Major Problems with RAM 3500 Derived from Complaints & Recalls
Learn about the common problems with a used RAM 3500 to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.
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Best and Worst Years for RAM 3500
Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of RAM 3500.
Model Year | Complaints |
2019 3500 |
2
|
2018 3500 |
37
|
2017 3500 |
61
|
2016 3500 |
85
|
2015 3500 |
92
|
2014 3500 |
157
|
2013 3500 |
89
|
2012 3500 |
328
|
Worst 3 RAM 3500 complaints
2014 RAM 3500
AIR BAGS
Victims: 5
Mileage: 75000 miles
2012 RAM 3500
WHEELS
Victims: 2
Mileage: 42000 miles
2014 RAM 3500
AIR BAGS
Victims: 2
Mileage: 33000 miles
Browse RAM 3500 complaints by category
Problems with STEERING, POWER TRAIN and ENGINE are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from RAM 3500 owners.
Problem Category | Number of Problems |
STEERING hit a dip in the road at the end of a bridge and vehicle started shaking severely. i believe this... |
326
~ 18900 miles |
POWER TRAIN while leaving the lot i go to accelrate and the truck slowly increases speed and then starts to move. this... |
117
~ 31053 miles |
ENGINE traveling in right lane of 4 lane highway at 55mph. another vehicle pulled out from the right into my lane... |
117
~ 23587 miles |
SUSPENSION hit a dip in the road at the end of a bridge and vehicle started shaking severely. i believe this... |
98
~ 36337 miles |
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM when attempting to cross multiple lane divide highway while synchronizing the timing of the crossing i had to let up... |
94
~ 51248 miles |
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM while under attempted hard acceleration the gas pedal becomes unresponsive for several moments. several times this almost caused an accident |
71
~ 24207 miles |
WHEELS vehicle is designed and constructed with non adjustable camber for the front wheels. this is causing uneven wear to the... |
63
~ 45218 miles |
SERVICE BRAKES the oem trailer brake controller does not work as designed. there has been number or times that i came close... |
55
~ 34756 miles |
UNKNOWN OR OTHER entered my truck to go to work. shut the drivers side door and the rear drivers side rear door window... |
55
~ 45521 miles |
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL traveling in right lane of 4 lane highway at 55mph. another vehicle pulled out from the right into my lane... |
40
~ 28466 miles |
AIR BAGS drove the truck about 25 miles to work the morning of oct. 9 2014 parked the truck in a parking... |
32
~ 39613 miles |
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL i have had an ongoing problem with throttle response since new. there is a 1-2 second lag when attempting to... |
18
~ 5570 miles |
BODY > STRUCTURE i get a bad vibration around 76-86 mph. i originally bought a 2013 dually longhorn diesel brought back 5 times... |
16
~ 41961 miles |
EXTERIOR LIGHTING tl* the contact owns a 2014 dodge ram 3500. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v294000 (air bags... |
15
~ 73967 miles |
TIRES cpsc:i1530237a. 2015 dodge ram 3500. consumer stated the camber adjustment issue is causing uneven and premature tire wear. *ln the |
12
~ 14680 miles |
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL has severe dead pedal. if i have to let off the gas pedal for a second to merge into traffic... |
9
~ 102219 miles |
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl* the contact owns a 2014 ram 3500. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 17v562000 (engine and engine... |
8
|
DIESEL > ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl* the contact owns a 2014 ram 3500. while driving 65 mph the vehicle stalled and all the warning lights... |
8
~ 13629 miles |
SEAT BELTS tl* the contact owns a 2014 dodge ram 3500. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 15v460000 (air bags... |
7
~ 36253 miles |
VISIBILITY/WIPER tl* the contact owns a 2014 ram 3500. the contact stated that while driving about 65 mph the vision fuel... |
6
~ 54549 miles |
TREAD/BELT > TIRES tl* the contact owns a 2014 ram 3500 equipped with nexen rodian ht xrx5 tires size: lt235/80/r17 (na). while driving... |
4
~ 10100 miles |
SEATS tl* the contact owns a 2014 ram 3500. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v533000 (seats) however the... |
4
~ 19156 miles |
TIE ROD ASSEMBLY > LINKAGES > STEERING received a recall in december 13v529000 dated 11/06/2013 on my ram 3500: took to dealer for inspection and the truck... |
3
~ 46667 miles |
FRONT > SUSPENSION tl* the contact owns a 2013 ram 3500. while driving 35 mph over a speed bump the vehicle became difficult... |
2
~ 78000 miles |
COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl* the contact owns a 2014 ram 3500. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 17v562000 (engine and engine... |
2
|
EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl* the contact owns a 2015 ram 3500. the contact stated that while driving the vehicle there was an... |
2
~ 51500 miles |
RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT tl* the contact owns a 2015 dodge ram 3500. the contact stated that the radio failed in the vehicle. the... |
2
~ 37950 miles |
PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS > TIRES the tpms (tire pressure monitoring system) quit reading the tire pressure on my truck within the first few hundred miles... |
2
~ 15200 miles |
POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS > VISIBILITY driver side control for power windows/power locks - smoldered smoked and then started small fire. lots of smoke - to... |
2
~ 70000 miles |
HEADLIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2012 dodge ram 3500 laramie. consumer states problem with the brake controller *tgw the consumer stated a dealer helped him... |
2
~ 4000 miles |
INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2012 dodge ram 3500 laramie. consumer states problem with the brake controller *tgw the consumer stated a dealer helped him... |
2
~ 2750 miles |
RIM > WHEELS the chrome trim in the center console of the 2012 dodge ram 3500 laramie longhorn edition catches the sunlight and |
2
~ 39000 miles |
DIFFERENTIAL UNIT > DRIVELINE > POWER TRAIN tl* the contact owns a 2015 ram 3500. the contact took the vehicle to carlock chrysler dodge jeep ram fiat... |
1
~ 173000 miles |
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES tl* the contact owns a 2016 ram 3500. the contact received notification for nhtsa campaign numbers: 17v562000 (engine and engine... |
1
|
WHEEL BEARING > FRONT > SUSPENSION tl* the contact owns a 2014 ram 3500. the contact stated that the front passenger side wheel bearing fractured without... |
1
~ 173198 miles |
SWITCH > BRAKE LIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING tl* the contact owns a 2018 ram 3500. while driving approximately 35 mph the vehicle accelerated when the brake pedal... |
1
~ 5000 miles |
GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN truck in park stationary but running jumped out of gear due to faulty shifter and rolled down an embankment. extensive... |
1
~ 77416 miles |
LINKAGES > STEERING drag link failed without warning. apparently threads stripped out in the coupler nut resulting in total steering loss. *dsy... |
1
~ 54000 miles |
HUB > WHEELS tl* the contact owns a 2012 ram 3500. while driving approximately 70 mph and towing a 2017 wood deck trailer... |
1
~ 127900 miles |
EQUIPMENT tl* the contact owns a 2017 ram 3500. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 17v562000 (engine and engine... |
1
|
CATALYTIC CONVERTOR > EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2015 ram 3500. while driving the vehicle stalled and the check engine indicator illuminated. the... |
1
~ 20000 miles |
SOFTWARE > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2017 lexus es 350. consumer writes in regards to flaw in the software which resulted in an accident. *ld the... |
1
|
LATCH > DOORS > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES tl* the contact owns a 2016 ram 3500. while driving 70 mph both headlights failed to operate. the contact had... |
1
~ 158000 miles |
SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY > VISIBILITY tl* the contact owns a 2016 dodge ram 3500. while driving 30 mph the vehicle stalled without warning. in addition... |
1
~ 9000 miles |
IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2012 ram 3500. while driving various speeds the vehicle stalled without warning. the vehicle was... |
1
~ 144000 miles |
FOG LIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING tl* the contact owns a 2015 ram 3500. after driving the vehicle the contact stated that the fog lamp glass... |
1
~ 15000 miles |
SIDEWALL > TIRES tl* the contact owns a 2016 ram 3500 equipped with nexen tires size: lt23580r17e (na) the contact stated that the... |
1
|
LOWER BALL JOINT > CONTROL ARM > FRONT tl* the contact owns a 2012 ram 3500. while the vehicle was being reversed the driver side lower ball joint... |
1
|
NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM) > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT tl* the contact owns a 2014 ram 3500. the contact stated that the gps in the vehicle would not work... |
1
~ 28447 miles |
DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE tl* the contact owns a 2015 ram 3500. the contact stated that the doors would not lock manually with the... |
1
~ 7000 miles |
WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2013 dodge ram 3500. while driving various speeds the passenger side low beam and high... |
1
|
ACCELERATOR PEDAL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL tl* the contact owns a 2014 dodge ram 3500. the contact stated that there was a delay when the accelerator... |
1
~ 4600 miles |
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2013 ram 3500. while driving over 20 mph over a pothole the vehicle steered to... |
1
~ 24700 miles |
GLASS, SIDE/REAR > VISIBILITY entered my truck to go to work. shut the drivers side door and the rear drivers side rear door window... |
1
~ 600 miles |
EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 2012 dodge ram 3500. consumer writes in regards to front end tie rod recall part issues. *smd the consumer stated... |
1
|
WINDSHIELD > VISIBILITY tl* the contact owns a 2012 dodge ram 3500. the contact stated that while reversing the passenger's side tie rod... |
1
~ 7000 miles |
BRAKE LIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING tl* the contact owns a 2012 ram 3500. the contact stated that water built up in the rear brake light.... |
1
~ 3000 miles |
NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY > AXLE > REAR 2012 dodge ram 3500 laramie. consumer states problem with the brake controller *tgw the consumer stated a dealer helped him... |
1
|
VISIBILITY crew cab truck. exterior ambient temperature is -22*f. interior temperature approximately +20*f and rising defrost setting fan speed is set... |
1
~ 35 miles |
STRUCTURE we have tried since the recall to get this fixed. we pull a forty foot fifth wheel that is our... |
1
|
FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY > TRAILER HITCHES we have tried since the recall to get this fixed. we pull a forty foot fifth wheel that is our... |
1
|
FAQ
What year RAM 3500 is the most reliable?
Speaking of the models produced in the last 8 years, RAM 3500 models of 2019, 2018, 2017 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.
What year was a bad year for RAM 3500?
RAM 3500 models of 2012 and 2014 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.
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RAM 3500 specs
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Performance
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