Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.These American brands have a worrying reliability recordJeep and Ram may not produce many vehicles that can be considered close rivals, but as they both fall under the Stellantis umbrella, they share a surprising amount of DNA. From Hemi V8 engines to Uconnect infotainment systems, a Wrangler has more in common with a Ram 1500 pickup than you realize. Unfortunately, the shared components mean these brands also share a similarly dismal reliability record. We consulted sources like Consumer Reports, JD Power, and RepairPal, and it made for worrying reading. Here’s a look at their reliability records and how the two famous American brands compare.Consumer Reports: A Poor Showing From Both2026 Jeep GladiatorJeepView the 3 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementThe latest brand predicted reliability ratings from Consumer Reports is based on data from 380,000 vehicles produced between the 2000 and 2025 model years. That’s a 25-year period, so it gives us a clear look at brands that have consistently performed well—and those that have not. The information analyzed covers 20 problem areas such as engines, transmissions, interior trim issues, software defects, and a lot more. No powertrain type is excluded, so whether a car is powered by gas, hybrid, or electric setups, they’re evaluated for reliability.Unsurprisingly, Toyota currently ranks at the top spot with a score of 66. Of 26 brands that were large enough to be scored, Jeep and Ram are almost right at the bottom. Jeep ranks 24th with a score of 28, while Ram ranks 25th with a score of 26. Only Rivian, a far newer and smaller automaker that’s still finding its feet, ranks lower.CR’s findings show particularly poor showings for Jeep’s Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee plug-in hybrid SUVs, while Ram’s 1500—which was updated last year—seems to be experiencing plenty of teething issues. Although Ford has been notorious for a high number of recalls in recent years, it far outranks its domestic rivals with a score of 48 and an eleventh-placed finish.JD Power: Ram Takes It, But Both Are Below Average2026 Ram 1500 Rebel America250 special editionStellantisView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementThe JD Power 2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) gives us a deeper insight into the reliability of more modern vehicles from 29 brands. In the 2026 study, 33,268 owners of 2023 model-year vehicles were asked about their experiences with their vehicles following three years of ownership. 184 problem areas were covered, including interior quality, infotainment displays, seats, and powertrains. Brands are then ranked based on the number of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100). Unsurprisingly, Lexus came out on top with 151 PP100 and the industry average was 204 PP100. Ram ranked 17th with 216 PP100, below the industry average but much better than its performance in the CR study. Jeep was down at 25th with 267 PP100, ahead of only Land Rover, Volvo, and Volkswagen. One of the most popular Jeeps, the 2023 Jeep Wrangler has 13 recalls and a host of complaints related to the electrical system, according to the NHTSA. As for the Ram 1500, it also has a high number of recalls for the 2023 model year, ranging from mechanical (fuel pump failure) to software and electrical issues. Related: Jeep Wrangler Reliability: What 10 Years of Data Actually SaysRepairPal: Jeep Claws Back Some Points2026 Jeep Grand CherokeeJeepRepairPal’s brand reliability ratings are based on the cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs for models between the 2010 and 2019 model years. Even the newest of these models are around seven years old, so they’ve been on the road for a long enough time to draw some concrete conclusions about reliability.AdvertisementAdvertisementJeep’s rating here is 3.5 out of 5, placing it 15th out of 32 brands. That’s a little better than Ram, which has a 3 out of 5 rating, placing it 23rd. Of all documented Jeep repairs, 13% are considered severe, slightly better than Ram’s 15%. At $858, Ram’s annual ownership costs are higher than Jeep’s average of $634. However, Ram’s lineup of exclusively full-size pickups goes some way towards explaining the discrepancy here.Jeep’s ranking by RepairPal is the first time either brand has ranked inside the top half for all brands, but both are still far off the best in the industry.Which Brand Makes The More Reliable Pickup?2026 Ram 1500StellantisView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleJeep’s only pickup is the Gladiator, while Ram’s most popular model is the 1500. According to JD Power’s 2026 quality and reliability rating, the Gladiator is much better, with a score of 88 out of 100, whereas the Ram only has a score of 77/100. Looking at the last five model years, the Gladiator only has ratings in the 80s. Besides a very good 89/100 score for the 2024 model year, the Ram has lower ratings in the 70s.AdvertisementAdvertisementAccording to Car Complaints, the Gladiator’s most common issue has been related to steering issues and wandering, much like the “death wobble” issue that affects the related Wrangler SUV. The publication notes that engine problems have plagued older 1500 pickups, especially those between the 2012 and 2014 model years, with engine failures occurring at 75,000 miles on average. These affect V8-powered models and can be extremely costly to fix. In a Consumer Reportsranking of full-size pickups, the Ram 1500 came in dead last for reliability.The Gladiator generally appears to be the more reliable pickup, but it benefits from being a smaller and slightly simpler pickup. Most models also use the generally dependable Pentastar V6.Related: Jeep, Dodge, and Ram Deploy 2,000 New Engineers to Fix QualityFinal Verdict: If Reliability Matters, Look Elsewhere2026 Ram 1500StellantisView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleAdvertisementAdvertisementRam builds some of the most comfortable pickups on the market, while Jeep’s iconic Wrangler is still hard to beat if you’re after a fun but immensely capable off-roader. What neither of these brands promise is anything approaching Toyota-like reliability—they’re not even average in most cases, and we’d say they’re equally bad when compared to their rivals.From electric flaws to mechanical issues, one needs to accept that these vehicles require a meticulous maintenance schedule, and even then, they will likely spend more time in the workshop than your neighbour’s Tacoma. If that’s something you can live with, Ram and Jeep vehicles can be enjoyable, but their patchy reliability records can be a real headache if you’re not prepared for it.This story was originally published by Autoblog on May 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
