Used car safety, rank #107 of 181
Ram 2500 Crew Cab short bed 4WD Safety Rating (2017-20)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2017-20 Ram 2500 Crew Cab short bed 4WD, a very large pickup, compared with its class and with the current model.
The 2017-20 Ram 2500 Crew Cab short bed 4WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 33 per million registered vehicle years against a very large pickups average of 37.1, which is 11% below the class average. That places it #107 of 181 used vehicles with a safety score of 45.7/100.
What the Ram 2500 Crew Cab short bed death rate means
At 33 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Ram 2500 Crew Cab short bed 4WD beats the very large pickups average of 37.1 by 11%. The 95% confidence interval is 21 to 46, so the upper end of the range overlaps the class average and the advantage is not certain.
The other-driver death rate of 122 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Ram 2500 Crew Cab short bed. It is higher than the Ram 2500 Crew Cab short bed's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for heavier vehicles. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used pickups
The safest very large pickups in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Ram 2500 Crew Cab short bed 4WD highlighted. It ranks 4 of the 7 shown; the class leader is the Ford F-250 SuperCab 4WD at a death rate of 22.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F-250 SuperCab 4WD | 2017-20 | 22 (2 to 41) | 60.9 | n/a | n/a |
| Ford F-350 Crew Cab 4WD | 2017-20 | 29 (16 to 42) | 50.8 | n/a | n/a |
| Ford F-250 Crew Cab 4WD | 2017-20 | 32 (22 to 42) | 46.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Ram 2500 Crew Cab short bed 4WD (this page) | 2017-20 | 33 (21 to 46) | 45.7 | n/a | n/a |
| Ram 3500 Crew Cab long bed 4WD | 2017-20 | 37 (16 to 57) | 41.4 | n/a | n/a |
| Ram 2500 Crew Cab long bed 4WD | 2017-20 | 42 (7 to 76) | 37.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Ram 2500 Mega Cab 4WD | 2017-20 | 65 (22 to 108) | 22.0 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for very large pickups: 37.1 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
Safety recalls for the Ram 2500 Crew Cab short bed 4WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
10 recall campaigns on the 2020 model year, covering air bags, structure, power train, service brakes, hydraulic, visibility, fuel system, diesel, back over prevention.
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Air bags: side/window, curtain, inflator
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking occupants, resulting in injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace one or both side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge.
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Structure: body, tailgate, hinge and attachments
Risk: An unintended tailgate opening while driving may result in a loss of unsecured cargo, possibly creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the tailgate striker alignment to the box latch and adjust, if necessary, free of charge.
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Power train: automatic transmission
Risk: Leaking transmission fluid may contact an ignition source within the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the transmission dipstick and transmission vent assembly, free of charge.
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Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/module
Risk: An ESC malfunction indicator light that fails to illuminate during an electronic stability control problem can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the ABS control module software, free of charge.
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Visibility: windshield wiper/washer, linkages
Risk: Reduced visibility increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will tighten the wiper nuts, free of charge.
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Fuel system, diesel: delivery, fuel pump
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the HPFP, update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software, and inspect and replace additional fuel system components as necessary, free of charge. Interim
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Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices, exterior
Risk: Missing driver side mirror glass reduces visibility and increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side mirror glass, free of charge. The recall began November 5, 2020.
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Back over prevention: sensing system, camera
Risk: The lingering rearview image can distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will update the radio display software, free of charge. Optionally, owners can choose to remotely update their software via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update available as of May 1, 2020. The recall began April 27, 2020.
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Structure
Risk: A bed step that unexpectedly fails while in use increases the risk of injury to the user.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the bed step support brace, free of charge. The recall began on July 9, 2020 (RAM 2500) and began on October 6, 2020 (Ram 3500).
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Power train: automatic transmission
Risk: The leaking transmission fluid may contact the turbocharger or another ignition source within the engine compartment, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the transmission valve body separator plate and reprogram the powertrain control module. The recall began March 2, 2020.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-04. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2020. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Ram 2500 Crew Cab short bed 4WD: Common Questions
Is the Ram 2500 Crew Cab short bed 4WD a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 33 per million registered vehicle years for the 2017-20 Ram 2500 Crew Cab short bed 4WD, 11% below the class average (37.1 for very large pickups). That earns a used-car safety score of 45.7 out of 100 and rank #107 of 181 used vehicles.
What is the Ram 2500 Crew Cab short bed 4WD driver death rate?
33 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 21 to 46. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Ram 2500 Crew Cab short bed died at a rate of 122 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2017-20 models.
How does the Ram 2500 Crew Cab short bed 4WD compare with other very large pickups?
The very large pickups class averages 37.1 driver deaths per million; the Ram 2500 Crew Cab short bed 4WD sits at 33. Among the 7 very large pickups compared above it ranks 4 by safety score; the top of that group is the Ford F-250 SuperCab 4WD with a death rate of 22.