MODEL
Ram 3500 Safety
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.
The Ram 3500 enters the market without formal crash-test data from NHTSA for any model year from 2019 through 2025. This omission of star ratings and a computed Safety Index is common for heavy-duty trucks, which often fall outside standard crash-test protocols, but it leaves a significant gap in the publicly available safety assessment. Despite the lack of crash-test results, the truck's recall history is extensive. A total of 58 recalls have been issued across the model years, with 5 designated as "park-outside" or "do-not-drive" campaigns. These severe designations indicate that specific defects were deemed critical enough by NHTSA to advise owners against operating the vehicle until repairs were completed. Prospective buyers must verify that all applicable recalls for any specific VIN have been addressed. Owner complaints also reflect areas of concern, with 577 reports filed. Of these, 22 describe crashes, 20 involve fires, and 23 detail injuries. While these complaints are unverified, the volume and nature of fire-related incidents, particularly in light of the "park-outside" recalls, warrant careful consideration. The Ram 3500's safety record requires a thorough review of its recall status and reported owner issues.
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.