Total Complaints
77 filings
DODGE RAM 3500 · model year
77 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2000DODGERAM 3500 carries 77 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 12 fires, 7 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2000 RAM 3500 is structure with 7 filings, followed by suspension:front (6) and power train:automatic transmission (6). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 20 investigation files overlapping the 2000 RAM 3500, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
77 filings
Crashes Reported
5 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | 7 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 6 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL | 5 |
| STEERING | 3 |
| SUSPENSION | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 3 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR | 1 |
AIR BAGS
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP TRUCKS. SOUND DEADENER MATERIAL INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL COULD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE COVER AND HOUSING. NOTE: THE RAM PICKUP TRUCKS WERE BUILT AT THE WARREN ASSEMBLY PLANT ("S" IN THE 11TH VIN POSITION) FROM MAY 16, 2000 THROUGH OCTOBER 23, 2000; ST. LOUIS NORT
THE CRACKING HAS DONE NOTHING BUT GET WORSE. THE DASH HAS BEGUN HAVING CHUCKS OF BROKEN PLASTIC FALL OFF INTO THE INSTRUMENTATION AND ON THE FLOOR. IT HAS DISPROPORTIONATELY DEVALUED THE TRUCK. THE DASH SHOULD BE REPLACED BY DODGE ALONG WITH THE BEZEL ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHICH HAS 2 CRACKS IN IT. THE CRACKS IN THE DASH ARE ALSO WERE INHIBITING THE DEFROSTER FROM CLEARING THE WINDSHIELD WHEN FOGGED UP ON THE INSIDE. THIS WAS PROVING VERY DANGEROUS UNTIL I REMOVED THE PIECES THAT WERE BLOCKING THE AIR FLOW. *TR
Mileage: 77,571
HAD A CAR PULL OUT IN FRONT OF ME AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN CRASH. EXCESSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE, INSURANCE TOTALED TRUCK. ALSO HAD A FRIEND 2 WEEKS PRIOR INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH EXCESSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE, INSURANCE TOTALED HIS TRUCK AND HIS AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HIS TRUCK WAS A 2006 RAM 3500. DOES DODGE HAVE AN AIR BAG PROBLEM IN THESE TRUCKS? SEEM TO. *TR
Mileage: 686,533
DODGE CASE # [XXX] CRACKED DASHBOARD DUE TO DEFECTIVE PLASTIC WHEN TRUCK WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2000. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN AN INSULATED ENCLOSED GARAGE EXCEPT WHEN BEING DRIVEN. DUE TO THE SEVERE CRACKS, SHARP PIECES COULD POTENTIALLY FLY THROUGH THE CAB UPON IMPACT DURING AN ACCIDENT CAUSING SERIOUS TO FATAL CUTS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE DEFECTIVES DASHBOARDS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Mileage: 150,000
ON APRIL 2, 2012 I WENT TO A RANCH THAT I WORK AT, PUT MY TRUCK IN PARK, PUT THE BRAKE ON, AND OPENED THE GATE. I DROVE THROUGH AND DID THE SAME PROCEDURE TO GO TO CLOSE THE GATE. MY TRUCK POPPED OUT OF PARK,RAN THROUGH IT'S PARKING BRAKE, THE DOOR KNOCKED ME DOWN AND THE FRONT TIRE OF MY DODGE 3500 RAN OVER BOTH OF MY LEGS AND MY ARM. IT BROKE MY LEGS BUT DID NOT BRAKE MY ARM. I AM STILL RECOVERING. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS MY FAULT UNTIL I LEARNED THAT THIS HAPPENS A LOT AND PEOPLE EVEN DIE AS A RESULT OF THIS INJURY. IT IS NOT ONE PARTICULAR KIND OF VEHICLE EITHER AND THE ATTORNEY'S DO NOT WANT TO EVEN ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THE REASON IT HAPPENS IS BECAUSE THERE IS NO NEUTRAL BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE. ALSO IF YOU HAD THE PARKING BRAKE ATTACHMENT IN THE FRONT BRAKES AS YOU DO ON THE REAR BRAKES THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD HOLD WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARD. MY TRUCK ROLLS WITHOUT PEDDLE PRESSURE AT 6 MILES PER HOUR. THERE IS NO EXCUSE TO NOT CHANGE THIS REQUIREMENT, BUT I AM ONL
ON APRIL 2, 2012 I WENT TO A RANCH THAT I WORK AT, PUT MY TRUCK IN PARK, PUT THE BRAKE ON, AND OPENED THE GATE. I DROVE THROUGH AND DID THE SAME PROCEDURE TO GO TO CLOSE THE GATE. MY TRUCK POPPED OUT OF PARK,RAN THROUGH IT'S PARKING BRAKE, THE DOOR KNOCKED ME DOWN AND THE FRONT TIRE OF MY DODGE 3500 RAN OVER BOTH OF MY LEGS AND MY ARM. IT BROKE MY LEGS BUT DID NOT BRAKE MY ARM. I AM STILL RECOVERING. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS MY FAULT UNTIL I LEARNED THAT THIS HAPPENS A LOT AND PEOPLE EVEN DIE AS A RESULT OF THIS INJURY. IT IS NOT ONE PARTICULAR KIND OF VEHICLE EITHER AND THE ATTORNEY'S DO NOT WANT TO EVEN ADDRESS THE ISSUE. THE REASON IT HAPPENS IS BECAUSE THERE IS NO NEUTRAL BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE. ALSO IF YOU HAD THE PARKING BRAKE ATTACHMENT IN THE FRONT BRAKES AS YOU DO ON THE REAR BRAKES THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD HOLD WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARD. MY TRUCK ROLLS WITHOUT PEDDLE PRESSURE AT 6 MILES PER HOUR. THERE IS NO EXCUSE TO NOT CHANGE THIS REQUIREMENT, BUT I AM ONL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING AT ALL SPEEDS. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Mileage: 98,000
CONSUMER STATES DODGE RAM 3500 DIESEL POPPED OUT OF PARK CAUSING INJURIES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE DOOR OF THE VEHICLE HIT HER AND THE TRUCK RAN OVER HER, BREAKING BOTH OF HER LEGS. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS SEVERELY CRACKED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 04/30/13*LJ
Mileage: 80,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE 3500. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN TURNING INTO HIS DRIVEWAY HE HEARD A LOUD CLANGING NOISE. WHEN HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE FRAME HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 120,000. UPDATED 07/08/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE NOTICED THE DRAG LINK MOUNT HAD COME OFF THE FRAME AND WAS RUSTED THROUGH IN MANY PLACES. UPDATED 02/03/12
Mileage: 120,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING FROZE. THE CONTACT HAD TROUBLE GETTING THE WHEEL BEARING OFF AND THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WOULD COME OFF WHEN MORE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED MORE PRESSURE, THE THREADS ON THE DRIVE AXLE AND AXLE NUT STRIPPED AND THE CONTACT THEN HAD TO REPLACE THE HUB, NUT AND AXLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000. UPDATED 03/02/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE TRIED TO PULL THE HUB OFF THE AXLE AND IT SEPARATED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE HUB, AXLE AND NUT. THE DRIVE AXLE AND NUT ARE AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH THE DEALER; AXLE $760 AND NUT $31.00. UPDATED 09/19/11
Mileage: 100,000
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER FROM REGARDING DODGE RAM TRUCKS PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED THREE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURES. THE FIRST INCIDENT CAUSED $600 IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *JB
Mileage: 107,456
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRAILER HITCH SIDE BRACKETS FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND INQUIRED IN REGARDS TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V107000 (TRAILER HITCHES). THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
Mileage: 135,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE RAM 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD DISINTEGRATED AND BEGAN TO FALL FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURE ADVISED THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO HIS AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000. UPDATED 07/19/10 *BF UPDATED 09/07/10
Mileage: 55,000
2000 DODGE RAM 3500 DASH CAVED IN , ALL PLASTIC IS BREAKING. *TR
Mileage: 80,000
WHILE TOWING A TRAILER BRAKE LINE NEAR THE REAR OF FUEL TANK RUPTURED CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE FOUND THAT OTHER DODGE TRUCKS WITH SAME PROBLEM EXISTED CALLED DODGE SAFETY RECALL 800 NUMBER WAS TOLD THERE IS NO SUCH ISSUE I OWN A 2000 DODGE RAM 3500. *TR
Mileage: 132,000
DASH BOARD HAS SEVERAL CRACKS. THEY MAKE POPPING NOISES AND ARE GETTING WORSE. *TR
Mileage: 100,000
ELECTRIC SEAT FIRE, SAFETY FUSE FAILED TO BLOW. FUSE BLOCK MELTED, SEAT MOTOR SHORTED OUT,WIRING HARNESS BURNED INTO FIRE WALL, ACROSS CARPET, AND UNDER SEAT INTO FOAM PADDING. TRUCK WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, AND WAS NOT ON. PROBLEM OCCURRED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN ON THAT DAY. UPON INVESTIGATION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ORIGINAL SEAT WIRING HARNESS HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AT THE PLANT. CHRYSLER HAS INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND DENIED ANY LIABILITY, AND HAS FAILED TO OFFER ANY CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. YET ON 2-20-2008 THEIR PARTS MANAGER ADMITTED THAT THEY HAD REROUTED THE NEW WIRING HARNESS WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO, AND FURTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES ARE STILL OCCURRING. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A TRUCK FOR 6 WEEKS NOW, AND MY STATE FARM INSURANCE IS HAVING TO COVER AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURE FLAW. *TR
Mileage: 106,000
ELECTRIC SEAT FIRE, SAFETY FUSE FAILED TO BLOW. FUSE BLOCK MELTED, SEAT MOTOR SHORTED OUT,WIRING HARNESS BURNED INTO FIRE WALL, ACROSS CARPET, AND UNDER SEAT INTO FOAM PADDING. TRUCK WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, AND WAS NOT ON. PROBLEM OCCURRED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN ON THAT DAY. UPON INVESTIGATION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ORIGINAL SEAT WIRING HARNESS HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED AT THE PLANT. CHRYSLER HAS INSPECTED THE TRUCK AND DENIED ANY LIABILITY, AND HAS FAILED TO OFFER ANY CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. YET ON 2-20-2008 THEIR PARTS MANAGER ADMITTED THAT THEY HAD REROUTED THE NEW WIRING HARNESS WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO, AND FURTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES ARE STILL OCCURRING. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A TRUCK FOR 6 WEEKS NOW, AND MY STATE FARM INSURANCE IS HAVING TO COVER AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURE FLAW. *TR
Mileage: 106,000
2000 DODGE RAM 3500 QUAD CAB/ELECTRIC SEAT WIRING HARNESS FIRE. SAFETY FUSE FAILED, THUS RESULTING IN SMOLDERING FIRE BETWEEN SEAT FOAM AND ALONG CARPET BELOW THE SEAT. HARNESS WAS INSTALLED OVER METAL FRAME, AND COMPROMISED WHEN ANYONE WOULD SET ON THE SET. OVER TIME THE PROTECTIVE COATING WORE OFF AND THE WIRING GROUNDED OUT ON SEAT FRAME. WE GOT UP ONE MORNING ONLY TO FIND THE TRUCK FILLED WITH SMOKE, AND WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE REASON. I CONTINUED TO USE THE TRUCK OCCASIONALLY, EVEN THOUGH I HAD NO DASH LIGHTS, RADIO, DOME LIGHTS, ETC... FINALLY ONE DAY ABOUT 2-3 WEEKS LATER I HAPPENED TO LEAN ON THE SIDE OF THE SEAT AND SAW A BURNED PLACE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I WAS ABLE TRACE A FIRE TRAIL. I DROVE THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT, AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. THAT I WOULD HAVE TO FIX IT MYSELF. I RETURNED HOME WITH THE TRUCK AND CONTACTED AN ELECTRICIAN TO COME LOOK AT THE TRUCK FOR ME. HE TOOK ONE LOOK AT THE DAMAGE AND SAID THAT IT WAS A FAULTY WIRI
Mileage: 105
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 DODGE RAM 3500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED EXCESSIVE CRACKING ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL CLUSTER. THE CRACKING HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED AND CREATED A LARGE HOLE IN THE PANEL, CAUSING PARTICLES TO FALL INWARDS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
Mileage: 160,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.