Before You Buy

Ram 2500: Buy Score, Reliability & Ownership Costs

Heavy-Duty Truck · Pickup Truck (Heavy Duty)

MSRP Range$45,995–$79,750
A white 2026 Ram 2500 heavy-duty pickup truck towing a trailer on a highway in daylight, shot candidly at a three-quarter angle.
Engine6.4L HEMI V8, or High-Output 6.7L Cummins turbo-diesel
Diesel Output430 hp / 1,075 lb-ft
Towing CapacityUp to 20,000 lbs (properly equipped diesel)
DrivetrainRear-wheel drive standard, four-wheel drive available

Our Verdict

Based on model-specific reliability data, ownership costs, and longevity signals.

Consider
72/100

Buy Score™

Pros

  • iSeeCars shows outstanding 5-year resale value (77.4% retention) — among the best of any vehicle in this research
  • High-Output 6.7L Cummins diesel offers 1,075 lb-ft of torque and up to 20,000 lbs towing
  • Genuine heavy-duty capability (payload, towing, durability) well beyond any light-duty truck or SUV
  • New-for-2026 Black Express and Warlock trims add value-oriented options

Cons

  • RepairPal ranks it only 10th of 17 fullsize trucks, with a 19% severe-repair rate
  • Highest annual repair cost of any vehicle reviewed on this site ($1,070/yr)
  • Fuel and insurance costs are among the highest researched on this site
  • Overkill for buyers who don't need genuine heavy-duty towing/payload capability — the Ram 1500 is both cheaper to run and better-reviewed for typical use

Can this car reach 300,000 miles?

Likely

RepairPal's model-specific score (2.5/5.0) ranks the Ram 2500 a mid-pack 10th of 17 fullsize trucks, with the highest annual repair cost of any vehicle reviewed on this site ($1,070/yr) — typical for heavy-duty trucks generally, but still a real budgeting factor. iSeeCars shows outstanding 5-year resale value (77.4% retention), among the best of any vehicle in this research.

First-Time Buyer Friendly

20/100

Livable, but the complexity or running costs here reward buyers who already have some ownership experience.

Reliability Timeline

What tends to need attention, and when — based on model-specific reliability data.

RoutineModerateMajor

30,000 miles

Oil changes, tire rotations

60,000 miles

Brake pads and rotors — heavier loads accelerate wear versus a light-duty truck
Transmission fluid service

100,000 miles

Diesel-specific maintenance (DEF system, turbo) on Cummins-equipped trucks

150,000 miles

Suspension and steering components, more so under heavy towing/hauling use

200,000+ miles

Diesel-equipped HD trucks commonly reach this mileage with disciplined maintenance, a longstanding pattern for the segment

What It Actually Costs to Own

The highest running costs of any vehicle reviewed on this site, but by far the best resale value — iSeeCars shows the Ram 2500 retaining 77.4% of its value after 5 years, 15 percentage points better than the Ram 1500.

Estimated Annual Fuel Cost$2,800
Estimated Annual Insurance$1,700
Estimated Annual Maintenance$650
Estimated Annual Repairs$1,070
Estimated Annual Registration$260
5-Year Depreciation~23% of purchase price

Full Specifications

Engine6.4L HEMI V8, or High-Output 6.7L Cummins turbo-diesel
Diesel Output430 hp / 1,075 lb-ft
Towing CapacityUp to 20,000 lbs (properly equipped diesel)
DrivetrainRear-wheel drive standard, four-wheel drive available
Warranty3 yr/36,000 mi basic, 5 yr/60,000 mi powertrain

Check for open recalls before you buy

We don't yet have a live recall feed wired up for the Ram 2500, so we won't guess at a number here. Before you buy any specific 2500, run its VIN throughNHTSA's free recall lookup tool— it takes about 30 seconds and confirms whether that exact vehicle has any open, unrepaired safety recalls.

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Sources: RepairPal model reliability score (2.5/5.0), annual repair cost ($1,070), and 10th-of-17 fullsize truck ranking: repairpal.com/reliability/ram/2500 (live lookup, 2026). 2026 MSRP ($45,995-$79,750), trims, and Cummins diesel/towing specs: truecar.com and ramtrucks.com 2026 Ram 2500 pages (live lookup, 2026). iSeeCars 5-year resale value (77.4% retention, 15 points better than the Ram 1500): iseecars.com Ram resale-value brand page (live lookup, 2026).