2020 Ram 3500: Problems & Reliability
AVOID2020 Ram 3500: AVOID — 112 owner complaints, 81% of complaints are severe (crash, fire, injury or a safety-critical system).
CarWhere's verdict score for the 2020 is 2.11, where 1.00 is a typical 3500 year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; the avoid line is 1.60, so this year clears it by 0.51. Severity drives it: 81% of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury or involve a safety-critical system (engine, powertrain, steering, brakes or fuel). Its raw count is below the median year, but it has been on the road only about 6 years, so complaints are arriving faster than for older 3500 years.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), recall campaigns and manufacturer service bulletins, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Model years 2015–2026 compared · Updated 2026-11-07 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
112
NHTSA complaints
2.11
Verdict score (1.00 = typical 3500 year)
743
Service bulletins
11
Recall campaigns
2020 Ram 3500 recalls
11 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2020, reported between Jan 24, 2020 and Dec 8, 2022.
| NHTSA campaign | Reported | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 22V904000 | Dec 8, 2022 | Structure › Body › Tailgate › Hinge and attachments |
| 22V835000 | Nov 10, 2022 | Powertrain / transmission › Automatic transmission |
| 22V140000 | Mar 10, 2022 | Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module |
| 22V035000 | Jan 27, 2022 | Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Linkages |
| 21V880000 | Nov 12, 2021 | Fuel system, diesel › Delivery › Fuel pump |
| 21V439000 | Jun 10, 2021 | Engine & cooling › Engine › Oil/lubrication |
| 21V398000 | May 27, 2021 | Wheels › Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs |
| 20V191000 | Sep 10, 2020 | Backup camera / back-over prevention › Sensing system › Camera |
| 20V511000 | Aug 27, 2020 | Engine & cooling › Engine › Oil/lubrication |
| 20V207000 | Apr 9, 2020 | Structure |
| 20V043000 | Jan 24, 2020 | Powertrain / transmission › Automatic transmission |
2020 Ram 3500 service bulletins
The manufacturer has filed 743 technical service bulletins with NHTSA for the 2020 — more than the 459 of the median 3500 year from 2015 to 2026. Coded bulletins most often cover electrical system (231), powertrain / transmission (110), engine & cooling (66). Bulletins are repair instructions for dealer technicians, not recalls.
The 2020 vs. the year before and after
From the 2019 to the 2020, owner complaints fell 19% (138 → 112) — an improvement. The 2021 that followed fell 45% (112 → 62), so the 2021 has the lighter record so far.
| Model year | Verdict | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 3500 | AVOID | 138 | 784 | 14 | — |
| 2020 (this page) | AVOID | 112 | 743 | 11 | — |
| 2021 3500 | CAUTION | 62 | 564 | 9 | — |
Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Ram 3500 years to avoid.
Nearby 3500 years with a better rating: 2023.
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FAQ
Is the 2020 Ram 3500 reliable?
2020 Ram 3500: AVOID — 112 owner complaints, 81% of complaints are severe (crash, fire, injury or a safety-critical system). CarWhere's verdict score for the 2020 is 2.11, where 1.00 is a typical 3500 year once complaints are weighted for severity and spread over time on the road; the avoid line is 1.60, so this year clears it by 0.51.
What are the most common 2020 Ram 3500 problems?
The 2020 Ram 3500 has 112 NHTSA owner complaints and 743 manufacturer service bulletins on file; the component breakdown is on NHTSA's record for this model year.
How many recalls does the 2020 Ram 3500 have?
11 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2020 Ram 3500, most recently 22V904000 (Dec 8, 2022, structure); 22V835000 (Nov 10, 2022, powertrain / transmission); 22V140000 (Mar 10, 2022, service brakes, hydraulic). Recall completion is VIN-specific, so check the exact car.
How do I check a specific 2020 Ram 3500 before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Sources & method
Complaint, recall and service-bulletin counts for the 2020 Ram 3500 come from NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; the verdict is CarWhere’s severity-weighted, time-on-road-adjusted score compared with the model’s own median year. The live complaint feed was unavailable at render, so the complaint count is the verdict engine’s stored count. Complaints are owner allegations, not verified defects. Full methodology.