When purchasing a car or a truck, one of the most important questions that needs to be asked and answered is how long the vehicle will run for. How many miles can be driven before the car will need to be put away for good?
How many miles can a Dodge Ram 1500 last? Your Dodge Ram 1500 can last for well over 300,000 miles. Of course, reliability depends on the maintenance that a car receives. If you give your car regular oil changes, tire rotations, and other necessary maintenance it should last well into the hundreds of thousands of mile.
My dad actually drove a 2003 Dodge Durango well past 500,000 miles. Let’s talk more about the Dodge Ram 1500.
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Is a Dodge Ram 1500 Reliable?
The Dodge Ram 1500 receives a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5.0, ranking in fourth place out of seventeen full-size trucks. It has been reported that Dodge Ram owners only have to bring their trucks into the repair shop for an unexpected repaid an average of 0.2 times per year. This is less than the 0.3 times for other full-size truck models and 0.4 times for all types of vehicles.
The average probability of a Dodge Ram 1500 needing a repair that is severe, urgent, or a major issue is only 17%. Other full-size trucks average 18%, while all car models range about 12%.
After reading some reviews on vehiclehistory.com, I learned that most Dodge Ram 1500 owners have had fantastic experiences with their trucks. One owner said they have 345,000 miles on their 1998 Dodge Ram 1500. Another owner has a 1998 Dodge Ram 1500 with over 500,000 miles on it. Another customer explains that they still own the first Dodge they ever bought, which is a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500 that has 535,500 miles on it.
What these reviews show is that this truck is extremely reliable if it is taken care of properly. Regular maintenance is the key to reliability.
What are the Most Common Problems on a Dodge Ram 1500?
All cars have their problems, but what are the most common in a Dodge Ram 1500? Let’s go back and start with 1994 models.
1994-2002
Rams from this generation have a problem with sludge buildup in the engine which can blow the engine or cause overheating. Another common problem with this generation is excessive oil consumption due to gasket leaks, causing oil pressure to fluctuate. One final problem of this generation is the excessive fuel that enters the catalytic fuel converter. The fuel can coat the catalyst and cause the converter to overheat.
2002-2008
This generation has a few more issues than the previous generation. The first issue is the manifold bolts, which break and lead to decreased engine performance. This generation also experiences engine and transmission issues which can cause the engine to stall. A strange issue on the inside of the truck is the cracking of the dashboard over time, with pieces of the plastic breaking off entirely.
This generation also experiences faulty window seals, which can cause your air conditioner and heat to work harder than needed and can also cause leaks when it rains. Another issue of this generation lives in the headlights, taillights, and turn signals. These lights can stop working at random times which can be a safety hazard.
Moving on to the body of this generation, common issues include rotting of the outer wheelhouse, driver and passenger side cab corners, rocker panel, and the oil pan. These problems will usually start as just a paint bubble and spread like wildfire. As soon as you see any sign of paint bubbles, fix them.
2009-2017
This generation of the Dodge Ram 1500 experiences issues with the Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM). When the TIPM starts to have issues, it can cause problems with any and every function that is electrical. Your airbags can stop working, your horn may randomly blare, your windows may start opening themselves or stop working completely, and several other problems may arise.
The next issue is cam and lifter filter. This causes the truck to stall when coming to a stop, stall when running on idle, or seize up completely unexpectedly. This generation also has body structure issues, which include the tailgate not opening, defective paint, and rusting.
This generation also experiences coolant leaks, which seems to mainly occur when the engine is cold. It is extremely difficult to know that your coolant is leaking until your engine starts to overheat. The longer this problem goes on, the more expensive it will be to fix.
Transmission problems such as slow starts, jerking when shifting, and hard downshifting to slow down are issues this generation faces as well.
What Dodge Ram 1500 Production Years Were the Most Reliable?
The two most reliable years of the Dodge Ram 1500 are the 2006 and 2011 models. Both of these models received a 4.0 out of 5.0 reliability rating. This is the highest rating received, as most years ranked 3.0 out of 5.0.
Conclusion
When it comes down to it, how many miles can a Dodge Ram 1500 last? The answers range from 300,000 to well over 500,000 miles with proper maintenance. As for reliability, the Dodge Ram 1500 ranks an average of 3.5 our 5.0. This is an average score for a full-size truck.
Considering the issues over the years, while they do have their issues, most of the issues can be repaired for a decent price. It is also unlikely that you would need to take your Dodge Ram 1500 into the repair shop for any unexpected problems, as the average times per year this happens is 0.2.
What are the most reliable years of the Ram 1500? Based on reliability ratings, that would be the 2006 and the 2011 models. Both years received a high rating of 4.0 out of 5.0.
All in all, the Dodge Ram 1500 is a reliable truck that can last you a very long time if you treat it right.
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