The 2026 Ram 3500 presents a below-average reliability outlook, marked by significant recalls concerning brake system warnings and trailer brake control.
Calculated from 10,000+ NHTSA, EPA & owner-complaint data pointsHow we score
Specifications by model year
Every section below is populated from the available EPA, NHTSA, and vehicle-specification data for this model.
EPA-rated city, highway, and combined economy by year.
Powertrain specifications can vary between model years.
Original pricing and model configuration where available.
| Year | pricing | Trim | Note | Series | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | Trim: Big Horn | Big Horn | — | — | — |
| 2024 | Trim: Limited, Note: Number of Seats: 5/6 | Limited | Number of Seats: 5/6 | — | — |
| 2023 | Series: Longhorn | — | — | Longhorn | — |
| 2022 | Series: Limited | — | — | Limited | — |
| 2021 | Series: Laramie | — | — | Laramie | — |
| 2020 | Trim: D2 | D2 | — | — | — |
| 2019 | Trim: D2 | D2 | — | — | — |
| 2018 | Series: SLT | — | — | SLT | — |
| 2017 | Base price: $55,475, Trim: Laramie Mega Cab | Laramie Mega Cab | — | — | $55,475 |
Seating, cargo, and physical configuration by model year.
| Year | Seats | Doors | bodyAndInterior | mechanical | Cab type | Keyless ignition | Seat rows | Steering location | Axles | Wheels | Wheelbase | Front wheel | Rear wheel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | 3 | — | Cab type: Regular, Keyless ignition: Standard, Seat rows: 2 | — | Regular | Standard | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | 5 | — | Cab type: Mega, Keyless ignition: Standard, Seat rows: 1 | — | Mega | Standard | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023 | — | — | Keyless ignition: Standard | — | — | Standard | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | — | — | Keyless ignition: Standard | — | — | Standard | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021 | 3 | — | Cab type: Crew/Super Crew/Crew Max, Keyless ignition: Standard, Steering location: Left-Hand Drive (LHD), Seat rows: 2 | Axles: 2, Wheels: 4, Wheelbase: 140, Front wheel: 18, Rear wheel: 18 | Crew/Super Crew/Crew Max | Standard | 2 | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) | 2 | 4 | 140 | 18 | 18 |
| 2020 | — | — | Keyless ignition: Standard, Steering location: Left-Hand Drive (LHD) | Axles: 2, Wheels: 4, Front wheel: 18, Rear wheel: 18 | — | Standard | — | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) | 2 | 4 | — | 18 | 18 |
| 2019 | 5 | — | Cab type: Crew/Super Crew/Crew Max, Keyless ignition: Standard, Steering location: Left-Hand Drive (LHD), Seat rows: 2 | Axles: 2, Wheels: 4, Wheelbase: 149, Front wheel: 18, Rear wheel: 18 | Crew/Super Crew/Crew Max | Standard | 2 | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) | 2 | 4 | 149 | 18 | 18 |
| 2018 | 2 | — | Cab type: Regular, Keyless ignition: Optional, Steering location: Left-Hand Drive (LHD) | Axles: 2, Wheels: 4, Front wheel: 18, Rear wheel: 18 | Regular | Optional | — | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) | 2 | 4 | — | 18 | 18 |
| 2017 | 5 | 4 | Cab type: Crew/Super Crew/Crew Max, Keyless ignition: Optional, Seat rows: 1 | Axles: 2, Wheels: 4, Front wheel: 17, Rear wheel: 17 | Crew/Super Crew/Crew Max | Optional | 1 | — | 2 | 4 | — | 17 | 17 |
NHTSA safety ratings and listed driver-assistance availability.
| Year | abs | esc | tractionControl | adaptiveCruiseControl | autoBrake | forwardCollisionWarning | blindSpotMonitoring | rearCamera | rearCrossTrafficAlert | parkAssist | adaptiveDrivingBeam | autoReverseSystem | tpms | pedestrianAeb | blindSpotIntervention | laneDepartureWarning | laneCenteringAssist | rearAeb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | standard | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | standard | standard | standard | — | — | — | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023 | standard | standard | standard | optional | standard | — | optional | standard | optional | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | optional | optional | optional | standard |
| 2022 | standard | standard | standard | optional | — | — | optional | standard | standard | optional | standard | standard | standard | — | optional | optional | optional | — |
| 2021 | standard | standard | standard | optional | optional | optional | standard | standard | standard | — | standard | standard | standard | — | — | optional | optional | — |
| 2020 | standard | standard | standard | optional | optional | optional | — | standard | — | — | standard | — | standard | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019 | standard | standard | standard | — | standard | — | — | standard | — | — | standard | standard | standard | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2018 | standard | standard | standard | — | — | — | — | standard | — | — | optional | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2017 | standard | standard | standard | — | standard | — | — | standard | — | — | optional | standard | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Model year reports
The 2026 Ram 3500 presents a below-average reliability outlook, marked by significant recalls concerning brake system warnings and trailer brake control.
The 2025 Ram 3500 presents a below-average reliability outlook for used buyers.
The 2024 Ram 3500 presents a below-average reliability outlook for used buyers.
The 2023 Ram 3500 presents a mixed ownership proposition.
The 2022 Ram 3500 presents a below-average reliability record, primarily due to a significant number of critical safety recalls.
The 2021 Ram 3500 presents a mixed reliability picture for used buyers.
The 2020 Ram 3500 presents a below-average reliability outlook for used buyers, primarily due to significant recalls concerning engine lubrication and fuel system failures.
The 2019 Ram 3500 presents a below-average reliability outlook for used buyers, primarily due to significant safety recalls concerning its engine and braking systems.
The 2018 Ram 3500 presents a below-average reliability profile, primarily due to a significant number of critical safety recalls, especially concerning airbags and steering components.
The 2017 Ram 3500 presents a below-average reliability profile for used shoppers, primarily due to significant recalls affecting steering and wheel integrity.
Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.
Carfocal currently has 10 published 3500 reports, covering 2017 through 2026. Compare the year-specific reports directly to see how reliability, recalls, ownership costs, and value change over time. The newest published verdict says: The 2026 Ram 3500 presents a below-average reliability outlook, marked by significant recalls concerning brake system warnings and trailer brake control.
Published year coverage: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
There is no single reliability answer for every Ram 3500. Carfocal's published year reports show why the model year matters, with verdicts that include the 2026 ram 3500 presents a below-average reliability outlook, marked by significant recalls concerning brake system warnings and trailer brake control. and given the below-average reliability verdict and the concentration of critical recalls on safety-related systems like brakes, the 2026 ram 3500 represents a high-risk used purchase. Compare the report for the year you are considering before you make a decision.
10 published year-specific reports are available for comparison.
Across Carfocal's published 3500 guides, recurring problem areas include Instrument Cluster, Trailer Brake Control Module, and Exterior Lighting (Brake/Turn Signals). The exact risk depends on the model year, so open the report for the vehicle you are evaluating to see which issues, recalls, and repair concerns apply.
Common problem areas found in published repair predictions: Instrument Cluster, Trailer Brake Control Module, and Exterior Lighting (Brake/Turn Signals).