Ram 2500 Years to Avoid
Based on federal records, the Ram 2500 years to avoid are 2018, 2017, 2022: the 2018 alone has 2,525 NHTSA owner complaints and 422 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by service brakes issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2025 and 2024 model years.
Sources: NHTSA complaints, manufacturer service bulletins, recall campaigns, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Updated 2026-08-09 · By CarWhere Research
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Service bulletins | Recall campaigns | Avg. price buyers paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 212 | 513 | 15 | — |
| 2016 | 256 | 457 | 14 | — |
| 2017AVOID | 678 | 379 | 12 | — |
| 2018AVOID | 2,525 | 422 | 10 | — |
| 2019 | 189 | 757 | 12 | — |
| 2020 | 161 | 711 | 10 | — |
| 2021 | 105 | 535 | 8 | — |
| 2022AVOID | 519 | 515 | 12 | — |
| 2023 | 141 | 323 | 8 | — |
| 2024BEST | 0 | 269 | 5 | — |
| 2025BEST | 0 | 257 | 6 | $74,547 (47 deals) |
| 2026 | 0 | 149 | 6 | $74,505 (34 deals) |
Methodology: complaint counts are owner reports filed with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; service bulletins are manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA; counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year).
Common Ram 2500 problems by year
Across NHTSA owner complaints, the most-reported problem areas on the Ram 2500 are service brakes, electrical system, hydraulic, engine. The years below carry the highest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
2018 Ram 2500: 2,525 owner complaints, 422 service bulletins, 10 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: service brakes, electrical system, hydraulic.
2017 Ram 2500: 678 owner complaints, 379 service bulletins, 12 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: service brakes, electrical system, hydraulic.
2022 Ram 2500: 519 owner complaints, 515 service bulletins, 12 recall campaigns — most-reported areas: electrical system, power train, engine.
2025 Ram 2500: cleanest recent federal record (0 complaints, 257 bulletins) — verified buyers paid an average of $74,547.
2024 Ram 2500: cleanest recent federal record (0 complaints, 269 bulletins).
Know what to pay for the right Ram 2500 — then negotiate it
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FAQ
What are the worst years for the Ram 2500?
Based on federal records, the Ram 2500 years to avoid are 2018, 2017, 2022: the 2018 alone has 2,525 NHTSA owner complaints and 422 manufacturer service bulletins on file, led by service brakes issues. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2025 and 2024 model years. Counts are raw federal filings (NHTSA complaints, manufacturer communications, open recall campaigns) and are not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the best years for the Ram 2500?
Among recent model years, the 2025 and 2024 Ram 2500 show the lowest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record. Verified buyers paid an average of $74,547 for the 2025.
Is the Ram 2500 reliable?
The Ram 2500's reliability varies by model year. Across 4,786 NHTSA owner complaints on federal record, 2018, 2017, 2022 stand out as the years to avoid, while the 2025 and 2024 model years show the cleanest records — see the year-by-year table above. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the Ram 2500?
The most-reported problem areas for the Ram 2500 are service brakes, electrical system, hydraulic, based on NHTSA owner complaints. See the year-by-year table above for how these cluster by model year.
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 for that VIN — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for the exact model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Where does this data come from?
Three federal sources — NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), manufacturer service bulletins filed with NHTSA, and open recall campaigns — plus CarWhere's verified buyer-paid transaction prices. Counts are presented raw and refreshed regularly.