 33

    2012 dodge ram 3500. Consumer writes in regards to tie rod assembly recall issues. The consumer also experienced loss of power. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Suspension 32

    My safety issue is when a lance truck camper, model 1172 is attached to truck. The cg is 6-8 behind the rear axle (even though both dodge and lance data sheets indicate it should be over or in front of rear wheel). owner complaint filed with NHTSA

5 crash · 3 fire · 4 injuries

2014 D 206 reports · median 22,705 mi

  1. Drivetrain 30

    While leaving the lot I go to accelrate and the truck slowly increases speed and then starts to move. This happens all the time and I took the truck into the dealership and they stated this is chryslers torque… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Steering 26

    Vehicle is designed and constructed with non adjustable camber for the front wheels. This is causing uneven wear to the front tires, outside edge now bald while rest of tire tread is intact. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Suspension 25

    Hit a dip in the road at the end of a bridge and vehicle started shaking severely. I believe this was an occurrence of what had become known as "dodge ram death wobble". owner complaint filed with NHTSA

11 crash · 4 fire · 4 injuries

The best year for the 3500

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2021 is the best-scoring 3500 model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 68.8 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2021 0.52× 73 C
2010 0.69× 112 C
2017 0.84× 123 C

Recalls

68 campaigns on record, 5 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
18V332000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING 2014–2018 4,815,661
16V352000 Park it AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE 2010 4,648,270
17V821000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT 2010–2017 1,482,874
15V461000 EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. 2013–2015 1,416,903
22V904000 STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS 2019–2022 1,224,078
18V486000 STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE 2015–2017 1,149,223
19V347000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH 2013–2018 1,103,209
15V459000 AIR BAGS:FRONTAL 2012–2014 1,059,444
24V436000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2022 1,033,433
17V302000 AIR BAGS 2014–2016 1,021,279
19V021000 STEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:LINK:CONNECTION 2013–2018 795,575
15V460000 SEAT BELTS 2013–2015 667,441

+ 56 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2012 were reported at a median of 25,000 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Ram 3500 years should you avoid?
2012, 2014, 2020 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Ram 3500 model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Ram 3500?
2021 is the best-scoring Ram 3500 model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 68.8 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Ram 3500 have?
68 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Ram 3500 model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2012 3500
Complaints in window
367
Severity-weighted
425.5
Model median (weighted)
179
vs model median
2.37×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
9
Open investigations
0
Score 25.7 F