Among U.S. pickups, the Ram 1500 is worth considering if you want a good used truck. With its excellent features and reputation for reliability and safety, it’s one of America’s best-selling pickups. But even the best can hit a sour note once in a while. Here are three of the worst Ram 1500 model years to avoid and why.
2013 Ram 1500
2013 Ram 1500 | Stellantis
The 2013 Ram 1500 is the lesser of three evils in this roundup but still suffers numerous problems. According to the consumer site CarComplaints.com, some issues happen early in ownership.
According to multiple owner complaints, engine, steering, and electrical problems plague the 2013 Ram 1500. That last issue involves enough Totally Integrated Power Module (TIMP) problems to make you think gremlins took over the vehicle. CarComplaints.com reports GPS/UConnect errors, radio and dashboard light issues, ignition problems, and more.
If all of that isn’t concerning enough, problems with the brakes on the 2013 models have been reported to the NHTSA. On CarComplaints.com, consumers registered issues with braking performance, including shaking, calipers locking up, and emergency brake issues. Those are major concerns because faulty brakes can lead to injury and death.
According to CarComplaints.com, Ram 1500 engine failure usually occurs around 45,000 miles and costs $11,500 to repair. Power steering failure happens at about 76,000 miles and costs $2,500 to repair. No information on the prevention or repair of the braking system is available.
2014 Ram 1500
Among used Ram 1500 models, the 2014 version has the most problems reported to CarComplaints.com. The long list includes standouts such as transmission, air suspension, and power steering problems. Air suspension issues start around 56,000 miles and cost an average of $2,000 to repair, while power steering troubles strike at about 67,000 miles and cost around $2,400 to repair.
The electrical problems carried over from the 2013 model year. According to owner reports, there’s some difficulty in diagnosing the issues, from the truck shutting down while driving it to the entire electrical system failing. These troubles start around 30,000 miles and cost an average of $1,500 to repair.
2016 Ram 1500
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Arguably, the worst model year of the fourth-generation Ram 1500 is 2016. Severe engine and transmission problems plague this model, and the repairs are costly.
Engine failure happens around 78,000 miles on average. Most of the complaints were that an engine replacement was necessary to fix the truck at an average cost of $4,360. Some of the gripes posted on CarComplaints.com explained that the owners had replaced the engines in their 2016 Ram 1500 more than once.
Also alarming are the model’s transmission troubles, appearing around 10,000 miles on average. The biggest complaint was the truck jumping or lurching forward when the driver tried to stop it. But there were other problems, too, such as loss of power, shifting issues, and one report of the truck rolling away on its own. The average cost of transmission repairs totaled $10,000.
Before buying any used vehicle, research, read reviews, and see what real-life owners say about their experiences. It’s a smart way to minimize the chances of ending up with a lemon instead of a winner. Once you’ve found a good used vehicle, follow the manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations to keep it in good working order.
Keyword: 3 of the Worst Ram 1500 Model Years, According to CarComplaints