Best Ram 2500 Years to Buy
No single Ram 2500 year separates clearly from the pack in federal data yet — the year-by-year record below shows the full spread, with 2017, 2018 and 2022 the only years to actively avoid.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of October 2026 · How we rate model years
Buy these years
Every Ram 2500 year, ranked by federal record
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Recalls | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 6 | OK |
| 2024 | 0 | 5 | OK |
| 2023 | 49 | 8 | OK |
| 2022 | 181 | 12 | AVOID |
| 2021 | 108 | 8 | OK |
| 2020 | 162 | 10 | OK |
| 2019 | 193 | 12 | OK |
| 2018 | 2,591 | 10 | AVOID |
| 2017 | 694 | 12 | AVOID |
| 2016 | 258 | 14 | OK |
| 2015 | 214 | 15 | OK |
| 2014 | 341 | 16 | OK |
| 2013 | 178 | 16 | OK |
| 2012 | 283 | 5 | OK |
| 2011 | 298 | 4 | OK |
| 2010 | 0 | 4 | OK |
| 2009 | 5 | 1 | OK |
| 2008 | 0 | 0 | OK |
Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume; verdicts are severity-weighted rates per year on the road, compared within the model’s own history.
Picked your Ram 2500 year? Have the agent negotiate it.
Our AI agent emails the dealers, negotiates in writing, and brings you itemized out-the-door quotes — you approve every move. No calls, no showroom, your info stays private.
CarWhere AI Car Buying — $34.99/month, cancel anytime.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best year for the Ram 2500?
Federal data doesn't crown a single Ram 2500 year yet; recent years generally carry the cleanest records. See the year-by-year table for the full picture.
Which Ram 2500 years should I avoid?
2017, 2018 and 2022 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates. The full breakdown is on our Ram 2500 years-to-avoid page.
Is a used Ram 2500 a good buy?
Year-dependent. Across 5,555 NHTSA owner complaints on record, the spread between the cleanest and worst Ram 2500 years is significant — pick from the best-year list, confirm the specific car's history by VIN, and negotiate from what buyers actually paid rather than asking prices.
How do I buy the best Ram 2500 year for the right price?
Two steps: verify the exact car (free VIN decode, then the recall/complaint record for that VIN), and negotiate the out-the-door price in writing. CarWhere's AI car-buying agent does the second part for you — it contacts dealers about the exact Ram 2500 you pick, requests written itemized out-the-door quotes, and negotiates them down while you approve every message ($34.99/month, includes Pro pricing data).