Can a 5th Gen Ram 1500 Truck Truly Last 200K Miles?
Are Ram trucks reliable? Or does the Ram 1500 suffer problems as its mileage goes up? Ram rolled out the 5th generation of its half-ton 1500 for the 2019 model year. An industrial diesel engine technician named Justin Wheeler bought a 2019 Ram 1500 Limited and has put almost 50,000 miles on it every year since. Over the past 200,000 miles, this 5th gen Ram has had its had its share of problems, but both its motor and transmission are going strong.
Are Ram 1500 engines reliable?
The 5th generation Ram 1500 is powered by the tried-and-true 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 or the 5.7-liter Hemi V8. Both engines regularly last beyond 100,000 miles, often into the 200,000-mile range.
Wheeler has not gone easy on the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 in his 2019 Ram 1500 Limited. Over the past 190,000 miles he has used his truck to crisscross the country for work. He often tows 6,000-8,000 pound trailers. He says he almost always uses 87 octane gas and only changes his oil when his truck prompts him to (these intervals range from 8,000 to 10,000 miles).
On his YouTube channel about his high-mileage truck, Wheeler reveals that he has run his engine for over 5,000 hours, over 1,000 of which were idling. He also has used the MDS system for at least a quarter of his driving miles.
The result? Well, the bad news is that Wheeler suffered at least one broken exhaust manifold. His truck was under warranty, so Ram replaced the manifold with a stock part. He says it sounds like it has cracked again after another 100,000 miles. He recommends replacing the stock part with aftermarket headers.
But the infamous manifold crack is the only problem Wheeler has encountered. Despite the many hours of idling, he has not suffered the dreaded Hemi tick. In fact, he recently sent his used engine oil to a lab for analysis and found the condition of his engine was excellent.
Do Ram trucks have transmission problems?
The eight-speed automatic transmission in the half-ton Ram 1500 has a reputation for extreme durability. In truth, the 5th gen Ram 1500’s transmission is likely the most reliable of the pickup’s major drivetrain components.
Wheeler has not even serviced his automatic transmission. He insists that Ram claims the transmission fluid should last the truck’s lifetime. Despite this, he has experienced no transmission issues of any kind.
He has experienced some 4WD transfer case issues: He has changed the fluid twice and suffered a stretched transfer case chain which makes a loud “clunk” when he shifts from reverse and into first. But despite this, the transfer case is still fully functional.
How many miles can a Dodge Ram 1500 last?
Ram 1500 owners–especially with the 5.7-liter Dodge Hemi V8 engine–often get well over 100,000 miles out of their truck. Even 200,000 miles is very possible.
Remember that 200,000 miles is the equivalent of a decade of light use: Achieving this mileage will require service often. Curious how often to have your Ram 1500 serviced? You’re in luck.
Our Motorbiscuit chart of Ram 1500 service intervals is one of the more comprehensive, and conservative, around. That’s because we combined the official Ram recommendations (via Junek’s Ram dealership) and additional suggestions from CarEdge.com. See the full chart below:
| Mileage | Service |
| 8k | Oil change, tire rotation |
| 16k | Oil change, tire rotation |
| 20k | Inspect brake pads, tie rods, and all front suspension components |
| 24k | Oil change, tire rotation |
| 30k | Inspect brakes, front suspension components, CV joints, transfer case fluid, and the condition of the transfer case and axle |
| 32k | Oil change, tire rotation, air filter replacement, spark plug replacement |
| 40k | Oil change, tire rotation |
| 48k | Oil change, tire rotation, spark plug replacement |
| 56k | Oil change, tire rotation |
| 60k | Inspect brakes and suspension components. Check and/or replace: transmission fluid, engine coolant, transfer case fluid, and brake fluid. Inspect all filters. |
| 64k | Oil change, tire rotation, air filter replacement, spark plug/wires replacement |
| 72k | Oil change, tire rotation |
| 80k | Oil change, tire rotation, cooling system flush |
| 88k | Oil change, tire rotation |
| 96k | Oil change, tire rotation, air filter replacement, spark plug/wires replacement |
| 100k | Inspect brakes and suspension components and CV joints. Check and/or replace: transmission fluid, engine coolant, transfer case fluid, and brake fluid. Inspect all filters. |
| 104k | Oil change, tire rotation, cooling system flush |
| 112k | Oil change, tire rotation |
| 120k | Oil change, tire rotation, serpentine/drive belt replacement, transmission fluid service, transfer case fluid service Inspect brakes and suspension components. Check and/or replace engine coolant and brake fluid |
| 128k | Oil change, tire rotation, air filter replacement, spark plug/wires replacement |
| 136k | Oil change, tire rotation |
| 144k | Oil change, tire rotation, spark plug replacement, cabin air filter replacement |
Next, read about the top Ram 1500 problems according to a mechanic, or see Justin Wheeler answer frequently asked questions about his high mileage Ram in the video below:
