MODEL
Ram 3500
NHTSA safety across every Ram 3500 model year we cover.
Across the 8 model years of the Ram 3500 we cover (2019 to 2026), no year has an NHTSA crash-test score on record. 62 recalls have been issued across those years.
The Ram 3500 is a heavy-duty pickup truck aimed squarely at buyers who need serious towing and hauling capability. Sitting at the top of Ram's workhorse lineup, it targets contractors, farmers, and fleet operators who prioritize pulling power and payload over comfort-first priorities. It competes in one of America's most demanding segments, where safety scrutiny matters just as much as capability.
At MotorCaliber, our job is to give you the honest safety picture, and for the Ram 3500, that picture carries some real weight. NHTSA has not conducted formal crash testing on this truck in any model year from 2019 through 2025, meaning there are no star ratings or Safety Index scores to lean on. That is not unusual for heavy-duty trucks, which routinely fall outside standard crash-test programs, but it does leave a meaningful gap in the safety record. What we do have is a substantial recall count: 58 recalls across the covered model years, including 5 park-outside or do-not-drive campaigns. Those five most-severe designations are a genuine concern and signal that at least some issues were serious enough for NHTSA to recommend owners stop using the vehicle until repairs were completed. Shoppers should verify whether any open recalls apply to a specific VIN before purchase. On the complaint side, 577 owner complaints have been filed, with 22 involving reported crashes, 20 involving reported fires, and 23 involving reported injuries. These are unverified allegations, but the fire-related complaints in particular deserve attention given the park-outside guidance attached to some campaigns. The Ram 3500 is a capable, purpose-built truck, but its safety record demands due diligence. Check NHTSA's recall database by VIN, confirm all recall remedies have been completed, and take the complaint volume seriously before signing.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAYReviewers generally praise the Ram 3500 for its commanding towing and payload figures and highlight its interior as one of the more refined and well-appointed cabins in the heavy-duty segment. Driving dynamics are considered composed for a truck of this size. Some reviewers note that the sheer scale of the vehicle can feel unwieldy in everyday urban use, though most agree it delivers strong value for buyers with genuine heavy-duty needs.
- The Ram 3500 has not been formally crash-tested by NHTSA for any model year from 2019 to 2025, so there are no star ratings available to guide your safety comparison.
- Fifty-eight recalls have been issued across the 2019 to 2025 model years. Always run the specific VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup tool to confirm all campaigns have been remedied before buying new or used.
- Five of those recalls carried park-outside or do-not-drive designations, the most serious level of NHTSA guidance, indicating issues severe enough that owners were advised not to operate the vehicle until the recall repair was completed.
- Owner complaints include 20 reported fire-related incidents and 23 reported injuries across the covered years. These are unverified allegations, but the fire complaint volume aligns with the severity of some recall campaigns and is worth factoring into your purchase decision.
Most-recalled year on record: 2019 Ram 3500 with 14 recalls.