Dodge RAM Best and Worst Years

Recalls and crash-test ratings for every model year from 2000 to 2012, from official NHTSA data.

Model yearsData retrieved By Sources & methodology

Short answer

Among Dodge RAM model years through 2024, 2002 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (6) and 2010 has the most (17). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.

Quick read

Dodge RAM: Key Facts

Model years with data
13 (2000–2012)
Distinct recall campaigns
75
Fewest recalls
2002 (6)
Most recalls
2010 (17)
Most recalled system
Steering (34)

Dodge RAM Recalls and Ratings by Model Year

Dodge RAM — NHTSA recall campaigns and overall crash rating, model years 2000–2012
Model yearRecall campaignsOverall crash ratingMost recalled systems
2012 13 Not rated Power train, Equipment, Steering
2011 13 Not rated Steering, Power train, Electrical system
2010 17 Not rated Air bags, Steering, Power train
2009 13 Not rated Steering, Power train, Air bags
2008 12 Not rated Steering, Air bags, Engine and engine cooling
2007 14 Not rated Air bags, Equipment, Fuel system, gasoline
2006 12 Not rated Air bags, Steering, Electrical system
2005 7 Not rated Air bags, Power train, Steering
2004 9 Not rated Air bags, Power train, Steering
2003 7 Not rated Steering, Air bags, Power train
2002 6 Not rated Power train, Service brakes, hydraulic, Steering
2001 11 Not rated Electrical system, Suspension, Tires
2000 7 Not rated Service brakes, hydraulic, Air bags, Electrical system

The scale of the difference

Recall Campaigns by Model Year

Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.

  1. 201213 recalls
  2. 201113 recalls
  3. 201017 recalls
  4. 200913 recalls
  5. 200812 recalls
  6. 200714 recalls
  7. 200612 recalls
  8. 20057 recalls
  9. 20049 recalls
  10. 20037 recalls
  11. 20026 recalls
  12. 200111 recalls
  13. 20007 recalls

Dodge RAM: Analysis

How to read recall counts

A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.

What the recalls were about

Across all model years, the systems named most often in Dodge RAM recalls are steering (34), air bags (23), power train (23), electrical system (10) and service brakes, hydraulic (9). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.

FAQ: Dodge RAM Best and Worst Years

What are the best years for the Dodge RAM?

By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2002 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 6 each.

Which Dodge RAM model years have the most recalls?

2010 has the most, with 17 recall campaigns each.

Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?

No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.

Sources & methodology

Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "RAM", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.

NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by . Editorial policy