When it comes to your average pickup truck buyer the big question is whether or not to get a Chevy or Ford. Industry experts have started to wonder why the Dodge ram is not part of this consideration. Dodge is known for making quality products over its long and illustrious history. At the same time, there have been some notable negative reliability results over the past decade. The question of how reliable are ram pickup truck is can be complicated. This is especially true because a majority of problems with any truck are now based, not on the truck itself, but the additional infotainment features.
What the Average Person is Saying
It is always difficult to judge what the average person says about a vehicle because they are likely sharing their opinion because they are extremely satisfied or extremely disappointed. At the same time, there are several common criticisms that Dodge ram pickup trucks have faced over the past several years. This is particularly true for the previous generation of RAM trucks. One of the most common complaints with the previous generation, which ended in 2009, was front and problems. This included things like ball joints, you joints, steering boxes, and other similar issues. In most cases, these parts aren’t completely breaking but seals are wearing thin quickly.
At the same time, the third and fourth generation (2002-2008 and 2009-present) are considered to be mechanically sound and reliable. While some do have HVAC issues these problems have resolved themselves over time. As is typical of Chrysler built vehicles, the engines are nearly indestructible and have proven to easily stand the test of time.
How Hard Will It Be Driven
Another interesting common thread among complaints about the Dodge ram is that the offer they were used, the more often they broke down. Essentially, the Dodge ram can prove to be a reliable family or commuter type vehicle that it seems to fall short when it comes to consistent, heavy towing and hauling. Again, this could be an issue which arises simply from individual owners and how they drive them or it could be a more overarching problem.
What Do the Professionals Say?
Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports is considered to be one of the most influential sources of information on new cars and trucks. While most people focus on the highest rated brands and individual units, it is equally important to look back at the lowest performing brands. The Dodge Ram rounds out the top 10 most on reliable trucks on the market. Consumer Reports also noted that the fewest issues were found with the entry-level 1500, while the larger, heavy-duty turbo diesels were noticeably more problematic.
JD Power’s and Associates
JD Power’s and Associates is another resource that industry experts rely on. From 2010 until 2012 the dependability study released by JD Power’s rank the Dodge ram exceptionally low. In the 2012 dependability study the ram, Jeep, Chrysler, and Dodge ranked dead last in dependability. The Dodge ram boasted 174 problems per 100 vehicles tested which is 31% higher than the average. In 2010 and 2011 it was even worse. In 2010 the Dodge Ram was stated to have 190 problems per 100 vehicles which was 23% worse than average for that year. It is important to note that these studies do not focus on individual vehicles but rather brand strength so it is difficult to know what type of Dodge ram was having the most problems.
So How Reliable is the Dodge Ram
While very few people will say that the Dodge Ram is the most reliable truck on the road, the lighter pickup trucks do tend to test well. It seems the majority of the issues are attributed to the diesel powered, heavy-duty Dodge ram trucks when they are constantly used for heavy hauling/towing.
