What is high mileage for a Ram 1500

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The Dodge Ram 1500 is one of the best-selling trucks not only in the United States but also globally. Known for its imposing size, high capabilities, and reliability, Ram is favored by many over the F-150, Sierra, and other truck lineups. 

But just how many miles and years can a Dodge Ram 1500 last? In this article, we’ll go over several factors that determine the longevity of this truck, as well as the points rarely mentioned when talking about older vehicles: insurance cost and value depreciation. 

The Dodge Ram 1500 is good for 250,000 – 350,000 miles, or 20+ years. Transmission or serious engine maintenance is generally too expensive in comparison to the value of the truck so when they go out, the Ram ceases to be a financially viable vehicle.

Brief Ram 1500 History

The Ram pickup or Dodge Ram is a 40-year long line of full-size pickup trucks made by Chrysler, officially known as Stellantis North America. 

Unlike the F-150, which has received new generations every 4-6 years, Ram has had long-lasting generations:

1. The first generation was produced from 1980 – 1993
2. The second generation was produced from 1993 – 2001
3. The third generation was produced from 2001 – 2008
4. The fourth-generation was produced from 2010 – 2018 with Ram 1500 Classic still in production.
5. The fifth-generation has been in production since 2018. 

The sales figures are available from 1996 to 2020 and total roughly 12 million. Combined with the sales in Canada, the Ram fleet has been moving over half a million vehicles since 2014, with the sales in 2019 reaching a record of 730,000. In 2020, Ram sold 564,000 units domestically and another 84,000 in Canada.

Knowing how many miles a vehicle can run is a layered question. If we take away the financial aspect, a lot of vehicles could run indefinitely.

However, the financial aspect is the most important, especially as the value of the truck goes down. Spending 3-10 thousand dollars on engine and transmission rebuild or swap when the truck itself isn’t worth more than $15,000 is unreasonable. 

This means that we can use the durability of the powertrain as the mileage limit for the Ram 1500. Crossing 200,000 miles with Ram isn’t unreasonable, but beyond that point can never be sure when the transmission or the engine will give.

It has a lot to do with maintenance, driving habits, and use, as trucks that are frequently used for towing will wear out the transmission more quickly. Getting to 250,000 miles should be possible, but going beyond 300,000 miles is pushing it.

This claim is somewhat backed by the iSeeCars study on the longevity of vehicles. They use a metric to display a percentage of vehicles that will cross 200,000 miles, and while the exact figures may not be accurate, we can compare different vehicles and see how the Ram 1500 fares against the competition. 

The average percentage of pickup trucks to cross 200,000 miles is 1.8%. Honda Ridgeline leads the category with 3.0%, followed by Toyota Tundra at 2.9%. Ford F-150 is just above average at 1.9%, while GMC Sierra 1500 is at 1.7%. 

Ram Pickup 1500 is at only 1.1% which is significantly lower than the average. Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon are at 0.8%, making them the only two options that are worse than Ram. 

How Does The Dodge Ram 1500 Body Hold Up?

They don’t make them as they used to is a saying often used to describe the construction of the American-made trucks, but in terms of Ram 1500, it’s debatable whether the body was ever good, to begin with. 

Whether the truck will be spotless or rust-through depends primarily on the region you’re living in and whether you’re taking any preventive measures.

An annual application of Fluid Film or Woolmax and regular washing of the undercarriage is the only way to keep the body in good condition if you’re living in the salt belt. Otherwise, the salty air and roads can take the truck in less than 10 years. 

As all trucks suffer from these problems, Ram 1500 is neither better nor worse in regards to rust. Newer models a better in terms of protection, but if you’re buying used, make sure to thoroughly inspect the body before making a deal.

Dodge Ram 1500 Value Depreciation

The Ram 1500 is one of the better trucks in terms of value retention. It has a very healthy depreciation curve which flattens around 33% after 10 years.

Based purely on the depreciation curve, the 2020 model is the best-used purchase as its value is 16% less than the original while it’s still basically a new vehicle. Models that are two or three years old are also solid options, followed by the 2016 and the 2015 years. 

Insurance Cost

When you compare the insurance and repair costs, it’s generally a lot cheaper to maintain a vehicle than it is to insure it. With age, the insurance premium doesn’t decrease all that much, which is one of the main reasons to upgrade to a newer model.

Ram 1500 has a marginally lower average insurance cost than the Nissan Titan or Chevrolet Silverado while Toyota Tundra and Ford F150 cost roughly $100 less annually. It’s not a significant difference, but it can add up if you keep the truck for a long time.

General Cost of Maintenance

Based on the CarEdge report, a decade of maintaining and repairing the Dodge Ram 1500 costs up to $17,677, which is $7,612 higher than the average for pickup trucks. The average chance of a repair over $500 during those 10 years is 54.8%, a massive 33.3% difference in comparison to other trucks.

Cost Of Parts & Repairs

The previous table shows some very high figures, but you know what regular maintenance entails in general. Engine oil, filters, car battery, ball joints, and a later serpentine belt, water pump, and the alternator among others are the parts that need to be swapped eventually.

Dodge Ram 1500 Recalls

From the 2022 to 2012 model years, Dodge Ram 1500 has had a total of 118 recalls, although it’s important to remember that some are trivial, like equipment labels, seat covers while others are repeated several times through several model years.

We’ll discuss in more detail what the recalls were about and how they affected the truck’s reliability.

2022 Ram – 1 recall. There’s an issue with the windshield defroster system.

2021 Ram – 5 recalls relating to side airbags, trailer reverse display, spare tire, and brake master cylinder.

2020 Ram – 8 recalls. Problems include side airbags, trailer reverse display, seat belts, accelerator pedal, airbags, windshield wipers.

2019 Ram – 22 recalls relating to side airbags, seat belts, windshield wipers, camera system, transfer case, tire pressure monitoring system, electric power steering, ERG valve, fuel tank assembly, instrument cluster, spare tire, airbags, driveshaft, battery, steering, brake pedal, seats, electrical wiring system, axle assembly, etc.

2018 Ram – 11 recalls relating to side airbags, cooling of the 3.0L diesel engine, ERG valve, tailgate latch, driveshaft, axle assembly, front underhood wiring, rearview camera, wiring, automatic transmission.

2017 Ram – 10 recalls relating to side airbags, cooling of the 3.0L diesel engine, ERG valve, tailgate latch, tailgate structure, wiring, automatic transmission, power train, fuel tank assembly, differential unit.

2016 Ram – 14 recalls relating to side airbags, cooling of the 3.0L diesel engine, ERG valve, tailgate latch, wiring, powertrain, airbags, differential unit, axle shaft, Mopar seat covers, electric power-assist system, spare tire, axle shaft.

2015 Ram – 16 recalls relating to side airbags, cooling of the 3.0L diesel engine, ERG valve, tailgate latch, tailgate structure, equipment, power train, wiring, airbags, electric power-assist system, axle shaft, radio.

2014 Ram – 15 recalls relating to the cooling of the 3.0L diesel engine, ERG valve, tailgate latch, wiring, power train, airbags, equipment, side airbags, radio, frontal airbags, rear shock absorbers, automatic transmission, instrument panel.

2013 Ram – 10 recalls relating to tailgate latch, powertrain, airbags, radio, frontal airbags, electronic stability control, exterior lighting, engine and engine cooling, parking brake.

2012 Ram – 6 recalls relating to the gasoline fuel system delivery, equipment, power train, frontal airbags. 

The 2019 Ram 1500 has the most recalls, most likely due caused by the transition to a new generation. While there were a lot of issues, only specific vehicles had specific issues.

Recalls aren’t a reliable way of checking the quality of a model, but it helps show manufacturing inconsistencies and has some value in that regard.

FAQs

What is high mileage for a Ram 1500?

Dodge Ram 1500 can cross more than 300,000 miles so we can consider anything beyond 200,000 high mileage. Driving habits, exposure to salt, and the amount of cargo hauled also have a significant impact on durability. 

Should I buy a used Ram 1500 with 200k miles?

200k miles isn’t necessarily too many for a Dodge Ram 1500, but you have to be careful with the purchase. Diesel engines generally last longer than gasoline-powered engines, while the high output sporty engines last the least.

Is the Ram 5.7 Hemi a good engine?

Dodge’s 5.7 Hemi is an excellent engine and despite outputting a massive amount of power, it does not sacrifice durability. They’ve been known to last for 250,000+ miles without any significant issues. 

What are the worst years for Dodge Ram 1500?

Supposedly, the worst Dodge Ram 1500 years are 2003, 2010-2013 with the 5.7 liter V8, as well as the models from 2014 to 2016.

What is the best year for Dodge Ram 1500?

Based on customer reports and reviews from authority magazines and websites, the 2017 year is the best for Dodge Ram 1500.

Are trucks with 100,000 miles worth buying?

Provided that the body is rust-free and the engine was regularly maintained, 100,000 miles is nothing for a well-built truck. On average, trucks are good for at least 200,000 miles and easily over 300,000 miles with the right models. 

Is 20000 miles a year a lot?

Trucks are used for work and for family travel and they get a lot of mileage on a daily basis, which is why it’s quite common to see trucks cross 20,000 miles annually. A five-year-old truck with 100,000 miles still makes for an excellent purchase due to its high reliability.

Is Ram or Ford more reliable?

In my opinion, Ford F-150 is a more reliable vehicle based on a number of factors including user reviews, known reliability problems, and value depreciation. 

Do Ram trucks have rust issues?

Ram trucks are not without their issues, and corrosion can be a major problem in the salt belt and other areas with snowy winters. With proper preventive measures, rusting can be avoided, but the process is expensive and requires an annual application.

Verdict 

Dodge Ram 1500 slightly falls behind other competitors in the full-size truck segment, but that isn’t enough to rule it out as a viable purchase. If you’re buying used, thoroughly inspect the body for signs of rust and verify that all the service has been done on time.

The fifth generation has been Motor Trend’s truck of the year for three concurrent years, which speaks of its quality improvements in recent years. 

See other related Dodge articles for more information:

Dodge Ram Air Conditioning Problems – Common Causes and Solutions

Is The Dodge Journey Considered a Van or SUV?

How Much Does a Dodge Charger Weigh?

What is high mileage for a 5.7 Hemi?

What is high mileage for a RAM?

What are Ram 1500 Best Years?