What’s the Most Reliable Ram Pickup Truck?
Are you considering a Ram truck but want to choose the most reliable one? Well according to Consumer Reports, the heavy-duty Ram 2500 is slightly more reliable than the light-duty Ram 1500. Both of these trucks are much more reliable than the entry-level work truck, the Ram 1500 Classic.
Which Ram truck is the most reliable?
Consumer Reports surveyed owners of one, two, and three-year-old Ram trucks. The publication awarded the Ram 2500 a reliability score of 57/100 and the Ram 1500 a respectable 52/100. But the Ram 1500 Classic lagged far behind with an 11/100.
The 2022 Ram 1500 leads its segment in predicted reliability. Due to the brand and model’s history, Consumer Reports awarded the new truck a predicted reliability score of 3/5. This translates to “average” reliability.
Consumer Reports gave both the 2022 Ram 2500 and 3500 a 3/5 for predicted reliability. But when Consumer Reports questioned owners of one, two, and three-year-old Ram trucks, they found the 2500 came out on top.
The publication did not end up with enough data from Ram 3500 owners to give that truck a score. But it did find that issues with the Ram 2500 engine, transmission, suspension, and exhaust were rare.
What problems do Ram trucks have?
Ram rolled out the fifth generation of its pickup truck for 2019. 2019 trucks often had in-car electronics issues, though Ram solved these in later years. The fourth-generation Ram 1500 Classic work truck can have fuel system, brakes, and power equipment issues.
How can Consumer Reports love the Ram 1500 and hate the Ram 1500 Classic? Well, the Ram 1500 Classic is actually a fourth-generation Ram truck design, built for the 2022 model year. Ram introduced its fourth-generation truck back in 2009. Consumer Reports points out the Ram 1500 Classic’s interior, electronics, and design don’t cut it in the modern market.
Consumer Reports only collected data on the 2019 Ram 1500 Classic. Owners of these trucks reported fuel system issues, issues with the brakes, and issues with the power equipment (windows, locks, etc.). Based on this information and company history, Consumer Reports gave the 2022 Classic a 1/5 for predicted reliability.
Several owners reported issues with the in-car electronics and power equipment of the regular 2019 and 2020 Ram 1500. But the brand addressed these issues. By the 2021 model year, its comparatively rare for Ram owners to report these issues.
Conclusion
Ram redesigned its truck body and upgraded its interior for the fifth-generation redesign. What the company did not do was engineer an all-new engine or transmission. Even the Ram 1500’s coil suspension setup began with its fourth generation.
While the Ram 1500 Classic may suffer from some unreliable components, its powertrain is tried-and-true. Ram 1500 Classic buyers are seeking a bare-bones work truck, often with the regular cab unavailable on the fifth-generation 1500. They may be much more forgiving of low-quality interiors or poor power equipment build quality than Consumer Reports is. While the Ram 1500 Classic is the least reliable Ram, it still has a place in the market.
