Dodge Ram 3500

Owners filed 3,084 complaints across 22 model years of the Dodge Ram 3500. The 2012 drew the most (366); the 1991 the fewest (4).

Model years22
Complaints3,084
Recalls96
Fires121
Deaths5

Every Dodge Ram 3500 model year compared

Complaints per year
YearComplaintsRelative volumeRecallsFiresCrashesMost reportedStatus
2012366
984SteeringAbove average
2011225
553SteeringAbove average
2010150
943SteeringDo not drive
2009105
526SteeringDo not drive
2008173
11149SteeringDo not drive
2007210
141414SteeringDo not drive
2006257
11415SteeringDo not drive
2005196
7623SteeringFatalities reported
2004214
7442Air BagsAbove average
2003286
919Air BagsDo not drive
200244
12SteeringRoutine
2001130
1312StructureRoutine
200058
154StructureFatalities reported
1999104
1610Power Train › Manual TransmissionFatalities reported
1998105
11012Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipRoutine
1997125
1124Exterior Lighting › Headlights › SwitchRoutine
1996124
1105Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipRoutine
1995108
167Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipRoutine
199470
172Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipRoutine
199320
0Exterior Lighting › Headlights › SwitchRoutine
199210
0Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipRoutine
19914
0Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle BarRoutine

Which Dodge Ram 3500 years should you avoid?

On raw complaint volume the 2012 is the weakest year on record, with 366 complaints concentrated in the steering. It carries 9 recalls.

Read these numbers with sales volume in mind. A model year that sold in huge numbers naturally accumulates more reports than a rare one, and older cars have had more years to fail. The stronger signal is the severity columns and whether the same component keeps coming up year after year.

Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, September 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.