Ram25002026Overview/ram/2500/2026/base/

2026 Ram 2500

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2026 2500.

The 2026 Ram 2500, a heavy-duty pickup, has recorded 19 owner complaints and 6 recalls, with service brakes as the most common issue. In the model's complaint history from 2009 to 2021, the highest count was 2,498 in 2018 and the lowest was 5 in 2009. With only 19 complaints, the 2026 model year sits among the lowest in that span, placing it as one of the more reliable iterations in the recorded history.

Model year2026202520242023202220212020

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the 2500 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.3–8.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.30 sec — 2025 Heavy Duty Limited 6.7L Crew Cab (8'2.3" Bed)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2025Heavy Duty Limited 6.7L Crew Cab (8'2.3" Bed) 6.7L Turbo Diesel I-66.30 sec14.80 sec430 hp4x4
2025Heavy Duty Laramie 6.7L Crew Cab (6'4.3" Bed) 6.7L Turbo Diesel I-66.60 sec15.10 sec430 hp4x4
2025Heavy Duty Limited 6.7L Crew Cab (8'2.3" Bed) 6.7L Turbo Diesel I-66.60 sec15.00 sec430 hp4x4
2025Heavy Duty Power Wagon Crew Cab (6'4.3" Bed) 6.4L V87.20 sec15.50 sec405 hp4x4
2023Heavy Duty Rebel Crew Cab (6'4.3" Bed) 6.4L V87.50 sec15.80 sec410 hp4x4
2023Heavy Duty Rebel 6.7L Crew Cab (6'4.3" Bed) 6.7L Turbo Diesel I-68.10 sec16.20 sec370 hp4x4
2020Heavy Duty Laramie 6.7L Crew Cab (6'4.3" Bed) 6.7L Turbo Diesel I-67.60 sec15.80 sec370 hp4x4
2020Heavy Duty Laramie 6.7L Crew Cab (Night Edition) (6'4.3" Bed) 6.7L Turbo Diesel I-67.60 sec15.90 sec370 hp4x4

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The federal record from 2009 through 2021 traces a clear arc for this generation: modest early volume gave way to a dramatic 2018 complaint peak of 2,498 units, followed by a steep downward correction to just 102 complaints by 2021, with recalls falling from 16 to 8 and investigations dropping to zero over that same late period. The 2026 model year sits beyond this documented trajectory, and the limited target-year data available show no crash or fire complaints alongside a narrow set of grievances concentrated in service brakes and electrical systems. Relative to the 2018 spike and even the 102 complaints recorded in 2021, the 2026-specific incidence appears minimal, though the data does not specify root causes for the earlier volumes. With only isolated brake and electrical complaints and zero crash or fire reports, the 2026 profile mirrors the low-volume pattern established in 2019–2021. Buyers get a heavy-duty truck whose federal footprint is defined by low-severity, low-frequency items rather than the elevated recall and complaint activity seen in the middle of the generation. That profile makes 2026 a strong candidate for purchase, provided a pre-sale inspection confirms the specific brake and electrical systems are sound.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
176
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
19
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 19 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes6
Electrical System,Engine2
Electrical System1
Exterior Lighting,Service Brakes1
Visibility/Wiper,Back Over Prevention1
Electrical System,Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance1
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting1
Electrical System,Service Brakes1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 176 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
S2508000025 REV. B2026-07-06Electrical SystemInstrument Panel Cluster (IPC) and Radio Compass Display has Dashes (--)
08-255-262026-07-01Electrical SystemNavigation Won't Load On Home/Split Screen Customers may experience the following…
18-061-26 REV. A2026-07-01Power TrainSA Market Only - Flash: Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates Customers must experience…
S26080000302026-07-01Back Over PreventionPark Assist Unavailable Message Displayed in The Cluster
1130702026-06-29Electrical SystemSWITCH – HEADLAMP

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific 2500. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2026 2500 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.