Ram 2500 Years to Avoid
Avoid: 2017, 2018, 2022 — based on 5,555 NHTSA complaints across 18 model years (2008–2025), severity-weighted and adjusted for time on the road.
Based on CarWhere's analysis of 5,555 NHTSA complaints, the Ram 2500 years to avoid are 2017, 2018 and 2022 — the worst logged up to 15.1× the model's median severity-weighted complaint rate. Updated November 2026.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of November 2026 · How we rate model years
No standout best year
Year-by-year verdict
| Model year | Complaints | Severe | Recalls | Verdict | Problems & recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | — |
| 2009 | 5 | 5 | 1 | N/A | — |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 4 | N/A | — |
| 2011 | 298 | 266 | 4 | CAUTION | — |
| 2012 | 283 | 219 | 5 | CAUTION | — |
| 2013 | 178 | 115 | 16 | SOLID | — |
| 2014 | 341 | 235 | 16 | CAUTION | — |
| 2015 | 214 | 141 | 15 | SOLID | 2015 2500 problems → |
| 2016 | 258 | 188 | 14 | CAUTION | 2016 2500 problems → |
| 2017 | 694 | 625 | 12 | AVOID | 2017 2500 problems → |
| 2018 | 2,591 | 2,460 | 10 | AVOID | 2018 2500 problems → |
| 2019 | 193 | 129 | 12 | CAUTION | 2019 2500 problems → |
| 2020 | 162 | 119 | 10 | CAUTION | 2020 2500 problems → |
| 2021 | 108 | 72 | 8 | CAUTION | 2021 2500 problems → |
| 2022 | 181 | 115 | 12 | AVOID | 2022 2500 problems → |
| 2023 | 49 | 32 | 8 | SOLID | 2023 2500 problems → |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 5 | N/A | 2024 2500 problems → |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 6 | N/A | 2025 2500 problems → |
"Severe" = complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury, or a safety-critical component. Verdicts compare each year against the rest of the Ram 2500. Full methodology.
2500 problems by model year
Each year has its own page with the complaint components, NHTSA recall campaigns, service-bulletin count, a comparison with the year before and after, and what to check on a used one.
Why these years stand out
2017 Ram 2500: 694 owner complaints on federal record, 625 of them severe, plus 12 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Ram 2500.
2018 Ram 2500: 2,591 owner complaints on federal record, 2,460 of them severe, plus 10 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Ram 2500.
2022 Ram 2500: 181 owner complaints on federal record, 115 of them severe, plus 12 recall campaigns — among the highest severity-weighted rates for the Ram 2500.
Know what to pay for the right Ram 2500 — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
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Buying a used Ram 2500? See what the seller isn't telling you.
The CarWhere Used Car Report checks salvage records, salvage-auction listings, stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail, and full market history for one VIN — $16.99, one time.
FAQ
What years of the Ram 2500 should you avoid?
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall data, the Ram 2500 years to avoid are 2017, 2018 and 2022 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates. See the year-by-year table for the full picture.
What are the best years for the Ram 2500?
No single Ram 2500 year stands out as a clear "best" in the federal data yet; the year-by-year table shows the full spread of verdicts.
How is the Ram 2500 verdict calculated?
Each model year's NHTSA owner complaints are weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries, and safety-critical components count more), converted to a rate per year on the road, and compared against the rest of the Ram 2500's own history, then adjusted for recalls. Full method at /research/years-to-avoid/methodology.
How do I check a specific Ram 2500 before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for that exact VIN plus a market price check from verified buyers.
Is the Ram 2500 reliable?
The Ram 2500's reliability depends heavily on the model year. Across 5,555 NHTSA owner complaints, 2017, 2018 and 2022 rate "avoid" — see the year-by-year verdicts above.
What are the most common problems with the Ram 2500?
Owner complaints for the Ram 2500 are spread across components without a single dominant failure; see the year-by-year table and known-issue cards above for the federal record.
Sources & data notes
All figures are drawn from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Office of Defects Investigation — owner-filed complaints and recall campaigns — covering the Ram 2500 across every model year on record. Retrieved November 2026. Counts are raw federal filings and are not adjusted for the number of vehicles sold or registered; a verdict compares each model year against the rest of the Ram 2500, not against other vehicles. Full scoring at the methodology page.
Verify the flagged years in NHTSA's public database:
Verdicts are computed from federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, refreshed monthly. Read the full methodology.