The Dodge Ram is among the most popular and sought-after pickup trucks in North America. Two major reasons why Ram outperforms others in its class are its performance and its reliability. But which is the best Ram 1500 years?
The whole idea behind Dodge Ram is to take your on-road performance and capabilities to the next level. This is totally different from what you get with car models such as Buick.
That said, this has not always been the case with the Dodge Ram. The truck was not so popular in its earlier years and many truck buyers would generally avoid it. This is because the Dodge Ram trucks had a reputation for having plenty of issues which potential buyers.
That said, it wasn’t until late 1990 that the Dodge Ram sales skyrocketed after the release of its new model. This was during the release of the fourth-generation Dodge. This one features more power, more torque, better offroad capabilities, and more reliability.
Sure, the initial sales were slow but as the years passed, the sales rose and rose until 2009 when they reached an all-time high.
Let’s discover more about the Ram 1500. For easier navigation throughout this post, feel free to use our table of contents below.
- Best Years For Ram 1500
- Ram 1500 Reliability
- Eco Diesel Problems
- Ram 1500 Years To Avoid
- Ram Vs Dodge
- Frequently Asked Questions
Best Years For Dodge Ram 1500
By now it’s should be clear that there were those Dodge Ram models that did better than the rest and continue to do so even now.
Here are the best Ram 1500 years.
Dodge Ram 1500 2020 Model
Many review sources give the 2020 Dodge Ram a rating of 5 stars. If there was a recent truck that did well in both performance and reliability, it’s got to be the Dodge Ram 1500 2020 model.
This model rocks a V6 engine under its hood. But this V6 offers some pretty high torque numbers. It outperforms even some V8 engines in terms of performance.
This is surely not something that you see every day. Sure there are now electric vehicles that come with impressive horsepower, but there is no denying the roaring aggression of a V6 or a V8 engine.
The suspension system is amazing as it absorbs plenty of vibrations on the road. This makes the driving experience in the Dodge Ram 1500 feel smooth and comfortable.
Furthermore, the model will appeal to all generations whether old or young. With such specs, is not surprising why this is on the list of the best Ram 1500 years.
Dodge Ram 1500 2009 Model
The 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 can produce 400 horsepower from a V8 engine. It doesn’t take much for one to figure out that this is a truly powerful car with great performance and towing capabilities.
Moreover, car owners did not have much that was negative to say about the 2009 model of the Dodge Ram 1500. This is quite surprising considering the number of problems that came with trucks of this class at the time.
It also outperformed other popular brands such as Chevrolet and Toyota. Keeping this in mind, it definitely qualifies as one of the best Ram 1500 years.
Dodge Ram 1500 1994 Model
Here’s a blast from the past. The 1994 Dodge Ram 1500 was a top performer that came built like something that was meant to go to war. Till now the Dodge Ram 1500, 1994 model still does well by today’s standards with its 300 horsepower that can rival many modern vehicles.
Considering that the 1994 model is over two and a half decades old, it can be forgiven for having an interior that is not so outstanding.
Dodge Ram 1500 2008 Model
Many truck enthusiasts consider the Dodge Ram 1500 2008 model as among the best Ram 1500 years and there’s no denying it was a great pickup truck. However, its main downside was the interior design which was downgraded from previous models.
That said, compared with other models, the Dodge Ram 2008 still performed pretty well.
If there was one thing that Dodge focuses on performance and driving experience. The Dodge Ram 1500 2008 model came with a V8 engine that demanded respect on the roads. It would still offer a smooth ride and was a pleasure to drive.
Ram 1500 Reliability
When it comes to the reliability of a truck, it’s all about how long it will last as well as how far you can get without having to be inconvenienced by repairs and damages. So, how does the Dodge Ram 1500 perform?
Have you been thinking of getting yourself a Ram 1500? Great idea! You’ll be pleased to know that this model is one of the most reliable trucks that you can get on the market.
That said it is still important to point out that the Dodge Ram 1500 2008 isn’t as reliable as the 2500 model but it does better than the Ram 1500 entry-level classic.
So how does the Ram 1500 perform in terms of reliability? Well, considering that Consumer Reports gave it a reliability rating of 52/100, it is still quite reliable. This is after considering at other trucks could get as low as 11/100.
For the 2022 model, Consumer Reports gave it a reliability score of 3/5 in predicted reliability. This is not bad. The publication uses past consumer experiences and reviews as well as its evaluation and analysis.
That said the Dodge Ram 1500 is not free of issues.
The latest model is part of the fifth generation which was released in 2019. Some of the more common issues with the 2019 Dodge Ram 1500 model included car electronics, issues with the fuel system as well as problems with the brakes.
There are several Dodge Ram 1500 owners of the 2019 and 2020 models that continued to complain about the electrical system.
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Ram Eco Diesel Problems
The 3-liter eco-diesel V6 engine is the power behind the Dodge Ram 1500 model and it’s truly a beast. Since it was introduced back in 2014 however, it has shown some issues.
One of the major causes of the problems with the eco-diesel V6 engine has to do with towing. The stress due to pulling heavy load results in the engine heating up. The result is damage to plenty of engine components.
Let’s take a close look at the engine and some of the major problems that you can expect.
Keep in mind that the majority of the issues were solved through recalls and redesigning. Even after they dropped the engine from production, Ram continued to solve the issues and maintain the engine in production.
And just to put things into perspective, the Ram eco-diesel can last for over 300,000 miles under good maintenance.
1. Failure Of The Oil Cooler
Two main reasons cause the oil cooler to fail. First, off is too much oil circulating in the engine? This could damage the related parts. Secondly, even the engine is prone to wear and tear and this can involve the oil cooler.
The main issue with the oil cooler failing is how the engine oil starts to mix with the coolant and as a result causes damage to internal components such as the main bearing. This is also something that can occur with a muscle car.
While mixing with the coolants isn’t always a must, it is a common issue with the Eco diesel engine once the oil cooler has failed.
One of the ways that you can tell that the oil cooler has failed is through leaks from the oil cooler itself. Coolant leaks as well as a rise in internal temperatures. You will also notice that the performance of the engine has dropped.
2. Failure Of The EGR Cooler
Another common issue is cracking developing in the EGR cooler. The role of the EGR cooler is to circulate the engine exhaust into the engine intake system.
Here it is burned which then recycles the carbon emissions. Since the exhaust gases are hot, they need to first be cool before being recirculated and that is where the EGR cooler comes in.
If there are cracks in the EGR coolant, the hot exhaust fumes can get into the engine area and cause engine overheating and even fires.
This was more common with the 2014 to 2016 models. The great part is that Dodge made a recall.
3. Failure With The Bosch Fuel Pumps
A common issue with the Eco diesel V6 is the self-destruction of the Bosch fuel pumps. The result was the fuel system having metal debris. This could clog the fuel injectors and fuel lines as well as cause many other issues.
One of the major downsides of this issue is that it was very expensive for the car owner to fix. The costs could range anywhere from $3,000 to $6,000. It is important, therefore, to ensure that this is not an issue if you are interested in the Ram Classic or the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
4. Leaking Of The Exhaust Couplers
There were issues with leaks on the exhaust pipe which comes from the turbocharger and connects with the diesel particulate filter.
The result was diesel fuel entering the cabin. The good thing is that the eco diesel V6 was recalled in 2014 and 205 due to this problem.
The strange thing is that the problem only came up in two-wheel pickup trucks.
5. Slippage Of The Camshaft Gear And The Timing Chain
In this case, the level and extent of the damage would come down to the extent of the slippage of the timing chain.
The timing chain can be off if there is only a minor slipping. The result is misfiring and poor performance.
On the other hand, if there is complete slippage of the cam gear, this can cause huge damage.
It could cause the valves to come into contact with the pistons which could result in engine damage or bending of the pistons or even breaking apart of the valves. Any way you look at it, the engine would be wrecked.
Such catastrophic damage can destroy the engine. The good thing is that only a small percentage of the engines had the issue.
Dodge Ram 1500 Years To Avoid
So we mentioned that even while there are some top-performing car models, there are also those that do not perform all that great. And here they are!
Dodge Ram 1500 2003 Model
The 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 came with some frequent engine problems which most drivers complained about. These aren’t the most significant issues but some of them were pretty regular.
Moreover, many of these engine issues can cause the check engine light to come on. This is a good thing in case of a severe issue.
That said, many drivers state that they check engine lights turned so frequently that it got tiring trying to figure out what the issue was. Drivers would go to the extent of put tape on the check engine light so as not to see it.
The dashboard was the biggest issue and the most frequent complaint with the owners of the model. It was flimsy and could crack pretty easily even when the car was relatively new.
Some drivers may not find this an issue especially if they use their Dodge Ram 1500 2003 model for tough work purposes. But the issue is that the dashboard continued to crack until it looked like it would fall off.
2010-2013 Dodge Ram 1500
This is not a single model but rather a couple of models that all seemed to have the same issues at the same level of frequency. The most frequent of these issues are engine problems such as the engine going off when driving and the lifters damaging the camshaft.
Drivers also complained about the engine refusing to start and other frequent minor issues.
There were also frequent issues with the drivetrain the suspension, the transmission as well as the electrical problem.
Furthermore, some drivers claimed that the power to MPG ratio was not very impressive. Considering that such a truck should tow a lot of weight, the 5.7-liter engine still seemed to struggle and was outperformed by other engines in its class.
Dodge Ram 1500 2014 Model
It was the Dodge Ram 1500 2014 model that first come out with the Dodge Eco-diesel engine. It came with its fair share of issues as we saw above. This is not surprising as most problems are often seen during the first release of any model.
There were 14 recalls due to such issues. Of course, not all of them were due to engine problems. That said most of the issues were indeed related to the engine. The models that came after this one had fewer issues.
The main issue was a result of problems with the transmissions. Here owners complained about a whole host of issues ranging from noises during cold starts, failure to downshift properly,
Funny noises when driving at low speeds, poor acceleration, and changing gears when releasing the brakes as well as during acceleration.
2015 Dodge Ram 1500 Model
The 2015 Dodge Ram 1500 got 14 recalls all of which were related to issues with the transmission, the engine, the electrical system, and the fuel system. These issues often also come with the Eco diesel V6 engine.
There were also issues with the vehicle such as malfunctioning of the GPS, dashboard engine check light, issues with the display as well as issues with the radio.
The strange part is most technicians could not pinpoint the cause of the problems. Even when they tried to fix the issue, the issue would come back. This is why we don’t consider the 2015 Ram 1500 in the list of the best Ram 1500 years.
The 2016 Dodge RAM 1500
This model also features the Eco-diesel V6 which means that the problems with the engine were not surprising. For the Dodge Ram 1500 2016 model, there were up to 11 recalls.
The good thing is that there were fewer issues with the engine considering the previous years.
There were however problems which included issues with the cruise control, shifter linkage, issues with the airbags, and damaged rear tailgate latch, especially on those models that had power locks.
Ram Vs Dodge
Many people still think that Dodge and Ram are the same. Others argue that they are two different companies. So who is right?
To understand the differences between Dodge and Ram let’s start by going through a brief history lesson of the two automakers. First off, Dodge has been in the car manufacturing business since the United States started building cars. It boasts one of the longest histories in the American automotive industry together with Ford.
The company was founded in 1900 as Dodge Brothers Company and it’s among the oldest American car companies. Dodge began building cars in 1914.
In 1928, Chrysler bought the company. They however maintained brand identity. The first Dodge Ram, however, came out in 1981. While it went under the Ram name, it was indeed a Dodge vehicle. In the same year, Dodge released the Ram charger SUV as well as the Dodge Ram.
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So Are Ram And Dodge The Same?
Back in 2009, Chrysler restructured Dodge. This resulted in cars and minivans carrying the Dodge name while the larger truck such as the Dodge Dakota and Dodge Ram carried the Ram nameplate.
Thereof ever since the restructuring and from 2010, Ram was separated from Dodge yet under the same company Chrysler. Ram was to focus mainly on the trucks. So for earlier model trucks that came before 2009, they carried the Dodge Ram nameplate.
Reason For Dodge Ram Splitting
Dodge Ram split up to allow each brand to develop and create innovative and brand new models for the automotive market.
Now that there were two companies under the same parent company each would be able to build car models that it was best suited for.
After splitting, Dodge offered its resources towards creating muscle cars and sedans. It would soon reintroduce a classic muscle car, the Challenger SRT Demon.
On the other hand, Ram would give its time as well as its resources to developing more advanced and top-performance pick-trucks. An example is the Dodge Ram 3500.
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The Ram Lineup
Ever since they split with Dodge, Ram has released a series of trucks that are completely separate from Dodge. There is a truck for every need with the Ram.
They include:
- The Ram 1500
- Heavy-duty Ram 2500
- Heavy-duty Ram 3500
- Ram ProMaster Heavy
- Ram ProMaster City Light
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Makes Ram Trucks
Ram, whose parent company is Chrysler, makes Ram trucks. They are also the parent company of Dodge. Ram has been a stand-alone company since 2009 when they split from Dodge to focus on trucks. This explains why by purchasing the Dodge pickup truck you will have it make the distinction between those trucks that came before 2009.
Who Owns Ram Trucks
RAM is owned by the parent company Chrysler. It split from Dodge in 2009 making Ram a standalone name for creating pickup trucks. This is why trucks that came before 2009 carry the Dodge Ram nameplate and those that came later than 2009 were called Ram.
When Did Dodge And Ram Split
Both Dodge and Ram separated formally in 2009 as they both needed to focus their resources more on certain vehicle models. Ram for instance was to focus more on trucks.
Are Ram Trucks Reliable
The 2022 model of the Ram 1500 received a predicted reliability score of 86 out of 100. Getting a J.D power score of 80-90 is considered great. So yes Ram trucks are reliable.
Is Ram Dodge
Both Dodge and Ram have the same parent company and split back in 2009. That said, they are now two separate brands under the parent company which is Chrysler. Dodge focuses on producing performance vehicles high performance while Ram focuses on Trucks.
Where Is Dodge Ram Made
The Ram 1500 truck is manufactured in Michigan at the Starlight Heights Assembly Plant.
What Does SLT Stand For Dodge
SLT stands for standard luxury trims. It is among the higher-end trim tires for Dodge. You can think of the SLT as being an improved version of the Dodge base truck featuring front bumpers and power windows etc.
Are Rams Good Trucks
If you are wondering if the Ram 1500 is good, then yes it is one of the best trucks available in the market today. It features two different powertrains, the V6 and the V8 and the one for you will depend on your budget as well as your needs. You get excellent towing capabilities from the Ram 1500 as well as great handling and smooth ride.
