Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2020 Ram 3500
NHTSA data on file today
The 2020 Ram 3500 has 11 NHTSA recall campaigns and 116 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #22V904000 Tailgate May Open While Driving NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V835000 Transmission Fluid Leak May Cause Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V140000 ESC Light May Not Indicate Malfunction/FMVSS 126 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V035000 Windshield Wipers May Not Operate Properly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V880000 High Pressure Fuel Pump May Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V439000 Engine Calibration may not Warn of Low Oil Volume NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V398000 Wheel Studs May Break NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V191000 Rearview Image Can Remain on Display/FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V511000 Inadequate Warmup Protection NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V207000 Bed Step May Unexpectedly Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V043000 Transmission Fluid Leak May Cause Fire NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 33 complaints
- Engine 27 complaints
- Fuel System, Diesel 23 complaints
- Power Train 12 complaints
- Electrical System 9 complaints
- Service Brakes 7 complaints
Of the 116 complaints on file, 6 report a crash and 7 a fire; across all 116 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $8,000–$14,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2020 Ram 3500 has an average reliability rating. While it has multiple recalls, primarily around the transmission and engine, the issues are generally manageable with proper maintenance. Complaints focus on the fuel and propulsion system, but severe failures are infrequent.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| High pressure fuel pump | 40,000–60,000 miles | $1,200–$1,800 | common |
| Transmission | 50,000–70,000 miles | $1,500–$2,500 | occasional |
| Engine lubrication | 60,000–80,000 miles | $800–$1,500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Regular oil changes
- Transmission fluid replacement
- Brake inspection and service
- Fuel system cleaning
- Cooling system inspection
- Belt and hose check
- Tire rotation and alignment
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Engine stalling or hesitation
- Transmission slipping
- Unusual fuel consumption
- Oil pressure warning light
- Overheating signs
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2020 Ram 3500 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.