Ram35002020Overview/ram/3500/2020/base/

2020 Ram 3500

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 3500.

The 2020 Ram 3500 is a single model-year entry in the 2007–2026 Ram 3500 complaint record, with 112 owner complaints and 11 recalls logged. Diesel fuel-system issues stand out as the top complaint area, giving researchers a clear starting point for common problems. Compared with the broader run, 2020’s 112 complaints are far below the 2018 high of 777 yet well above the 2009 low of 3, so this year sits in the lower-to-middle complaint range rather than at either extreme.

Model year2026202520242023202220212020

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torqueFlanged Lug Nut: 140.0 ft-lbs Cone Lug Nut: 130.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 94R · 730 CCA battery, OE oil filter 05083285AA. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 94R · 730 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeLT275/70SR18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim8 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter05083285AA alt 04892339BE
Engine air filter53034051AB
Fuel filter68436631AA alt 68157291AA
Spark plugSP138239AC
BatteryBBH7F001AA
Front wiper blades55277446AC
Serpentine belt68232297AA alt 04593852AB
Thermostat05086740AA alt 68534176AA
Cabin air filter68535623AA

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length259.4 in
Overall width79.5 in
Overall height78.3 in
Wheelbase168.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

Independent road tests for the 3500 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.0–8.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.00 sec — 2025 Heavy Duty Laramie Sport 6.7L Crew Cab DRW (8'2.3" Bed)
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2019Heavy Duty Limited 6.7L Mega Cab DRW (6'4" Bed) 6.7L Turbo Diesel I-68.10 sec16.30 sec400 hp4x4
2019Heavy Duty Limited 6.7L Crew Cab DRW (8' Bed) 6.7L Turbo Diesel I-68.40 sec16.40 sec400 hp4x4
2019Heavy Duty Limited 6.7L Crew Cab DRW (8' Bed) 6.7L Turbo Diesel I-68.80 sec16.70 sec400 hp4x4
2025Heavy Duty Laramie Sport 6.7L Crew Cab DRW (8'2.3" Bed) 6.7L Turbo Diesel I-67.00 sec15.30 sec430 hp4WD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or StudsThrust Plate Bolts: 106.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or StudsThrust plate bolts: 18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts101.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs21.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Group Number94R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance730 cca
Standard BCI Group Number94R Vehicle may require 2 batteries.
Standard BCI Cranking Performance730 cca

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
130.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°30 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 30.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 90°15 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
1103.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Loosen a full rotation 360°., Step 3: 103.0 ft. lbs., Step 4: 90°103 ft. lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Hand tighten with fingers., Step 272 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 12,500 mi; coolant every 12,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 12,500 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Diesel Emissions Fluid (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 8,000 miBattery (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 12,500 miEngine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 15,000 miFuel Filter (replace) · Suspension System (inspect) · Tie Rod (inspect)
Every 20,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (inspect)
Every 22,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Parking Brake System (inspect)
At 30,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level) · Wheel Bearing (inspect)
Every 60,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

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 shows complaints for the Ram 3500 rose sharply after 2013, peaking at 777 in 2018 before falling to 134 in 2019 and 112 in 2020. Recalls followed a similar pattern, declining from a high of 18 in 2013‑2015 to 11 in 2020 and further to 9 in 2021. Compared with the surrounding years, 2020 sits on the downward slope of the complaint curve, recording fewer complaints than 2018‑2019 and only slightly more than the low point in 2021. The trend indicates that the 2020 model year experienced relatively fewer field issues than the peak years of the generation, though it is not the lowest complaint year in the dataset. Therefore, based solely on the complaint and recall counts, the 2020 Ram 3500 presents a comparatively favorable option among the years examined.

11
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
755
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
112
Owner complaints
5 involved a crash · 6 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 112 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Fuel System, Diesel19
Fuel/Propulsion System17
Power Train8
Engine7
Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System6
Tires5
Unknown Or Other4
Wheels4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 11 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

21V439000Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Oil/LubricationReported 10/06/2021

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 3500, 4500, and 5500 cab chassis vehicles equipped with a Cummins 6.7L High Output engine. The engine calibration software may not warn about low oil volume. Remedy: Dealers will update the engine calibration software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 25, 2021. Owners may contact FCA US LLC customer service at…

22V035000Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:LinkagesReported 27/01/2022

Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 vehicles, Ram 3500 Cab Chassis, 4500 Cab Chassis, 5500 Cab Chassis and 3500 Cab Chassis with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than… Remedy: Dealers will tighten the wiper nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 15, 2022. This recall is an expansion of recall number 20V-208. Owners may…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 755 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
1130702026-06-29Electrical SystemSWITCH – HEADLAMP
1130692026-06-29Electrical SystemSWITCH – HEADLAMP
S2208000045 REV.D2026-06-26StructureBackup Camera Poor Image Quality Inspection
1130652026-06-25Unknown Or OtherOUTLET - AIR CONDITIONING & HEATER
1130662026-06-25Unknown Or OtherOUTLET - AIR CONDITIONING & HEATER

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 3500. 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.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

Does the 2020 3500 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 11 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.