The 2018 draws 3.06 complaints per run and the 2015 1.41, a 2.2-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age, so 62.3% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Service Brakes, with 980 complaints, typically at 5 years.
RAM 3500 years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 27 | 19 | too new | |
| 2025 | 42 | 24 | too new | |
| 2024 | 43 | 31 | too new | |
| 2023 | 16 | 16 | too new | |
| 2022 | 188 | 108 | too new | |
| 2021 | 60 | 51 | too new | |
| 2020 | 115 | 81 | yes | |
| 2019 | 133 | 89 | yes | |
| 2018 | 801 | 262 | yes | |
| 2017 | 303 | 159 | yes | |
| 2016 | 130 | 87 | yes | |
| 2015 | 128 | 91 | yes | |
| 2014 | 193 | 131 | yes | |
| 2013 | 108 | 76 | yes |
Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2018 3500 asks a median $35,995, against $34,995 for a 2019, the next model year: about the same, so the price shows no discount for its complaint record.
Among the 4 RAM 3500 years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2018, 2017, 2014; the three worth hunting are 2015, 2014, 2017.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 9.1% | covered | |
| 1 year | 25.9% | covered | |
| 2 years | 37.7% | covered | |
| 3 years | 47.4% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 59.1% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 73.1% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 86.5% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 93.7% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 97.7% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 99.1% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 99.6% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 99.8% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 100% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 37.7% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 62.3% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 24% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the RAM 3500, the early trouble is Electrical System and Power Train — reported at around 3.3 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Service Brakes at 5 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 5 yrs | 26 | 3 | |
| Electrical System | 3.3 yrs | 5 | 19 | |
| Power Train | 2.1 yrs | 9 | 4 | |
| Engine | 2.8 yrs | 3 | 22 | |
| Steering | 3.5 yrs | 10 | 3 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4.1 yrs | 3 | — | |
| Hydraulic | 6 yrs | 4 | 1 | |
| Unknown Or Other | 3.3 yrs | 10 | 11 |
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
Is the RAM 3500 reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.87 against 3.73 for the average car.
Which 3500 years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2018, 2017, 2014. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2015, 2014, 2017. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do 3500 problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 4 years of age. The most reported system is Service Brakes, typically at 5 years, followed by Electrical System.
Will the warranty cover 3500 problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 37.7% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 24% of the complaints here.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.