Ram 2500 — Years to Avoid
Which model years have the most problems and which are safe to buy.
Avoid These Years
2018 Ram 2500
3660 complaints (4575% of segment average)
Main issue: UPON MAXIMUM EMERGENCY BRAKING AT ANY SPEED, THE TRUCK STOPS AS IF THE BRAKES WHERE WET, IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP WHEN TOWING A UNLOADED 16 FOOT UTILITY TRAILER DOWN HILL IT JUST KEEPS ON GOING UNTIL YOU REACH BOTTOM. TAKEN TO DODGE DEALERSHIP THEY SAY IT'S NORMAL BUT THEY SAY OTHER TRUCKS LIKE CHEVY 250
2017 Ram 2500
991 complaints (1239% of segment average)
Main issue: MY ABS TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY PRIOR TO 36,000 MILES. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. WITH 42,600 MILES LIGHTS HAVE COME ON AND SET A CODE. RAM HAS SAID THEY WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. A COMPUTER HAS FAILED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY RAM.
2014 Ram 2500
483 complaints (604% of segment average)
Main issue: DRIVING ON IDAHO HIGHWAY 21, SPEED LIMIT IS 45 WITH SLOWER SPEEDS REQUIRED AROUND CORNERS DUE TO THE WINDY ROAD. I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH AT APPROX MILE POST 26 ABOUT TO ENTER A SHARP RIGHT HAND CORNER AND SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY LOOSE AND ROTATED WITHOUT MAKING ANY CHANGES IN THE T
2016 Ram 2500
367 complaints (459% of segment average)
Main issue: 2016 RAM 2500 CREW CAB 4X4 6.4 LITER V8 - MY TRUCK IS 5 MONTHS OLD WITH 4,500 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM TWO TIMES SO FAR. I WOULD BE DRIVING AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR WARNING LIGHTS COME ON. THE TRUCK WOULD LOSE ACCELERATION AND SOMETIMES THE TRUCK WOULD ACC
2010 Ram 2500
309 complaints (386% of segment average)
Main issue: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 DODGE RAM 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STEERING TIE ROD WAS DEFECTIVE, HE EXPERIENCED TWO FAILURES WITH THE STEERING TIE ROD. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AT THE DRAG LINK TO THE PITMAN ARM, THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS ON DECEMBER 14, 2010 AT THE STEERING TIE ROD
2015 Ram 2500
286 complaints (358% of segment average)
Main issue: VEHICLE IS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH OPTIONAL UP OR DOWN MANUAL SHIFTING ON THE SHIFTING COLUMN. WHEN DRIVING AND IN 6TH GEAR, IF YOU HIT THE DOWN SHIFT ON THE SHIFTING COLUMN, IT WILL DROP 6 GEARS - INTO FIRST GEAR CAUSING THE TRUCK TO REV ENGINE AT 7000RPMS WHICH IS HARD ON THE DRIVE LINE AND I
2013 Ram 2500
273 complaints (341% of segment average)
Main issue: I JUST PURCHASED THIS TRUCK LESS THAN 1 WEEK AGO; BRAND NEW. I WAS SLOWLY APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION (STOP SIGN) WITH VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME; WAITING TO TURN. THE TRUCK SUDDENLY STARTED SURGING/LURCHING FORWARD FOR A PERIOD OF 5-10 SECONDS; NEARLY HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I PLACED TH
2019 Ram 2500
262 complaints (328% of segment average)
Main issue: WHILE DRIVING IN A 40MPH ZONE, THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL (ETC)LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TRUCK ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. AFTER BRAKING AND GETTING THE VEHICLE STOPPED, IT WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. THE ETC LIGHT WENT OUT BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER THE
2022 Ram 2500
260 complaints (325% of segment average)
Main issue: After shifting into reverse the infotainment screen sets brightness to full which at night is blinding and causes eyesight visibility to be extremely low when looking at other views to back up like the mirrors or outside the window. This increases the risk of hitting something or someone when in rev
2020 Ram 2500
227 complaints (284% of segment average)
Main issue: I WAS HAULING A 24' ENCLOSED CAR TRAILER FROM SAN DIEGO TO LAS VEGAS. IT WAS LOADED WITH A CAR THAT I HAD JUST PICKED UP FROM THE PAINTER AND WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING IT BACK HOME. AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE VICTORVILLE AREA ON INTERSTATE 15 THE ENGINE APPEARED TO HAVE A MISFIRE OR STUMBLE.
2021 Ram 2500
154 complaints (193% of segment average)
Main issue: At a stop light after 10 min of normal driving on country and city roads my truck started smoking from front passenger wheel well. Smoke intensified and quickly turned black. Immediately pulled over and found flames burning through front passenger wheel liner and from around passenger side battery a
2025 Ram 2500
96 complaints (120% of segment average)
Main issue: When letting off the gas and coasting to turn on a road around 10 mph, vehicle motor shut off and lost power steering control. Vehicle alerted to place vehicle in park, press break and push start button. Vehicle started back with no issues. Reported to dealer, dealer picked up and stated they could