When you slide behind the wheel of your Ram truck, you want to believe that no matter what happens, you’ll walk away from an accident in one piece. Trucks are safer today than they were even a few years ago.

The frames are designed to withstand crashes and early alert detection warnings and automatic braking have made driving Ram trucks safer, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be perfectly safe while driving them. If you have your heart set on getting a new Ram this year, you’ll have to decide if the Ram Classic is more dangerous than the new Ram 1500.

The differences between the Ram Classic and the New Ram 1500

Many people assumed that when Ram announced that they were coming out with the new Ram 1500 that it was the death blow for the original Ram. That hasn’t been the case. High demand prompted Ram to make both the Ram Classic and the Ram 1500. The current classic Ram is marketed as the 2019 Ram 1500 Classic. This has turned into a really good deal for truck lovers since it provides them with the option of purchasing a more affordable but less comfortable work truck and a pricier but luxurious truck that’s perfect for commuting. Ram 1500

The most obvious change is the grill. The 2019 Ram 1500 Classic still features the traditional Dodge Ram grill while the Ram 1500 has 6 different types of grills. Other exterior differences are that the Ram 1500 has:

• A raised RamBox
• Built-in bed rails
• Optional panoramic sunroof

Another big difference is that drivers who opt for the 2019 Ram 1500 Classic have three different cab sizes they can choose from while Ram 1500 drivers have just two options.

Safety issues

While Ram has a reputation for making a great family truck, they haven’t been able to escape safety concerns. Concerns about the engines catching fire were one of the big issues Ram dealt with during 2019. Worry about thermal fatigue in the EGR coolers prompted the company to recall 107,979 vehicles. The issue impacted both the Ram 1500 and the Ram Classic. Complaints about the engines catching fire and potentially injuring passengers triggered a formal investigation on May 22, 2019. The recalls were issued in October.

At this point, there is only a limited amount of information available about how safe the 2020 Ram Classic and the Ram 1500 are in the event of a crash. The rollover resistance of the 2020 Ram Classic was only three out of a possible five stars and it has a rollover risk of 21.9%. The vehicle fared better in front end crash tests. Based on the results of front-end crashes, the NHSTA awarded the 2020 Ram Classic four out of five stars. Consumers report gave the Ram Classic an overall safety rating of 68. The bulk of the complaints filed against this vehicle involved the transmission and braking. 

The NHSTA decided that the Ram 1500 also deserved to get four out of five stars for its performance in frontal crashes. It outperformed the Ram Classic by earning four out of five stars in rollover crashes and has been given a 19.8% of being involved in a rollover style accident. Consumers Reports gave the Ram 1500 a safety rating of 58. The bulk of the complaints filed against the truck involved issues with the headlights, brakes, and transmission.

One of the things to keep in mind when trying to decide that if the Ram Classic is more dangerous than the Ram 1500 is the number of driver safety features that are installed in the truck. With both vehicles, Ram made some safety features, such as forward-collision warnings, lane departure warnings, and emergency braking available only on some of the more expensive Ram trim options. Spending a little more and getting a truck with these features would drastically change how safe you and your family are the next time you’re driving your Ram truck on the highway.

Based on current data, the Ram Classic and the Ram 1500 are close to equal when it comes to safety.