Dodge RAM 3500 Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 3,081 consumer complaints across the 21 model years of the Dodge RAM 3500 (1992–2012) that have at least 5 complaints. 2012 has the most, with 366. Across all years, the part named most often is steering (1,028 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
Best and worst RAM 3500 years →
All RAM 3500 model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 366 | 46,840 | 8 | 312 | 95 · More | Stable |
| 2011 | 225 | 46,350 | 5 | 285 | 47 · Typical | Stable |
| 2010 | 150 | 51,000 | 9 | 224 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2009 | 105 | 49,529 | 5 | 39 | 36 · Typical | Falling |
| 2008 | 173 | 65,000 | 9 | 52 | 57 · Typical | Stable |
| 2007 | 210 | 75,000 | 11 | 61 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2006 | 258 | 79,000 | 8 | 45 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 196 | 82,251 | 4 | 37 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 214 | 61,000 | 4 | 32 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 286 | 76,258 | 6 | 29 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 44 | 66,850 | 0 | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2001 | 130 | 83,238 | 1 | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 58 | 86,142 | 1 | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 104 | 112,000 | 0 | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 105 | 92,090 | 0 | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 125 | 108,000 | 1 | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 124 | 115,000 | 1 | 11 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 108 | 64,870 | 1 | 5 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 70 | 120,000 | 1 | 5 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1993 | 20 | 50,010 | 0 | 3 | — | Stable |
| 1992 | 10 | 187,000 | 0 | 2 | — | Not enough data |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Steering1,028 34%
- Transmission and drivetrain360 12%
- Suspension347 12%
- Air bags316 11%
- Electrical system295 9.9%
- Brakes246 8.2%
- Fuel system220 7.4%
- Body and structure178 6.0%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2012: “The integrated brake controller is intermittent at best. I purchased a trailer and it hooked up fine. Worked fine towing until I disconnected the trailer and seven pin connector. Now the controller tells me there is no trailer on the controller and the dash alerts. Upon pulling the trailer again the controller tells me I'm not towing when I am. ??”
NHTSA complaint #11388248, filed 2021-01, 5,000 miles2009: “I was in a bad wreck on the freeway going freeway speed 60mph I hit a jersey barrier that caused me to roll my truck and not one of my airbags went off this accident happened in september 2018 I shattered my collarbone due to hitting the steering wheel and have had surgery's done and my collarbone will never be the same”
NHTSA complaint #11338727, filed 2020-07, 68,000 miles2008: “I purchased headlights from carid for my 2008 Dodge RAM 3500 in december 2019. The headlights have shadows causing dark spots and a hazard. In the interim, I purchased LED bulbs from the same company to rectify the problem, but the LED bulbs will go dark periodically. Carid will not exchange the headlights for another brand, nor return my money, so I can purchase safer headlights.”
NHTSA complaint #11308484, filed 2020-02, 65,000 milesOther Dodge models
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6,223 complaintsDodge Charger
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About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology