Dodge Ram Best and Worst Years (2005–2011)
Among 2005-2011 Dodge Ram model years, 2005 and 2010 are rated Avoid, with complaint indexes of 83 and 100. No year earns a Best rating; 2007 and 2009 are the lowest-risk picks, rated Good, though 2009's rating is capped due to incomplete complaint records for that era.
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.
- Model years
- 7
- 2005–2011
- NHTSA complaints
- 143
- Recall campaigns
- 11
- Crashes reported
- 15
- Fires reported
- 7
- Top problem area
- Engine
Ram Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Dodge Ram problems and recalls by year
Ram years to avoid: what went wrong
2010 Dodge Ram Index 100 · 27 complaints · 5 recalls
The 2010 Ram has the highest complaint index of any year covered, 100, with 27 total complaints. Electrical system and transmission/powertrain issues each account for 26% of complaints, with electrical failures showing up around 140,000 miles while transmission trouble appeared much earlier, near 22,300 miles. Airbag complaints, including non-deployment in crashes, showed up at a median of just 6,000 miles. This year also carries five recall campaigns, including steering tie-rod fracture risk, a power steering reservoir issue, and improperly formed brake tubes.
2005 Dodge Ram Index 83 · 40 complaints · 0 recalls
The 2005 Ram logged 40 complaints with a complaint index of 83, the second-worst of the years covered. Engine problems dominate, making up 40% of complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage around 11,000 miles. Transmission and powertrain issues account for another 28%, though those tend to surface later, near 107,250 miles. Owners also reported brake problems near 11,000 miles and suspension failures including tire blowouts and rear-end dragging. No recalls were issued for this model year, so these problems were left to owners to address on their own.
Most common Dodge Ram problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.
- Engine33 (23%)
- Transmission & Powertrain28 (20%)
- Electrical System24 (17%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires17 (12%)
- Steering16 (11%)
- Brakes11 (8%)
- Airbags9 (6%)
- Fuel System8 (6%)
- Structure & Body7 (5%)
- Other6 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- What Dodge Ram years should I avoid?
- NHTSA complaint and recall data point to 2005 and 2010 as the years to avoid, with complaint indexes of 83 and 100, the two highest among the 2005-2011 range.
- Which Dodge Ram years are best?
- No Dodge Ram year earns a Best or Good-without-caveat rating in this dataset. 2007 and 2009 are rated Good, with 2009's rating capped because complaint records from that era are less complete.
- Does the 2010 Dodge Ram have recalls?
- Yes, the 2010 Ram has 5 recall campaigns covering steering tie-rod fracture risk, a power steering reservoir cap issue, and improperly formed brake tubes.
- What is the most common Dodge Ram problem?
- Across all years covered, engine problems are the most reported issue, making up 23% of complaints, followed by transmission and powertrain issues at 20% and electrical system issues at 17%.