Ram 2500: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
10,042 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Ram 2500, model years 2000 to 2026. 6 model years stand out for the engine or transmission: 2004 (transmission 6.5×); 2005 (transmission 3.7×); 2016 (transmission 3.8×); 2015 (transmission 2.6×). Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2002, 2013, 2019. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 2500 | 211 | quiet: 4 of 20 | 2 | |
| 2001 2500 | 468 | — | 2 | |
| 2002 2500 | 155 | quiet: 1 of 20 | 2 | |
| 2003 2500 | 660 | — | 9 | |
| 2004 2500 | 582 | transmission 6.5× | 9 | |
| 2005 2500 | 421 | transmission 3.7× | 9 | |
| 2006 2500 | 670 | — | 9 | |
| 2007 2500 | 362 | — | 11 | |
| 2008 2500 | 317 | — | 9 | |
| 2009 2500 | 218 | quiet: 6 of 20 | 6 | |
| 2010 2500 | 236 | quiet: 7 of 20 | 4 | |
| 2011 2500 | 298 | — | 4 | |
| 2012 2500 | 283 | — | 5 | |
| 2013 2500 | 178 | engine 2.8× | 16 | |
| 2014 2500 | 345 | — | 16 | |
| 2015 2500 | 215 | transmission 2.6× | 15 | |
| 2016 2500 | 260 | transmission 3.8× | 14 | |
| 2017 2500 | 699 | — | 12 | |
| 2018 2500 | 2,609 | — | 10 | |
| 2019 2500 | 194 | quiet: 3 of 20 | 12 | |
| 2020 2500 | 162 | — | 10 | |
| 2021 2500FEW REPORTS | 108 | — | 8 | |
| 2022 2500 | 182 | transmission 2.9× | 12 | |
| 2023 2500FEW REPORTS | 49 | — | 8 | |
| 2024 2500FEW REPORTS | 59 | — | 5 | |
| 2025 2500FEW REPORTS | 67 | — | 6 | |
| 2026 2500FEW REPORTS | 34 | — | 8 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Other Ram models
Ram 1500 · Ram 3500 · Ram 5500 · Ram Promaster. All makes and models.
Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 2000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202022