The RAM 3500 is a vehicle built from 2012 to 2026 over 3 generations. Most were assembled in Mexico — 100% of those on record. Worth buying? It depends heavily on which year you buy at 3.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the 3500 is
The RAM 3500 is a vehicle that RAM built from 2012 to 2026 — 15 model years. Our measurements put it at 3 generations, the current one starting in 2020. Its closest siblings in the RAM range: 1500, 2500, Promaster City.
Where the 3500 is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 2,229 3500s on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 3C6, 3C7 | 2013-2026 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a RAM VIN decide which of these 3 lines your 3500 belongs to. What every character in a 3500 VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a RAM 3500 adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
3500 generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the 3500's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the 3500 that gives 3 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 652 cm | 431 cm | 3274 kg | - | - |
| 2014-2017 | 600 cm | 404 cm | 2251 kg | -52 cm | -1023 kg |
| 2020-2023 | 659 cm | 429 cm | - | +59 cm | - |
RAM 3500 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment 3500 owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the RAM 3500 have? Power & range
Powertrain data warming… reload in a moment.
The 3500 by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the RAM 3500. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | 3500 | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 162 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 2,289 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,608/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 3,144 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the RAM 3500?
The 3500 is a vehicle, built from 2012 to 2026 across 3 generations.
Where is the RAM 3500 made?
Across 2,229 cars in our records the split is: Mexico (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the 3500 have?
3 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2020. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car.
What is the RAM 3500 warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the 3500 reliable?
It scores 3.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific 3500?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in RAM
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAM 1500 | 2013–2026 | 196 | 26 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| RAM 2500 | 2013–2026 | 150 | — | 4.0/5 |
| RAM Promaster City | 2015–2026 | 20 | 24 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| RAM 5500 | 2013–2026 | 91 | — | 3.5/5 |
| RAM ProMaster 2500 | 2014–2026 | 4 | — | 4.0/5 |
| RAM 4500 | 2013–2026 | 90 | — | 3.5/5 |