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    Welcome to Consumer Reports.

    We’re so glad to have you as a member. You now have access to benefits that can help you choose right, be safe and stay informed.
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    2016
    New 2019
    Used 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011

    Ram 1500 Change Vehicle

    Surprisingly luxurious and refined, the Ram remains fully capable of doing dirty work when duty calls. A unique coil-spring rear suspension gives it a smooth ride and the interior is whisper-quiet. Continued interior and powertrain improvements make the Ram a particularly well-rounded choice, and it's lately become the first truck in its class to offer a diesel.
    Alerts
    There are 11 recalls on this vehicle. Learn More.
    2016
    New 2019
    Used 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011

    Ram 1500

    Reliability
    See All
    Owner Satisfaction
    See All
    Crash and Rollover Tests
    IIHS Front Moderate Overlap Good
    IIHS Front Small Overlap, Driver Marginal
    IIHS Side Crash Good
    NHTSA Frontal-Crash, Driver
    NHTSA Frontal-Crash, Passenger
    See All

    Road Test Results

    Performance
    Acceleration Acceleration Acceleration tests are conducted on a smooth, flat pavement straightaway at the track. Time, speed, and distance measurements are taken with a precise GPS-based device that’s hooked to a data-logging computer.
    0 to 60 mph (sec.) 0 to 60 mph (sec.) The time in seconds that a vehicle takes to reach 60 mph from a standstill with the engine idling.
    Transmission Transmission Transmission performance is determined by shifting smoothness, response, shifter action, and clutch actuation for manual transmissions.
    Fuel Economy Fuel Economy We perform our own fuel-economy tests, independent of the government's often-quoted EPA figures and the manufacturers' claims. Using a precise fuel-flow measuring device spliced into the fuel line, we run two separate circuits to represent city and highway consumption.
    CR's Overall Mileage CR's Overall Mileage CR's overall mileage is a composite of measured fuel usage on a prescribed city course and highway cruising; and CR's 150-mile test trip of mixed driving, if tested. In recent road tests, we've discontinued the 150-mile trip test.
    CR's City Mileage CR's City Mileage Measured fuel usage on a prescribed city course.
    CR's Highway Mileage CR's Highway Mileage Measured fuel usage on a prescribed highway cruising.
    Annual Fuel Cost Annual Fuel Cost The cost and amount of fuel used in 12,000 miles and is calculated from CR's overall mileage.
    Braking Braking The braking rating is a composite of wet and dry stopping distances and pedal feel. Braking distance is from 60 mph, with no wheels locked.
    Emergency Handling Emergency Handling Several factors go into the rating, including the avoidance maneuver speed and confidence, as well as how the vehicle behaves when pushed to its limit,
    Comfort / Convenience
    Ride Ride Our expert judgment of how well the suspension isolates and absorbs road imperfections and how steady it keeps the body on various road surfaces.
    Noise Noise Our expert judgment of the vehicle's interior noise level in everyday driving.
    Front Seat Comfort Front Seat Comfort Our judgment of how comfortable the front seat is for drivers of various heights.
    Rear Seat Comfort Rear Seat Comfort Our judgment of how comfortable the rear seat is for two passengers to sit across.
    Interior Fit and Finish Interior Fit and Finish An expert evaluation of the interior quality and craftsmanship.
    Trunk/Cargo Area Trunk/Cargo Area Our rating is based on the amount of luggage or cargo space that a vehicle has in the trunk or cargo area.

    Owner Reports

    Worse Better
    Reliability History Reliability History The reliability charts are based on responses on hundreds of thousands of vehicles from our latest Annual Auto Survey. Consumer Reports subscribers reported on any serious problems they had with their vehicles during the past 12 months that they considered serious because of cost, failure, safety, or downtime, in any of the trouble spots included in the table below. The results are presented relative to the average model that year. Extra weight is given to the more serious areas such as major engine or transmission problems. Based on this data and further analysis, we predict reliability for the latest year. N/A indicates that we did not receive a large enough sample size to provide data for a specific year. An X indicates that the vehicle was not manufactured for a specific year.
    2000
    2001
    2002
    2003
    2004
    2005
    2006
    2007
    2008
    2009
    2010
    2011
    2012
    2013
    2014
    2015
    2016
    2017
    2018
    Reliability Trouble Spots
    Engine Major Engine Major Engine rebuild or replacement, cylinder head, head gasket, turbo or supercharger, timing chain or timing belt.
    Engine Minor Engine Minor Accessory belts and pulleys, engine computer, engine mounts, engine knock or ping, oil leaks.
    Engine Cooling Engine Cooling Radiator, cooling fan, antifreeze leaks, water pump, thermostat, overheating.
    Transmission Major Transmission Major Transmission rebuild or replacement, torque converter, clutch replacement.
    View all Reliability
    Owner Satisfaction Owner Satisfaction To learn about satisfaction, CR has collected survey data from our annual survey on more than half a million vehicles. Our subscribers provide great insights into their satisfaction by answering one simple question: If they had it to do all over again, would they definitely buy or lease the same model? In addition, respondents also rate their cars in six categories: driving experience, comfort, value, styling, audio, and climate systems. N/A indicates that we did not receive a large enough sample size to provide data for a specific year. An X indicates that the vehicle was not manufactured for a specific year.
    2000
    2001
    2002
    2003
    2004
    2005
    2006
    2007
    2008
    2009
    2010
    2011
    2012
    2013
    2014
    2015
    2016
    2017
    2018
    Driving Experience Driving Experience Includes acceleration and handling
    Comfort Comfort Includes seats, climate control, noise, and ride
    Value Value Did you get what you wanted relative to the price you paid?
    Styling Styling How it looks inside and out
    View all Owner Satisfaction
    Safety Equipment
    ABS available, standard from 2009. Head protection air bags available from 2002, standard from 2009. ESC available from 2007, standard from 2009. ABS, ESC, and head protection air bags standard in 2011.
    Road Test

    Surprisingly luxurious and refined, the Ram remains fully capable of doing dirty work when duty calls. A unique coil-spring rear suspension gives it a smooth ride and the interior is whisper-quiet. Continued interior and powertrain improvements make the Ram a particularly well-rounded choice, and it's lately become the first truck in its class to offer a diesel.

    All Ram 1500s now come with an efficient, slick-shifting eight-speed automatic, a pickup-truck exclusive. Most get a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 that delivers seamless power and still returns a class-average 15 mpg overall. A 3.6-liter V6 engine is standard, aiding fuel economy and a significant savings over the Hemi. It does an admirable job motivating this big truck, as long as your towing needs are modest.

    Seating
    2 front, 3 rear
    Drive Wheels
    4WD , Rear
    Warranty

    In most cases, automotive warranties are based on the vehicle identification number (VIN), and the warranty will be valid regardless of ownership. The dealership can tell you exactly how much warranty is left.

    Read more about extended warranties
    Body Styles
    extended cab
    regular cab
    crew cab
    Transmissions Available
    • 8-speed Automatic
    • 6-speed Automatic
    Engines Available
    • 3-liter V6 turbodiesel (240 hp)
    • 3.6-liter V6 (305 hp)
    • 5.7-liter V8 (395 hp)

    Owner Reported Trouble Spots

    The Reliability score is based on our latest subscriber survey of 2016 Ram 1500 owners. The owner comments describe problems respondents experienced with this vehicle.

    Body Integrity

    Squeaks, rattles, wind noises, loose or cracked seals and/or weather-stripping, air and water leaks.

    What Owners Say

    Air or water leaks

    “THe ram cargo doors leaked when it rained - Took it in 2 times - still has slit leak when going through car wash”

    Carl C., CA (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 5.7-L V8)

    “sun roof leak they cannot seem to fix. Has been in three different RAM dealerships 5 different times for a combined 32 days and they still no resolve”

    Anonymous, OR (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 5.7-L V8)
    Seals and/or weather-stripping

    “Over 40 mph drivers side window noise”

    Narvil L., CA (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 3.0-L V6 diesel)

    “Air whistles in around the drivers side window. Taken to dealership 3 times and they say it does not leak. Two different employees at two different dealerships admit that this is an issues with RAM Trucks, but they will not admit it to customers”

    Tracy T., OH (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 3.0-L V6 diesel)
    Squeaks or rattles

    “drivers side rear door rattle when radio is on”

    Anonymous, MN (2016 Ram 1500 Big Horn 5.7-L V8)

    “Passenger mirror rattles and makes noise. Took it into Thr dealer and was told that's within expectations”

    Anonymous, TX (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 3.0-L V6 diesel)

    “Loud noise emanating from headliner in back of driver's head. Dealership, at first, claimed it was my imagination. After my repeated insistence, they took down the headliner and, incredible as it may seem, there was a bolt loose and rolling around between the roof and the headliner”

    Seamus M., NH (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 5.7-L V8)

    “sun roof had major rattle”

    William T., AB (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 5.7-L V8)
    Wind noise

    “Wind noise from drivers window”

    Tony O., NY (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 5.7-L V8)

    “Irritating noise driving down the road”

    Ed F., TX (2016 Ram 1500 Lone Star 5.7-L V8)

    “serious wind noise from left front door. First repair was not successful, waiting for second try”

    William T., AB (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 5.7-L V8)

    “Wind whistles around window/door on drivers side. Taken back to dealer 3 times and they say it does not leak. Two different employees at two different dealerships admitted these models were known for that issue, but won't admit it to owners”

    Tracy T., OH (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 3.0-L V6 diesel)
    Load more

    Paint/Trim

    Paint (fading, chalking, cracking, or peeling), loose interior and exterior trim or moldings, rust.

    What Owners Say

    Loose exterior trim or moldings

    “fender flares loose”

    Anonymous, PA (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 5.7-L V8)

    “Ripples on weather stripppng/ or covering behind the front door window and ,in front of the rear door window , on both sides (passenger and driver side). Dodge replaced all four of them under warranty”

    Craig P., FL (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 3.0-L V6 diesel)
    Loose interior trim or moldings

    “Head liner was loose and squeeky”

    Anonymous, TX (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 3.0-L V6 diesel)
    Paint (fading, chalking, cracking, or peeling)

    “Peeling paint within a month, poor adhesion to primer”

    Thom K., MO (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 5.7-L V8)

    “Tiny spray overshoot or debris on hood and top”

    Henrik M., CA (2016 Ram 1500 Tradesman 3.6-L V6)

    “Cheapest paint of any vehicle on the market paperthin”

    Ed F., TX (2016 Ram 1500 Lone Star 5.7-L V8)

    “Paint is weak.. Scratches very easy, not a tough paint system”

    Steve N., TX (2016 Ram 1500 Sport 5.7-L V8)

    “The door handles faded within six months and the plastic that cover that covered the trailer hitch bolt crumbled and fell apart”

    Anonymous, FL (2016 Ram 1500 Express 5.7-L V8)
    Rust

    “Small rust spot on rear bumper”

    Tony O., NY (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 5.7-L V8)
    Load more

    Transmission Minor

    Gear selector or linkage, leaks, transmission computer, transmission sensor or solenoid, clutch adjustment, rough shifting, slipping transmission.

    What Owners Say

    Gear selector or linkage

    “Rotary shift knob was replaced”

    Glen K., CA (2016 Ram 1500 Tradesman 3.6-L V6)

    “periodic hard downshift”

    Thom K., MO (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 5.7-L V8)

    “Slow down almost to stop, hit gas and the trans hunts and slips”

    Anonymous, PA (2016 Ram 1500 Big Horn 5.7-L V8)
    Transmission sensor or solenoid

    “The big problem is 9 repeat trips to two dealers and they could no fix the problem. Sad when the maker of a product can't repair it. I had to pay for repair for broken wire that stoped the transmission from shifting the day after I got it home. Highway driving city streets”

    Dennis R., WY (2016 Ram 1500 Tradesman 3.6-L V6)
    Load more

    Body Hardware

    Power or manual windows, locks and latches, tailgate, hatch or trunk, doors or sliding doors, mirrors, seat controls, safety belts, sunroof, convertible top.

    What Owners Say

    Heated or cooled seat controls

    “Passenger rear seat heater will turn on without pressing the switch. Once on, the on/off switch works intermittently to turn the heater off”

    Martin M., VA (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 5.7-L V8)
    Locks and latches

    “The door handles faded within six months and the plastic that cover that covered the trailer hitch bolt crumbled and fell apart”

    Anonymous, FL (2016 Ram 1500 Express 5.7-L V8)
    Tailgate, hatch or trunk

    “Both RamBox covers developed fiberglass cracks around locks”

    Gregory Y., MI (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 3.0-L V6 diesel)

    “Just scratches easy”

    Steve N., TX (2016 Ram 1500 Sport 5.7-L V8)
    Load more

    In-car Electronics

    CD or DVD players, radio, speakers, GPS, communication system (e.g., OnStar), display screen freezes or goes blank, phone pairing (e.g. Bluetooth), voice control commands, steering wheel controls, portable music device interface (e.g., iPod/MP3 player), backup or other camera/sensors.

    What Owners Say

    Display screen goes blank

    “Display goes blank or fuzzy snow during reverse camera mode. Sometimes it went all green without backup”

    Anonymous, CA (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 3.0-L V6 diesel)
    Steering wheel controls

    “Cruise control switches failed”

    T L., VA (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 3.0-L V6 diesel)

    “cruise control malfunctioned but repaired after taking it in to dealership”

    Anonymous, OR (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 5.7-L V8)

    Fuel System

    Check engine light, sensors (includes O2 or oxygen sensor), emission control devices (includes EGR), engine computer, engine computer, fuel cap, fuel gauge/sender, fuel injection system, fuel pump, fuel leaks, stalling or hesitation.

    What Owners Say

    Emission control devices (includes EGR)

    “Was throwing codes due to bad CAT. Replaced by dealer”

    Anonymous, MO (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 3.0-L V6 diesel)
    Sensors (includes O2 or oxygen sensor)

    “Gas Vapor sensor”

    Anonymous, VA (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 3.0-L V6 diesel)

    “Randomly get the P24AE engine code and warning light. Dealership can't find the problem”

    Richard N., MN (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 3.0-L V6 diesel)

    Drive System

    Driveshaft or axle, CV joint, differential, transfer case, 4WD/AWD components, driveline vibration, traction control, electronic stability control (ESC), electrical failure.

    What Owners Say

    Driveline vibration

    “Dealer balanced the tires, then replaced the tires, then replaced the drive shafts. Dealer also swapped tires and wheels from a known good truck. None of this fixed the problem. I am in the process of taking them to Lemon Law as the dealer has had the truck three times for a total of about three weeks and the truck still has a vibration problem”

    Ralph R., FL (2016 Ram 1500 Big Horn 5.7-L V8)
    Traction control

    “Traction control sensor will illuminate and warning appears on screen to inspect traction control. The warning light will then go out on its own”

    Martin M., VA (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 5.7-L V8)

    Power Equipment

    Cruise control, clock, warning lights, body control module, keyless entry, wiper motor or washer, tire pressure monitor, interior or exterior lights, horn, gauges, 12V power plug, remote engine start, alarm or security system

    What Owners Say

    Battery (not hybrid or electric)

    “AGM Battery Failed. Replaced under warranty”

    Anonymous, WA (2016 Ram 1500 Big Horn 3.0-L V6 diesel)

    Transmission Major

    Transmission rebuild or replacement, torque converter, clutch replacement.

    What Owners Say

    Transmission rebuild or replacement

    “In the ((dealer)) 9 times in 14 mo. lost 6 weeks of down time re-programed modem repeatedly replaced the valve shifting body engine over rev shifting clutch slamming at the end of over rev. cruse control sticks quits shifting. I finally fixed the truck my self bought a Ford F 150 no more problems in 8,000 miles”

    Dennis R., WY (2016 Ram 1500 Tradesman 3.6-L V6)

    Electric System

    Alternator, starter, hybrid battery and related systems, regular battery, battery cables, engine harness, coil, ignition switch, electronic ignition, distributor or rotor failure, spark plugs and wires failure.

    What Owners Say

    Interior lights

    “Sun visor mirror light passenger did not work . Put a new one on warranty”

    Anonymous, ON (2016 Ram 1500 Laramie 3.0-L V6 diesel)

    Engine Minor

    Accessory belts and pulleys, engine computer, engine mounts, engine knock or ping, oil leaks.

    What Owners Say

    Engine computer

    “At 8,500 miles, I took my truck in for its first oil change. When I left, I noticed a low droning sound in certain accelerating conditions, and then significantly more engine noise in the cabin during heavy acceleration. Took it back to the dealership and they said the truck has a problem with its MDS system, but there is no fix for it. No way to repair it”

    Anonymous, MO (2016 Ram 1500 Big Horn 5.7-L V8)

    Exhaust

    Muffler, pipes, catalytic converter, exhaust manifold, leaks.

    Suspension

    Shocks or struts, ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, alignment, steering linkage (includes rack and pinion), power steering (pumps and hoses, leaks), wheel balance, springs or torsion bars, bushings, electronic or air suspension.

    Climate System

    Blower (fan) motor, A/C compressor, condenser, evaporator, heater system, automatic climate control, refrigerant leakage, electrical failure.

    Engine Major

    Engine rebuild or replacement, cylinder head, head gasket, turbo or supercharger, timing chain or timing belt.

    Brakes

    Antilock system (ABS), parking brake, master cylinder, calipers, rotors, pulsation or vibration, squeaking, brake failure or wear.

    Engine Cooling

    Radiator, cooling fan, antifreeze leaks, water pump, thermostat, overheating.

    Change Vehicle